Chicago Med 7×13 “Reality Leaves A Lot To The Imagination” feels a little like a step back in an otherwise very solid season. So much of the weight of the episode rests on questionable storylines to begin with – Marcel and Dr. Blake, Carmen and Dylan – and then we add the cases, and Stevie’s decision, and it all just feels like the outstanding setup of twelve episodes was all for nothing.
To be fair, some of the questionable stuff has been going on for a while. Where is this storyline with Dr. Blake and Dr. Marcel going? Was it just heading to that ending and now it’s done? Is there more awkwardness? Is Dr. Blake now going to date Dr. Archer? And Carmen and Dylan? Everyone involved deserves better than that mess.
But at least while Stevie and Will were heading somewhere, and Maggie wasn’t breaking our hearts, it was easier to overlook that. Now, what do we have? Dr. Archer possibly asking out Dr. Blake and the weirdest love triangle/square ever? Save us, One Chicago Gods.
Except there’s Will Halstead growing, I guess. There is, indeed, that. But let us go into the storylines, the pain and the setup as we review Chicago Med 7×13 “Reality Leaves A Lot To The Imagination”:
A BETTER WILL
Though there’s a hint, a possibility, the storyline between Will and Stevie has not been overly romantic yet. That doesn’t exactly make Will’s reaction at the beginning of this episode any better, but it does mean we should examine both that moment, and the moment at the end, not just as something that reflects on his relationship with Stevie, but his relationship with himself.
It’s no secret to anyone watching this show that Will Halstead isn’t exactly known for good decisions. He puts his heart out there, in basically every situation, and he gets trampled time and time again, because he leads with his heart and hardly ever engages his brain. He’s also been, in many ways, selfish in his decisions – understandable, to a point, we’re all selfish with what we want. But Season 7 Will Halstead has turned the corner I’ve always wanted him to turn, and instead of his usual digging the hole in deeper we get …maturity.
He’s disappointed at Stevie’s decision, he’s disappointed at the thought of her leaving. But he still apologizes, wishes her the best, sincerely, and removes himself from a situation that isn’t about her. Except, as he does, we can see in Stevie’s face that, perhaps, there’s a part of her that did want him to be. A part of her that’s scared. And perhaps, a part of her that’s running the other way because of it.
This is still setup, it is. Not my favorite, but not my least favorite either. Because yes, it means we’ll have to wait longer, but in the end, the result still seems to be that we’re exploring both these characters as individuals before we get to explore them as a couple …and that can only benefit us in the long run.
HE’S ABOUT THE ONLY ONE, THOUGH
Will Halstead making better decisions than everyone else? What show is this? But other than Maggie and Vanessa, who get a lovely, quiet storyline about love and support, one that will hopefully continue on, everyone else is making terrible decision after terrible decision. And there doesn’t seem to be an end to it all.
Let’s take Dylan. Does he now want to get back with Carmen? Why ….? He had presumably not thought about her in years, but now this is the thing that must happen? Let’s not even go into Marcel’s lies of omissions and the mess he just caused, a mess he should have been able to see coming a mile away. And now we’re gonna add Archer into the picture? I cannot think of anything worse.
Okay, maybe I can, the moment of hope I felt when I thought Maggie was actually pregnant, and then the fear that gripped me because, as a One Chicago fan, I know pregnancies in this franchise are often used for drama – and even older kids are often put in the middle of storylines that look to separate them from their parents. That was almost worse, considering the revelation that Maggie isn’t pregnant, and there might be something truly wrong with her.
Can someone actually have a kid and be happy in Chicago? Pretty please?
Things I think I think:
- Stevie, why? Like …why? If her trying again with her husband is ever going to make any sense, we’re gonna need to see the man.
- Okay, but why did Will get on that elevator to continue a conversation with Dr. Charles that only lasted three more seconds?
- Will was at about ten level of maturity in this episode, I’m so happy.
- I hate cheating storylines so much.
- That mess at the end IS WHAT CROCKETT DESERVES. But it’s not what Pamela and Avery deserve.
- Okay, okay, this Dr. Charles storyline did not go where I expected it to.
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Chicago Med 7×13 “Reality Leaves A Lot To The Imagination”? Share with us in the comments below!
Chicago Med airs Wednesdays on NBC.
