#I also desperately want Colins proposal to be really heartfelt as well because the one in the book is so lackluster and unsatisfying

[clairi-yos]

I've been reading RMB today and with the trailer coming out the other day we have a much clearer idea of how part 1 is going to go and its got me thinking about how they're gonna adapt the book scenes to fit with the Debling plot.

So what if in Ep 4 Debling proposes to Pen towards the start of the episode and that's why in the Pen/Portia clip in the trailer Pen's eyes look like she thinks she's making a mistake/she's panicking and Portia's reassuring her with "you've done so well, what more could you want?"

Then at the end of the episode we have the carriage scene and the episode ends with the carriage arriving at the Featherington house and Colin ALSO proposes like "forget him, marry me". It would make such a good cliffhanger for the mid-season finale.

Then at the start of Ep.5 we can have still have a silly farcical scene with Colin and Portia that keeps the spirit of Portia's Felicity misunderstanding intact but this time she's not following Colin's meaning because Pen already has another proposal from a 'better' titled suitor?

[sextonsharpwinhalstead]

Chicago Med Review 4x1 “Be My Better Half”

We have waited for this day for three months. I can admit that I was not nearly as excited for the beginning of this season because frankly the finale was lackluster, but there was intrigue drummed up over the last few weeks as the apparent lack of Rachel Dipillo on the show’s cover art had fans confused and worried. A worry that was quickly accelerated by the absence of Dipillo at the One Chicago Day press junket. No questions were asked about her absence and it was as if we were living in a twilight zone where she had never existed. Then came the interviews given by Frolov stating that Sarah chooses to leave Chicago after the collapse of her father and the jarring news of what he may have done and who he really was.

Desperate fans like myself were in denial. Never had we seen an actor on Med exit be handled this way. Could she be leaving just to come back and rejoin the ED staff we all thought she should’ve been apart of to begin with? Alas no, the episode segues right after Sarah watches a hesitant Daniel Charles leering over her father as he screams for a crash cart, however the damage is done. Daniel finally admits he has been holding back information from Sarah and the next scene is she and Dr. Charles leading investigators to Bob’s storage unit. Then we finally see Sarah’s feelings toward Daniel and it’s expected but it calls into so many ethical questions on Daniel’s part that Sarah cannot get past. She transfers the rest of her residency to Baylor and has Noah retrieve her belongings, so she doesn’t have to face anyone else.

Because of this exit there are no big heartfelt goodbyes, hugs, or reminiscent moments between Sarah and any of the other characters who cared about her. This is a slap in the face to the first season of bonding we saw with Sarah and well…everyone. But maybe that’s the point. To have all that weight and emotional labor left on Daniel’s shoulders. He will now have to be the sole person to tell everyone why she left, and she made sure at least one person knew so he can’t even really be too vague on the reason. He must be honest which means bringing up the ethical dubiousness of his actions and calling into question his character. Is he the patient, gentle, caring, Head of Psychiatry or a controlling megalomaniac who was always teetering on the edge of full-on villainy? I don’t know and neither does Daniel, he goes back and forth between drinking, crying privately, and lashing out the staff, then shamefully apologizing. One thing is for certain is that the show hasn’t decided a hundred percent either, as he looks like a deer caught in the headlights at the very mention of his actions and of course that incredibly explosive exchange between him and an infirmed and incarcerated Bob Haywood. Only time will tell but this is not the last we’ve heard of this issue.

The second meatiest story was a surprise. In Colin Donnell’s words; Connor leaving was Med’s “worst kept secret” this season and it took the wind out of the sails of the reveal. I do find it extremely odd that he brought up a hybrid operating room when Ethan was the first person to understand and remedy the solution of patient death in ED in the mass shooting episode This Is Now. The idea should’ve been thrown around then, but they needed an excuse for him to stay. An excuse that was nearly undermined by the new COO. Heather Headley plays Gwen Garrett who is shaping up to be a clear adversary for Sharon and anyone who comes between her and the bottom line: first on the chopping block; Dr. Stohl. Maybe his termination will also cause the conversation to pivot to Sarah’s absence. However, Ava, who has been poorly burying her feelings for Connor, set to rectify the financial quandary by going to daddy war bucks himself. Listen, I did NOT see this coming. But she pulled it off after telling him she would have dinner with him; an invitation she’d declined last season. I wonder if dinner is the only exchange that was made. Knowing Med, it was, and the “betrayal” will come from Connor realizing that Ava masterminded his stay. But that would just show she cared. I hope for the drama, “I screwed your father for money, so you’d stay…because I love you?” Lawd this mess is my favorite kind, but knowing Med it’ll be the former. Regardless, the move will have consequences as we see Gwen and Sharon going head to head as the season progresses. Ava’s consquences I’m not sure.

Now the rest.

The Manstead engagement. Talk about anti-climactic. The actors showed behind the scenes clips of themselves and a shiny bauble could be seen on Torrey Devitto’s finger. She did make Will wait a week, a good reason considering how hasty the proposal came. But they can’t be too happy. Will wants a big wedding to honor his love, Catholic roots, and share it with everyone. Natalie has already been there done that and she understands that in the end the marriage truly is the part that matters. I know everyone has heard that, but I have to side with Natalie. You’ll have pictures and think about it here and there but as your memory of the day fades the challenges marriage throws your way will dwarf that one event. Instead you’ll reminisce on the feelings you had before you said I do and the jubilation of the coming years after the wedding before life and indifference changes the marriage. Will doesn’t know it because he hasn’t been married. In the end she met him halfway showing that she’s had some growth but the whole story was kind of lame, but I know it’s setting up to some drama between them in the coming episodes, so I’ll be patient.

Chexton, Sextoi, whatever your fancy has been driving me up the wall since last season. I honestly cannot tell if Ethan and April are truly broken up. Can you? Emily has been on the mend for at least 3 months and now she wants to make amends. I’m okay with that but I’m confused that April isn’t. She could’ve opted for Ethan to leave her out of the situation and still carry on with their relationship, but she drew a hard line in the sand…which is weird considering how much family and closeness and forgiveness means to her. In the end she agreed to meet with Emily at Connor’s party and she seemed receptive. I like that the writers acknowledged that it was April who was Emily’s biggest cheerleader and she indeed did let her down. Then came the bombshell. Emily is pregnant. If she had been a man I feel like Ethan would’ve physically attacked her. Since when is that the appropriate response? Also, addiction is equally if not more so challenging than parenthood. There is no upside to being addicted to drugs and alcohol and gambling. It’s just weird that he was quick to dismiss her and even think about suggesting abortion when he was even quicker to try and help her through her battles with addiction. On one hand I can understand the disappointment but she’s pregnant not using drugs. However, this revelation pulled April back in. Her catholic beliefs shut down that conversation fast. This is the same conversation that spawned the Chexton ship. The two of them arguing over pro-life/pro-choice points of view. We are full circle but depending on how this situation plays out it could get incredibly messy. What if Bernie isn’t happy and the stress pushes Emily to start using again. If the fetus is compromised do you keep going? April had that dilemma and it nearly broke her. I can see a very rich milieu for ethical conversations if they don’t Med it up and get lazy.

Last but not least our new characters.

James “Jimmy” Lanik had one line this episode and that was to introduce Daniel to the new medical students. There’s some irony and poetry there but I digress. There’s been some leaks that he will be the eyes and ears for Gwen as he was brought on by her and allegiance lies there. Gwen, who we met already is shrewd and calculating and doesn’t bat in eye at frying any fish she deems worthy of dinner.

Finally, the two new medical students Terry McNeal and Elsa Curry. Although it has yet to be revealed Terry is an ex-football player who decided to walk away from lucrative professional contract to become a doctor. He’s stumbling and has his proverbial ass handed to him by Dr. Charles, he cannot identify nor shoot off solutions in rapid succession like his classmate Elsa. However, Elsa is not interested in treating patients she has the knowledge but lacks the bedside manner. I enjoyed her character as it’s not one we’ve seen before. Sure, Sarah Reese wasn’t confident that she wanted to be in the ED, but Elsa KNOWS she does not want to work with people. Not to mention the actress did a spot-on job with the character. She feels real. Although I am curious to find out the reasoning behind Terry’s career change his bumbling is not unlike Noah or Sarah in their third years as students. In other words, been there done that.

In summation this was a strong premiere I know better than to continue to expect consistency from Med but at least this episode the writers showed the better half of their abilities.