Well, the winter premiere of Chicago Med didn’t waste any time throwing us back into the deep end. It opens with the brutal attack on Sharon Goodwin, the heart and soul of Gaffney Chicago Medical Center, by a grieving widow. This sets the stage for a chaotic and emotional hour of television.
Let’s start with the big one: Goodwin, stabbed and bleeding out, is luckily found by Dr. Archer – a man seemingly on his way out the door. Archer, despite his impending resignation, steps up and performs a life-saving procedure in the ED. The irony isn’t lost on anyone, least of all Archer, who later has to make another tough call when Goodwin’s daughter refuses to consent to a risky surgery. He does it anyway, and it pays off – for now. Goodwin pulls through, though her recovery is far from guaranteed.
Meanwhile, we get a double dose of Dr. Charles drama. First, he butts heads with Dr. Reese, back from wherever she’s been lurking, who files a complaint against him for suspected medical misconduct. The complaint revolves around a patient Charles believes is being given placebos instead of actual treatment. Turns out, the patient has a rare memory disorder, not depression. So, Charles isn’t wrong, but the situation is still messy.
Elsewhere in the hospital, Dr. Frost gets a haircut, or rather, gives one – to a young patient terrified of another brain surgery. And Dr. Abrams, under pressure, pulls off a miracle surgery without shaving the girl’s head. It’s heartwarming, sure, but feels a bit like filler amidst the Goodwin/Archer/Charles rollercoaster.
The episode ends with a couple of big decisions. Reese, her issues with Charles seemingly resolved, departs (again). And Archer, after saving the day (and Goodwin), chooses to stick around. Guess Gaffney just can’t function without a healthy dose of dysfunction.
Chicago Med airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on NBC.
