NBC's Chicago Med - Episode 4.05 "What You Don't Know"
When things become complicated, Will is forced to lie to Natalie. Ethan and April find out some compromising information about Emily's boyfriend. Ava is unsure of what to do with a patient who is refusing treatment.
In 2018, it has become very difficult to keep up with every television show out there. It's even more difficult to provide adequate coverage on this site about the episodes that air every week. Not every show can get full coverage because of my busy and hectic viewing schedule. As such, some reviews will now be condensed to give only some summary thoughts. But it also affords a space for me to jot down my thoughts on the various episodes. And so, here are my thoughts on this week's episode of NBC's Chicago Med.
"What You Don't Know" was written by Stephen Hootstein and directed by Donald Petrie
The drama is at least aware that Will lying to Natalie about what he is currently involved in is a massive problem. That was the most pressing issue with this story when it was first introduced. Of course, it's still advocating for Will to be lying to her. The audience is just suppose to feel bad for him because there seems to be no other option. Of course, he takes things a step too far in wanting to lie to her about all of his interactions with Ray instead of just his involvement with a task force trying to arrest him for his criminal actions. That comes in an episode where the doctors have to listen to their patients and provide the best care based on their wishes. That has always been an integral part of this job. The characters have made mistakes. They have broken confidentiality and pushed their own personal agendas on their patients. Charles has been called in to determine if a patient is in their right mind to make their complicated requests. And now, all of this is being paired with Will not being a good doctor to his patient. He is awkward and nervous whenever he is around Ray right now. He still assumes that he will be able to use his hall for his wedding reception. The FBI may have a different plan in that regard should this operation go according to plan. It was the agreement with Ray that got Will into trouble in the first place. And now, he laments not being able to just be a doctor. He got himself into this own mess. He has to deal with the consequences. The show desperately wants the audience to feel sympathy for him. However, it's very difficult to do so. It's much easier to see the empathy on display with the other stories of the hour. Sure, it's so destructive of Choi to expose Bernie's home life. He is imploding so many lives just because he is trying to be a protective older brother. He wants to shield Emily from the pain of knowing that Bernie is married. It's a healthy and happy marriage too. She is simply a mistress who got pregnant. And yet, she is choosing to stay with him as well. She sees someone who needs help in their time of need. It just creates more tension in her relationship with her brother. He may not understand her actions. That can be very infuriating especially if April isn't by his side to calm him down. That seems to be all that she has done so far this season. That's lame and lackluster. Elsewhere, Natalie and Ava are trying to respect the wishes of their patients as well. Natalie doesn't want to perform a rape test without the consent of her teenage patient. Her mother is very forceful. And yet, it takes actually sharing tales of past trauma in order for her to open up and realize that this is something she needs to do because the man who attacked her is a monster and needs to be punished. Meanwhile, Ava and Connor are confused by a man who survived his suicide attempt and continues to refuse care. It's not until Charles learns that he also has Huntington's disease that it starts to make sense. Only then are the doctors willing to accept his life choices. Of course, they are still confused by him refusing to share this information with his son. He doesn't want him to see him like this. But that only leads to a child feeling isolated from his father on an issue that will have an impact on his life as well. It's a genetic condition and this patient is hiding the truth because he foolishly doesn't want to destroy his son's life. That too can be very destructive - with Charles having to find a creative way around it to ensure the son is well-informed about the condition he will one day develop.
