Chicago P.D. Showrunner Compares The New One Chicago Event To The ‘Infection’ Three-Parter, And Now I Want To Rewatch The 2019 Crisis

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Fans of One Chicago have been eagerly waiting for quite some time for the thrilling three-part crossover event, and it looks like they’ll finally get their wish in 2025! The “In the Trenches” event will see the heroes from Chicago P.D., Chicago Fire, and Chicago Med unite to tackle a catastrophic explosion and subway collapse, with several characters finding themselves in grave peril.

Although the story doesn’t seem incredibly alike to the 2019 movie “Infection,” a conversation I had with my boss from the Police Department, Gwen Sigan, drew parallels between the 2025 event and what transpired over five years ago. It left me eager to revisit “Infection” after watching “In the Trenches.

How The Crossovers Compare

Gwen Sigan wrote the teleplay for the “Chicago P.D.” episode titled “Infection,” so when I talked with her following her remarks about the Burzek relationship, I couldn’t help but inquire about how “In the Trenches” compares to when One Chicago last collaborated back in 2019. The showrunner of “P.D.” offered this insight:

I chatted with Gwen Sigan (the writer for “Chicago P.D.’s” episode “Infection”) about her thoughts on the Burzek relationship, and since she was involved in One Chicago’s last collaboration in 2019, I wondered how this new episode, titled “In the Trenches,” compares to that experience. The showrunner of “P.D.” gave their opinion:

Wow, that was quite a substantial event, without a doubt. If you only consider the incident itself, I’d wager the scale is comparable. For events like these, you obviously need something that can last for three hours, making it quite sizable. Additionally, it needs to keep evolving and transforming. In this case, the collaboration between the writers seems to have almost dismantled it completely, giving it a very intricately connected feel. Consequently, I would describe this one as being particularly intertwined.

I thoroughly enjoyed the “Infection” crossover and am eager to rewatch it using my Peacock subscription. However, I can understand why some viewers might feel that the storyline wasn’t seamlessly blended together, especially since the Police Department (P.D.) episode seemed quite independent, as the Medical and Fire Service characters were limited in their ability to combat the antagonists. Sigal continued:

The experience seems incredibly immersive, as if you might lose track of the time. You won’t always be certain whether it’s a police department hour or a Fire Department one, since all characters seem to belong to the same universe. It’s almost like watching a film, with the storyline flowing seamlessly. This particular narrative stands out due to its cohesiveness; it feels more like a movie than separate episodes.

The promotion features the characters interacting closely, even shocking Chicago Med’s showrunner Allen MacDonald with the amount of information disclosed. On the other hand, Chicago Fire’s boss Andrea Newman hinted at the size of the fire for the upcoming episode, stating that flames reaching “three stories” left nearby residents quite anxious.

The “Infection” plotline indeed had a significant scope, as initial responders feared a city-wide spreading flesh-eating bacteria. However, it didn’t explode like the upcoming “In the Trenches.” Reminiscing about the old one sparked memories of its appeal, and I might be delving back into it sooner rather than later.

If “In the Trenches” is intended to be more unified compared to “Infection,” can you explain how the P.D.’s Intelligence Unit will be integrated in this new narrative?

How Chicago P.D. Will Be Incorporated More

Though the promotion reveals Ruzek and Fire’s Stella Kidd as two One Chicago characters stuck underground, with Platt facing a critical condition, it remained unclear how characters who don’t typically engage in firefighting or medical emergencies would play significant roles in the plot. Gwen Sigan provided some clarity, stating:

Initially, the role of the first responders is crucial as they arrive to ensure safety, secure the area, and prepare it for firefighters. However, when we learn that this incident was deliberate and a criminal act, our involvement intensifies. We become pivotal in uncovering the perpetrator and apprehending them before more lives are at risk. This situation creates a sense of urgency, as we must find these individuals promptly to prevent further harm. This plot element serves as a driving force to maintain the story’s momentum throughout the third hour.

Among the three showrunners of One Chicago, Andrea Newman didn’t get to visit the Fire set and Allen MacDonald could only be present for the final scene of Med’s episode. Therefore, it seems that Gwen Sigan spent a considerable amount of time on set during the P.D. segment of the three-part series, as she herself mentioned.

During the third hour of our production day, I was part of the set action. It wasn’t the first time, but definitely for this occasion, I found myself on set. It was thrilling! Let me tell you, these productions are massive. Being there and witnessing the construction and achievements of all three shows within such a short span is truly remarkable. Given that we’re a TV show, our filming pace is rapid – we produce 22 episodes annually. Considering the speed at which our crews manage to execute this feat, not to mention how polished the sets appear, is simply incredible. Just getting the chance to see these meticulously built sets was an amazing experience.

In summary, it seems that the entire One Chicago crew really pulled out all the stops to ensure that “In the Trenches” lived up to expectations following “Infection” in 2019. Don’t miss it on NBC on Wednesday, January 29! The action kicks off with Fire at 8 p.m. ET, followed by Med at 9 p.m. ET, and wrapping up with Chicago P.D. at 10 p.m. ET. Interestingly enough, this order is the same as that of “Infection,” which you can now stream with a Peacock subscription.

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2025-01-29 05:07