Chicago Med is one of the best medical procedurals in America and does a fantastic job of upstaging its competitors and expanding the rest of the One Chicago universe. Though the show is packed full of nail-biting medical cases, many fans are drawn to the show because of the complex relationships shown on screen. Whether it’s a workplace rivalry or a blossoming love interest, it seems that fans are truly captivated by what occurs both inside and outside of Gaffney Chicago Medical Center.
One of Season 9’s most interesting relationships is between Hannah Asher and Mitch Ripley. Though the latter only joined the show in the premiere, he seems to have created quite a stir already. Hannah Asher, on the other hand, has been a seasoned regular since Season 5 and has attracted fans with her surprising past. But will the pair become the show’s most successful romance, or will they fizzle out eventually?
Who Are Hannah Asher and Mitch Ripley?
Long-time fans of Chicago Med will be familiar with Hannah Asher, the hospital’s Senior Attending Physician. When she arrived in Season 5, she was striving to mask her drug addiction while also treating an abundance of seriously ill patients. After multiple relapses and failed attempts at sobriety, Asher decided to call it quits in Chicago but still returned to the show in Season 7. Even after all of her ups and downs, Hannah manages to uphold her status at Gaffney Chicago Medical Center and is often at the forefront of some of the show’s most distressing cases. Thus, fans often associate Asher with high levels of tension and view her as an integral part of the show’s lore.
Mitch Ripley is Gaffney’s latest recruit and had heads turning as soon as he walked through the front doors. He previously had a run-in with Dr. Daniel Charles during his time at Cook County Juvenile Prison, but it’s clear that Ripley is keen to turn his life around. However, life isn’t all in the clear just yet for Dr. Ripley, as he still harbors a lot of resentment from his youth, and his past is never too far behind him.
Hannah Asher and Mitch Ripley seem to be Chicago Med’s latest set of lovebirds, and it’s clear that the writers are taking a new approach to their relationship. Though in Season 8, Asher was in a bit of a love triangle with Dean Archer and Will Halstead, it’s clear that she’s keen to start afresh in the latest season. Thus, the pair’s relationship seems to be starting out on the right foot, and fans hope that their love for one another continues to grow.
The Pair Quickly Learned How to Be Vulnerable With Each Other
- Mitch Ripley still maintains a friendship with people he met in grade school.
- He was promoted to a main cast member in Season 9, Episode 9, “Spin A Yarn, Get Stuck In Your Own String.”
There’s no denying that both Asher and Ripley have very difficult backstories and still hold on to a lot of trauma from their pasts. Yet, their bond seems to transcend these issues, and the pair is able to remove their false personas. Take, for example, Season 9, Episode 3, “What Happens in the Dark Always Comes to Light,” when Asher is on her first date with Kyle. Though things did not go to plan, especially since she was forced to deliver Narcan to another patron at the bar, Ripley doesn’t judge the situation too harshly. He simply makes a quick joke and moves on. These quick jibes not only signify a sense of banter between the two, but it also elucidates that Ripley doesn’t see Asher for her failures but appreciates her attempts to get her life back on track.
In Season 9, Episode 12, “Get By With a Little Help From My Friends,” Ripley’s old friends arrive at the hospital and attempt to dig up crucial bits of his past. Though he feels tremendously embarrassed and frustrated, Asher overlooks these flaws and focuses on the man standing in front of her in the present. Thus, the couple seems to understand each other’s dramatic pasts but will not let those events define their current relationship. In turn, audiences get to appreciate a subtle and charming romance that is not tarnished by old news.
Their Relationship Subverts the Traditional Workplace Romance Trope
5 of the Best Hannah Asher Episodes
- Season 5, Episode 19, “Just a River in Egypt”
- Season 7, Episode 21, “Lying Doesn’t Protect You from Truth”
- Season 8, Episode 12, “We All Know What They Say About Assumptions”
- Season 8, Episode 3, “Winning the Battle, but Still Losing the War”
- Season 9, Episode 11, “I Think There’s Something You’re Not Telling Me”
Even though the show is set in a fast-paced hospital, Chicago Med isn’t above using the workplace romance trope, pairing endless flirting with an array of yearning hearts. Yet, Asher and Ripley’s relationship seems to dodge some of these overused motifs and offers fans something quite unique. For example, in Season 9, Episode 12, “Get By With a Little Help From My Friends,” Hannah and Mitch safely deliver a premature baby. This scenario is very moving and gives both characters the prime opportunity to imagine a pleasant future together. Thus, fans no longer have to suffer through a tiresome will they/won’t they subplot and get to enjoy this romantic trope as it unfolds in front of them.
