Chicago Med has managed to accumulate a series of die-hard fans, all of whom revel in the drama that occurs in the Gaffney Medical Center. Every episode is teeming with relationship problems and complex cases, ensuring that the show can compete with other giants like Grey’s Anatomy and New Amsterdam. As such, Chicago Med proves that this genre is incredibly popular for an obvious reason.
Like many medical procedurals, Chicago Med works to ramp up the tension by pulling on the audience’s heartstrings and placing key characters in very difficult situations. Though a lot of these problems do get effectively resolved, some scenes stay with fans for many years. As such, Chicago Med highlights the intensity of the healthcare sector and works to create distressing moments that keep the viewer on the very edge of their seat.
10Ava Tries to Make All of Her Problems Disappear
Season 5, Episode 1, “Never Going Back to Normal
Fans often regard “Never Going Back to Normal” as one of the most dramatic episodes in Chicago Med’s history. In this episode, Connor Rhodes discovers that Ava killed his father by administering him too much insulin, which ultimately affects their entire dynamic. When he tries to confront her about it, Ava struggles to cope and slits her carotid artery with a scalpel. Though the team tries desperately to save her, she unfortunately dies on the table in the OR.
| Written By | Directed By | Original Air Date | IMBD Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diane Frolov & Andrew Schneider | Michael Pressman | September 25, 2019 | 8.0/10 |
Alongside being a very distressing moment for Ava, there’s no denying that this is a very visceral scene. A lot of fans were shocked that Ava would do something like that, especially with hospital equipment. Thus, even though this scene is quite distressing, many viewers couldn’t get Ava’s final moments out of their heads.
9The Team Says Their Final Goodbyes to a Beloved Doctor
Season 1, Episode 18, “Timing”
Dr. David Downey was a significant asset throughout Season 1, and fans grew to appreciate his wealth of experience and mentorship ability. Yet, his liver cancer diagnosis meant that he couldn’t see out his dreams of training the next generation of Cardiothoracic Surgeons. In “Timing,” fans discover that Dr. Downey’s cancer has spread to his brain, and it’s only a matter of time before he succumbs to the disease. After suffering immense amounts of pain, the prized surgeon tragically passes away.
| Written By | Directed By | Original Air Date | IMBD Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diane Frolov & Andrew Schneider | Michael Waxman | May 17, 2016 | 8.0/10 |
Though this event occurred quite early on in Chicago Med’s history, fans still feel quite upset about the loss of one of their favorite characters. The fact that this intelligent and well-respected character died from such a vicious disease is quite ironic and proves that even the smartest people in the world can’t cheat death. Plus, the fact that the doctor was in so much pain when he died just makes this moment more emotionally crushing.
8Chicago Med Handles Mass Shootings With Impeccable Grace
Season 3, Episode 18, “This Is Now”
It’s evident that some medical dramas use incredibly hyperbolic situations to help create a ton of tension. However, “This Is Now” takes the sensitive subject of massive shootings and effortlessly creates a respectable piece of television. After a gunman wreaks havoc in the local area, the doctors must deal with a widespread influx of patients.
| Written By | Directed By | Original Air Date | IMBD Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eli Talbert & Daniel Sinclair | Charles S. Carroll | May 1, 2018 | 8.0/10 |
Though this episode doesn’t necessarily focus on one specific case, it works well to show the type of pressure these people are under on a daily basis. Each character presents a unique sense of fear but must also be strong for their respective patients. Therefore, this episode strives to blend reality and fiction in a truly remarkable way.
7A Notorious Mobster Targets Will Halstead
Season 4, Episode 3, “Heavy Is the Head”
In “Heavy Is the Head,” Will Halstead makes an innocent house call to Ray Burke, the father of one of his childhood friends. At first, Burke seems to be a very generous man, offering Will and Natalie a discount on their wedding venue. Yet, at the very end of the episode, Will’s brother Jay, a Chicago PD detective, reveals that the police and the FBI have been investigating Ray Burke for a number of years.
| Written By | Directed By | Original Air Date | IMBD Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeff Drayer | Michael Waxman | October 10, 2018 | 7.9/10 |
This episode is often praised for its surprising twist and works to put a main character in an unknown sense of danger. Plus, the fact that Will doesn’t really believe Jay’s claims only makes the situation worse and causes the audience to fear for his life. As such, this phone call kickstarts a very intense arc and many fans still fear the infamous Ray Burke’s threats towards their favorite doctor.
6A Doctor’s Ties With a Piece of Equipment Causes Trouble for the Hospital
Season 7, Episode 1, “You Can’t Always Trust What You See”
Season 7 is packed full of exciting moments, but there’s no denying that the premiere begins with a bang. This episode sees Sharon Goodwin and Will Halstead launch an elusive investigation into Dr. Matthew Cooper after he was accused of getting paid to use a certain piece of equipment. Thus, the pair must work undercover to ensure that they can collect strong evidence of these crazy claims.
| Written By | Directed By | Original Air Date | IMBD Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diane Frolov & Andrew Schneider | Nicole Rubio | September 22, 2021 | 7.3/10 |
This episode works to show a different side to the Gaffney Medical Center; one that shows the financial side of running a large metropolitan hospital. Though Dr. Cooper is very accomplished, it’s clear that he won’t pass up an opportunity to make a bit of extra cash. Thus, the audience wonders if they can even trust their favorite doctors or the companies that provide them with life-saving equipment.
5A Father Makes a Huge Sacrifice for His Son
Season 4, Episode 3, “Heavy Is the Head”
In “Heavy Is the Head,” Dr. Choi and Dr. Sexton treat a young boy with degenerative kidney disease. Though his father is incredibly concerned, he doesn’t seem to know much about his son’s medical history, which only makes matters worse. It turns out that the father kidnapped the boy, and the pair are currently on the run from the police. After the police arrive to arrest the father, he discovers that he’s a transplant match for his son and threatens to shoot himself so that the surgery can be carried out.
| Written By | Directed By | Original Air Date | IMBD Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeff Drayer | Michael Waxman | October 10, 2018 | 7.9/10 |
This episode explores a ton of medical dilemmas and shows just how far certain parents are willing to go to save their child’s life. Though this episode is also filled with very tearful scenes, fans can immediately relate to the father’s desperation and rage, making it a very impactful episode. Thus, these high levels of emotion help to place this episode at the halfway point on this list.
4A Female Patient Unlocks a Shocking Discovery About Her Medical History
Season 3, Episode 6, “Ties That Bind”
“Ties That Bind” explores the delicate nature of fertility issues and presents the audience with a truly gut-wrenching twist. A mother arrives at Gaffney Medical Center with a broken wrist, but the actual patient is her teenage daughter, who is experiencing bouts of intense abdominal pain. Upon further inspection, Dr. Manning discovers that the girl has a surgical scar, which the mother explains is because she was sterilized without her knowledge.
| Written By | Directed By | Original Air Date | IMBD Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diane Frolov, Andrew Schneider & Gabriel L. Feinberg | Valerie Weiss | January 9, 2018 | 7.0/10 |
