Spin-Off Goals: Could ‘Chicago Fire,’ ‘PD,’ and ‘Med’ launch a new Chicago Syndicate?
Over the course of the past few years, Dick Wolf has used the city of Chicago as a brilliant backdrop to many shows. It started with “Chicago Fire,” only to then morph eventually over into “Chicago Med” and “Chicago PD.” Now, it’s looking like there could be a “Chicago Law” on the horizon, which means that we’re going to have a really great chance to see if this franchise can succeed transferring over in the legal world.
But what about the illegal world? Maybe we just don’t think that there are enough bad guys on TV right now or something, but we’re here with the latest chapter of our month-long Spin-Off Goals series discussing a possible “Chicago Syndicate” show and what it could mean for the franchise to have criminals be in the spotlight for a change.
Why a crime syndicate? – The idea here is that you would be able to tell some more stories about the reality of what Chicago is: A tough, gritty place where dreams don’t often come true. You don’t have to make this group out to be a league of villains; instead, think of them as Walter White figures, people who wanted to do good at some point who eventually took on a life of crime because it was a way for them to get ahead. It’s an idea that could be eye-opening for some, and there’s really not another show out there on network TV that focuses on criminals in a way that will paint the reality of their situation.
The idea – Tell a story revolving around a group of criminals trying to evade the authorities and commit crimes for a variety of different reasons. Everyone gets into the business for different reasons, and we get to explore their personal lives and how some of their actions impact the people they care about. Also, the spin-off potential here is easy to figure out. They’d be constantly clashing with the police, they need medical attention on a fairly regular basis (they get into tough situations), and we can at least figure out some situations they’d be around some of the “Chicago Fire” paramedics.
Could it actually happen? – Never say never, but it’s unlikely. Part of what makes the “Chicago” franchise popular is that at the end of the episode, you’re rooting for the good guys and you’re recognizing the heroes. Some of them are flawed, but they want to do what’s right most of the time. Would Dick Wolf really want a show where most of the characters aren’t that likable? It seems like a great idea for cable where you can be a little riskier, but NBC is probably more comfortable branching out with “Chicago Law.”
What do you think about this idea, and would you watch “Chicago Syndicate”?