NBC's Chicago Med - Episode 4.17 "The Space Between Us"
When a car unexpectedly smashes through the ambulance bay doors, Dr. Choi makes some difficult decisions in an effort to save a worker trapped beneath the wreckage and April, who's also in danger. Dr. Rhodes and Dr. Bekker tend to a patient whose best chance at survival is an extremely risky heart surgery. Dr. Charles struggles to come to terms with ex-wife Caroline's treatment.
In 2018, there were 495 scripted shows airing amongst the linear channels and streaming services. The way people are consuming content now is so different than it used to be. It happens according to one's own schedule. As such, there is less necessity to provide ample coverage of each specific episode in any given season from a show. Moreover, it is simply impossible to watch everything. As such, this site is making the move to shorter episodic reviews in order to cover as many shows as possible. With all of that being said, here are my thoughts on the next episode of NBC's Chicago Med.
"The Space Between Us" was directed by Daniela De Carlo with story by Danny Weiss & Ryan Michael Johnson and teleplay by Danny Weiss & Jeff Drayer
The men of this show have done and said some awful things this season. It almost seems as if those patronizing qualities are becoming a part of the overall narrative as well. It's the show depicting the different ways men and women are seen in the world. With men, there is the superiority that comes from people always looking at them clearly for answers. With women, there is always some underlying skepticism. It's horrible and has basically imploded all of the romantic pairings so far this season. Will & Natalie, Ethan & April, and Connor & Ava are no longer together because of the same exact problems. The men have had wild and extreme reactions while expecting the women to stand idly by and support them through these difficult times. It's exhausting both emotionally and physically. They are still dealing with the lingering effects of those actions as well. Will and Natalie may be able to work together once more. And yet, Maggie still has to come in and smack some sense into Will on why he shouldn't be moping around about Natalie. Just because she has moved on quickly from their breakup doesn't devalue the happy memories that they share together. Those are still special. They just couldn't work as a couple any longer. That may have been clear for a long time. But this was the reality that they were always heading towards. Now, they simply have to provide the best medical care to their patients. Meanwhile, no one seems to be taking April seriously when she decides to put herself in a dangerous situation in order to save the life of a colleague. It's tragic to see a car destroy so much of the ambulance bay. It's even more so seeing Don pinned under the vehicle while Ethan and Connor are willing to give up on him. April is stressing the urgency in pulling him out. Instead, Ethan and Severide are left to make all of the decisions about his care. They are instead prioritizing April's own safety because they have a personal connection to her. Neither of them are objective in this situation and that does cloud their judgment. Ethan is only willing to partially admit that. That may be progress. And yet, it shouldn't take April and Goodwin spelling it out to him in the first place. Meanwhile, Connor is choosing to prioritize his own patient and the organs that he desperately needs. He is objective in that he doesn't care that he's operating on the driver. He understands the medical condition that led to this tragic accident. He doesn't hold it against him. He just doesn't extend the empathy required to ask Don to donate his organs when he is still alive and trying to fight for his own life. And in the end, it's no big deal whatsoever because Robin has an inventive solution that allows Connor and Ava to finish this surgery successfully. In doing so though, it's clear that Connor and Robin are sliding back into their old routine which only makes Ava yearn once more for what could have been. That too is tragic in a way because so much of her time on the show has been defined through her dynamic with Connor. And finally, Charles is once again called out for being demanding and opinionated by prioritizing his beliefs above the patients he is caring for. One of them happens to be his ex-wife Cece who understands her body better than he does. The other is a patient trying an experimental procedure on herself which seems crazy to him. He loses his ability to rationally approach the situation. He is only reminded to do so because of Goodwin as well. As such, it serves as further proof that the men continue to lash out in this way and expect to be pulled back even when they are absolutely in the wrong. That can't be healthy and sustainable in the long run though.
