Chicago Med 7×17 “If You Love Someone, Set Them Free” tries to recapture the magic this show had achieved early on in the season, but too much has changed, and the new pieces are not just gelling together. Stevie Hammer is gone (and oh, how we weep), another blonde has been brought to take her place (my issues with Hannah Asher’s character arc are long and varied), and Dylan is in another questionable relationship.
But hey, at least the Dr. Marcel and Dr. Blake thing is going well, you know, despite the fact that he dated her daughter before he dated her. Normal things.
If there’s a shining light to this show and this season, however, it’s Maggie Campbell (and her relationship with her daughter, Vanessa) and Sharon Goodwin. Maggie and Sharon have always been the pillars of this show, and on a season where things have been so uneven, they’ve remained so. We always knew we’d be investing in them, no matter what.
We just didn’t think it would be them and Dr I’m-Too-Pretty-To-Be-Allowed, plus Sarah Rafferty. But, considering our love for Suits, we might have known Sarah was bound to end up one of our favorites, no matter what.
So, let’s talk about the things that still work on Chicago Med, and the things that definitely don’t, as we review Chicago Med 7×17 “If You Love Someone, Set Them Free”:
WHAT STILL WORKS
Sarah. Rafferty. Have we discussed how Sarah Rafferty just owns whatever role she plays and how I didn’t even think I was going to like Pamela Blake, and then it was Sarah, so of course I liked Pamela? Because we should, just as we should discuss the fact that Chicago Med 7×17 “If You Love Someone, Set Them Free” almost makes me reconsider that thing I said a few episodes back about how the Pamela and Crockett thing was never going to work.
I’m just weak for Sarah and, apparently, Dr. Pretty.
But let us make one thing clear, especially considering this storyline is now working for me: For it to continue to work, we’re gonna need to keep Sarah. And I’m not even talking just because she brings a lot to the show, but also because Dr. Too Pretty For His Own Good cannot — should not — keep jumping between love interests. You know, a little like Will Halstead. If Pamela Blake is the lane we’re picking for Crockett Marcel, then let’s stick to it and keep Sarah around for good.
And, even if there’s going to be some bumps in the road, I’m in, because …SARAH RAFFERTY. And I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one. (Editor’s Note: Lizzie is correct. XOXO, Shana.)
I’m tempted to leave this section to just Sarah, but even though I mentioned Maggie and Sharon in the intro, I want to say another character that has 100% worked at every point in the season is Vanessa — and not just as Maggie’s daughter, either, but as her own person. And boy, is that a welcome surprise.
WHAT DOES NOT WORK, NOT ONE BIT
Is Chicago Med setting me free? Because at this point, maybe I want them to. And no, that’s not just me being bitter at the news Kristen Hager is indeed not returning, but that’s a part of it, I’ll admit. Stevie Hammer just …worked for me, in every respect. And her possible relationship with Will Halstead was the kind of thing I wanted to see going somewhere. Will and Hannah Asher? Please, no. That’s not what I want.
And even if I think it’s possible that I can grow to like a Hannah Asher who has her life together, or who isn’t around to just be thrown into a relationship, but be her own woman, the fact remains that there’s so much water under the bridge with her and Will that we’ve all drowned twice over. And I don’t want to go back to that — I really don’t.
But I especially don’t want it if the show is just going to take back the Will Halstead I like, the one making decisions for himself, the one using his brain first. We’re in Season 7, and the one thing I’ve been asking for regarding Will Halstead is some growth. Now we’ve gotten that, and I’d hate to see him revert back to old habits just because the show exchanged one blonde he had history with for… another blonde he has history with.
Don’t even get me started on Dylan. Is this storyline in Chicago Med 7×17 “If You Love Someone, Set Them Free” any better than the one with Carmen? I mean, I guess marginally, but it’s still not anywhere near what this character deserves. But I guess he’s still on the show, so there’s a chance for this to get better, somehow. Fingers crossed.
EPISODE SPECIFIC POINTS
Chicago Med 7×17 “If You Love Someone, Set Them Free” was big on personal decisions. Both the storyline with Dr. Asher and Dr. Blake, and the storyline with Will, underscored how important it is to respect what others want to do with their own bodies — even if you disagree. Will had it hard, because Will is a cinnamon roll who always wants to help, but it’s not on Will to help someone who doesn’t want help, someone who has made their own decision about what their life is going to be like.
Then there’s Dr. Criminally Pretty, who just …assumes that he understands Dr. Blake’s feelings, without even asking, just because he knows some facts about her. And the thing is …we should never assume things about other people, and this episode reinforces this as it shows one woman who has never wanted to have kids making not a sacrifice, but a conscious decision to donate her uterus to her sister, who has always dreamed of getting pregnant.
If there’s one thing to take out of the hour, let it be this: All dreams don’t look the same — and they shouldn’t — and when it comes to people’s personal experiences, it’s always better to ask than assume and always necessary to respect, even if you don’t understand.
Things I think I think:
- “It’s assault, if it’s without her consent.” Will gets it, Chris Carter doesn’t.
- Dylan was 100% all like, Imma kick this guy’s ass and go back to being a doctor without breaking a sweat.
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Chicago Med 7×17 “If You Love Someone, Set Them Free”? Share with us in the comments below!
Chicago Med airs Wednesdays on NBC.
