Chicago Med Preview: “Bound” 

Last night, I couldn’t figure out what to watch. I ended up getting the sudden urge to binge NBC’s Chicago Med. I’m all caught up and ready to spread the good word when it comes to this series. Some truths:

• Colin Donnell makes a great TV doctor. I loved him on Arrow. I’m still crushed over what happened to Tommy Merlyn. But getting to know Dr. Connor Rhodes is a good way to help me get over that loss. (Although, honestly, I will never not want to see him back on his former CW series. Anywhere, anyway, anyhow.) Dr. Rhodes is passionate about his job and saving people. He is very confident in his skills and he won’t let anybody make him doubt himself, not even his ass of a father. Oh, that relationship is painful to see unfold. Cornelius Rhodes has narcissist written all over him. Everything always has to be about him. I’m excited to see what’s behind this dysfunctional relationship. Things have been alluded to but not spelled out just yet. I love how Dr. Rhodes tries to keep his cool when he’s in his father’s vicinity but there’s some serious you-know-what brewing underneath. I don’t know how long he’s going to keep it on simmer. But good on him for trying.

• It’s only been five episodes but I already care about these characters. That investment is something that compels me to tune into a show. So I hope this trend continues.

• The seamless crossovers are very cool. I don’t watch Dick Wolf’s other two Chicago-based series, Fire and P.D. But I am familiar with most of the actors and characters from those shows. So when I see them pop up at the hospital to worry over a sick or injured-in-the-line-of-duty friend or to work a case, I really enjoy seeing them interact with the Chicago Med characters.

• Oliver Platt and S. Epatha Merkerson sharing a scene, whenever or wherever, is golden. These two are so good and they play characters who often find themselves in difficult situations but usually handle those situations perfectly. Dr. Charles and Sharon Goodwin know how to get the job done well and are assets to the team.

Some other truths: Halstead and Manning will make a cute couple…down the line. Don’t think she’s ready for anything right now. Yes, Rhodes is sleeping with his attending surgeon, Dr. Zanetti. But I do think he and April would make an adorable couple. Although, she has a little something, something going with Chicago Fire‘s Severide? I do hope she makes the decision to become a doctor at some point. Meanwhile, I don’t think I could adore Maggie any more than I do. Would love to learn more about her. Same with Dr. Choi.

Fun Fact: On a personal note, my dad is a Dr. Charles so every time they say this character’s name on Chicago Med, I think of him. It must be an NBC thing because, on the late great Parenthood, there was a Dr. Pelikan, which was cool for me because both my sister and her husband are Dr. Pelikans.

Okay, enough personal stuff.

At last week’s Television Critics Association’s Winter Press Tour, there was a panel that featured Chicago Fire, P.D. and Med creator Dick Wolf along with actors from all three shows.

There, Wolf addressed the benefit of having shows able to stand on their own. But at the same time, they’re able to create seamless opportunities for crossovers amongst all three of his series. Four if you also count Law & Order: SVU. It’s a balancing act, for sure, but one that he feels is paying off. “I think that there are people who watch one, two, hopefully, three,” he said. “The research last year showed that only about 35 percent of the audience overlaps and that’s why the [recent] crossover was so incredibly satisfying.”

The ratings for that crossover, according to Wolf, were huge. It’s exactly what he’d hope would happen, so expect them to continue. “We are doing a multitude of what are not even crossovers, but just integrations where people from one or more of the shows can show up for one or more scenes in the others so that world continues,” he stated.

Tonight’s episode doesn’t include any of these integrations but it does feature Natalie going into labor and three heartbreaking cases. I especially do not envy Sarah — she has to do one of the most difficult things any doctor has to do. Plus, we get a little more backstory for Rhodes, who goes another round with his father. And the presence of Natalie’s mother-in-law doesn’t mean anything good for Halstead.

Official NBC Synopsis for “Bound”:

Two airplane stowaways are brought into the hospital after suffering major injuries from the travel, prompting Sharon Goodwin (S. Epatha Merkerson) to receive a visit from the Department of Homeland Security regarding the undocumented immigrants. Cornelius Rhodes (guest star DW Moffett), the wealthy father of Dr. Connor Rhodes (Colin Donnell), is honored after making a big donation to the hospital for a new psych ward, forcing dark family secrets to the surface.

Dr. Natalie Manning’s (Torrey De Vitto) big day arrives and Dr. Will Halstead’s (Nick Gehlfuss) good intentions to help are misconstrued by her mother-in-law, Helen (guest star Annie Potts). Meanwhile, Dr. Sarah Reese (Rachel DiPillo) asks Dr. Charles (Oliver Platt) for advice on how to deliver heartbreaking news to a young boy while also warning his family about the possibility that their other son may also have the same life-threatening disease. Brian Tee and Yaya DaCosta also star. Kara Kilmer, Dora Madison, Marc Grapey, Julie Berman and Christina Brucato guest star.

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