‘Chicago Fire’ Perfectly Sets Up One Chicago’s “In the Trenches” Crossover Event

One Chicago crossover events were, at one time, regular occurrences, bbut the last one, “Infection,” took place during the 2019-2020 season. Needless to say, news that 2025 would finally see another One Chicago crossover happen was greeted enthusiastically. Normally, Chicago Med is the lead-off show on NBC’s Chicago Wednesday, followed by Chicago Fire, with Chicago P.D. ending the evening’s lineup. However, as is typical with the crossovers, Chicago Fire would air first for the “In the Trenches” event. Introducing the event is an unenviable task at the best of times, let alone for the first crossover in five years. As the starter, “In The Trenches Part I” had to establish the situation, make room for the characters from its kin while keeping its primary focus on the firefighters of Firehouse 51, and make it instantly engaging. Despite the challenge, it succeeded, with “In the Trenches” setting season highs for all three of the One Chicago series.

I Can’t Stop Thinking About ‘Chicago Fire’s “In the Trenches, Part I” Because of The Raw Character Moments

The unexpected character development is what I like about the episode, but that doesn’t explain why I can’t stop thinking about it. That’s where the rawness of the episode comes when all pretenses are dropped, and the firefighters reveal who they really are. There are two distinct things that happen in “In the Trenches, Part I” that best speak to this. The first comes when Herrmann, who has been shadowing Pascal, finally reveals that unless he joins his team on the front line, he will never be able to live with himself. It’s a favorite moment for my favorite character, a definitive statement about where his passion lies. It perfectly accentuates everything that I love about Herrmann, a character-defining moment that has stayed with me. It also foreshadows his surprising actions in the Season 13 finale, setting up another important character moment.