Chicago Med Season 8 Episode 5 Review: Yep, This Is The World We Live In

Chicago Med Season 8 Episode 5, “Yep, This Is The World We Live In,” dials up the drama and brings back a character this show has desperately been missing. 

April has always been the heart and soul of this medical drama. Seeing her again is just proof of how much she’s been missed since she left. 

Are April and Ethan the most stressful couple in the One Chicago Universe? It’s certainly possible.

It’s always been clear that these two are meant to be together. Considering how long they’ve been apart, seeing them together again is almost too much, in the best possible way. 

What makes April’s return so special is that it’s obvious how much she has grown as a person and a clinician. Being in advanced practice suits her well. This journey to be an NP has been a long time coming.

If April and Ethan are set for a reunion, perhaps this is how Brian Tee will exit the series. These two deserve happily ever after. It would be a shame if it all happens off-screen. 

It also speaks well of Ethan that he has grown so much in eight seasons. Perhaps it’s seeing him across from April again. Aside from that, he’s come a long way from the military man who never saw a rule he didn’t love too much.

April’s legendary eye-roll is the perfect way to reference Ethan’s former stubbornness and terminal insistence on following rules often to the detriment of himself and those around him.

Season 1 Ethan would never have offered military legal help to his patient. Instead, he would have phoned military police without a second thought. 

His compassion for this young soldier in a bad situation is a perfect way to showcase the fact that he’s now able to show the tiniest bit of flexibility. Maybe it’s the wrong call, but it’s clear Ethan recognizes what is best for his patient.

Meanwhile, would it even be Chicago Med If Will wasn’t getting into a chaotic mess, trying his best to help his patients and colleagues? Truly, this man embodies the concept of chaotic good.

Vanessa going to her former drug dealer to receive a life-saving medication for a patient was always going to cause… well, issues. Who knew that it would take a single episode for these consequences to come charging through the ER?

Unfortunately, this story feels like a build-up to nothing after the massive blow-up. There won’t be any lingering consequences for either Will or Vanessa. At a minimum, you would think their regulatory College would have an opinion.

Perhaps the thought is that Will has been through more than enough chaos recently, so why give him an entirely new set of problems? It’s not a wrong thought, but it’s disappointing when stories like these are super dramatic and then fizzle out. 

Dr. Charles is always the gem of Chicago Med. Seeing him as a mentor solidifies this. His story on this episode with Nellie Cuevas is a very smart way to handle the ongoing supply shortages.

Of course, Dr. Charles briefly takes us into the mythical hospital a la Grey’s Anatomy, where physicians are incredibly invested in patients being discharged in a timely manner. 

Aside from the fantasy, Dr. Charles provides a very realistic response in the face of the cynicism borne of constantly battling a broken system. His point of view is an incredibly smart and compassionate way to approach the daily grind of healthcare.

Cuevas has far to go, but it’s clear she’s so willing to jump in and learn. This attitude will serve her well as she continues her journey to become a psychiatrist, which, yes, is a type of actual doctor.

It’s still unclear what’s happening between Dean and Hannah. These are two strong personalities, so it’s inevitable that they will clash when put against each other.

I just don’t love the bait-and-switch of Dean, being supportive and understanding one moment, and flying off the handle the next, attacking Hannah in a pretty personal way. Maybe this is just Dean, but it seems like there’s more to this story.

It’s probably a net good that Hannah is shown to be hesitant to prescribe opioids based on her own addiction history. However, a patient’s pain relief should never come at the expense of their doctor’s opinions or experiences.

If Chicago Med is going to continue to show addiction in an authentic way, they should take care not to show Hannah as having a timid attitude toward her recovery. This will not serve her well going forward. 

Elsewhere, Crockett continues to be the true hero of Chicago Med, saving a man not once but twice. This episode is Crockett Marcel at his absolute best. These big saves are where this character lives. Not all doctors can be a part of the regular grind.

It is still unclear what exactly Jack Dayton’s role will be as the show continues. It’s possible Crockett will have his hands full, keeping him in line. He will be busy if he is also keeping an eye on Kai, who absolutely needs watching at all times. 

Chicago Med has delivered a perfectly enjoyable and dramatic entry. These medication and supply shortages are continuing to cause chaos, and there is no sign of this letting up any time soon.

The Chicago Med family needs to be at the top of their game to weather the storm. 

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Chicago Med airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on NBC.

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