Chicago Med Season 9 Episode 12 Review: Get By With a Little Help From My Friends

Chicago Med Season 9 Episode 12, “Get By With a Little Help From My Friends,” delivers an episode with several storylines to keep viewers engaged.

This season-long tactic seems to work perfectly because even though this has been a short season, it has delivered great episodes. Every character has had a memorable storyline.

Of course, the buildup of Goodwin’s storyline with her new boyfriend and Bert’s diagnosis will have its climatic moment in the season finale. Hopefully, it will be resolved for the best.

Who Takes Care of Goodwin?

When we first see Goodwin arriving at Bert’s house after the fire, there’s only one thing we wonder: why isn’t someone home with him?

Given his diagnosis, we’re surprised to see Bert doesn’t have care 24/7. But even more surprising is Goodwin’s comment saying she never imagined anything like this.

This woman is a nurse. She has obviously been an amazing nurse throughout her career, which led her to lead a hospital.

Are we really to believe this experienced woman didn’t know what to expect from her ex-husband’s diagnosis? That doesn’t really make sense for how educated and prepared she is.

All of this wondering what could happen and how to help Bert has only one answer (the one we had feared all Chicago Med Season 9 Episode 9, “Spin a Yarn, Get Stuck in Your Own String,”): Goodwin will bring Bert home with her.

It was obvious during Chicago Med Season 9 Episode 9, “Spin a Yarn, Get Stuck in Your Own String,” that she knew how to handle it. When he got nervous, she started singing to him and got him to calm down.

On Chicago Med Season 9 Episode 12, “Get By With a Little Help From My Friends,” she is the only one who can calm him down. This, plus not wanting to put her children in a tough spot by caring for their father, leads to Goodwin stepping up to the occasion.

But is it really fair? We know she cares about Bert, but that’s her ex-husband. Shouldn’t it be his kids who find a way to get him the care he needs?

In her selfless nature, Goodwin will put everyone before her. This becomes even more obvious when she nearly passes out because she hasn’t been taking care of herself.

One way or another, this decision will inevitably backfire, and things won’t end well. As Charles said, this isn’t a long-term solution.

It’s Never Easy to Ask for Help

We have seen time and time again how difficult it is for the doctors on Chicago Med to ask for help. They either think they’re invincible or are too ashamed.

Following in the footsteps of previous doctors who didn’t ask for help is nurse Jackie from the burnt unit. This is the first time we meet Jackie, but just like Maggie we want to help her.

She is obviously burnt out, working double shifts, taking care of patients in excruciating pain, and worrying about her husband, who hasn’t found a job in a long time.

With her appearance comes the conversation around self-harm. When Maggie brings the case to Charles’s attention, he immediately starts talking about what this could be.

Once again, Charles does a great job explaining the mental health issue and how difficult it can be for someone to open up. Hopefully, this aspect of Chicago Med will never be lost.

Jackie ends up accepting the help she needs. We don’t know if we’ll see more of her, but we are at least relieved to leave her in a place where she’s ready to heal.

Ripley: Part-Time Doctor, Part-Time Superhero

Since Sully’s return to the hospital and the deposition on Chicago Med Season 9 Episode 11, “I Think There is Something You’re Not Telling Me,” Ripley has been afraid to push Asher away with his past.

But the same friend who brought these feelings on is the one who points out Ripley is no longer that kid. He can control his emotions.

He saves lives and does what is right. They see him as a superhero, so why doesn’t he?

Luckily, at least for a split second, Ripley sees his own worth and decides to talk to Asher about who he was. He doesn’t go into too much detail but tells her about his past.

Just like we expected, Asher has a positive reaction. She is the only person who can truly understand what it is like not to want to be judged for your past.

She is thinking about who he is, not who he was.

A Lot to Learn

Archer has never been the open kind of doctor eager to teach. It becomes even clearer on Chicago Med Season 9 Episode 12, “Get By With a Little Help From My Friends,” when he makes the med students run away.

He makes Naomi feel worthless, and she walks out of the room. That’s the old Archer; sadly, he still comes out occasionally.

However, as busy as she is with Bert, it makes sense that Goodwin doesn’t let this slide when she finds out. She is the only person besides Asher who can tell Archer things as they are.

Unlike old Archer, this refined version of himself listens and talks to Naomi. In the end, we see him teaching her instead of reprimanding her.

This incident also helps us learn a bit more about Naomi. It isn’t much, but if she returns for Chicago Med Season 10, we’ll at least have an idea of who she is.

Chicago Med Season 9 has been a roller coaster for everyone, especially for Marcel after crossing paths with Zola.

Chicago Med Season 9 Episode 12, “Get By With a Little Help From My Friends,” leaves him wondering if his choice is the right one. After pulling a patient out of the transplant list and knowing he’ll die, we can see him thinking about what he’s just done.

It seems Chicago Med Season 9 will leave Marcel wondering about who he is and the kind of doctor he has become.

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Chicago Med airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on NBC.

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