Chicago Med Season 10 Episode 14 Review: Acid Test

While Chicago Med Season 10 Episode 14, “Acid Test,” isn’t the best episode of the season, it still has a few things that should be highlighted. Not every episode needs to be entertaining, but it must bring the storyline somewhere, and that is exactly what this episode does.

With a visitor from the National Accreditation Board of Hospitals coming around, things turn a bit more chaotic than usual. It is particularly intense when Maggie and nurse Campos discover that Archer has been drugged and must be kept away from the reviewer.

Even though the timing is terrible, this incident allows us to see a side of Archer we have never seen before. He is calm and relaxed, which ultimately helps Gaffney Chicago Medical Center pass its review. After all the chaos, Archer unintentionally saves the day.

Even though Archer’s help is a coincidence and a strike of luck, it reminds us he should be in a leadership position. The disagreement with Lenox and how things were handled pushed him to lose his role, but he is still the best bet for the job.

Nevertheless, Chicago Med Season 10 Episode 14, “Acid Test,” also shows that Lenox is up for the task and slowly showing bits and pieces of her heart and soul to the team (and the viewers).

While Frost quickly tries to help the distressed family, Lenox does it her way. She is always able to respect her own boundaries in order to help those in need.

After claiming she isn’t in the business of saving souls, she silently advocates for her patient. This brings a positive result, showing that the doctors at Gaffney don’t always have to rush to action. On the contrary, thoughtful actions may lead to better results.

Slowly but surely, Lenox is becoming one of them by advocating and caring about her patients like the rest of the doctors and nurses at the ED. The difference is that Lenox puts thought into everything she does, considering every possible outcome. As a result, she does better than the rest of them and keeps her job safe.

As Frost says, this episode helps us think Lenox has a heart after all.

However, what Archer’s incident truly does is bring a bit of hope for shippers of the Archer and Asher relationship. It is definitely because he is drugged, but Archer finds a way to express everything he feels about Asher.

Not a single relationship Asher has had on the show in the past has described her the way Archer does on “Acid Test.” He sees her for who she truly is and values every aspect of her persona. Even though he only says she deserves better, it pushes us to think that maybe there’s still something there.

Luckily, Archer’s words resonate with Asher, and she does what’s best for her. While many may be upset that Asher and Ripley’s relationship is ending, it is the best possible outcome for her.

Ripley is slowly becoming a toxic relationship that could easily drag her down the wrong path. She cannot continue to forgive him and stand by as he harms himself when she could so easily be triggered and relapse.

As Archer puts it, Asher deserves better.

Ripley deserves better, too, but he is the only one stopping himself from achieving greatness.

What he does for Sully’s partner and son on Chicago Med Season 10 Episode 14, “Acid Test,” is what he should have done instead of going out to get drunk with his terrible friends. He should have shown up to help them the way he had promised his friend he would.

Not only would that have helped his friend’s girlfriend, but it would have also helped him stay on the right path.

Like he says, he feels he is reverting to someone he used to be in the past, which he doesn’t want. However, he has taken every step to make sure his old self comes back. Instead of leaning on the right people and surrounding himself with positive energy, he has chosen every toxic behavior possible.

The break-up with Asher can go two ways. He can either get it together and fix his mistakes or go deeper down the dark hole and end up worse. Only time will tell.

Chicago Med has viewers used to the fact that they always bring up important topics while treating patients. On “Acid Test,” three important topics are discussed.

The first one is that children can become afraid of telling their parents what’s going on in their lives, which can eventually lead to a life-or-death situation. Asher’s patient is so afraid to tell her mom that she used a tampon for the first time that she nearly dies.

The second one is gun violence. While this isn’t the most critical piece of the storyline, the show does a great job of highlighting how dangerous it can be for people to have guns in their homes and not know how to use them properly.

The third one is domestic abuse. Even though the mom is afraid the dad will get custody of his children and continue to harm the youngest boy, Lenox is able to use physical proof to keep the father away. 

Once again, Chicago Med handles each topic with the respect they deserve, bringing awareness and finding solutions we may not always see in real life.

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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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