‘Chicago Med’ Recap: ‘Bad Habits’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

CHICAGO MED -- "Bad Habits" Episode 1005 -- Pictured: (l-r) Marlyne Barrett as Maggie Lockwood, Jessy Schram as Dr. Hannah Asher -- (Photo by: George Burns Jr/NBC)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 1005 of ‘Chicago Med’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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For the most part, Halloween episodes have gone the way of the dodo. Which is strange, because the Halloween episode was once a revered bit of television. Wherein the cast and crew could enjoy some creative license and tell spooky stories or just celebrate the wonder of the holiday. But one day, they just faded away and no one really knows why and thankfully, we no longer have to. Because after years of being away from the market, the Halloween episode is making a comeback, as evidenced by some of NBC’s lineup this week, such as last night’s episode of Chicago Med. Because ‘Bad Habits’ offered up all kinds of spooky.

In fact, the episode opened up with some amazing Halloween cheer. Since the staff was dressed to the nines in their spooky best, all to answer a Code Orange. Which just so happened to be a glut of children from the hospital and other locations. Which made for a fun opening to the show and well, once the candy and tricks and treats were out of the way, did the show offer up a vastly different kind of Halloween episode. For a lot of the elements present here examined fear, and how we overcome it in trying times, along with a unique storyline involving how the past can find us medically. Plus, there was also a super spooky moment for Dr. Frost. Who had to treat some patients that were exposed to bats on this spooky night, which led to a scary encounter with a mentally ill patient that opted to bite the good doctor, and that was indeed fitting for a Halloween shift at the hospital.

But that aside, Dr. Ripley spent a great deal of time examining how the past can come back to haunt folks medically. Since his bestie’s girlfriend and son were in the ER because she ignored her child’s health because of how bad things were at home, and he was treating a nun that happened to have a failed pregnancy still inside of her body. All of which spoke to the central theme, and how we must confront the past when it pops by, to find peace. Which the nun did by reflecting on how she got pregnant, before having the remains removed and where Ripley… came to understand he could not escape yesterday, and had to do more for his brother by choice. Which made for quite the meaningful bit of storytelling for certain. One that was wonderfully counterbalanced by what Dr. Charles and Dr. Asher dealt with.

For their journeys revolved around the fear themes we mentioned a moment ago. Since Dr. Charles was dealing with a case regarding a man that appeared to have a psychotic break. One that could have cost him time with his daughter permanently and he was terrified of losing his mind and of being away from that which meant the most to him. But with Jackie’s help, Dr. Charles realized that this poor soul was having issues with his medication and with a little care, he would be fine and free of this scare. And as for Dr. Asher, well she was working with a mother to be that desperately needed help with pre-natal care, and she was terrified that something bad would happen to her baby, but her fears were assuaged by getting the care she needed. For an issue was found and worked through. Which allowed for her to go home feeling safe.

All of which explored, how all we can do when we are scared, is take a breath, and a beat so we can look at our fear objectively and overcome it the right way. Which in this instance involved a little science and some care, and that all made… for one delightful episode of this show. One that truly did take the Halloween episode into new territory. Since it focused less on the supernatural and more on the real-world things that scare us, something that was a tad more harrowing for Goodwin, since someone is lurking around her house, we learned, making that death threat important again. But going this route storytelling wise, is worthwhile and amazing. Because that’s the kind of stuff that will help to revitalize this kind of episode, and well, now that one uniquely spooky tale has come to a close, it’s onto a two week break for the show, and it would seem that when we pick back up… that last element of fear we discussed, will take the center stage. Until next time.

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