Dean Archer (Steven Weber) used to be somebody Chicago Med fans cheered against. He was on the right side of Gaffney Medical Center's staff, but he was often antagonistic and manipulative of those he worked with. He gave Ethan Choi (Brian Tee) a hard time for years, and he was skeptical of Dr. Hannah Asher (Jessy Schram) and her ability to maintain sobriety.
Now, however, Archer has become one of the most beloved characters on the show. He's softened since his promotion to full time cast member, and allowed himself to be more vulnerable with those around him. Especially Asher. And Chicago Med's upcoming episode, "The Book of Archer," is the culmination of this character arc.
Archer will be the focus of the April 2 episode
The promo sees Archer undergo an especially difficult day on the job. He gets hit with intense case after intense case, and the promo gives a strong impression of the emotional toll it takes on him as his shift progresses. The brief clip ends with the doctor, alone in an elevator, banging his band on the wall out of frustration. He's no longer the flippant guy we met in season six.
This is an episode we've been waiting to see since the beginning of February. We had the privilege of speaking with Chicago Med showrunner Allen MacDonald about the character, and he told us that the "Book of Archer" will be catnip for those who have found themselves increasingly drawn to the doctor and his story.
"Episode 17 is called 'The Book of Archer,'" MacDonald explained. "And it's going to be tied completely to Archer's point of view." The showrunner also provided background on the inspiration for the episode, and how the writers are still unpacking Archer's complicated feelings about being at Gaffney Medical Center. We are talking about a character who almost quit during the mid-season finale.
The character is struggling to find his place
"I think that being from the military, he likes to be disciplined and completely under control," Allen MacDonald noted. "One of the fun things this season is bringing in Dr. Caitlin Lennox, who's kind of shaking them up." Archer has proven to be invaluable to the team in the One Chicago crossover and the episode "Acid Test," where he manages to do his job and dispense wisdom despite being under the influence of drugs.
We know his personal and professional struggles are far from over, but we hope that "The Book of Archer" provides some epiphany or solace for the unexpected fan favorite.