As I had mentioned in my Advance Preview, given that Chicago Med is a medical drama that focuses on a hospital’s emergency room, one should expect plenty of heart-wrenching scenes and plenty of tear-jerker moments. While this has been true of the series since day 1, tonight’s episode went somewhat beyond the call of duty in this area, and honestly, if you didn’t have the tissues out by the end of the hour, something is seriously wrong with you.

Let’s start with Dr. Rhodes (Colin Donnell) . We’ve known since the beginning that he’s got some major Daddy issues, and tonight, we get to scratch the surface of where all of the anger and animosity originated. The story begins with 2 Mexicans — a brother and a sister — who are severely injured after stowaway’ing in the wheel compartment of an airplane. It turns out that it was the brother’s plan so as to protect his sister from their abusive drug dealer father, which conjures up feelings of guilt for Dr. Rhodes as he recalls how he abandoned his own sister in order to get away from his father. This is made worse by that the fact that dear ol’ Daddy, Cornelius Rhodes (guest star D.W. Moffett), is being honored this week for donating a million dollars to Chicago Med for a new psych ward. The good news is this donation in the name of Rhodes’ late wife — and Connor’s mother — provides some clues as to why he hates his father so much and why he can’t bring himself to forgive whatever horrific act his father committed so long ago.

Thanks to Nurse Maggie and her Chicago history lesson, we learn that Dr. Rhodes’ mother suffered from depression and did a header from the roof of their family home 20 years ago when Connor was only 10. Thus the big donation by Mr. Rhodes for a new psych ward so as to put the focus on mental illness. However, things may not be as they seem. After giving a big speech and tooting his own horn, Cornelius runs into his son, and honestly, you could cut through the tension between the 2 like butter.

You know, I never told Claire what really happened that night — Rhodes to Rhodes

Hmm. I still would guess that Connor’s mother’s death was a suicide, but this raises serious questions as to **why** she killed herself. Cornelius states she was mentally ill, but could there be more to the story? Could it be that his own actions pushed his wife to suicide? It would certainly explain the coldness and animosity. 10 bucks says we’ve got some terrible Rhodes family secrets hidden from 20 years back, which I suspect will be touched on more as the season progresses.

While this arc is significant and certainly sets the stage for some major father/son drama later in the season, the storyline that comes next is far bigger, in my opinion, and really provides the perfect example of what this show is all about — life, death, and healing. It involves a young boy, Parker, who comes to Chicago Med for what appears to be a broken clavicle. Just a simple playground accident, no worries, right? Unfortunately, no, not by a long shot. When Parker has an unexpected seizure, Drs. Manning (Torrey Devitto) and Reese (Rachel DiPillo) order more tests, and the results are just heart-breaking. Parker has an incurable genetic disorder called Krabbe’s disease that will lead him to a complete vegetative state — and ultimately, death — in 5-7 years. To make matters worse, Dr. Manning unexpectedly goes into labor leaving Sarah on her own to break the news to the parents that their 8 year-old son has a terminal disease and because it’s hereditary, their younger son, Seth, may have it too. I’m a pretty strong person but even I would have trouble with such a tall task.

Unable to do it alone, she enlists the help of Dr. Charles (Oliver Platt), and I must say these are the best scenes in the entire episode in my opinion. In the #OneChicago crossover event, you may recall how I raved about how Platt stole the show, pulling a Columbo and breaking the case of the psycho cancer doctor. Well, he does it again in tonight’s episode, starting with his very inspirational “coaching session” with Sarah to the point where he helps break the news to the family.

In my experience, it’s best to be direct and straight to the point. When people get bad news like this, they tend to be overwhelmed. They might ask you to clarify things or repeat them. They may seen like they have a million questions. or they may want to be left alone to start processing the grief. The most important thing is they need to know somebody’s there who knows what they’re going through. So, really it’s your compassion that they need to feel. And, after you tell the parents, they might want you there when they tell the child — Dr. Charles to Sarah

Tell the child? — Sarah to Dr. Charles

Oh, yeah, the child actually needs to know. Look, Sarah, it’s the hardest thing you’ll have to do as a doctor, and it doesn’t get any easier, at least it hadn’t for me. But, we are the ones who have been chosen to do this, and I think there’s a certain nobility in that — Dr. Charles to Sarah

A show of hands — how many of you were just as taken back as Sarah with that last part? I know I was. While I agree that anyone who is dying should know the truth, how can you tell something like that to a child? Would they understand? How could you make them understand? Would an 8 year-old even comprehend the concept of death? Sarah is able to give the news to the parents and is a trooper doing it (although she completely breaks down privately afterwards), but she leaves telling Parker to Dr. Charles.

I had a dog named Fin. He died. Am I going to die? — Parker
Yes, you are. But not for a long time  — Dr. Charles
A year? — Parker
Longer than that. More like 5 years — Dr. Charles
That’s a long time! Will I get to eat ice cream? — Parker
I’m guessing the answer might be ‘Yes’ — Dr. Charles

And, it’s this particular scene with Dr. Charles and Parker that illustrates the immense talent Dick Wolf and Co. have acquired by casting Oliver Platt for this role. It’s completely breath-taking and makes you feel like you’re in the room while they’re having the conversation. And, most importantly, it breaks your heart, and unless you are the coldest human being on earth, it makes you cry. I watch series like The Walking Dead where death is commonplace and happens everyday, and because of that, there’s rarely a moment on television anymore where I actually cry. But truth be told, I was sobbing by the end of this scene. And, what does that mean? That means that Platt and the writing team are doing their jobs, and a hell of a good one too.

While the vast majority of the episode focused on death, sorrow and disappointment, fortunately it does end on a positive note. Dr. Manning delivers a healthy baby boy and is surrounded by her Chicago Med family in the final scene (and Dr. Charles even brings champagne!). This includes even Wil (Nick Gehlfuss) who is initially run off by Dr. Manning’s pesty mother-in-law, Helen (Annie Potts),  but who finally returns with flowers-in-hand. For me, this was the perfect ending to a perfect episode for 2 reasons. First, it lifts you out of the depressive funk that I’m sure every viewer was in after the first 55 minutes of the episode. Second, it goes back to what Dr. Charles said — “We are the ones who have been chosen to do this, and I think there’s a certain nobility in that.” Doctors save lives. Doctors heal. But, as we saw tonight, a doctor is also the guiding light in a world of darkness after they have to deliver bad news. Then, after all of this, they must somehow go home, live their lives, and in this case, celebrate life as with the birth of Dr. Manning’s baby. And, because of that, a doctor IS the noblest of all professions.

Chicago Med  airs on Tuesdays at 9/8c on NBC.

Critic Grade — A

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