Chicago Med - Lose Yourself - Review

The title of each Chicago Med episode typically reflects a theme for the week, and I loved how this one played into the lives of our favorite doctors and nurses this week. Connor finds himself lost in the media and perhaps, his need to be the hero. Following heartbreak, April loses herself in determination to save someone else. Sarah finds herself tasked with treating a man who has lost himself in an interesting identity, and Natalie and Ethan treat a man and his wife lost in a hopeless dream.

“There’s an exception to every rule.”

Connor takes the lead on a high-profile surgery—a window washer fell thirty-three stories and lived! So on top of an already critical (and miraculous) case, Connor will have to deal with the relentless press surrounding the man’s unbelievable fall. The first surgery leaves Connor hopeful, but the poor guy has a long road ahead of him. Connor learns quickly how persistent the press can be when he gives them a few brief words. Of course, this was after Sharon told him to respond to everything with “No comment,” so she’s none too pleased that he took it upon himself to answer their questions. Connor’s patient might be doing well now, but as Sharon points out, “What if he dies?”

In the end, the man’s family asks Connor to let their son go. You can only take extreme measures for so long, and they’ve had enough. I don’t for a second think Connor’s desire to keep the man alive had anything to do with the press and high-profile status. Connor has always had the will to save his patients at any cost, and one thing he’s been learning (and will continue to learn) over the course of the series is when to let go.

“It’s hard to keep your mind from racing to that dark place.”

After the events of the One Chicago crossover, the heartbreak continues with April’s story this hour. After gleefully talking baby names with Maggie, April heads upstairs for an ultrasound. The scene was short, but direct—a fetal heartbeat cannot be detected. But like the superhero she is, she puts aside her own tragedy to help Melody, a young lawyer in with what presents as the flu. When April gets Melody in the ER, Will takes the lead to see what’s causing her symptoms. Shocker, it’s not the flu. Melody has a serious heart condition, but thankfully, it is treatable.
At the end of the hour, April faces her own heartbreak and has the DNC procedure. Thankfully, Maggie finds out (as April didn’t tell anyone), and was right by her side. Tate was there in the end, but I worry this could strain their relationship. They’ve been through so much already; can they handle this? I hope so—I love them together!

“I could only watch. I was useless, weak.”

Speaking of superheroes, a man in a red superhero outfit carries a woman into the ER just before passing out. The red masked man is also known as Edward, and he obviously needs a psych consult. He has a strong reaction to hearing his costume had to be cut off (and destroyed). Dr. Charles wisely advises Sarah, “The costume ultimately is just a symbol that represents something crucially important to Edward.” So in the vein of so many TV shows and movies as of late, Sarah sets out to discover Edward’s origin story.

As it turns out, Edward’s struggling with something everyone faces at some point: grief. He had to watch his wife die of cancer, unable to do anything to help her. It seems his new resolve comes from processing that helplessness. “I just want to be useful. I just want to be able to help.” And while Sarah’s first plan doesn’t go so well, she comes up with the perfect option for Edward in the end. She gives Edward a new costume—a hospital volunteer vest. I would love to see Edward every now and then, helping around the hospital. He’s a great character!

“Our bond is built on hope—it’s what holds us together.”

On a coffee break, Ethan and Natalie respond to a woman yelling for help for her husband. Nick found himself paralyzed after a drunk driver crashed into his car, and might just be in the ER for a UTI (apparently that’s common). It turns out to be a bacterial infection that requires minor surgery, but Nick should be just fine. In their continued examination, though, Natalie and Ethan find foreign cells and learn that Nick and his wife have been going to Mexico for stem cell treatments in hopes of regaining use of his legs. Deep down, Nick knows he’ll never walk again. But he can’t bear taking away his wife’s hope, no matter the cost.


Another thought – I’ve been suspicious of Dr. Wheeler’s appearances lately on the show. He’s a minor character but he’s been present enough that I can’t help but think there’s something ahead for him. I won’t give any spoilers, but if you keep up with the future episode synopses, you might jump to the same conclusions regarding a story coming up in a few episodes…

What did you think of the episode? How shocked were you that April and Tate lost their baby? What is the purpose of Dr. Wheeler’s story? Share your thoughts below!