For Chicago fans, there are plenty of dramas that honor the city, including Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., and Chicago Med. You can take your pick on what type of show you want to watch, but, for fans who like medical dramas, Chicago Med is usually a good choice.
The NBC drama has been on the air since 2015. It depicts what goes on inside the fictional Gaffney Chicago Medical Center. Throughout its five seasons, there have been many successful episodes, but there have been others that are pretty forgettable. The 10 worst episodes are all from the show’s third season. Take a look at these episodes, ranked according to IMDb.
Down By Law – 5.5
The third season of Chicago Med combined medical drama with legal affairs and many personal problems. In “Down by Law,” Dr. Natalie Manning (Torrey DeVito) suffers a head injury while helping a wounded gang member after a drive-by shooting. She’s aided by paramedic Barry (James Vincent Meredith). He saves her by using a concealed weapon, but the permit is invalid, which causes further complications.
Meanwhile, Dr. Colin Rhodes (Colin Donnell) finds out the woman—and patient—he slept with is married. The episode has confusing, unorganized storylines, but it at least offers everything you expect from an episode of Chicago Med.
Lemons And Lemonade – 5.4
In “Lemons and Lemonade,” Dr. Ethan Choi (Brian Tee) works with an anorexia nervosa patient, Allison, who does everything she can to refuse the treatment. He teams up with Dr. Daniel Charles (Oliver Platt), chief of the hospital’s psychiatry department.
The episode has a very disturbing scene when Dr. Charles bargains with Allison on how many calories she can have administered to her. It’s most likely not the most realistic practice with anorexia nervosa patients, and even Dr. Choi raises an eyebrow.
Mountains And Molehills – 5.3
Medical ethics is a popular discussion on medical dramas, including Chicago Med. In the episode “Mountains and Molehills,” Dr. Choi and Sharon Goodwin (S. Epatha Merkerson) don’t see eye-to-eye on the best ethical practice when a patient refuses to take an HIV test.
Meanwhile, Dr. Will Halstead (Nick Gehlfuss) and Dr. Manning treat a young patient with paralysis when Dr. Halstead suddenly has the same symptoms. Now, there’s an epidemic inside the hospital. This episode is from a pre-coronavirus era, but the hospital staff doesn’t handle the situation very well. The episode doesn’t add much drama to the show. Instead, it feels too rushed.
On Shaky Ground – 5.0
In “On Shaky Ground,” Dr. Choi and ED nurse April Sexton (Yaya DaCosta) have the challenge of treating a patient who might be abused by her family. At the same time, Dr. Manning and Dr. Halstead must deliver a premature baby, even though it could be a fatal delivery.
This episode is predictable. Dr. Choi and April disagree about their patient’s needs. Dr. Manning and Dr. Halstead don’t see eye-to-eye about the delivery. Dr. Rhodes and Dr. Ava Bekkar (Norma Kuhling) work together to perform a risky cardiothoracic surgery on a patient who is still conscious. While the episode was interesting on a basic level, viewers knew what was going to happen.
Ties That Bind – 5.0
In the episode “Ties That Bind,” Dr. Choi is unable to diagnosis a patient and Dr. Sarah Reese (Rachel DiPillo) has to use pepper spray to control the patient when he becomes aggressive. This causes her to be suspended from her job.
Meanwhile, Maggie complains to Goodwin that they don’t have enough ED nurses, so Goodwin brings in a new TV and free pizza to try to lure in more patients, ultimately pushing administration staff to decide to hire more nurses. This storyline didn't sit well with fans who felt it was an unrealistic attempt to be comedic about a serious situation.
Trust Your Gut – 4.8
No one likes change, especially on Chicago Med. In the episode “Trust Your Gut,” Goodwin is “encouraged” by hospital board members to implement new guidelines, which no one is happy about. Dr. Rhodes and Dr. Bekker become too competitive in the operating room, which creates more complications.
At the same time, Dr. Choi and Dr. Manning have a patient who is brain dead from a fall, and they get caught in the middle of the patient’s family drama. Fans thought there was too much going on in this episode. It’s hard to follow. Yes, it’s a drama, but it should still be easy to understand.
Speak Your Truth – 4.7
The season three premiere, “Speak Your Truth,” begins right where the show left off in the season two finale—with Dr. Charles being shot outside the hospital. Everyone works to save him, and, once he’s discharged, it’s time to bring justice concerning the shooting.
Meanwhile, Dr. Manning and Dr. Halstead finally confess their feelings to one another. Dr. Choi and April figure out how they can make their relationship work inside and outside the hospital. It’s an intense episode with almost too many storylines packed in. It wasn’t the worst episode, but it could have been a stronger start to a new season.
Over Troubled Water – 4.6
Doctors have different opinions all the time on Chicago Med. In the episode “Over Troubled Water,” Dr. Choi and Dr. Manning argue over Dr. Charles’s decision about a baby born with heroin addiction. Dr. Rhodes deals with his own relationship problems that could be a distraction from his job. Goodwin has to interact with her ex-husband, which is hard to watch.
This episode signaled a shift in the dynamics at the hospital and on the show. The characters are changing, but the episode still fell flat.
Naughty Or Nice – 4.6
Everyone loves a good Christmas episode, but “Naughty or Nice” is pretty average. Dr. Charles finds out his shooter was murdered in prison and the news affects his performance at the hospital. Dr. Manning and Dr. Halstead treat a husband who tested positive for the Zika Virus, but he doesn’t want his wife to know.
Meanwhile, a man dressed as Santa Claus dies in the hospital waiting room and Dr. Stanley Stohl (Eddie Jemison) decides to be a Scrooge and charge Santa’s family $16,000 for the hospital visit, even though he died in the waiting room. Everyone needs a Christmas miracle, but will they find one?
Nothing To Fear – 4.5
In “Nothing to Fear,” Dr. Rhodes has a hard time balancing his work and home life, so he’s sidelined from surgeries. Dr. Manning and Dr. Halstead team up to treat a pregnant woman whose baby is severely malnourished. Can they save the baby?
Dr. Reese and Dr. Charles bicker about how to treat a patient, leading to their patient slashing Dr. Reese’s car tires. This probably happens in real life, but how often? Chicago Med presents this as a frequent act inside the hospital. Fans thought the episode was too bizarre, and they had to answer questions themselves.