Chicago Med Season 8 Episode 19 Review: Look Closely and You Might Hear the Truth

Chicago Med Season 8 Episode 19, “Look Closely and You Might Hear the Truth,” has compelling vignettes and morsels of character development. Unfortunately, not everything comes together cohesively. 

This is another example of the series trying to do too much simultaneously. Too much is happening to focus on one or two characters to delve into their stories.

Chicago Med could do so much with Kai as a character. He makes a compelling enough villain. Who among us hasn’t had a co-worker who thinks they are a gift to their profession?

Unfortunately, there just hasn’t been enough time spent on Kai to make anything about his character interesting.

The show could focus on contrasting him with Zach. Both of these up-and-coming doctors have radically different approaches to their training. It would be interesting to explore the concept of ego through each of these characters. 

This missed opportunity to delve deeper into Kai’s character and to compare him with another colleague at the same point in his career makes the story on this episode less compelling. 

Leaning into Tanaka-Reid’s terrible personality could make the redemption arc that Chicago Med is trying to set up interesting. 

Unfortunately, Kai’s crisis of confidence, in contrast to his massive ego, isn’t earned. It’s impossible to sympathize with him when he hasn’t been established as a major player yet. 

If there’s a benefit to this storyline, it’s seeing glimpses of Crockett stepping up as a mentor. This is a dynamic of his that isn’t explored nearly enough. 

Crockett continues to demonstrate how his skills and experience make him a better doctor. It makes sense that he would be part of shaping the next generation of practitioners. 

If anyone could benefit from a  mentor like Crockett, it’s Kai. Crockett could take Kai’s raw ambition and talent and mold it into something great. Unfortunately, there just isn’t time to delve into this possibility. 

Dean’s story is yet another missed opportunity on this episode. He’s approaching a crisis point with his health and will need all the help he can get. 

The ironic part is that this episode features Dean at his best as a doctor. Seeing him advocate for his patients and not fight with his colleagues is a good look for him.

It is too bad that Dean doesn’t get more character development along this vein. Faced with his own mortality, this is a perfect moment for the character to engage in some much-needed self-reflection. 

Instead, the old Dean jumps out far too soon. The fact that he’s back to where he begins is sad, more than anything. 

The most ineffective part of Dean’s story is the misguided commentary that Chicago Med tries to make between his and Hannah’s patient. There could have been a more in-depth exploration of the ethical implications of Dean’s choices specifically.

Hannah’s genuine concern for her friend is hardly comparable to a blatant HIPPA violation. The fact that these two situations are compared shows how much the series is stretching to tell cohesive stories with the right amount of drama. 

While this season has somewhat focused on Dean and Hannah’s friendship, these stories often continue to fall short and are characterized by distracting unevenness. 

Relatedly, as has been the norm this season, anything involving Dean and his son Sean is simply rushed along. There is the opportunity to make their re-connection the overarching theme for Dean.  

There should be more tension built up by now as Sean prepares to give his father the gift of life. Unfortunately, while these two face this critical moment in their relationship, the stakes are still lacking. 

While Chicago Med continues to introduce morsels of stories that could potentially be interesting, so many characters are still in ruts. 

This frustrating dynamic is a disservice to these characters, who have so much potential. The feeling of limbo that has permeated this season is not serving these stories in any way. 

So many stories on Chicago Med are hanging in the balance as the season is facing its final episodes. Hopefully, there is still time to bring everything together before the series wraps up for the season. 

Stray Thoughts:

• Fake seizures will never not be funny on medical dramas. Tell me you’ve never seen a real seizure. 
• I am begging medical shows to show even one semi-accurate story involving an ectopic pregnancy. As a non-American, I get genuinely concerned…do Americans generally consider ectopic pregnancies viable? They aren’t, not ever. They’re life-threatening emergencies that require immediate treatment. 
• While Maggie’s dress is FIRE…her storyline on this episode also makes no sense. The idea that she’s job-hunting is terrific, and she should go where her experience is respected and compensated fairly. 
• Dr. Charles and Liliana continue to be this show’s OTP. If only they could enjoy their golumpki in peace without Liliana’s weird brother.
• Dr. Charles’ patient is a perfect illustration of why certified interpreters are always necessary for medical settings specifically. 
• I wonder when it will be time to call time of death on Grace and Will. This evidently isn’t happening. 

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

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Chicago Med airs at 8/7c on NBC.

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