Chicago Med season 12 episode 3 recap: Charles finally learns the truth about Goodwin
In Chicago Med season 12 episode 3, Goodwin returns to Gaffney in a nursing role, but she’s continuing to face ups and downs from unexpected sources.
After the first two episodes of Chicago Med season 12, things are really beginning to heat up with Goodwin’s fight against Miranda. In last week’s episode, Goodwin took the deal in order to accept a position as the ED’s new nurse to help bring change from the inside. She’s finally back and not backing down, but in many ways, the fight has still only just begun.
Chicago Med season 12 episode 3 kicks off with Goodwin excitedly getting ready for the day and putting on her scrubs. Once in the ED, she addresses the staff and their questions, which she legally isn’t able to answer. Charles doesn’t look particularly excited to see her on board. Miranda pulls Goodwin and Archer aside to confront them over the loophole they found in her deal.
They have her backed into a corner, unable to fire her without cause. Regardless, Miranda isn’t happy. Goodwin assists with a patient named Lam Ka Fai (Clem Cheung) then meets Dr. Wu. Multiple victims from a car crash arrive in the emergency department. Archer notes how Wu speaks to Goodwin, which she stops him from saying anything.
When things get heated between Gail (Dot-Marie Jones), another victim of the crash and the driver, and Mr. Driscoll’s wife, Goodwin steps in to break the tension and calm down Mrs. Driscoll. Wu makes it very clear to Goodwin that she didn’t appreciate the assist. After speaking with Gail, Wu confronts Goodwin and instructs her not to give patients a treatment plan over her head.
Goodwin makes waves on her first day as a nurse
Asher tends to Harper, a young pregnant woman, who doesn’t appear to have had regular appointments with a doctor. Matthew (Tyler Barnhardt) struggles with an injured shoulder, and Asher calls in Ripley. While Asher’s looking Harper over, their car was taken to an impound lot, which Harpers cares about more. Goodwin talks to Archer about Wu’s patient and ordering tests.
Frost works on a child named Alex who has burns on his arm, and when they open his shirt to check for more burns, Frost and they nurse find bruising on her chest. His grandmother (Meredith Salenger) arrives with more children and looks at his bruises in shock. Charles finally talks to Goodwin and asks whether she’s up for nursing again. He’s angry when she refuses to tell him the truth.
Gail asks Goodwin the status of the man she hit, and Goodwin confirms that he was pronounced braindead. After this conversation, Goodwin meets Sloan, who learns that Goodwin asked Archer to help Gail move up the list for a lung donation. The police officer confirms Gail wasn’t drinking and the accident was in fact an accident. Goodwin steps aside as the officer, Archer, and Sloan talk to Gail.
Frost consults with Charles over Alex’s injuries and what could be going on. Joanne pushes back against Frost and Charles questioning her parenting and whether there’s something going on with Alex. Asher and Ripley speak privately with Harper and Matthew about being unhoused, concerned that she’s so close to delivery. They each have ailments that could grow worse.
Wu struggles to work with Goodwin and Archer
Asher suggest Harper live in a women’s shelter, but that would mean Matthew would have to stay somewhere else. Harper vehemently shuts down being separated. Goodwin, Archer, and Wu work on Gail when she begins crashing. Archer takes Goodwin’s side, causing even more friction with Wu. Following a procedure, Wu continues to take issue with Goodwin and Archer.
Later, Matthew can’t find Harper and he’s worried. In the stairwell, Frost finds Harper hyperventilating on the floor. He assists her through breathing exercises to calm her down. Charles speaks with Joanne about Alex and learns that Alex tends to take care of himself. She wonders how she didn’t notice he burned his arm and broke his collarbone. Charles gets an idea to run a test.
He has both Frost and Alex submerge their hand in a bucket of ice water. Frost removes his hand after a short amount of time, but Alex remains for much longer. Alex might have CIP, which prevents him from feeling pain. Asher and Ripley continue to worry about Harper, and Asher considers exaggerating either Harper or Matthew’s ailiments to get them admitted.
Goodwin overhears them talking and promises to look at their charts to find a solution. Sloan appears to have stepped in on Frost and Charles’ case and removes Alex from Joanne’s home. They’re opening an investigation on potential abuse with child protective services. The solution Goodwin comes up with is boarding the unhoused couple for testing due to their exposure to a virus.
Sloan’s new systems creat major problems for Frost and Charles
Frost and Charles confront Sloan about having DCFS stand down, but the new system flagged Alex’s status and called in DCFS, not her. Charles pushes back against a computer deciding that an investigation should take place. When the conversation leads nowhere, Frost breaks his tablet and storms away.
As Gail prepares for her lung transplant, everyone learns she’s receiving the lungs of the man that died in the accident. The victim’s wife yells in protest when she learns the truth and pushes back when Goodwin tries to calm her down. Before surgery, Gail declines the lungs. She apologizes to Goodwin about turning the lungs down. Goodwin urges Gail to forgive herself for her mistakes.
Gail explains that she knew she shouldn’t have been driving that day and insists that she’s not able to forgive herself for the accident and the man’s death. Wu again confronts Archer about Goodwin, and he defends her. But Goodwin steps in to agree with Wu. Everyone has been treating Goodwin with kid gloves. She wants to be treated like any other nurse on the hospital floor.
Miranda tells Archer that he’s right about not being able to fire Goodwin, but she can control who’s running the emergency department. Archer appears to be have been given some time off. Finally, Goodwin meets with Charles to explain the whole truth. Charles thanks her for what she did to help him, grateful that he has a friend like her. They decide to team up to take Miranda down.
Chicago Med airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on NBC and next-day on Peacock.