Dr. Dean Archer (Steven Weber) and Dr. Hannah Asher (Jessy Schram) started off as supporting characters on Chicago Med. Asher even left the show for a couple seasons before coming back. Over the last few years, however, both have become integral parts of the Med formula.
Archer and Asher have been giving more screen time and compelling material to play with as solo characters, but the real magic has been their bond. These former enemies have become very close friends, and as such, fans have been theorizing about a potential romance.
Steven Weber doesn't forsee a future romance
Steven Weber discussed the possibility of an Archer and Asher romance during a recent interview with Screen Rant. He was receptive to the idea, in so much as it makes sense (we are in a TV world defined by "shipping" after all), but the actor firmly came down on the side of "no" when asked if it would pan out.
As far as Weber is concerned, Archer and Asher's relationship is so unique precisely because it doesn't have a romantic component. "Archer and Asher have an emotional connection, an intimacy that has been very hard for him to achieve," the actor noted. "To allow somebody to care for him, and not in a physical way, but for something that's even deeper."
Weber, who has had his fair share of TV experience, conceded that most shows would go the route of romance with two popular characters with chemistry. He doesn't look down on the idea in practice, he just feels the Chicago Med writers are trying to go for something different, and more unique.
He claims Med writers are aiming for "something else"
"I think the writers are smarter than that," the actor noted. "Not smarter because it's not that it's dumb, but they're trying to do something else with it." Weber claims that Archer and Asher are trying to earn a relationship that will last beyond a physical tryst, which is harder to both achieve and sell to an audience in an interesting way.
So far, however, it has worked. Part of the reason why is how much the two actors enjoy working with each other. "We have great fun, and I like to think there's good chemistry," Weber said of his co-star, Jessy Schram. "It is a good and fairly unique relationship on TV. You don't see this type of thing."'
Some may be disappointed by the notion that Archer and Asher won't be getting together, but keep in mind that we almost lost Archer for good when he handed in his resignation in the season 10 fall finale. Were it not for the emergency involving Dr. Goodwin (S Epatha Merkerson), he might have not looked back. There's a silver lining in everything, it seems.