Last night's One Chicago Crossover event was intense and thrilling in that it felt like the Super Bowl of all Crossover events. Here's a recap!
The three-hour crossover event started like any other day as the gang from Fire, Med, and PD had a tailgating party outside of Solider Stadium. But soon, they notice a mysterious man drawing a big crowd and collapse; when they check on him, they see his leg has been infected. What turns into a baffling mystery turns into a horror as not only the guy from the game but four more people (including a mother and her child) showing the same symptoms of the flesh-eating bacteria.
As soon as Fire, Med, and PD work, an arson occurs at the University of Chicago bio-lab. Voight and the team take a foot on the case, and soon Hailey finds the next victim but also has contact with the victim with her blood on her. As Hailey is in quarantine along with everyone from that building as its placement zero, Will and a former colleague work with the scientist from the university laboratory to find a cure for this disease. If that wasn't enough, Goodwin is getting killed by the press as they're just trying to put fear into the news, while those in quarantine escape because they don't want to be there.
But PD gets their first lead, a man posing as an exterminator spraying bug spray around that apartment, and Ruzek and Burgess find their suspect, who just so happens to be working with Will at Med. Will spots the scientist destroying their work for a cure and attacks Will and leaves. As PD goes on the hunt, Chicago has been taking their own hands with their fears from the internet, including attacking a local favorite restaurant.
As the suspect plays with PD, Voight turns the tables and searches history on the guy going six months, which leads to a place at the docks. Ruzek spots a map of the following location, the Octoberfest parade route, but nothing happens. It wasn't until Burgess and Ruzek found a pattern that BRT Health Corp. decided to cut the suspect's funding and planned to be at the board meeting scheduled for that day.
As Fire and PD get there, Halstead comes with the cure; Jay locates the suspect with hostages, some infected with the disease. As Jay talks with him, Hailey tries to get a shot from across the building, but nothing. Jay takes a risk by cutting his arm to place the bacteria, but Voight has other plans. Hailey takes a distraction shot, and Voight comes in, shooting the suspect dead. As all calms down, life returns to being expected in Chicago.
To note: During the episode, Cruz gets awkward with Chloe, and when Brett and Mouch demand answers from him, he tells them that he will pop the question. But it seems that Chloe had other plans as she calls their relationship off. Also, as the episode ends, we see Ruzek asking Burgess if she would like to go with him; she does.
"Infection" was the best crossover event since the Fire and PD began seven years ago. I thought they couldn't have topped the last couple, but they sure have. While watching the first 30 minutes of the first episode, it felt like an hour and a half with so much to take in. There were moments of fear, like when Burgess looked at the mother in the van, who was still alive with the infection.
The performance of the cast was excellent; they did a fabulous job. There might be technical issues, like hearing Jesse Spencer's authentic voice when throwing the football, but it wasn't a whole letdown. There were emotional moments with intense thrills, too, from Hailey bonding with Amanda to even Trudy telling CPD officers what was at stake. I thought I knew what television high was, but after this crossover event, I know now what it feels like—strong writing and story plot. Overall, I give this episode event a 10/10.
You can catch Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, and Chicago PD on Wednesdays beginning at 8/7c on NBC.
