Chicago Med 7×14 “All The Things That Could Have Happened” is an episode about growth, but more importantly it’s an episode about accepting that growth. We often put people in boxes, not just for their protection, but ours. We compartmentalize, and we learn how to deal, and changing the basis of our relationship with others is hard. But from Stevie to Dr. Charles, without forgetting Will, this is an episode about taking that step.
Stevie’s life had been dictated by her mother and by her mother’s illness. She’d always known that, but she’d never understood how much of what her mother did was out of her control. And that doesn’t change Stevie’s life, of course, but it does put everything she’d gone through in perspective. In turn, her perspective makes Dr. Charles consider what he might not be willing to lose — not a therapist, but perhaps something more.
Then there’s Will, who seems to have become the man I always wanted him to be in Season 7. He doesn’t want Stevie to go, of course, and he isn’t exactly being subtle about it. But he recognizes, in a way I’m not sure he ever has before, that it’s not up to him to make decisions for others. He can only control his own actions.
So, let’s talk about the growth, the tricks and the good news of Chicago Med 7×14 “All The Things That Could Have Happened”:
DEVIOUS MINDS
Sharon Goodwin can play the game better than anyone, and the best thing about Sharon Goodwin is that she can play the game in a subtle way, unlike, you know, Dean Archer. And in Chicago Med “All The Things That Could Have Happened,” she manages to get the changes she needs, for the hospital, for her patients. And all she has to do is confront Dr. Shentu with the consequences of his actions.
Patients should come before rules, and that’s something we’re supposed to believe every doctor, and particularly every ER doctor, understands. Dr. Shentu hasn’t exactly been presented as a sympathetic figure so far, and he truly wasn’t someone we realized we had to care about …until now.
But with the lesson from Goodwin, and the invitation from Vanessa, well …It seems like there might actually be a reason to keep an eye on Dr. Shentu. As long as it’s the one from this episode, we can accept that.
A FRIEND TO LEAN ON
We all need a friend to lean on every once in a while. Though Will and Maggie’s house call ends up being as much about the patient as them, they do get a moment to bond near the end of the hour, and it’s so good to see and also so necessary. On a show that has had so much turnover, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that Maggie and Will have known each other for a long, long time.
Sometimes, you don’t need answers. You don’t need solutions. You just need to be able to confide in someone and know that they will be there for you, in the good, and in the bad. The rest — the growth, the processing — that’s internal. But the fact that Chicago Med is remembering relationships like this one, that haven’t really gotten a chance to shine in a while, is a great sign of what’s to come.
BECAUSE SHE WANTS TO, NOT BECAUE SHE NEEDS TO
Stevie came back to Chicago because she had to — or because she felt like she had to. And that means that she, in some ways, just ran away from her marriage issues to come deal with other issues. But sometimes, other people’s issues aren’t on you to fix. And Stevie’s mom will always love her kid and need her, but she doesn’t need her.
Which is why if Stevie is going to stay in Chicago, if she’s going to go back to Michigan, whatever she does now, it’s gotta be her choice. And in a way, that’s what makes it so hard. Because the life Stevie has led hasn’t actually allowed her that many choices. For so long, she’s done what she needed to do for others. Now, the question, is what does Stevie Hammer want?
Hopefully, we, and Stevie, are about to find out.
Things I think I think:
- Anyone who says they’re fine on TV is 100% not fine.
- Yes, Maggie, start with him. Will’s heart eyes are OBVIOUS.
- This storyline with Stevie’s mom could have gone somewhere really sad, and instead it went here. I’m glad.
- Crockett, stop talking. Just stop.
- I know it’s Dr. Charles’ job to be understanding, but he does such a good job sometimes, it’s like daaang.
- Thank God Maggie’s okay. I just couldn’t deal with the alternative.
- “I wish Stevie were staying.” NO SH*T, Sherlock.
- It IS better this way, Pamela. Walk away.
- Dr. Charles and his therapist on an episode with Donna Paulsen is giving me some serious Suits vibes, IN A BAD WAY.
- Stevie and her mom, on the other hand? Good feels.
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Chicago Med 7×14 “All The Things That Could Have Happened”? Share with us in the comments below!
Chicago Med airs Wednesdays on NBC.
