One Chicago’s Top 5 best developing friendships

1. Natalie Manning and Elsa Curry, Chicago Med

Our favorite new One Chicago bond is Dr. Natalie Manning (Torrey DeVitto) and fourth-year medical student Elsa Curry (recurring guest star Molly Bernard). Not only is this friendship unexpected—given the fact that Natalie is Will Halstead’s (Nick Gehlfuss) ex-fiancé, and Elsa appears to have a budding crush on the red-headed doctor—but it’s very refreshing to see in terms of representation.

Typically in television dramas, you see women become catty or petty when it comes to winning the affection of men. This has not been the case on Chicago Med, as both Natalie and Elsa have been able to put their personal problems aside when they were working.

The first instance of this was in “Who Knows What Tomorrow Brings,” as Natalie enlisted the help of Elsa when a mother and daughter were in a car accident. When they discovered that the young girl had suffered major damage to her brain, Elsa’s blunt approach to giving the mother the sad news shocked Natalie.

One Chicago viewers were pleasantly surprised when later in the episode, Natalie talked to Elsa about the situation rather than just chastize her. Elsa told Natalie that she wasn’t a robot, and that she does have all these intense feelings but sometimes, they became too much for her, and she didn’t quite know what to do with all of them.

Natalie offered her comfort instead of judgment, reminding Elsa that those feelings were all right to have, and what would help make her into a great doctor. We were touched to see these two connect on such a personal level, and it made a great foundation a friendship that has begun to flourish in the first half of this One Chicago season.

The second instance of Natalie and Elsa teaming up came in the Chicago Med midseason finale, when Elsa assisted Natalie in taking care of Sophie, Phillip Davis’ (Ian Harding) daughter. Elsa stayed calm and collected, even bringing Natalie back to reality when her mind drifted to the car wreck that she and Will were involved in during last year’s finale.

The two women would later run into Will, and if you’re a Manstead fan, you were probably quick to assume that the hopeful look he gave was intended for his ex-fiancee Natalie. But it could just as easily have been to Elsa, since Chicago Med was hinting at the idea of Elsa developing a crush on Will.

The important moment about the scene is that Natalie and Elsa continued working as if nothing happened. There wasn’t any awkwardness, or harbored resentments, which is what makes this friendship so fresh. The sense of self that these two have is remarkable, and while yes, they both may have unresolved feelings for Will, that’s not something that has overtaken their narratives. At least when it comes to their friendship.

Now, Elsa’s individual plotline seems driven to have her be a part of a “love triangle,” which isn’t something the show needs to do. There’s already one happening with Crockett, April, and Ethan anyhow—so Chicago Med doesn’t need another. If Natalie and Elsa’s friendship could continue to overcome the usual tropes about women and romantic relationships, they could make the show and the One Chicago universe special.

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