Chicago Med Season 8 Episode 11 Review: It Is What It Is, Until It Isn’t

Chicago Med Season 8 Episode 11, “It Is What It Is, Until It Isn’t,” delves deeper into some characters and leaves many questions for others.  The series is continuing its trajectory of focusing on the day-to-day operations of a hospital, rather than getting into interpersonal drama. 

It makes sense to shine a spotlight on some of the newer characters who have joined the Gaffney team. But, unfortunately, there is still more that we don’t know about these new doctors who are just beginning their journeys. 

It’s never the wrong choice for Chicago Med to focus on Hannah Asher, who continues to have one of the best character arcs on this show. The patient on this episode is the perfect venue to explore how far Hannah herself has come. 

Hannah very clearly wants to believe the best of her patient, a woman presenting with vague pain and a possible diagnosis of endometriosis. The new AI, however, identifies the patient as a potential drug seeker, exposing the flaw in the system.

This season of Chicago Med has focused on integrating AI into medical care, with varying results. This has been a really smart way to interrogate the way that practitioners use healthcare data and how that data influences bias in healthcare. 

This story is also a chance for Hannah and Dean to deepen their friendship. These two have frequently been at odds, and it’s good to see them on a new path. They are very well-matched as characters, and this could really be a beautiful friendship. 

At its best, Chicago Med tackles challenging real-world issues. This episode features Maggie and Will at their best, advocating for a patient under suspicion for a crime he did not commit. 

It’s devastating to think of this patient, who may or may not have been involved in a shooting, knowing that he will be blamed regardless. It’s clear that even if the patient were to ultimately be found innocent, he recognizes that his life would be altered forever.

This is an honest way to comment on a real-world issue. While the show doesn’t go as far as it maybe could have, it’s good to have an example of a fictional story that no doubt plays out in real life every day. 

Continuing with the AI theme, this is a brilliant way to show how this system can be used for good. Showing this contrast will serve the show well for the rest of the season. 

Of course, it’s always nice to see a Chicago P.D. cameo, particularly in the form of Kevin Atwater. He’s one of the few valid fictional cops, and it’s great to see him, even if it’s only for a moment. 

This episode could have been an in-depth look at Justin Lieu, one of the best new physicians on Chicago Med. But, unfortunately, it seems like there is a lot left unsaid with this character. 

Justin’s rock-climbing buddy is sympathetic enough, and he’s been through a lot. There’s a lot of this patient’s story that is not explored. This arc could have delved into what eating disorders look like in men specifically.

Throughout this entire situation, there’s a sense that Justin has more to say. Does he himself struggle with an eating disorder or another mental illness? Was there more to say about his past and how he decided to become a doctor at a later age?

This episode doesn’t reflect on these questions, nor does it necessarily leave the door open for us to revisit at a later date. It’s a shame because from what we’ve seen of Justin so far, he evidently has a lot to offer. 

Chicago Med also brings back the storyline of Dean and his son, Sean. This has already been introduced this season. However, not much has come of it yet. Now, Sean is back and ready to re-enter the world.

The story on this episode is more than slightly awkward. There’s the practicality of the fact that Sean is randomly being released from prison with no obvious lead-up. This comes across as quite jarring in the context of the story.

Parole hearings usually take time, and are scheduled well in advance, presumably. It just seems odd that this new wrench is thrown into Dean’s story. This represents a sudden beginning of a new chapter in the character’s life.

Chicago Med seems intent on exploring this story further. At this point, however, there’s not a clear path forward. It remains to be seen how Sean will integrate back into his father’s life or if this will happen at all. 

With the focus on more procedural-driven stories, the relationships between the doctors at Gaffney are currently taking a back seat. This may not be a bad thing now that the season is in its second half.

Chicago Med still has a lot of potential stories to explore. It’s a good thing there’s so much time left in the season so that the show has time to figure out which storylines are working and which ones are not. 

What did you think of this episode of Chicago Med? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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

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