One Chicago Scenes That Really Pushed The Limits

If there was a Marvel Cinematic Universe of soap-style TV, it would undoubtedly be "One Chicago." An umbrella term used to label "Chicago Med," "Chicago Fire," and "Chicago P.D.," the links between the three make for a unique dynamic that takes in the drama and everyday strife of police, hospital, and fire departments and makes it all doubly entertaining. With casts that frequently cross over into different seasons and shows, it's easy for fans to fall in love with characters. Though tears of joy, heartfelt romances, and happy endings do have their place in each of the shows, terror and trauma are never too far behind.

With key characters often leaving and returning from the triage of shows, it's safe to say that viewers should always expect the unexpected. From a life-threatening bacteria that takes over the streets of Chicago to unexpected deaths and murders, the world of "One Chicago" isn't afraid to get its hands dirty when it needs to. Sometimes, it seems as though storylines go a step too far, prioritizing drama over the sake of quality — or the well-being of fans. Below, a few (spoiler-heavy) examples of times "One Chicago" really pushed its storytelling to the limits.

As one of the OG characters in "Chicago Fire," former fire department captain Matthew Casey has remained a fan favorite even after his departure. The relationship between him and former firefighter Gabriela Dawson certainly had its ups and downs, but none more devastating than the loss of their baby in Season 4. By the episode "I Am The Apocalypse," fans learn that their child has been conceived by accident, leading to the two getting back together after his near-death experience in "Spartacus." The pair are overjoyed to announce it, with Gabby taking a leave of absence from her job.

At the end of the episode "I Walk Away," viewers see Gabby collapse with cramps, leading to the revelation that her pregnancy is ectopic. "Your Day Is Coming" harrowingly deals with the fallout, showing the reality of pregnancies not being an IUP (intrauterine pregnancy) in astonishing detail. While viewers expect Gabby to be heartbroken, it's a nice surprise to see Casey equally as involved in the process and emotional grief — with the only saving grace being that Gabby is able to fully recover after an intense round of surgery.

When it comes to season finale cliffhangers, "Chicago Fire" doesn't hold back from ending things on a soul-destroying note. In the case of "My Miracle" (Season 5, Episode 22), all of the firehouse was at risk thanks to a callout of a warehouse fire. Fans had to grapple with the idea of losing Casey, Herrmann, and Mouch all in one go, with even more strain added to Casey and Gabby's relationship. The majority of Firehouse 51 remained trapped inside, with Mouch having a heart attack and Casey leaving Gabby an emotional goodbye over the team's radio.

The episode is an assault on the senses, throwing all current storylines and narrative arcs into jeopardy at the drop of a hat. The fact that life-or-death drama is happening to the whole team rather than a few individuals only heightens the stakes, with Casey's line of "You're my miracle, Gabby" the unexpected punch to the gut that fans don't need. What's even worse is that Season 6 aired four months after the warehouse fire, meaning viewers had to wait on tenterhooks to find out the full extent of the damage.

Before Season 7 of "Chicago P.D." had even hit screens, viewers had already said their goodbyes to patrol officer Sean Roman. After initially checking out in Season 3 thanks to a gunshot injury that effectively ended his career, his return in "Burden Of Truth" (Season 7, Episode 15) was something of a bittersweet reunion. Considering Roman had been gone for the better part of four years, common sense would dictate that the reason to bring him back would be monumentally fulfilling — a change of heart, a new role, or patching things up with people left behind. Instead, Roman's return put him on the hunt for his missing sister.

Though it seems like a particularly cruel reason to bring Roman back, things go from bad to worse when he finds her frozen to death in the snow. Roman's face immediately crumbles beyond repair the instant he finds her, leading to a painstaking eulogy given before he leaves for good. Taking into account the fact that some fans had always wanted him to return, making him retreat on such a sour note feels cruel. Though none of the "One Chicago" series has ever shied away from a crossover, this particular return seemed like drama for drama's sake.

Another character fully sewn into the wider web of "One Chicago" is former CPD Intelligence Unit member Jay Halstead, a widely beloved fan favorite. Known for his kind and gentle spirit, Jay works through his childhood PTSD at the same time as tackling some of the team's toughest interrogations. 

In the premiere episode of the fifth season of "Chicago P.D.: entitled "Reform," Jay is put through the wringer once again, pushing his mental and emotional strength to the limits. He becomes embroiled in a brutal shootout, with innocent people caught in the crossfire.

The punch to the gut is when Jay learns that a stray bullet from his gun has hit a little girl. Immediately caught between his grief and guilt, Jay's apology to the mother offers little consolation, as the girl eventually dies. It's a tough opener for any season of "Chicago P.D.," made more controversial by the fact the storyline actively examines gun culture. Personal issues aside, Jay has a lot that he needs to deal with — and when it comes down to it, taking trauma in its stride is a part of the P.D.'s everyday reality.

Though "One Chicago" shows my sometimes be viewed as far-fetched, they have a tendency to become soberingly devastating when touching on real life. Nowhere has this been more true than in the "Chicago Med" episode "Never Let You Go" (Season 4, Episode 1), which kicked off the show's fourth season with high drama. 

As the hospital finds itself at the mercy of an active teenage shooter (the gunman has recently learned that his girlfriend is pregnant with plans to put the baby up for adoption), the teen wants to take his baby with him. Dr. Choi is unable to perform the surgery, instead talking April through how to do it.

It's a tension-filled episode, and the stakes have perhaps never been higher for the "Chicago Med" team. A sense of impending doom is apparent, with everyone in the hospital effectively at risk. Tackling active shooters head-on is never an easy task for any series, nor does it make for comfortable watching. "Never Let You Go" ranks among the most brutally gripping "Chicago One" episodes of all time, as each step of the way feels like it could signal the end for anyone in the series cast.

When the "One Chicago" doctors and nurses spiral, they really lose it. No more so than in "Too Close to the Sun," the Season 5, Episode 8 of "Med" that took Nurse Maggie Lockwood to the point of no return.

Tasked with triaging patients in the ED as they arrive, Maggie's dedication and no-nonsense attitude are what typically come to the fore of her work. For Maggie, things went downhill as she began chemotherapy for her cancer diagnosis.

If that wasn't enough to deal with, her boyfriend Ben is soon admitted to the ED with full-blown pneumonia. Believing the situation is her fault, she forges colleague Dr. Natalie Manning's signature to sign him out, taking care of him at home in his final hours. It's a careless decision on the basis that his primary measles outbreak could potentially infect their children, but Maggie's also breaking the law and risks serious jail time. 

A complete 180 move from the professionalism that previously put her among the most level-headed of the series, Maggie's thinking could be chalked up to a reckless reaction or a lack of competency given her own cancer treatment. Some Reddit users consider Maggie to be one of the more annoying characters on the show; they were likely the only ones thrilled when her actions took her a step too far.