Chicago Med has always been known to pack a punch with its storytelling, but the series truly upped the ante with its latest episode. In season 12 episode 5, the Gaffney emergency department team rallied together as they took on cases involving a young boy and three burn victims, soon realizing that they are part of the same case revolving around a history of kidnapping and abuse.
The three burn victims were young women who were kidnapped as children and locked inside a bunker for most of their lives. As for the young boy, Max was discovered to be the biological son of one of the victims and her kidnapper, though he was raised by the kidnapper's wife. Chicago PD's Trudy Platt uncovered how far back the kidnappings went, as she finally closed a cold case.
In the midst of the devastating case, Wu found herself competing with Frost over the chief resident position. She also related to the bunker victims in a mysterious way. Frost caught her speaking openly to one of the patients, which gave the victim the courage to speak up about what happened to her. Wu doesn't open up to Frost about what happened in her past, but fans have been wondering.
Speaking with Give Me My Remote, Chicago Med showrunner Allen MacDonald addressed Wu's connection to the season 12 episode 5 storyline and the fan speculation about her backstory. While some have wondered whether Wu has experienced some kind of abuse, MacDonald has hinted that Wu's actual backstory isn't as closely related to the episode 5 storyline as we think.
"She definitely has a backstory, and that’s clear at the end of 'Baptism By Fire' that helps her relate to the plight these women suffered. But it’s not one-to-one. And it’s not exactly the same. And it is maybe less the same than I think people online are assuming. Not that I read Reddit, or any of those things ever, but let’s say I did—they might be on the wrong track. So, Dr. Wu’s backstory is going to be very surprising when we do come out [with that reveal]," MacDonald said.
It's not worth trying to guess what direction the series is going to take with Wu's backstory, especially when the subject matter is likely sensitive. Based on MacDonald's comments, she wasn't also kidnapped or held captive in a bunker, but she can relate to the feelings and suffering of the women that came into Gaffney. Whatever she experienced in her past, it was formative.
Wu wasn't ready to open up to Frost about her experiences just yet, but she's beginning to warm up to him as a friend. She accepted at least part of his olive branch, allowing him to share space with her in silence after the traumatic case they handled. When she's willing to be honest about her past, there's no doubt she will lean on Frost. The show is clearly pushing they together.
Even though Lenox will finally be back in Chicago Med season 12 episode 6, the series appears to be committed to keeping Wu around this season in a recurring role. We're going continue playing the long game with the character and get to know her little by little throughout the season. She deserves this kind of careful character development after making quite the memorable first impression.
Chicago Med airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on NBC.
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