Chicago Med Review: With a Brave Heart (Season 4 Episode 22)
Just like that Chicago Med ends season 4 with a devastating diagnosis, surprising news, a Med doctor’s life in danger, and a pair of farewells that seemingly weren’t on Chicago Med Season 4 Episode 22, “With a Brave Heart.”
In the aftermath of Cornelius’ death, Connor’s story seems to fizzle out, which is not how the hour starts as Nina tells Connor that his father was given a lethal dose of insulin marking the death suspicious.
Of course, the prime suspect is the one other person involved in this messy and strange arc, Ava. Her uncomfortable pushiness and final moment with Connor definitely sets off alarms and hints that she may have even been the one responsible.
There’s something about this arc that feels uncomfortable, strange, and uneven as we look at the pair’s final moments together as Connor effectively shuts her down permanently and her reaction.
There was never any seeming indication that Ava would be that unhinged until the beginning of the season. But it’s jarring that there would be an insinuation that she would go that far to get rid of a perceived obstacle.
Ultimately, Connor and Ava’s farewells are essentially the antitheses of goodbyes, leaving their story mostly open-ended, closing out their story (for now) on a disappointing note and questions unanswered.
Elsewhere, the patient/doctor parallels are interesting to see as each case helps the doctors and nurses process situations in their own lives. The fact that these patients are familiar faces from earlier this season is a nice addition and helps build on the doctors’ and nurses’ relationships with them.
While Ethan can gain some perspective on unorthodox relationship dynamics to help the news Emily has about her living situation go down smoother, Daniel’s patient and unwillingness to give up provide some solid insight into the fact that he’s not ready to say goodbye to Caroline.
Both stories are solid exhibitions of character growth for both Ethan and Daniel.
The gut punch of the hour isn’t directly a result of any of the patient stories; it’s the Chicago Med staff that delivers it in the closing moments of the episode as Sharon has to tell Maggie that the recipient of her kidney isn’t the one that is dealing with metastatic breast cancer. It’s Maggie with the bombshell diagnosis.
Marlyne Barrett absolutely delivers with her heartbreaking shock at the news and fear of getting the mammogram Sharon urges. The fear at the moment after Sharon drops the news is palpable.
It will be a tough journey, but I’m interested to see where Maggie’s story goes next season. Will she be able to beat it? (the answer is she has to because she’s Maggie!)
Random Thoughts
- Patti Murin’s return as Nina for Colin Donnell’s final episode is a fun aspect of the hour, despite the somber news she is delivering.
- Daniel’s Hawaiian-themed surprise for Caroline is sweet and shows he’s taking advantage of the time he has the best way he possibly can.
- That final scene, though shocking is telegraphed the moment Will walks out to the parking garage after Natalie gets that news. The question is, though, where will this find Will and Natalie at the beginning of next season?
- April and Ethan’s news genuinely come out of nowhere, and his face gives nothing away about how he feels about the pregnancy news.
What did you think of this episode of Chicago Med? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Chicago Med returns this fall on NBC.
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Brianna Martinez
Brianna spends her time away from briefs, legal research, and pleadings, watching TV and writing about it. She generally has a lot of feelings about TV, which you can read about here and on Twitter.