Critic’s Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
4.5
Whether you love Archer or hate him, one thing is for sure: he’s a complicated character played by one of NBC’s most talented actors.
Steven Weber got his meatiest storyline yet on Chicago Med Season 10 Episode 17 as Archer struggled to get through the day after his ex-wife passed away unexpectedly.
His secret grief as he went through the day led to some strong scenes, but did we really need that overused trope of the donor heart offering memories to its new owner?
Archer’s Unresolved Grief Was The Best Part Of Chicago Med Season 10 Episode 17
I was confused about whether the story was being told linearly at first.
It seemed like it was, with Archer promising Sean that he’d head to Florida, then flaking because the hospital needed him — and honestly, throwing himself into work to forget his grief is a classic Dean Archer response.
Still, at first his day was so normal that I thought maybe the call from Sean was a flash forward — but then Archer began lashing out.
The scenes where he lashed out at patients were strong, though I’m surprised no one complained to Sharon about his behavior.
Archer was projecting his own guilt over his inability to make things work with Leanne and the ways he neglected Sean when Sean was younger.
The audience knew what was going on, but the other doctors, especially Hannah, didn’t, which only added to the drama.
Additionally, all of the situations that Archer faced as the temporary ED chief did a great job of illustrating how seemingly ordinary situations can become overwhelming and triggering when someone is in the throes of grief.
Archer’s never been a patient man, but his attempt to distract himself with work only made things worse, and he had no tolerance for anything.
This was strong, Emmy-worthy material for Steven Weber, not that I’m surprised. He’s one of the strongest actors on Chicago Med and has a long track record of great work in the entertainment industry.
Archer can sometimes be a love-to-hate character — when he first arrived during Chicago Med Season 6, I kept hoping he’d only be temporary — but Weber infuses him with humanity under the pain whenever he can, and this story was a strong example of that.
I Agree With Archer: That Heart Memory Story Was Ridiculous
I hate the medical drama trope where somebody starts acting strangely because they are getting memories from a transplanted heart.
It’s overused and often silly. I forgave it on Days of Our Lives because soap operas play fast and loose with reality, but more serious dramas should leave it alone.
It was even worse on Chicago Med Season 10 Episode 17 because it happened to a kid. Milo was young enough to believe that his heart acting up meant that the original donor was angry at him.
It has to be scary and confusing for a child to not only need major surgery to get a new heart but then have serious health problems elsewhere. It’s easy to understand how a young person could conclude that the heart itself was rejecting him or punishing him.
As someone who has studied clinical psychology, I understand intellectually that you can’t talk people out of delusions and that in many cases it’s best to go along with them.
Yet something felt wrong about doing that in this case. The beliefs children develop about how the world works can last a lifetime, even when they’re old enough to know better, and there’s no telling how Milo’s belief that the heart itself didn’t like him would affect him as an adult if it were left unchallenged.
Lenox’s Story Gave Archer A Chance To Show More Softness
I’m not sure how I feel about the Lenox trauma dump.
She’s been giving off signals that she’s neurodivergent, so I’d rather her story have gone in that direction.
Still, Chicago Med has been laying the groundwork for her backstory by gradually revealing more. Her concern that Kip had a mysterious illness he wouldn’t get tested for, her visiting her parents’ graves, and her refusal to talk about her past hinted at some huge trauma.
Her inclusion in “The Book of Archer” felt random, though.
Most of the time, when a character suddenly takes a personal day, it’s a way of explaining why that character isn’t in the episode.
Dick Wolf plays around with this some — he did the same thing on FBI when OA’s vacation with Gemma turned into a hostage situation.
Still, Lenox’s behavior was so bizarre that I could not believe this would ever happen in a real hospital.
She took a personal day so that she could be with a patient who was not expected to live more than a few hours — and acted like she was half on duty while she was there.
Her attempt to help subdue an out-of-control patient led to her needing stitches, which was the perfect vehicle for her and Archer to share their softer sides.
Archer: Why did you decide to share this with me, of all people?
Lenox: I knew you wouldn’t pity me.
However, her decision to bare her soul to him felt contrived, as did the entire setup. Archer was right that there was no real reason for her to tell him any of this.
Random Thoughts About Chicago Med Season 10 Episode 17
There was a lot going on in this episode. Some of the thoughts I had that ran through my head included:
- Maggie vs the traveling nurse and Archer suggesting she run for union leader makes me think that Chicago Med Season 10 will end with the nurses going on strike.
- Hannah needs to get out of the business of saving men from themselves. First Ripley, then Archer. Also, her showing up at Archer’s door screamed romance, but the preview for Chicago Med Season 10 Episode 18 suggests she and Ripley might reconcile. What is going on?
- I was with Archer about his DoorDash order. I know the nurses are overworked, but eating food that isn’t yours is beyond rude.
Over to you, Chicago Med fanatics.
Got thoughts about Chicago Med Season 10 Episode 17? Share them in the comments!
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Chicago Med airs on NBC on Wednesdays at 8/7c and streams on Peacock on Thursdays. The next new episode will air on April 16, 2025.
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