Warning! SPOILERS ahead for Chicago Med season 10, episode 9, "No Love Lost."
One Chicago show's fall finale left off, with Archer (Steven Weber) racing to get back to the 10th floor and rescue Sharon Goodwin (S Epatha Merkerson) from a violent woman armed with a knife. This dangerous situation was the climax of an arc about Goodwin dealing with a stalker who was sending her death threats. Apparently, the woman had broken into her office and stabbed her.
Archer's act of heroism comes immediately after he slips a letter of resignation under Goodwin's door. Archer had been fighting all season long with newcomer Caitlin Lenox (Sarah Ramos), who had been hired as the ED co-chief, and Goodwin had demoted him to attending after he threatened to walk if Lenox wasn't fired. Thus, it wasn't clear whether Archer was leaving Chicago Med or if he would rescind his resignation after dealing with Goodwin's crisis. Additionally, Sarah Reese (Rachel DiPillo) returned after seven years and again butted heads with Dr. Charles over patient care.
Does Goodwin Survive In Chicago Med Season 10, Episode 9?
It's Touch-And-Go For Most Of The Episode
Chicago Med season 10, episode 9 opens with an intense sequence in which Archer alerts security before running up the stairs to the 10th floor so he can help rescue Goodwin. He breaks the glass on a stairwell door when his ID won't unlock it and gets there in the nick of time, subduing her attacker and begging Goodwin to stay with him. However, while her rescue happens quickly, Goodwin is far from out of the woods as Archer carries her in his arms to the ED.
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Although the ED staff acts quickly, it's not clear that Goodwin will survive until the end of the episode. She is off-screen for most of it, and her vitals begin dropping while in emergency surgery. However, ultimately Archer tells Goodwin's daughter, Tara (Nicolette Robinson), that her mother will be okay. Goodwin welcomes visitors in her hospital room and tells Dr. Charles (Oliver Platt), who is shaken by how close he came to losing her: "You're not getting rid of me for a long time yet."
Archer Has To Do Emergency Surgery On Goodwin (Despite Her Daughter's Objections)
The Safer Option Goodwin's Daughter Consents To Is Unfeasible
After assessing the damage to Goodwin's vital organs, Archer tells Tara that his recommendation is a Whipple procedure — a complex surgery in which he must remove the head of the pancreas so that he can repair damage to Goodwin's digestive tract. Although this surgery will preserve Goodwin's quality of life, Tara refuses to consent, because she feels it is too risky. Instead, she wants Archer to do a simpler procedure which would allow Goodwin to live but would require her to use a drainage bag and IV nutrition for the rest of her life.
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Archer is initially forced to accept Tara's decision because she Goodwin's healthcare proxy, though he complains to Maggie: "When did everyone around here stop listening to me?" However, in the OR, Archer discovers that the damage to Goodwin's organs is worse than he realized, and thus the only viable option is the Whipple procedure. He ignores Maggie's insistence that he stop and get Tara's consent and does the more complicated procedure.
Goodwin tells Archer: "Thank you for saving my life... and the way I want to live it," making it clear that his decision was in line with what she would have chosen if she had been able to speak for herself.
This decision likely would have gotten Archer into trouble if Goodwin had any serious complications. However, she survives the surgery despite her vitals dropping while the surgeons are closing her incision, so Tara is grateful. Furthermore, Goodwin tells Archer: "Thank you for saving my life... and the way I want to live it," making it clear that his decision was in line with what she would have chosen if she had been able to speak for herself.
Charles & Reese Finally Fully Confront Each Other
They Clear The Air After An Uncomfortable Hearing
Dr. Charles does his best to push aside his anxiety over Goodwin's situation to focus on his current patients, but Peter (Mark Grapey) pulls him aside and tells him that he's sorry to have to tell him that Reese, who returns to Gaffney Medical, filed a misconduct complaint against him. Thus, Charles has to sit through a hearing to decide whether his behavior is inappropriate enough that he should lose his license even though Peter thinks the accusations are baseless.
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Initially, Reese is so angry she doesn't care about anything but retribution against Charles and refuses Peter's offer to mediate. However, while listening to an assessment of Reese's patient now that Charles has put her on a 72-hour hold, they both realize that the woman is suffering from episodic memory loss. Thus, they decide to suspend the proceedings and instead work together to figure out what's causing this issue. However, Reese quickly becomes resentful when Charles disagrees with her suggestion that it could be Graves' Syndrome, leading her to accuse him again of thinking he's always right.
The two are able to part as friends, though Reese has no interest in returning to Gaffney to work under Charles again.
This time, however, the argument allows the two to clear the air. After Reese its that she second-guessed herself forever because she felt Charles always tore her down and that she couldn't do the right thing without his guidance, Charles finally tells her that he thinks she's a strong diagnostician and that he always saw potential in her. The two are able to part as friends, though Reese has no interest in returning to Gaffney to work under Charles again.
Goodwin Officially Rejects Archer's Resignation
She Tells Him Gaffney Needs Him
After waking up after surgery, Goodwin asks to see Archer. She thanks him for saving both her life and its quality and won't allow him to say that he was only doing his job. However, the real reason she wants to see him is that she knows about his resignation letter, which she tells him to tear up.
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Archer replies: "That's a conversation for another day," but Goodwin insists on talking now. Goodwin tells Archer that she needs him and so does Gaffney. Thus, she does not want to accept his letter of resignation and believes that he still has a future here that she wants him to embrace.
Is Archer Still Leaving Gaffney In Chicago Med?
He Doesn't Really Respond To Goodwin's Thoughts About His Future
Archer doesn't respond when Goodwin tells him the hospital needs him. Instead, the episode ends with a close-up of his face, and his expression suggests he's not sure whether he wants to stay or go. Thus, it is still somewhat up in the air whether Archer will leave Gaffney or stick it out, though he will likely delay his final decision until after Goodwin is out of the hospital and thus discharged from his care.
It remains to be seen whether he will agree to honor Goodwin's wishes by remaining on staff at the hospital.
Chicago Med's Dean Archer is one of Steven Weber's best roles. He is a complicated character who is in the middle of evolving from the overly stubborn and cynical doctor he was when he first ed the series in season 6. It would be a shame if Archer were to leave Chicago Med before wrapping up the story of his personal growth. However, it remains to be seen whether he will agree to honor Goodwin's wishes by remaining on staff at the hospital.
Chicago Med
- Release Date
- November 17, 2015
- Network
- NBC
- Showrunner
- Michael Brandt
Cast
Marlyne BarrettMaggie Lockwood
S. Epatha MerkersonSharon Goodwin
WHERE TO WATCH
Chicago Med is a medical drama series that explores the high-stakes environment of a bustling Chicago hospital. Set against the backdrop of chaotic emergency room scenarios, the series follows a team of dedicated doctors and nurses as they confront challenging cases inspired by real-world issues, while navigating complex relationships.
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