This week’s Chicago Med delivered a gut-wrenching hour, putting Dr. Ripley squarely in the line of fire — or, more accurately, a collapsing well. “Down in a Hole” began with a seemingly straightforward rescue mission that quickly spiraled into a desperate fight for survival. When Sadie and Emelia Smith, a mother and daughter, found themselves trapped in an unguarded well, Ripley, eager to prove his worth to Dr. Asher, didn’t hesitate to descend into the darkness.
Inside the cramped confines of the well, Ripley faced a grim choice: amputate Sadie’s broken leg or risk further, potentially life-threatening injuries. It was a high-stakes call, made even more tense by the precarious situation. With Dr. Charles providing support from above ground, guiding Ripley through his claustrophobia and helping him manage his breathing, the amputation was a success. The break, ironically, prevented Sadie from falling further and suffering more serious injuries.
But just as it seemed the rescue was nearing completion, disaster struck. The tunnel hastily constructed to aid the extraction collapsed, burying Ripley alive. Trapped and facing dwindling oxygen, Ripley’s thoughts drifted to Sully, his deceased friend, whose memory spurred him to fight for survival. His eventual, dramatic reunion with Asher provided one of the episode’s few moments of relief.
Meanwhile, away from the well’s edge, Dr. Frost dealt with a different kind of emotional upheaval. Ainsley Towne, an actress who played his TV mom two decades earlier, reappeared in his life. Her unexpected visit and an awkward attempt to kiss Frost hinted at a potentially inappropriate past relationship when he was a child actor, adding a troubling dimension to Frost’s usually unflappable demeanor. In brighter news, Asher’s sister revealed her pregnancy, a joyous moment after a long struggle with fertility issues, a struggle Asher herself had been instrumental in helping overcome.
While Ripley’s life hung in the balance, the firefighters of Firehouse 128 worked tirelessly alongside him, keeping Sadie and Emelia calm amidst the chaos. The rapport they built proved crucial in coordinating the perilous rescue.
Chicago Med airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on NBC.
