Difference in Helping: Chicago Med "Pain is For the Living"/"It May Not Be Forever"

"Pain is For the Living."

"Man, the day sucked."

You can say that again, Dr. Charlies. Wow, this episode of Chicago Med titled "Pain is For the Living" was another powerful installment of our heroes at Chicago Med dealing with the not-so-good and some-good moments, from Dr. Charles and Choi treating a family that has an 11-year-old boy that has anger issues after coming in from beating up his little brother. Marcil also didn't have a good day as he lost a patient that he should have saved but later learned that his patient died from a bullet while driving.

Meanwhile, Natalie was struck when a mother, who showed no signs of worry about her baby, came to find out that she had a genetic disorder and could feel no pain. At the same time, Will treats a patient with a cyst in the bowel. But the twist comes when a doctor for his patient happens to be the one that he had saved at the off-site clinic.

This episode was as good as it could have been. The Natalie story was intriguing, with the mother not feeling any pain. Marcil took another nose dive and should have taken the x-ray on that patient but didn't. The angry child storyline was so good and powerful to watch these doctors try to find a way for this kid to get the treatment he needed. And it looks like Halstead is at the corner with Dr. Asher as someone who could take him down. Oh boy! Overall, I give this episode an 8.5/10.

"It May Not Be Forever" 

When a car crash victim of a husband and wife comes to Chicago Med, it becomes more than just a random accident. As Natalie treats the wife, she sees evidence of abuse; while Marcil is treating the husband, she needs to have part of his leg taken off. When Marcil asks the wife for permission, she declines and wants to wait. It took Goodwin and the Ethics Board to rule over the wife. But by the end, the wife ended her husband by shutting down his ventral machine and was taken to jail.

Ethan and April deal with a young married couple, and the wife is suffering from some allergic reaction. It was when April saw them having sex in the room that Ethan put two and two together to come up with the idea that the wife was allergic to her husband's seaman. But it's excellent. April and Ethan are close as they have their romantic dinner and a ready crib.

Curry finally gets a solid win as she and Dr. Charles cure a boy from what was a misdiagnosis. While Will tries to get Dr. Asher the help she needs, even if it has him quitting the clinic.

"It May Not Be Forever" was a good episode from start to finish. While some cases, like the one in Ethan and April, were a bit predictable, Curry and Charles were very good with character growth. The Marcil and Natalie story was also good, but I feel this relationship is building to something. I feel like where Will is is a good story arc, and it makes me nervous about where this whole thing with Asher is going. Overall, I give this episode an 8/10.

You can catch Chicago Med Wednesdays at 8/7c on NBC.

Believe: Chicago Med "The Ground Shifts Beneath Us"/"Leave the Choice to Solomon"

"The Ground Shifts Beneath Us"

  When Med gets a call about a plane crash, they get unexpected news that one of them was on the plane. Ethan and Marcil treat Dr. Abrams when he's suffering from third-degree burns. When Abram's wife comes, she wants her husband to be taken off life support, but Ethan doesn't think she should make that decision. After being turned down by the ethics board, Ethan goes outside for air and sees Abrams outside the hospital that just got in. It turns out the patient was a drug reparative.

April and Noah deal with two families whose embryos were switched. The idea of IVF gives April hope that she still wants to have babies with Ethan and wants to provide IV with a try.

Gwen is in trouble for leaving her eight-month-old baby in a cold car; to make matters worse, she is going through a divorce with her husband. Goodwin tries to bond with her and to get her to tell the baby's father the truth. Instead, she doesn't, and Natalie says with the circumstances for Gwen away, Will's plan proposal for an on-site for those that need a drug fix can be supervised.

"The Ground Shifts Beneath Us" was a good episode that kept me on the edge of my seat at times. I thought that the character Gwen lifted the shield to see her softer side, but later on, she put it back in use. Halstead will be in deep water if someone finds out about this illegal offsite for drug users. Overall, I give this episode an 8/10.

"Leave the Choice to Solomon"

In this episode, we see Marcil as we've never seen him before. When a school bus crashed, Natalie and Marcil were there; they helped two kids who were trapped with an iron bar through their bodies. Marcil takes the risky approach of cutting them out and moving them back to the Med. There, Marcil gets the boy removed from the bar, but soon, both the girl and boy suffer some complications that put his judgment to the test. Natalie questions why he's playing safe with the boy and soon saves the boy like Marcil only can risk

April and Ethan deal with another student crash victim suffering from respiratory issues. Soon, Ethan learns that the child's father is vaping, which means the patient is also vaping. After running some tests, it shows that the patient's lungs have suffered pretty damaged from vaping and that there's no new treatment since it's unique.

Maggie reunites with a friend about to get a new bone marrow; when the donor has the flu, Maggie jumps to action to get everyone tested. After Goodwin stops the staff from donating blood, people in the waiting room do their part, and after many, many blood samples, there is a donor for Maggie's friend, but it is too late. In the uplifting moment, Maggie learns that what she has done has saved many more lives.

Dr. Charles and Will's work relationships are tested as Will tries desperately to get his patient a new heart valve, but with the history of drug use, it's unlikely. Will does the unthinkable and gives Dr. Solomon a false diagnosis, but the surgery would go even if the patient's partner sneaked him some drugs. I will apologize to Charles and even try to leave the off-site and get a gift from a patient who almost overdosed at the client earlier.

"Leave the choice to Solomon" was a good episode with some interesting cases and an excellent character development of Crockett Marcil. I think he might have lost a child he once had with someone or that he could have lost his family in an accident years ago. The story with the vaping was perfect, and the Halstead and Charles were intense. Overall, I give this episode an 8.5/10.

You can catch Chicago Med Wednesdays at 8/7c on NBC.

Sing of Your Troubles: Chicago Med "Guess it Doesn't Matter Anymore" Winter Premiere

Chicago Med returns with a powerful episode. Here's a recap.

As the episode opened up, Dr. Charles has lost his wife and tries to keep himself busy in his office. That is until Curry needs help on a patient that has severe panic attacks and she thought that using an app to sing your troubles way would help. But Charles was curious about the patient after she had left and suffered another panic attack after taking another anti-depressant; which leads to a different diagnosis.

April and Marcil battle it out over a patient that doesn't want surgery; but got it anyway when his stomach was big as a balloon. The two also try to make that the kiss meant nothing and that it's water under the bridge. Later that night April gets a surprise visit from Ethan and he proposes to her with only one reception that she couldn't have children, but says yes to his proposal.

Natalie and Will look to be back as friends and when a case of an injured boy and a mother that was high earlier; Halstead learns that the mother was a former patient of his and that he was the one that prescribes the pain meds that she's addicted to. Will tries to find a way to help her and keep her son together and using a rapid detox was the only way. After a day or two later, the detox worked but CPF came and took full custody of her child; in which she ran off and overdosed and died.

In the end, Dr. Charles proves to Curry that singing can take your troubles away and sings a song at Molly's on karaoke night.

"Guess It Doesn't Matter Anymore" was a very powerful episode; that opens up the story arc of Will and the pain pill addiction that's been going on for the past few years. I thought that Oliver Platt gave an amazing performance. The writing was good with great character development. Overall, I give this episode an 8.5/10.

You can catch Chicago Med Wednesdays at 8/7c on NBC.

Fly: Chicago Med "I Can't Imagine the Future" Fall Finale

The fall finale of Chicago Med holds nothing back. Here's a recap!

In the fall finale, we see Dr. Charles do one last thing for his wife: throw a party with family and friends. At the same time, it may not be something new for Charles to do for someone. It's a real turning point for the character as, at the start of the episode, he gets overwhelmed with emotions when Caroline tells him that she wants him to remarry. 

Things aren't looking great for April and Ethan as April learns she's going into early menopause, but with luck, the IVF could work. She takes not having children to heart and takes it out on Ethan, who's been reading a book about being a father. Later on, the two will have even more arguments when both Ethan's and Marcil's patients could be part of the domino transplant. However, when Ethan's patient dies before going on the table, Marcil's patient still gets the kidney from Ethan's patient's mother. Ethan and April leave on bad terms, with April kissing Marcil as Ethan is about to head out overseas.

Will treats a patient who believes he can fly when he skates on the ice. With an injury to the vertebrae, Will options the patient's father for him to have the brace instead of surgery, but that's not what the patient wanted, and he got the surgery and passed with flying colors to make a full recovery. While Maggie takes care of Ben, who almost is at heaven's gate, but instead creates a full recovery from fighting the measles.

As for Natalie, while treating and hoping that Phillip's daughter gets the surgery, her memory returns, as she gets flashbacks to the events leading up to the crash. After learning about the girl making a full recovery, Natalie remembers what she wanted to tell Will and meets him on the roof to say that she loves him, but in return, Will tells her that he's taken to what she had said and has moved on. NO!!!!!!!!

"I Can't Imagine the Future" was a fantastic fall finale with powerful writing and performances from the cast. The Maggie-Ben story was emotional; I wondered if he would make it. Dr. Charles's story was overwhelmingly inspirational; we have never seen his character be that full of emotions that just took my breath away. And the Natalie and Will situation again has me pulling my heart out as I've wanted these two to get back together. It can't end like this again! Once again, I still have hope! Overall, I give this episode a 9/10.

You can catch Chicago Med Wednesdays at 8/7c on NBC.

Decide and Love: Chicago Med "Who Knows What Tomorrow Brings"/"Too Close to the Sun"

"Who Knows What Tomorrow Brings" 

Let the party begin!!

"Who Knows What Tomorrow Brings" was an okay episode from start to finish. Dr. Charles and Will help treat a patient who believes he's a vampire, but it turns out he's got Hepatitis B. While Natalie and Elsa try to treat a daughter who was in an accident but died due to respiratory issues. Dr. Choi, April, and Marcil try to help a military amputee but get blocked by the army officers because of her status as AWAL. But as Maggie starts her chemo treatments, she meets a man she brings along for Dr. Marcil's crawfish party, which ends with April and Marcil kissing.

This was a good episode. Dr. Charles and Will's story was exciting and weird, but in a good way. This could have been a good Halloween episode. The story about the military soldier was a tough one as she was trying to get to her brother's wedding—good episode, well written and well-performed. Overall, I give this episode an 8.5/10.

"Too Close to the Sun" 

Sometimes things come back and bite them in the butt.

Noah gets attacked, and April and Marcil learn that he's been keeping that patient they helped treat a few episodes ago. At the same time, Maggie discovers that Ben has measles and has to suspend his treatment to get treated for the measles. Will and Curry treat a patient whose transplanted kidney is in trouble.

But the story to take away from here is when Dr. Choi and Charles treat a patient who happens to be a live-streaming star who lets his viewers decide for him. It causes tension between one another, and the patient comes to his senses.

"Too Close to the Sun" was a good and powerful episode. Marlyne Barrett gives another strong performance as Maggie sacrifices to help fulfill Ben's wishes.  That story was the best out of the rest in the episode. Overall, I give this episode a 9/10.

You can catch Chicago Med Wednesdays at 8/7c on NBC.

Fight to Be Right: Chicago Med "Got a Friend in Me"/"It's All in The Family"

"Got a Friend in Me"

Tensions rise between two doctors, a secret will be revealed, and a doctor will do the unthinkable. Here's a recap!

While Noah starts his surgical training with Marcil, Choi doesn't think that Marcil teaches with the proper methods. But when the patient of Choi got sicker and sicker, the best thing to do was surgical. At the same time, the surgery was a success. While both Choi and Marcil think differently, they see eye to eye for what is best and get what they all want: their patient feeling better.

Maggie, dealing with the chemo, is still secretive with her colleagues about her cancer. After seeing CeeCee, she comes to terms and reveals her secret that she's battling cancer. Will tries to help a patient suffering from DVT, but then it soon turns into a P.E. that ends up killing his patient.

Natalie, who's been on one patient at a time, deals with a child with nose bleeds. But the problem comes when the parents have their methods of treatment. But when Natalie believes that their child has pneumonia and goes against the parents' wishes to treat, that leaves her to lock herself with her patient and give him the treatment. 

"Got a Friend in Me" was a powerful and shocking episode. Marlyne Barrett gives a solid and powerful performance as Maggie shows her struggles with treatment and work. But the powerful scene comes when she finally comes to Natalie and April and removes her wig in front of them. I'm very much enjoying the Choi and Marcil battle chemistry. Two minds think differently. The episode has good writing and character development. Overall, I give this episode a 9/10.

"It's All In The Family" 

Noah and April helped treat an assault victim they found in an alley. As soon as April and Noah learn who the victim is, they try to help her but instead disappear. But Noah brings her to his apartment to stay till she knows what to do next. This could be an issue down the road!

Dr.Charles and Ethan help a patient who happens to be a childhood friend of Charles' growing up who's been transitioning. Charles learns from his friend and her ex-wife maybe two people can reconnect and comfort each other. That's what happened with Sharon and Burt.

Will and Marcil deal with an issue of treating a Jehovah's Witness; Will learns that the patient broke the rules of the religion. But when the patient found out that his parents left and that he had surgery and was given blood, he was distraught.

As Natalie might face jail time for what she's done to her patient, Maggie gives her a sense of hope and tells her to trust her gut. That leads to one more test, but by the time she is about to do it, she gets arrested as the court order is lifted. It turns out that Natalie was right and that the little boy had an autoimmune disease. But that isn't all as Natalie confronts Phillip that she will not marry him, and just as she gives him a ring, Will comes and tells her the truth about how Phillip slipped the ring while she was recovering.

"It's All In The Family" was an excellent episode. Torrey Devitt performs outstandingly as Natalie battles everyone, with a few supporting her efforts to treat that child. The episode had good stories, writing, and performances from the cast. Overall, I give this episode an 8.5/10.

You can catch Chicago Med Wednesdays at 8/7c on NBC.

Comfort: Chicago Fire "Shut It Down"

This week's episode of Chicago Fire had one of its best case of the week episode this season.

When a 51 gets called to a gas leak at a home that exploded injuring a little girl, the team learns of a pattern. Confronting the gas company, they come to learn that there was a faulty sensor. Meanwhile, Cruz is in a state of panic over the wedding, but Severide lends him a hand, finally. Gallo saved the little girl from the first gas leak house explosion and learned that she's got a long recovery. Kidd tries to cheer him up and learns of why he's been acting like he's been because of his past.

After the previous episode, Brett gets what looks to be a letter from her biological mother. She tells Casey to throw it away, but you know how Casey is...he keeps it. But after throwing it away for the first time, Brett confronts Casey once again and of course, Casey saves it and hands it over to her. But when she opens it, it's just an address of where she is, which isn't too far from Chicago.

"Shut It Down" was a very intense, fun and heartwarming case of the week episode. From the hilarious moments of Cruz dealing with the wedding plans to Mouch trying to prove to Herrmann that he can still be effective on the team. The gas leak storyline was so good and kept the episode interested and on point. The Brett and Casey story was as heartwarming and funny. I just hope that she finds out that Casey could be her half-brother or something. Just a thought. Overall, I give this episode a 9/10.

You can catch Chicago Fire as they team up with Chicago PD in the two-hour crossover event on February 26th at 9/8c on NBC.