'One Chicago' Crossover: The 3-hour event might play like a separate movie disjointed from the three shows of the 'Chicago' franchise
The 'One Chicago' annual crossover event involves some of the most anticipated episodes of the 'Chicago' franchise. Even fans who stop watching the shows return to watch the crossover and this week's crossover episodes will be the biggest yet. Titled 'Infection' Parts 1, 2, and 3 for each episode of 'Chicago Med', 'Chicago Fire', and 'Chicago P.D.', we see multiple cases of a deadly flesh-eating bacteria wreaking havoc in Chicago. We also learn later that this bacteria has been weaponized to cause mass destruction in Chicago by someone that will be revealed in this Wednesday's episode.
Each of the shows, however, have their own long-game plotlines going on. In 'Chicago Med', it's Dr. Natalie Manning's lost memory and Maggie's cancer diagnosis that are the main ones. In 'Chicago Fire', the team is still getting to know new firefighter Blake Gallo. In 'Chicago P.D.', the team just took in rookie Vanessa Rojas and the mistrust between Voight and Halstead is currently on the backburner. The question is whether these storylines will find their way into the crossover episodes. Covering three hours, all three parts of 'Infection' will criss-cross between each show and should a viewer tune in at any time, they won't know for sure which show they might be watching. This is how Derek Haas intended the crossover to be as he wrote for all three parts.
In past crossovers, each show was individually recognizable and so the question of whether the crossover was part of the timeline or not, never rose up. However, we don't think there could be enough time for individual dramas from each show to make it to the crossover event. We know that Dr. Will Halstead will be playing a major role in the crossover according to the trailer. This could mean his disagreements with Natalie will be sidelined as he works with the CDC to best contain the flesh-eating bacteria and disperse the cures.
Meanwhile, in the last episode of 'Chicago Med', we saw Maggie overwhelmed by her chemo treatment which finally prompted her to start training April to take over as head nurse of the ED. On any other episode, this could have been great but positioned just before a high-tension, high-stakes episode, this plotline may not even make an appearance in the crossover event.
The three-hour 'One Chicago' crossover event will air on NBC this Wednesday on October 16.