Here's a recap of this week's episodes of One Chicago, covering everything from an outrageous doctor rumor to a firehouse backing their colleague and even a wild robbery with a twist.
Chicago Med "Found Family"
From self-mutilation to preventing a murder, from two women finding common ground in a life-or-death situation, to a rumor about a doctor's strange habits, this week's episode of Chicago Med had enough intensity to keep us on our toes.
Charles and Archer collaborate on a bizarre case: a patient who intentionally cut off his own hand out of fear that his thoughts would compel him to kill someone. Turning to technology for a solution, Charles uses an MRI to find a leak in the patient's brain that seems to be the source of his violent thoughts. Charles ultimately convinces the patient to comply with the procedure to have his hand reattached.
Lenox and Ripley treat a couple with severe burns from an exploding kettle. Lenox notices that the female patient left a test cup with a crucial red sticker, indicating domestic abuse—a sign the patient immediately denies. After more conversation, Lenox leaves her contact information, but the patient declines the offer of help. As Lenox departs, the husband thanks her, subtly hinting that he knows she saw through their circumstances. This moment created intense tension and fear for Lenox's safety upon her return.
The star of the episode was undeniably Frost, who has clearly been staying at the hospital for an extended period. He passionately helps a young patient in desperate need of a stem cell transplant, only to discover the mother is not a match. The shocking twist: an IVF switch-up years ago meant the patient's mother wasn't her biological parent, leading them to find the true biological mother.
The drama didn't end there, as the biological mother fiercely fought to see the child and take her back. Frost intervened, delivering a powerful speech, telling her to put the child's needs first—not her own—especially after she agreed to be tested and was a match, despite her terror. Frost receives a heartfelt gift from the patient. In a revealing elevator ride with Ripley, he finally explains his living situation and clarifies that the persistent rumors about him using Meth are untrue. Ripley offers him a place to stay.
"Found Family" was a truly intense episode. The storyline involving Charles and the patient who cut off his hand was fascinating, and the discovery of the neurological cause for his compulsion was captivating. Watching Lenox handle the frightening abuse situation was powerful, especially the chilling moment with the husband—the subtle threat and mutual understanding of their circumstances make me wonder if we will see them again in a potential fall finale.
And, of course, Frost was the MVP, stepping up for his patient and confronting two mothers arguing over their child's fate. His honesty with Ripley about his personal crisis and the Meth rumor solidified his character arc this week. Overall, this was a well-written, intensely character-driven episode that balanced complex medical ethics with personal drama. Overall, I give this episode an 8.5/10.
Chicago Fire "Mercy"
When Firehouse 51 overhears a house fire call, they don't expect the address to be Herrmann's home. Despite orders not to, the entire team rushes to the scene. Herrmann, fearing his daughter might be inside, frantically searches for her until Cindy arrives and confirms that all the children are safe and that Annabelle is at school. Relieved, Herrmann's protective instincts kick in, but Vasquez stops him just moments before the floors collapse.
Violet and Novak begin training a firefighter in paramedic skills, a task initially meant for Herrmann but ultimately assigned to Capp. At first, it seems like a recipe for disaster, but Capp surprisingly pulls through with flying colors. That could be an overstatement, as he still manages to get a needle stuck in his neck during one of their calls. As Severide points out, if they can train Capp, they can train anyone.
Meanwhile, Vasquez uses his time at 51 to look into his father's case, who is currently in jail. He discovers that the paramedic reports were suspiciously missing from the official files and asks Novak about the implications. When he tells his father about the discovery, his father, though proud, tells him that the person who can truly help him is someone named Mercy. Is this a plea for compassion, or a person's name?
Herrmann asks Severide to investigate the house fire, initially suspecting an electrical issue. With extra help from Isiah at OFI, Severide definitely identifies the stove as the source of the fire.
Mouch finds Herrmann at the ruins of his home and offers support, reassuring him that the fire was not his fault. He then helps Herrmann search the debris, eventually recovering Cindy’s mother’s wedding ring. Isiah also offers a moment of kindness, reassuring Stella that Herrmann’s family is okay and handing her his vintage Chicago Bulls hat to give to Herrmann’s son.
"Mercy" was an emotionally intense episode, beautifully highlighting the grief and resilience of Herrmann and Cindy's family as they coped with losing their home. Herrmann’s shift from panicked father/firefighter to supportive husband, prioritizing their shared memories and values once he knew his daughter was safe, was incredibly relatable and powerful. David Eigenberg delivers an outstanding, deeply moving performance, strongly supported by Robyn Coffin.
The light, comedic interlude of Capp's paramedic training, though brief, provided a necessary and charming break from the intensity. You can also see the subtle, positive connection growing between Stella and Isiah. Overall, this episode expertly blended high emotion with necessary levity, cementing its place as a season highlight. Overall, I give this episode a 9/10.
Chicago P.D. "Root Cause"
When a string of increasingly brazen robberies occurs across the city, the Intelligence Unit is on the hunt for the suspect: a white male in a red windbreaker. The case takes a curious turn when the suspect is seen dropping off one of the shooting victims at a clinic. The team is left wondering: Who is this guy, and what is his motivation?
The suspect is quickly identified as the son of a wealthy, unempathetic billionaire. Imani helps the team find the suspect's friend by posing as someone seeking her AA sponsor. Voight and Imani learn the suspect was sighted, but that a cop had been shot. Voight follows a blood trail to the suspect, who ambushes him and strikes him on the head.
When Voight wakes up, the suspect tries to explain his actions, claiming he's "a good person" and didn't mean to hurt anyone. As Voight attempts to reason with him, the suspect makes a tragic, final choice: he commits suicide by stabbing an ice pick through his eye.
Later, Voight and Imani deliver the devastating news to the suspect's father, who shows a shocking lack of emotion over his son's death. This prompts Voight to dig deeper into the father's life, the house, and the history of abuse, securing a visit from DCFS.
Meanwhile, a mysterious subplot begins: at the start of the episode, Voight found an envelope on his car containing a photo of a child who appeared to have been severely beaten. Platt is unable to identify who placed it there. As Voight and Imani leave the billionaire's house, she looks at the photos of the suspect, then at the mysterious photo. Imani realizes the mystery photo appears to be from the 1970s and, recognizing the boy, asks Voight if it's him. He simply replies, "Yes."
"Root Cause" was a really great hour of television that seemed to go in one direction, only to reveal a profound season-long mystery. Seeing Gavin Harris listed as the writer for this episode confirms why it felt so compelling; he consistently dives into incredible, character-driven, psychological stories that make the plot epic and exciting.
The revelation about Voight's past through that photo is a fantastic way to open a season-long arc. The chemistry between Voight and Imani was simply incredible in this episode. I genuinely thought Voight would lash out when she started asking pointed questions about the photo, but his measured response demonstrated a growing, unexpected trust.
This was a profoundly affecting and masterfully written episode.
Overall Grade: 9/10
What did you think of this week's episodes of One Chicago? What were some of your favorite moments? What episode did you like or not? Leave a comment below.
You can catch One Chicago Wednesdays at 8/7c on NBC and streaming the next day on Peacock.
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