Chicago Med season 12 episode 2 recap: Archer helps Goodwin plot her next move

With an assist from Archer, Goodwin made a decision on her future, and it’s not what anyone was expecting.

Following the Chicago Med season 12 premiere, the second episode picks up after the wedding day shooting and the dramatic cliffhanger ending. Doris revealed to Goodwin that she leaked Theo’s medical records, which is a game changer for the investigation. This week, we’re in for new cases, Asher officially back at work, and Frost moving on with someone new.

Chicago Med season 12 episode 2 begins with Frost’s new romantic venture as he kiss a woman while in the shower. He gets interrupted by Ripley knocking on the door asking to brush his teeth. Frost pokes his head out the door to give Ripley his toothbrush and toothpaste. Ripley also reveals that Naomi moved to Portland for a new fellowship while asking Frost to shift their roommate deal.

Asher and Archer drop off Mabel at the hospital daycare, and Asher’s having a hard time letting go while Archer pretends to hold it together. Sloan pulls Archer aside to reveal that she’s moving around resources to give the emergency department more hands. Doris explains herself to Goodwin and her son David, insisting she was trying to save Charles. She wants to turn herself in.

The emergency department braces for the arrival of multiple subway surfers, and Asher gets to work on a victim named Samara with a neck injury. Another victim named Nolan comes in with severe burns, but Archer’s having hard time waking him up. Frost and Tanaka-Reed work on Christian as Archer calls for Tanaka-Reed’s help reviving Nolan.

Gaffney loses one of the subway surfer patients

Frost informs Christian that he has an aortic dissection and that his brother was able to be revived, but he’s still in critical condition. Christian blames himself for Nolan almost dying because subway surfing was his idea. Ripley examines a patient named Ellen (B.K. Cannon) and hypothesizes she has a small tear in her esophagus. Noting her weight gain in three months, Ripley orders more tests.

Asher introduces Samara to Abrams and presents her with the reality that she might not be able to walk again. She doesn’t want to have the surgery they’re suggesting because of that, even though the other consequence would be death. Goodwin’s son tells her that allowing Doris to keep quiet would make the legal matter worse. David makes her consider not taking the deal.

Ripley consults with Charles about Ellen, considering that her condition could be psychological. While talking to Asher, Frost walks away to approach Archer and Tanaka-Reed, who break the unfortunate news that they were unable to revive Nolan after he bled out in surgery. He died.

Archer battles Sloan over the new overflow room

Charles talks to Ellen about her personal life and the custody battle she’s been in with her ex over their son. She expresses her interest in getting on a GLP-1, but Charles wants to make sure anything else is going on. Asher and Abrams are on time crunch to help Samara, and they’re forced to use leeches on her wounds in place of doing the surgery (for now).

Archer finds himself in a room he doesn’t work in, which seems to be because of the expansion Sloan was talking about earlier. Frost joins him to work on Christians leg, but Archer’s matter-of-fact talk stresses Christian out. Frost helps to calm him down. Both Archer and Frost aren’t sure what the room they’re in is (and neither are we!). Archer confronts Sloan about this mystery room.

It’s an overflow room that she believes is helpful, but Archer argues that he’s been given more work to deal with than less. He wants the overflow room gone, but Sloan isn’t playing ball with him. Frost speaks with Nolan’s dad and Tanaka-Reed also helps ensure Christian will be all right before surgery. He’s not allowed to see Christian since they need to keep his heart rate below 60.

Ripley speaks with Ellen’s son and learns that she taught him how to call for help, which piques Ripley’s interest. Frost and Tanaka-Reed allow Christian to see his father before surgery with the promise of not mentioning Nolan. Christian asks about Nolan on his dad’s way out and Frost lies that he’s okay and resting. When Christian asks his dad to tell Nolan sorry, his dad’s emotional reaction causes him to panic.

Goodwin cooks up a scheme with Archer

Ripley catches up with Charles to replay the information he received from Ellen’s son about being prepped to call 911. This reminds Ripley about his past with his mom’s drug problem and being taught to do things for himself in case she overdosed. Suddenly, it clicks for Charles. Samara’s mother finally arrives at Gaffney to talk with Asher, but she refuses to help push for the surgery.

Samara’s mother isn’t willing to continue to put herself through the pain of Samara’s self-destructive decisions. Charles talks to Ellen about her alcohol consumption and whether she’s excessively eating in order to qualify for a GLP-1 to help curb an addiction. Ellen worried her drinking would cause her to lose custody of her son. Charles will prescribe her a GLP-1 to prevent diabetes, not to help with her drinking. He tells her honestly that she needs to face her problem.

Goodwin takes her meeting with Miranda early to present her decision. She has decided to resign her position and take the deal. (But don’t worry, we know she’s not leaving.) Asher once again informs Samara that she will be at constant risk of a fatal stroke. When revealing she spoke with her mom, Asher tries to appeal to Samara and inspire her to accept the surgery.

Asher’s final plea that she cares whether Samara lives or dies makes her agree to the surgery. Frost and Tanaka-Reed reveal that Christian made it through surgery to his father. At the end of the day, Asher picks up Mabel from daycare and hugs her extra tight. Doris shows up at Goodwin’s house again, angry she took the deal. Archer apologizes to Sloan for his reaction, but it’s all part of a plan he cooked up to have Goodwin to join the team as the new charge nurse.

Chicago Fire airs new episodes Wednesdays at 8/7c on NBC and next-day on Peacock.