Chicago Med Season 10, Episode 13 Review: Paying for Everyone’s Earlier Mistakes

Chicago Med Season 13, Episode 10, “Take a Look in the Mirror,” is a meant to be an episode about introspection. Several characters are forced to look at themselves and their past actions. However, it also provides an opportunity to fans to look at what the NBC show has done in its first season under new showrunner Allen MacDonald.

“Take a Look in the Mirror” addresses some of the ongoing questions that Chicago Med has dealt with. There’s the further development of the divisive Dr. Caitlin Lenox and the aftermath of Dr. Mitch Ripley’s equally controversial decision-making. The series also finally addresses what it’s trying to do with Dr. Daniel Charles and nurse Jackie Nelson. Fans will not be satisfied with all of the choices made in this episode, but at least they leave it with clarity.

Chicago Med Season 13, Episode 10 Continues to Humanize Lenox

Sarah Ramos’ Character Gets a Little More Development

Season 10, Episode 13 continues Chicago Med‘s quest to make viewers like Dr. Caitlin Lenox, and it works pretty well. The pre-crossover episode “Broken Hearts” gave some insight into Lenox’s backstory, but it felt like an information dump since most of it came out in a monologue. In this episode, Lenox butts heads with Naomi Howard, which throws her for a loop. But that opens the door for Lenox and Dr. Dean Archer to have a real conversation in which they can finally relate to one another instead of just fighting. Archer winds up giving Lenox some pointers on mentorship, and their relationship in this episode is far more interesting than it’s ever been.

But through Archer, Lenox is able to reconsider herself as a mentor and a leader. After all, it was Naomi’s ringing endorsement that prompted Sharon Goodwin to promote Lenox to sole chief of the Emergency Department earlier in Season 10. Lenox can admit when she’s being too harsh, which seemed like an impossibility when she was first introduced. At the same time, she still stands by her beliefs and doesn’t change her mind. That’s the best of both worlds. Lenox can be easier to work with, without having to fit in. Archer is a walking example of how one doesn’t need to be liked to be an effective chief — something he points out to Lenox.

“Take a Look in the Mirror” also brings back Brendan Hines as Dr. Hayes, whom Lenox refers to as a “world-renowned cardiothoracic surgeon.” For longtime Chicago Med fans, that’s bittersweet because it means that they’ve almost certainly seen the last of Dr. Isidore Latham, who was the head of cardiothoracic surgery in the show’s earlier seasons. Ato Essandoh’s character hasn’t been on the show for seasons now, so this is not a shock, but it’s still sad to realize Hayes has taken his place since Latham was such a unique protagonist. It’s also strange that Hayes asks Lenox out to dinner, simply because it comes out of nowhere.

Chicago Med Has Officially Sent Dr. Mitch Ripley Completely Backward

Season 13, Episode 10 Confirms History Is Repeating Itself

Season 10, Episode 13 reinforces Chicago Med‘s biggest mistake: undoing almost all of Dr. Mitch Ripley’s character development. This hour sees Ripley trying to atone for the fight he got into at the end of Season 10, Episode 12, “In the Wake,” when he finds out that the man he fought is in the Emergency Department. It’s a good thing that Ripley is horrified to know he’s caused serious damage, and that he is willing to jump in and help fix it. However, “Take a Look in the Mirror” spells out why this plotline should never have happened in the first place. It creates short-term drama at the expense of Ripley’s character.

Chicago Med even acknowledges this when Dr. Hannah Asher confronts Ripley near the episode’s end and points out the similarities between this predicament and the Pawel Wapniarski case, telling him, “…you’re right back here again. Except this time, you did it.” The writers are aware that they’re not treading any new ground with Ripley. And there’s no way that this ends well; either something will get worse for him, or the show has to come up with a reason why he somehow avoids a second lawsuit in two seasons. How do the creatives walk back Goodwin saying that she’s going to recommend Ripley’s termination? Even if she changes her mind individually, he’s still facing his second massive disciplinary problem. Ripley’s whole storyline about overcoming his difficult past has just turned into a self-fulfilling prophecy.

The good news is that Luke Mitchell throws himself wholeheartedly into Ripley’s desperation and panic. The audience feels everything that he’s feeling. But this storyline just isn’t worth it. Hannah has a pretty good plotline of her own, helping a young woman who’s been sexually assaulted — yet that plotline is also spoiled by revealing that the patient’s fiance thinks that both he and God need to forgive her for being raped. There’s no reason Chicago Med couldn’t have just ended that story with the couple pledging to support one another. The most dramatic ending is not always the best one.

Chicago Med Addresses the Surprising Charles & Jackie Situation

Is This the End of an Out of Place Subplot?

It’s time for Chicago Med to admit it struggles to write Dr. Daniel Charles’ personal life. Oliver Platt’s character is a fan-favorite for many reasons, but all of the subplots involving his love life have been pretty rough. CSI: Vegas star Paula Newsome was brought in to play Charles’ ex-wife CeCe, but the joy of watching them rekindle their romance was followed by the show killing her off. There was also the nightmare that was the Liliana Wapniarski situation. And now, Season 13, Episode 10 confirms that Dr. Charles and nurse Jackie Nelson have romantic feelings for each other…. somehow.

The two characters have never felt like a romantic match. The idea of Jackie becoming friends with Dr. Charles after he and Maggie helped her get treatment was perfectly fine, as it would fit into Jackie’s arc of recovery and redemption. But an attraction never seemed convincing. Yet in this episode, Charles is willing to deceive a fellow doctor and commit perjury on Jackie’s behalf. He makes up a fake emergency so the doctor meant to testify at her custody hearing doesn’t show up, and steps in on his behalf, before saying on the witness stand that he doesn’t have feelings for Jackie. As soon as the camera cuts to Charles arriving in the courtroom, the audience knows what he’s going to do. And it’s just one more example of Chicago Med‘s doctors and nurses bending the law.

Chicago Med Season 10, Episode 13, “Take a Look in the Mirror,” is an opportunity to pause and see where the show can improve. Season 10 has had moments of incredible promise. Yet this episode highlights several storylines that have either fallen short or just not worked. There’s still a great medical show under all this, if the creative team can dial down the drama and get back to what makes their characters worth following.