Chicago Med Season 8 Episode 17 Review: Know When to Hold and When to Fold

Chicago Med Season 8 Episode 17, “Know When to Hold and When to Fold,” sees the team at Med put to the test.

All of the tension surrounding Jack Dayton’s 2.0 surgical system comes to a head on this episode. Unfortunately, with missed opportunities and strange character choices, the story only partially comes together. 

Crockett has been shilling hard for 2.0 for a while now. Chicago Med has emphasized this as a main story point this season. 

The show has been trying to show the tension between those who see a place for modern technology in medical care versus those that remain skeptical. Crockett continues to champion the cause of technology. 

Now, Crockett has a chance to step up to the plate and prove that 2.0 is the future of Gaffney. The appropriately dramatic medical case featured here is the perfect venue to put Crockett and 2.0 to the test. 

Of course, this story isn’t really about a young man who wants to be able to lie on his back and look at his mother. This is the Crockett show.

The show knows it has a pretty face in Crockett Marcel. The camera loves him and always will.

Unfortunately, the focus on Crockett distracts from the far more compelling story of the patient and his family.

If Crockett’s point is that 2.0 can help providers provide better patient care, this story should focus on the actual patient in this situation.

Instead, the focus remains on the camera crew and how much they love Crockett. Like all good documentaries, the drama is artificially heightened, which is a distraction. 

CHICAGO MED — “Know When to Hold and Know When to Fold” Episode 817 — Pictured: (l-r) John Wusah as Wu Kuan-Yu, Brennan Brown as Dr. Sam Abrams, Oren Gottfried as Dr. Gottfried, Dominic Rains as Crockett Marcel, Lorena Diaz as Nurse Doris, Stan Shaw as Dr. George Thomas, Dominic Burgess as Michael Kennedy — (Photo by: George Burns Jr/NBC)

What also doesn’t make sense about this story is the fact that Sam Abrams is now in a position of being the voice of reason. This is a radical departure for this character and doesn’t work.

Sam has shown that there’s a heart of gold underneath the sarcasm and professional bravado. However, it seems more than a stretch to suggest that he’s now a champion of the people and completely objects to for-profit healthcare.

Sam is one of the biggest divas that Chicago Med has. There’s no situation in which he wouldn’t take advantage of the spotlight with a chance to make himself richer.

It does make sense that Crockett has reached this precipice of disillusion after championing 2.0. This realization could have come without Sam being involved at all.

This episode also finally remembers Will exists and tries to set up a last-minute romance. The relationship may have potential, but this already feels rushed. 

Dr. Grace Song has been one of the most dynamic characters added to the series this season. She has struck a balance between advocating for technological advancement and fighting for better patient outcomes. 

It’s difficult to imagine this character’s future on Chicago Med, because Jack Dayton is hanging onto his reputation by a thread. 

This is just one reason why it is a bizarre choice to start trying to put her together with Will now.

Will is also in a poor position to get into a new relationship. It’s sweet and a little bit funny that Hannah is the one to point out that Will is probably still holding out hope for Natalie. 

Chicago Med has been working since the show de-centered Will as a character. Additionally, he’s been a more likable character since he’s stopped making horrible decisions in his relationships. 

With little time left in the season, there may not be enough time to develop Grace and Will as a new couple.

These two have hardly worked together so far. There needs to be more time to establish whether or not these two have any chemistry at all.

Chicago Med continues its breakneck pace to establish and resolve multiple storylines for multiple characters. 

With new revelations about Jack Dayton, decisions must be made fast. It remains to be seen where these characters will end up and if they’ll prioritize patient care over being on the cutting edge of technological development. 

 

Stray Thoughts:

• If this episode is Chicago Med’s way of hinting that Torrey DeVitto could come back, even to visit, it feels anti-climatic, to say the least.
• Dean Archer could be so much more as a character. His arc feels incredibly rushed, as usual. He needs to let people help him. 
• Seeing Zach grow as a doctor is so precious. He has the makings of a great practitioner, and his patients are fortunate to have him. It’s too bad he isn’t given more time on-screen. 
• Shoutout to Maggie for putting Dean in his place. Just because he’s suffering doesn’t mean he gets to treat people however he wants. 
• Hannah is a saint for putting up with Dean when he’s at his most cantankerous. He needs an attitude check regarding this woman who just wants to be a good friend. 
• Dr. Charles remains one of TV’s greatest dads, and he recognizes that his daughter needs to grow and make her own choices is, proof of this. 

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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