The One Chicago franchise consists of three shows based on the personal and work lives of first responders. Over the years, the shows have garnered the attention of many viewers who enjoy the nail-biting action scenes and unpredictable romance. All three shows take place in the same city, so they all correspond to one another, with occasional crossovers. Although the shows are similar, they have many differences in their presentations, which leads to the question: which show is the most entertaining and has the best visuals?
Chicago Fire
Chicago Fire began in 2012, making it the oldest show in the One Chicago franchise. The show has gained popularity through its depiction of a firefighter’s daily job as it parallels the struggles they may face in their personal life. The show fluctuates its main characters, as many cast members have left the show over the past few years. Although Chicago Fire gives the viewer an in-depth view of fatal situations a firefighter may face, its sequences become repetitive and the show itself becomes boring after a few seasons. The character development of the main characters varies because of the frequent character changes. Out of all of the One Chicago shows, Chicago Fire is my least favorite, but it is definitely still worth watching.
Chicago PD
Chicago PD is the “middle” show, first airing in 2013. Chicago PD shows the lives of members of the Chicago Police Intelligence Unit. The unit goes after higher-level crimes, which usually leads to gruesome visuals and mysterious cases. The show also emphasizes the character development of the characters in their personal lives. I believe that Chicago PD is the best show out of the franchise because it has action-packed scenes as well as difficult and relatable personal situations. The show does not lose characters as frequently as the others and is always interesting to viewers. Personally, Chicago PD is my favorite show and I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys police or criminal law shows, as well as to people who enjoy the other One Chicago series.
Chicago Med
Chicago Med is the most recent show in the One Chicago franchise, starting in 2015. The show describes the lives of doctors and nurses and their efforts to save patients’ lives. Chicago Med also does a great job of showing character development, but it is not as realistic as Chicago PD. The medical aspect of the show can be noticeably unrealistic, but the show itself is very entertaining. Overall, I enjoy watching Chicago Med, but it would not be my first choice from the One Chicago collection.
Although there is no right or wrong answer and opinions of all television shows are subjective, I believe that Chicago PD is the most entertaining, with the best visual effects. The other shows are written very well and the characters execute their roles to the best of their abilities. All in all, I would recommend any of these shows to anyone needing a show recommendation, and I hope you take the One Chicago franchise into consideration.
