Throughout “In the Wake,” Chicago Med‘s Dean Archer (Steven Weber) debates whether he should work things out with his ex-girlfriend, Margo (Beth Lacke). The two again butt heads when Archer realizes that Margo recently covered up a client’s relapse into drug use to protect her future. Although the two come to an understanding, Margo declines to accept Archer’s offer to grab drinks. Meanwhile, Chicago Med‘s Hannah and Mitch (Jessy Schram and Luke Mitchell) run into serious trouble. To deal with his friend’s death, Mitch has been getting drinks with mutual friends every night and coming to work hungover.
Hannah and Archer have grown from adversaries to close friends, which is a perfect recipe for a primetime television drama. While Chicago Med‘s Archer initially hated Hannah so much that he opposed the hospital rehiring her after she completed her rehab, the two now offer each other the perfect blend of support and tough love. They are not afraid to call each other out on their BS, generally respect each other, and fight for each other’s well-being whenever the need arises.
Chicago Med season 10, episode 12 takes the first step toward Hannah and Archer becoming a couple by ruining both of their current relationships. Archer’s relationship with Margo had been over for a while, so there is no real reason to bring her back other than to cut off any possibility that the two would reconcile. Archer’s angst throughout the episode could have led to a reconciliation. The two finally clear the air after he’s ghosted her for months, so if the Chicago Med writers intended to put Archer and Margo back together, this would be the perfect way to do it.
Rather than get back together, Archer and Margo part on friendly terms, with Margo having no interest in exploring anything further with Archer. At the same time, Hannah and Mitch’s relationship appears to be imploding because of Mitch’s potential alcohol abuse problem. Mitch is constantly drinking, to the point where he’s hungover, and when she calls him on it, he claims she’s projecting her issues onto him. This ugly argument may be the beginning of the end of their relationship. Hannah’s commitment to sobriety will preclude her being with him unless and until he admits his alcohol use following Sully’s death is problematic.
The One Chicago crossover underscored the severe lack of romance in Chicago Med. While Chicago Fire’s Severide and Mouch both worried about their significant others’ fates and Chicago PD‘s Burgess feared her fiance could die, no Chicago Med characters faced such a catastrophic possibility. This imbalance was because the only couple Chicago Med currently has is Hannah and Mitch, and their relationship is so bland that it’s hard to care about it.
Chicago Med hasn’t had a strong couple in a long time. Natalie and Will were a focal point for the first several seasons, eventually growing into a love triangle involving Crockett. None of those characters are in the show anymore and Chicago Med season 10 hasn’t found a suitable replacement. Allowing Hannah and Archer to explore their feelings would fix Chicago Med‘s issue when it comes to romance and give the audience a couple worth rooting for.
