One Chicago raises the stakes this week as Goodwin fights back, Firehouse 51 confronts privilege, and Voight becomes entangled in a deadly power struggle.
Chicago Med Review: “They Call Me Ms. Goodwin” — Sharon Fights Back from the Front Lines
Sharon Goodwin may have lost her corner office, but she has not lost her determination to protect Gaffney Chicago Medical Center. In “They Call Me Ms. Goodwin,” the hospital’s power struggle intensifies as Sharon adjusts to life on the ED floor, Miranda tightens her grip on the staff, and Dr. Charles becomes drawn into Sharon’s growing resistance. The episode balances compelling patient stories with political maneuvering that threatens to reshape Gaffney.
Sharon’s transition from hospital director to frontline nurse proves more complicated than she anticipated. Her years of experience make it difficult for her to step back and let others take the lead, particularly when she clashes with new resident Dr. Wu over a potential lung transplant. Sharon pushes for a transplant recommendation in front of the patient, crossing a professional boundary and prompting Wu to stand her ground. Later, when Sharon enlists Archer to help secure a place on the transplant list, Wu calls out the preferential treatment Sharon continues to receive. It is a necessary reality check, and Sharon eventually acknowledges that Wu is right. Her willingness to recognize her mistake matters, even if she still has to learn how to operate without the authority she once held.
The conflict highlights one of the episode’s central tensions: Sharon may no longer be in charge, but her influence remains difficult to ignore. Miranda’s attempts to reshape Gaffney have created an environment in which experience and established relationships are treated as obstacles rather than assets. Yet Sharon’s determination to help patients makes it clear that she will not stand by while the hospital loses sight of its responsibilities.
Meanwhile, Dr. Charles and Frost treat Alex, a young child suffering from severe burns. As they investigate whether Alex has congenital insensitivity to pain or has suffered abuse, the case takes a troubling turn when the DCFS intervenes. An AI-driven assessment pushes for the child’s removal from the family before the doctors can establish the full medical picture. The storyline raises important questions about what happens when automated decisions take precedence over clinical judgment and human context. AI may offer useful tools, but this case shows the danger of letting an algorithm make consequential decisions without fully considering the people involved.
Another emotionally grounded storyline follows Ripley and Asher as they care for Harper, an unhoused pregnant woman, and her partner, Matthew. The couple’s medical needs are compounded by housing instability and mental health struggles, leaving them vulnerable even after they receive treatment. Sharon finds an unconventional way to buy them more time and shelter by claiming possible viral exposure, allowing them to remain in the hospital longer. It is a questionable workaround, but it comes from a recognizable place: Sharon understands that discharging patients into unsafe circumstances doesn't solve their problems. The story reinforces how medical care can fall short when the social conditions affecting a patient’s health remain unaddressed.
As Miranda grows increasingly frustrated by Sharon’s continued presence and influence, she turns her attention to Archer and forces him to take a mandatory leave of absence. The move feels like another attempt to eliminate anyone who might challenge her authority, further exposing the widening divide between the hospital’s leadership and the people caring for patients on the floor.
The episode’s biggest development arrives when Sharon finally reveals her plan to Charles. Her demotion was never simply about finding a new place at Gaffney; she has been positioning herself to challenge Miranda from within. Charles recognizes the opportunity and joins forces with her, setting the stage for a coordinated effort to expose Miranda’s weaknesses and reclaim the hospital’s direction. Their alliance is intriguing, especially because they understand the institution’s problems from different perspectives.
“They Call Me Ms. Goodwin” delivers a satisfying mix of hospital politics, ethical questions, and patient-centered drama. Sharon’s adjustment to nursing forces her to confront the limits of her influence, while the AI storyline raises timely concerns about technology being used without sufficient human oversight. Harper and Matthew’s situation also reminds us that patients often need more than medical treatment when their lives outside the hospital remain unstable.
The episode’s main weakness is that Miranda’s increasingly aggressive tactics sometimes make the power struggle feel too straightforward. Still, the growing resistance gives the season a clear direction, and Sharon’s partnership with Charles promises to make the fight for Gaffney more interesting. Sharon may have surrendered her title, but she has not surrendered her principles—and Miranda may soon discover that pushing her out of the executive suite was a serious miscalculation. Overall, I give “They Call Me Ms. Goodwin” an 8/10.
Chicago Fire Review: “Take the Hit” — Accountability, Nepotism, and Cruz’s Road Back
When one firefighter pays the price for a rookie’s mistake, Firehouse 51 faces a test of accountability that quickly becomes a battle against privilege. “Take the Hit” delivers an excellent episode of Chicago Fire, balancing a dangerous chemical emergency with workplace politics and the continuing emotional fallout from Joe Cruz’s injury. It also deepens the mystery surrounding new candidate Burke, giving the episode plenty to explore beyond its central crisis.
The main emergency begins when Firehouse 51 responds to an ammonia leak at a factory. Kidd gives the rookie candidates clear instructions to stay back and assist with ventilation, but McCaffrey decides that he knows better. Believing he has found the valve needed to stop the leak, he turns the wrong one, causing the gas pressure to spike and triggering a chemical blast that burns Tony’s face. Thankfully, Tony’s mask protects him from a potentially fatal injury, but his hospitalization makes the consequences of McCaffrey’s recklessness painfully clear.
What follows is nearly as frustrating as the mistake itself. When Kidd and Kelly Severide demand answers, McCaffrey refuses to come clean, allowing suspicion to fall on the other candidates. The investigation eventually uncovers rust residue on his glove that matches the valve handle, exposing his role in the incident. Rather than accept responsibility, McCaffrey turns to his influential father, who uses his connections to pressure Chief Tomlin into making the problem disappear.
This storyline gives the episode its sharpest edge. McCaffrey’s mistake is serious enough, but his refusal to own it—and his assumption that his family connections should shield him from the consequences—makes matters worse. Firefighters must trust one another in life-or-death situations, and someone who ignores orders before shifting blame puts everyone at risk. Kidd and Severide’s decision to stand their ground and remove McCaffrey from the department is satisfying because it reinforces that accountability matters more than a powerful family name. Their willingness to resist political pressure also demonstrates the kind of leadership Firehouse 51 needs.
Meanwhile, Cruz’s recovery provides the episode’s emotional center. Still struggling with the injury that sidelined him, he has begun skipping physical therapy and sinking into depression. His absence from the firehouse is about more than his physical limitations. He is struggling to understand who he is when he cannot do the job that has defined so much of his life.
Herrmann recognizes that Cruz needs more than time alone, so he checks on him and encourages him to return to Firehouse 51. Once reunited with his colleagues, Cruz begins reconnecting with the parts of himself that remain intact. He works on equipment, offers advice, and finds new ways to contribute, even though he cannot yet return to active duty.
The storyline is particularly effective because it does not offer an instant solution. Cruz is still dealing with the emotional consequences of his injury, but reconnecting with his firehouse family gives him a reason to keep moving forward. Herrmann’s intervention also captures what Chicago Fire does best: showing that looking after one another does not stop when the emergency ends. Sometimes, recognizing that a colleague is struggling and refusing to let him face it alone is just as important as answering a call.
The episode also raises intriguing questions about Burke. Throughout the hour, the new candidate keeps his distance from the others and even avoids visiting Tony in the hospital. His guarded behavior feels deliberate, suggesting that something personal is preventing him from connecting with the team. The closing scene offers the first significant clue: Burke visits a young man in a hospital bed who shares his surname. The patient’s birth year suggests that he could be Burke’s younger brother, hinting at a painful family situation that may explain his behavior. This brief but effective reveal adds another layer to a character we are only beginning to understand.
“Take the Hit” succeeds because it connects its storylines through a common theme: accepting responsibility for yourself and those who depend on you. McCaffrey refuses to face the consequences of his actions, while Kidd and Severide demonstrate the importance of standing by their principles. Cruz, meanwhile, must confront a different kind of responsibility—the difficult work of rebuilding his life after an injury that has shaken his sense of identity.
The episode’s handling of Cruz is especially moving, with Herrmann’s support reminding us of the emotional bonds that hold Firehouse 51 together. The Burke mystery adds just enough intrigue to move his story forward without distracting from the episode’s main developments.
With a tense emergency, a satisfying confrontation over nepotism, and meaningful character work, “Take the Hit” delivers the balanced storytelling that makes Chicago Fire so compelling. This season, the firehouse faces more than dangerous calls, and the episode makes it clear that how these characters support and hold one another accountable will matter just as much. Overall, I give “Take the Hit” a 9/10.
Chicago P.D. Review: “Under the Surface” — A Gruesome Murder and a Dangerous Game of Leverage
A brutal murder pulls Intelligence into a disturbing investigation, but the greatest threat to Voight may be coming from within the system. “Under the Surface” delivers a dark, unsettling case while pushing the increasingly tense standoff between Voight and FBI Agent Charlie Boyden into new territory. The episode balances the grim realities of police work with institutional maneuvering, then ends with a shocking development that suggests the investigation is far from over.
The case begins when LeSean, one of Voight’s former confidential informants, provides a tip that leads the team to the dismembered remains of 16-year-old Kendra Simmons. Her body has been placed in blue shopping bags and dumped in the water. It is a horrifying discovery, and the investigation quickly becomes a search for someone capable of such brutality. With help from Tia, a driver and informant who agrees to share what she knows in exchange for $30,000, the team eventually connects the murder to Rob Parker, a local drug dealer known as B-Rock.
Tia’s information leads Voight and Burgess to an abandoned building, where they uncover evidence linking B-Rock to Kendra’s torture and murder. When the team finally confronts him, B-Rock pulls a gun, forcing Voight to shoot him. The confrontation closes the case, but it doesn't provide the satisfying resolution the team needs to move on. Kendra’s death remains deeply disturbing, and the circumstances surrounding it raise questions about who else may have been involved.
Meanwhile, Voight is fighting a battle of his own. Boyden launches a federal audit of Intelligence and freezes the unit’s essential 1505 street fund. The move threatens Voight’s ability to pay informants and conduct the street-level work his team relies on. It is a calculated pressure tactic designed to force Voight to find another way to keep his operation running.
Rather than accept the restrictions, Voight begins investigating Boyden’s interests and discovers that the agent is searching for a missing 2023 case file involving Arturo Dominguez. Voight recognizes an opportunity to turn the tables. He offers Boyden the file in exchange for releasing the frozen funds, creating an uneasy arrangement between two men who clearly don't trust each other.
Their conflict is one of the episode’s most compelling elements. Boyden has the federal authority to make Voight’s job considerably harder, while Voight knows how to exploit information and relationships to get what he needs. Neither man is willing to surrender control, and their interactions suggest this is becoming as much a battle of strategy as a procedural disagreement. The episode also adds depth to Boyden by touching on his financial acumen and the personal trauma he carries from the Flint water crisis. That background makes him a more nuanced figure, even if his motivations and the full significance of the Dominguez file remain unclear.
The episode’s final minutes deliver its biggest shock. After B-Rock’s death, LeSean warns Voight that street activity is escalating as other dealers move to claim the territory left behind. When Voight returns to meet him, he finds LeSean murdered in his car. The discovery turns what initially seemed like a contained investigation into something far more troubling.
Tia also emerges as a figure worth watching. Her role in bringing down B-Rock raises the question of whether she was simply providing information or pursuing a larger objective. The possibility that she orchestrated his downfall to take control of his operation adds an intriguing layer of uncertainty. However, the episode stops short of confirming her involvement, leaving the audience to wonder who may be manipulating events behind the scenes.
“Under the Surface” is a compelling, if grim, episode of Chicago P.D. The murder investigation delivers plenty of tension, while the conflict between Voight and Boyden introduces a broader institutional struggle that could have serious consequences for Intelligence. Voight’s willingness to negotiate with Boyden demonstrates his resourcefulness, but their arrangement also reinforces how vulnerable the unit has become under federal scrutiny.
The episode’s greatest strength is its ending. LeSean’s murder raises the stakes and suggests that removing B-Rock from the streets may have created an even more dangerous situation. Although the larger questions surrounding Tia and the Dominguez file remain unanswered, that uncertainty gives the story momentum heading into the next episode.
With a disturbing case, a battle of wills between Voight and Boyden, and a final twist that casts the investigation in a new light, “Under the Surface” earns an 8/10. Voight may have found a way around the FBI’s financial restrictions, but the death of someone he trusted reminds him that the consequences of this case could reach much further than he anticipated.
What did you think of Episode 3 of One Chicago? Leave a comment.
Catch One Chicago Wednesdays beginning at 8/7c on NBC and stream on Peacock.
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