Chicago Med - Timing - Review

Ready or not, the season finale happened. It’s been a solid first season for Chicago Med, and the finale didn’t disappoint.

Dr. Downey is brought into the ER and he’s not doing well. Connor operates to stop Dr. Downey’s liver from bleeding into his chest, but with this being the season finale, you get the feeling this is the end for Dr. Downey. He takes longer than usual to wake up from surgery and after ordering a CT, Connor’s suspicions are confirmed. The cancer has spread to his brain.

It seems Dr. Downey is at peace with everything, or as at peace as one can be. It’s Connor who is struggling. He just can’t let go. Dr. Downey is more than just a mentor for him, he’s a pseudo-father. We know Connor’s relationship with his dad is far from fantastic, and over the course of this season, Dr. Downey has really stepped into that role. So when Dr. Downey asks Connor to help him end his life, it’s not surprising that he says no.

Connor does eventually come to terms with what’s happening in some way. As a sweet gesture, Connor brings Dr. Downey a lei to remind him of Hawaii as he wasn’t able to return before he died. He’s also decided to take the cardio thoracic fellowship! So how will this factor into his role in the ER?

Did Connor eventually help Dr. Downey die? I couldn’t tell. But perhaps we’re not supposed to know. But it’s so sudden after he walks out of the room, I think he might have. There was no better way to close out the season than to have Connor pour Dr. Downey’s ashes into the ocean in Hawaii.

Props to Colin Donnell in this episode. His portrayal of Connor’s emotional turmoil as the episode progressed was incredible. And honestly, he’s my season MVP. Can’t wait to see more of his story.

Elsewhere…

For Sarah’s last case (but not really, right?), she assists Natalie with the treatment of a baby suffering from LCADD (he’s unable to process fat). She’d better find a way back to the ER because she could not be more over pathology. She wasn’t even concerned about missing her own graduation, she just wanted to know how the baby was doing. She belongs in the ER! Sarah knows it too, and gives up her pathology position. This leaves her jobless, so I’m curious to see how she finds her way back to the ER.

Ethan still has the parrot and based on its behavior, Daniel is intrigued. After observing the parrot, Daniel thinks the parrot has PTSD. What a match! Seriously, Ethan and this parrot are the best developing relationship of the show. Ethan has come a long way in dealing with his PTSD this season (remember back when he wasn’t even acknowledging it?), and perhaps he and the bird can help each other.

Ethan flying around his apartment was one of my favorite moments of this episode. The parrot doesn’t fly, and Ethan seems to give up on him. But then the parrot learns a new phrase, and though he doesn’t repeat it later for Dr. Charles, Ethan is excited. So, can this bird be a series regular next season? Also can Ethan give him a name?

After work, Tate catches April off guard by…proposing! Yikes. Look, I love Tate. But the man barely knows April and he’s asking her to quit her job and marry him. She’s going to say no, right? I’m pretty sure that look on her face said it all. So my question is, will we even see Tate again? Or will their breakup be explained very quickly when the second season picks up?

April is injured after a drunk patient shoves her into a door. She insists she’s fine, but Will doesn’t agree. Will later insists she get an X-ray and finds April has Tuberculosis. What?! Now I’m no doctor, so what does this mean for her? All in all, a rough episode for April.

Sharon’s home life isn’t going smoothly, as she decided not to retire with her husband Burt. After she misses a budget meeting, Maggie pays her a visit and learns that Burt left Sharon. This whole storyline is a bit strange to me. We’ve never even met Burt, and we’ve only had a few references to him throughout the season. While I love Sharon and am sad for her, it’s difficult to feel fully part of this story and feel what she feels, as we were never privy to their relationship. What I loved most about this storyline was how it was used to highlight the friendship between Maggie and Sharon (Maggie has keys to Sharon’s house!).

Will is staying in Chicago! On the one hand, this isn’t surprising, as he’s technically the lead. But on the other hand, how on earth did this happen?! Dr. Parrington is vehemently against Will and Sharon isn’t exactly his biggest fan either (though it seems she had the final word). I guess I don’t care too much how it happened, I’m just glad it did.

Speaking of Will, his hopes are back up for Natalie. Maggie tells Will that Natalie isn’t wearing her ring, adding, “Timing, Dr. Halstead. That’s what it’s all about.” But guys, I’m worried. Natalie wasn’t giving off romantic vibes when she and Will talked about him staying in Chicago. Instead, it was very platonic. Along that line…

Clark! I am not exaggerating when I say that I screamed “CLAAAAAARK!” for a good ten seconds when he came on screen. For Chicago Fire fans, Jeff Clark is a familiar face. I’m a huge fan (if you read those reviews you might recall Clark being part of my ultimate Squad roster). Anyway, it’s wonderful to see him here as a student doctor, and he surprisingly has a connection to Natalie. Apparently he was friends with her Jeff, and they called them “The Two Jeffs”, aka, the worst couple name in the history of couple names.

Is it just me or were there some serious sparks between Natalie and Clark? And while Natalie’s comment to Maggie early in the episode about not wearing her wedding ring, “I decided it was time to take it off” could have been interpreted as foreshadowing and good news for Will, that might not be the case now. And honestly if it means Clark gets to stick around for a while (“Would you like to stay forever?” in the words of Mulan’s fantastic grandmother), I’m all for a Natalie/Clark relationship. Or at least a love triangle.


What did you think of the episode? Will Sarah find her way back to the ER? Will Clark stick around for a while (please, please, please!)? What are your overall thoughts on the season? Sound off below!

About the Author - Meghan Reynolds

A Colorado native, Meghan was born a raised a Denver Broncos fan. Aside from football, she loves television and some might say watches too much of it. Some of her favorite shows of the past and present include Galavant, The Blacklist, The Office, Veronica Mars, The 100, and Gilmore Girls. She reviews Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, and Chicago Med for SpoilerTV.