In a TV landscape dominated by shortened seasons, cliffhangers, and streaming chaos, NBC just delivered the kind of surprise that has One Chicago fans buzzing with excitement. The upcoming seasons of Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, and Chicago P.D. will all be longer than expected — a rare treat in an era where networks often cut back on episode orders. NBC initially projected standard episode counts for its three Chicago-based dramas — usually between 16 and 18 episodes, especially following industry strikes and scheduling shifts in recent years. However, new reports confirm that each series is now expected to run upwards of 20 to 22 episodes in the next season.
The decision to extend the seasons comes as a response to overwhelming fan support, strong ratings, and a renewed sense of stability in network programming post-strike. NBC has reportedly seen consistent success from the One Chicago block on Wednesday nights, often leading its time slot in both live and delayed viewership. Behind the scenes, writers and producers have also been eager to explore stories that were previously shelved or cut due to time constraints. These additional episodes will give creators more breathing room to develop ongoing arcs and introduce compelling standalone episodes — something that longtime fans crave.
For Chicago Fire, the extended season means more time inside Firehouse 51 — and more room to explore the emotional toll of high-stakes rescues. After recent cast shifts and shocking exits, including questions about Severide’s future and Casey’s guest appearances, the longer season gives writers the runway to tie up loose ends and launch fresh storylines. Fans can also expect deeper development for supporting characters like Ritter, Violet, and Carver. The added episodes may even allow for long-awaited returns of legacy characters or closure for past relationships that were left hanging.
Chicago Med, often the most emotionally grounded of the trio, will benefit greatly from a longer season. In past years, truncated seasons meant that complex ethical dilemmas and medical mysteries were often crammed into tight timelines. Now, the hospital drama will have the flexibility to allow cases to unfold naturally. There’s also room for stronger arcs involving the doctors and nurses whose personal lives have often taken a backseat to the action. Expect more nuanced stories involving Dr. Charles, Dr. Archer, and Crockett Marcel — along with new residents who bring fresh dynamics to the emergency department.
Importantly, Med has always thrived on intertwining patient-of-the-week stories with broader season-long themes. A longer season means more connective tissue between episodes, giving it the prestige tone of a serialized medical saga rather than just episodic content. For Chicago P.D., a show that’s never shied away from morally complex territory, the longer episode order is a game-changer. After recent gut-punch storylines — including the shocking loss of Chief O’Neal and rising internal tensions — Intelligence now has the space to rebuild, reflect, and go darker than ever.
More episodes mean more time to flesh out character arcs for Atwater, Upton, and Ruzek, whose emotional journeys often get squeezed into explosive case-of-the-week stories. It’s also an opportunity for the writers to revisit past consequences and reignite unresolved conflicts from earlier seasons. And of course, there’s Hank Voight. With more screen time, expect Voight’s leadership to be tested in ways we haven’t seen before — especially if the team faces internal corruption, political pressure, or new recruits who don’t play by the rules.
One of the most exciting implications of longer seasons is the return of more frequent crossovers. In recent years, limited episode counts and scheduling issues made it difficult to stage the full-blown event episodes that used to define the One Chicago franchise. But with more time and coordination, fans may finally get the interconnected storylines they’ve been missing. Imagine a major city-wide blackout affecting all three departments — Fire, Med, and P.D. — with each show focusing on how their characters respond to the same shared crisis. Or a patient who appears across multiple episodes and series, revealing a web of mystery that only the combined One Chicago teams can unravel. According to insiders, at least two major crossover events are already in development, and longer seasons give NBC more flexibility to air them without disrupting the flow of each individual show.
The longer run also paves the way for the return of familiar faces and the introduction of new ones. Former characters like Dr. Choi (Chicago Med), Casey (Chicago Fire), or even Halstead (Chicago P.D.) could pop back in for arcs that wouldn’t have fit in a 16-episode season. At the same time, producers have hinted that new recurring characters are on the way — some of whom may test the dynamics of existing teams. Whether it’s a firehouse rookie, a bold new detective, or a disruptive hospital administrator, the One Chicago universe is about to get more crowded — and that’s not a bad thing.
