One Chicago Seasons Get a Welcome Boost in Episode Count!
When Deadline initially reported the news of the One Chicago shows being renewed for their new seasons (Chicago Fire season 13, Chicago Med season 10, and Chicago PD season 12), it noted that the episode orders were set to be shorter than the current seasons. Considering all three shows each had 22 episodes in their most recent runs, this seemed to suggest a potential shift towards shorter episode counts, more in line with some competitors that often land in the 18 to 20 episode range. This would have been a disappointing change for many loyal viewers who are accustomed to the longer seasons.
Fortunately, fans can breathe a sigh of relief, as that isn’t going to be the case for the One Chicago shows! It’s now confirmed that the forthcoming seasons of Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, and Chicago PD will each consist of a total of 21 episodes.
While these upcoming seasons will be one episode shorter than their most recent full runs, 21-episode seasons are a much better outcome than seeing the episode counts drop below 20. It’s important to remember that the shows have had shorter seasons in the past, primarily during the pandemic years and following the 2023 writers and actors’ union strikes, but this is a standard year, making the slight reduction notable.
Minimal Impact on Schedule and Storytelling
Yes, this means there will be one fewer episode next season, but we don’t anticipate the episode count will impact the show’s schedules too much. It simply means we’ll likely see Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, and Chicago PD end their seasons slightly earlier in May or simply take a longer break at some point in the season, such as during their winter hiatus or sometime in the spring. For viewers, this is a minor adjustment that won’t significantly disrupt their viewing habits.
More importantly, we’re not concerned about the slightly shorter episode count impacting the creative teams’ ability to tell compelling stories. Twenty-one episodes will still give the Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, and Chicago PD writing teams plenty of time to map out their season’s key storylines. We also imagine it should still give them the chance to work in some “bottle episodes.” These episodes may not always advance the season’s overarching plots, but they can often provide unique character focus or deliver some truly fun, memorable installments.
In a television landscape where many shows are being reduced to much shorter 13-to-18 episode counts per season, happily accepting a 21-episode season for Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, and Chicago PD is a no-brainer for devoted fans. And who knows, while 21 is the current unconfirmed number, perhaps NBC might even surprise us in the end with a full 22-episode order.
For now, the news is overwhelmingly positive, ensuring that the One Chicago universe will continue to deliver the robust, dramatic, and action-packed seasons that fans have come to love and expect.
