Let’s just say that the fall finale of Chicago Med didn’t exactly go smoothly at Gaffney Chicago Medical Center. The episode, “Love Will Tear Us Apart”, left viewers with more questions than answers, a potential departure, and a frankly underwhelming stalker reveal that even the most devoted fans probably saw coming a mile away.
The central drama revolved around Dr. Archer, who faced a demotion from his position as ED Chief. Archer, never one to take a professional setback lightly, contemplated resigning. However, just as he was about to hand in his walking papers, he stumbled upon Sharon Goodwin, the hospital administrator, who had been stabbed by her stalker. This conveniently placed Archer at the center of the cliffhanger ending, but the entire scenario felt a bit forced, even for a show known for its dramatic twists.
Speaking of underwhelming, the culmination of the stalker storyline proved anticlimactic. After weeks of speculation and red herrings, the culprit turned out to be a disgruntled ex-wife of a former patient, a character with absolutely no prior connection to the show.
The Intelligence Unit, led by Hank Voight and Kevin Atwater, spent the episode chasing a completely different suspect, Paul Dunn, in a sequence that felt like filler designed to distract from the predictable reveal. Many fans had theorized that a fired resident from a previous episode, Zach Hudgins, would be the stalker, making the actual reveal all the more unsatisfying.
In other news, Dr. Reese, a former psychiatrist at Gaffney, made her return after a six-year absence. Her reappearance, while potentially interesting, led to a rather tired conflict with Dr. Charles over her methods for treating a suicidal patient. Reese’s decision to secretly administer placebos to wean a patient off antidepressants raised serious questions about her professional judgment. Their past conflict, stemming from Reese’s father’s death and her subsequent accusations against Charles, was largely ignored, leaving viewers without crucial context.
Amidst the drama and predictable plotlines, the episode also featured a by-the-numbers patient-of-the-week storyline involving a man injured in a car accident who wanted to marry his girlfriend before a potentially life-threatening surgery. Dr. Archer, ever the resourceful one, got ordained online to perform the ceremony, because why not?
The episode also offered a brief glimpse into Dr. Lenox’s backstory, revealing that she has a brother struggling with addiction issues and that both of her parents are deceased. While this could potentially be interesting in the future, it felt shoehorned into an already overstuffed episode.
Finally, the cliffhanger ending itself was more confusing than compelling. Inconsistencies surrounding Goodwin’s injuries and her ability to call for help after being stabbed left viewers scratching their heads rather than on the edge of their seats.
Chicago Med airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on NBC.
