Chicago Med's new episode on Wednesday, Oct. 8 isn't just any ordinary episode. It's the 200th episode of the series, and being such a milestone occasion, the long-running medical drama planned a celebration that fans have been waiting for. There have been many cast changes over the years, but an original character that left a couple seasons ago finally returns!
After leaving the series two seasons ago, Nick Gehlfuss reprises his role as Dr. Will Halstead in Chicago Med season 11 episode 2. Gehlfuss originated Halstead in season 1 and later left the show with the conclusion of season 8. Now he's back as a guest star to catch up with his old friends, most especially his ex-girlfriend Dr. Asher, who has some big news of her own to share.
But he's also going to be meeting and unexpectedly working with some of the new doctors at Gaffney as the first-look photos revealed. Halstead isn't the only exciting part of the 200th episode we can look forward to. There's still likely going to be some fallout to explore with Asher's pregnancy reveal. Where does her relationship stand with Ripley after his reaction to Archer being the father?
Not to mention, Lenox made an unexpected and out of character decision about her GSS diagnosis. Even though Abrams suggested for her to contact a therapist and talk through everything, she opted to ignore that path and be a little reckless. What's next for Lenox? And what brings Halstead back to Gaffney all of a sudden? Let's dive into a live recap of the 200th episode!
Spoilers ahead from Chicago Med season 11 episode 2.
Halstead reveals Natalie's pregnant with their son
Fresh off of her hookup, Lenox lets loose this time with some self-care and takes on an ice bath. While she finds some peace, Asher returns to work and word about her pregnancy and Archer's paternity has gone wide at the hospital. Everyone's talking about it and given them the "Dasher" ship name. She's mortified. Charles cheers Archer up as he's feeling old, and Frost gives Ripley an opportunity to vent, but he insists he's secure with Sadie and isn't hung up on Asher or Archer.
Ripley cares for a newly engaged man whose legs were previously banged up in a car accident, while Frost and Doris are surprised to see Halstead marching into the ED carrying a child. Natalie's son Owen alerted them to the teen boy being diaphoretic, a word that surprised Frost coming from a kid. Right away, Halstead and Frost butt heads because Halstead starts telling Frost what to do. Lenox plays mediator, but they all soon realize that Halstead's calls were right.
While he catches up with Charles and Goodwin, Halstead reveals that Natalie stayed back in Seattle because she's 20 weeks pregnant with their son. Owen's not too pleased about getting a brother. Speaking of pregnancy, Asher cares for a pregnant woman whose husband oddly burps during the scan. Seems like there's something going on with them both. Whether he wants to or not, Ripley has to turn to Archer for some help with his patient. The man had lengthening surgery and lied.
Because his implants are infected, Ripley and Archer suggest reversing the lengthening surgery, but he refuses to let them take the rods out. Ripley wonders if they can replace the infected rods, which Archer doesn't appreciate. Clearly, Ripley does have some unresolved tension with Archer. There's no unresolved tension between Asher and Halstead though. Their reunion is joyful. However, Halstead still gets a frostry reception from Frost. Together, they discover their drug mule patient fled.
Ripley and Archer's professional tension might actually be personal over Asher
The teenager was smuggling balloons fill with drugs, which were causing his blockage and vomitting. Halstead, Frost, and Lenox split up to search for him in Gaffney. Charles speaks with Miles about his insecurities surrounding his height and would led him to pursuing leg lengthening surgery. He's scared of what would happen if his fiancée learned the truth about his height. Charles pushes him to understand that keeping or replacing the rods could cause more harm than his fears.
Asher tests her pregnant patient for H. pylori since she noticed her husband was having symptoms, too. He asks Asher if H. pylori can cause heartburn, and he reaction suggests it can't. Lenox and Halsted find Jasper holed up in a bathroom. He explains that he was running the drugs to help pay off his brother's debt. If he doesn't deliver the drugs, he's scared both he and his brother will be killed. Halstead pleas with Jasper to allow them to medically save his life.
After taking the scan, they find over 50 bags of cocaine in Jasper's body. They bring these findings to Goodwin, who will contact DCFS to keep him safe after he completes surgery. Goodwin talks with Halstead about backing off on helping with Jasper. Suddenly, he admits that he thinks Owen doesn't like him. She gives him the pep talk he needs to stop avoiding spending time with Owen. Meanwhile, the conflict continues between Ripley and Archer about the leg surgery.
Charles breaks up their argument and sends them off to perform surgery on Miles. Before Halstead can leave the hospital to hang out with Owen, Frost flags him down. Jasper wants Halstead to participate in the surgery, but he can't. Jasper then asks him to stay at the hospital while he's in surgery. In spite of considering Owen and talking him to the Bears game, Halstead agrees. Asher performs a scan on Jeremy and believes that he could have cancer.
An unexpected shooting and a surprise appearance from Natalie Manning
Ripley and Archer get to work on inserting new rods into Miles' legs with help with a consultant walking them through it over the phone. Archer isn't pleased that Ripley has to take his place when he struggles. Asher and Dr. Kingston (Merrin Dungey) break the news to the expectant couple that the husband has gastric cancer. The wife blames herself for trivializing his symptoms. Goodwin talks with Owen in the waiting room about becoming a big brother and not getting attention.
During surgery on Jasper, one of the bags of cocaine broke and started entering his system. Nurse Trini doesn't feel great about the medical team lying to Miles' soon-to-be wife about the huge secret he's keeping from her (and she's not wrong). Ripley and Archer finally find a way to successfully work together and solve the problems in the leg lengthening surgery. Now all they have to do is solve their personal problems. Easier said than done!
Charles speaks with Miles' fiancée, seemingly about to broach the subject of his lie, but when he sees that she's also lying to him about her smoking, he decides not to pull at that thread. In the locker room, Archer and Ripley bury the hatchet. Ripley even congratulates him on the baby. Growth!
The woman from the waiting room enters the operating room and holds the team at gunpoint demanding the drugs from Jasper's body. From across the way, Halstead and Asher notice that no one in the OR is moving. He thinks quickly and calls security. Lenox refuses to cut the drugs out of Jasper's body like the woman demands. She's fearless in the face of death and talks the woman out of the room. They continue the surgery, but they hear two gunshots outside.
Unexpectedly, Torrey DeVitto makes an appearance as Natalie. At the hospital where she works, she takes a phone call from Goodwin: Owen has been shot.
Chicago Med airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on NBC, streaming next day on Peacock.