'Chicago Med' Season 5 Finale: Natalie and Ethan become heroes as the NBC drama comes to a premature end
Spoilers for 'Chicago Med' Season 5 Episode 20 'A Needle in the Heart'
Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, production on all three 'Chicago' shows was halted prematurely, meaning this week's episodes serve as their respective season finales. It's not ideal, especially since the current seasons were meant to contain 23 episodes and chunks of the story remain untold. However, each of the 'Chicago' shows has been renewed for three seasons each already, so fans don't have to worry about the show coming back.
The premature end means that the season finale for 'Chicago Med' is not like its usual season finales. For the most part, the story ends in an incomplete way but we do get some interesting bits.
For instance, we learn more about Dr Crockett Marcel's (Dominic Rains) past when two New Orleans detectives come to the hospital to ask him questions. Crockett tells Dr Natalie Manning (Torrey DeVitto) that he is a suspect, but he doesn't know why. Natalie talks to Kevin Atwater of 'Chicago PD' and learns that Crockett's DNA was found at a crime scene from a murder that took place years ago. However, Natalie is convinced that Crockett is innocent.
When an old colleague of Crockett's shows up, Natalie speaks to him and learns that Crockett had a child who died as a toddler due to leukemia. Natalie figures out that Crockett probably donated bone marrow - which he confirms when she asks - and in rare cases when bone marrow is donated, the receiver's DNA might be altered to resemble the donor's. When the detectives try to arrest Crockett, Natalie comes to his rescue.
Meanwhile, Dr Ethan Choi (Brian Tee), who broke up with April Sexton (Yaya DaCosta) last week, is going through all the signs of heartbreak. This could be why he chooses to put himself in the middle of a hostage situation. April, who was nearby, learns of this situation and gets worried when she hears that Ethan is inside. Eventually, all's well in the end when Ethan saves the boy and is rescued. He is happily reunited with April and fans can rejoice that "Sexton" isn't dead.
Elsewhere in the episode, we see Dr Daniel Charles (Oliver Platt) spending more time with his daughter and helping her through her first heartbreak. Meanwhile, Dr Will Halstead (Nick Gehlfuss) is beginning to understand that Dr Hannah Asher (Jessy Schram) is not to be trusted.
One thing that was clear from the episode was that the writers are beginning to wrap up the plotlines for the final season. A few things could have been expected to happen, like Will and Hannah's inevitable breakup and Crockett and Natalie potentially getting together, but now we have to wait until the next season to see if these things could happen.
Of course, considering the unexpected break, the story might not even go the same way anymore. Since this week's episode was not the finale, there wasn't a fitting conclusion either and perhaps it gives the writers a chance to salvage what comes next.
