Spoiler Alert: This article contains spoilers for the Chicago Med season 10 finale.
Summary
While fans likely guessed there would be a cliffhanger at the end of theChicago Medseason 10 finale,the final moments of “… Don’t You Cry” were particularly memorable. After a busy episode wrapping up three heart-wrenching patient storylines and marking a big change in Sharon Goodwin’s (S. Epatha Merkerson) personal life, fans sawanother fan-favorite character facing a huge decision. Since this character has a long history with the other doctors at Gaffney Chicago Medical Center, the cliffhanger is even more powerful.
While waiting forChicago Medseason 11, which should premiere on NBC in the fall of 2025,fans are still thinking about the huge moment at the end of the season 10 finale. Could it mean the start of a relationship that some viewers have been waiting for?
The Chicago Med Season 10 Finale Cliffhanger Hints At A Hannah Asher/Dean Archer Relationship
At the end ofChicago Medseason 10, episode 22, “… Don’t You Cry,“Dr. Mitch Ripley (Luke Mitchell) opens his door, and while viewers expect Hannah Asher to be standing there, Sadie (Holly Curran) is there instead. Ripley helped Sadie in a previous episode after she was caught in a well, and he looks just as shocked as fans are to see her there. Then,Hannah Asher knocks on Dean Archer’s (Steven Webber) door and says, “We need to talk,“a big cliffhanger that suggests he could be the father of her baby.
In an interview withTV Line, showrunner Allen MacDonald talked about that thrilling moment and said:
“We call thatThe Silence of the Lambsbait-and-switch. Maybe I shouldn’t say that, publicly, but I’m going to. TV writers all call that — not all of them, but it’sThe Silence of the Lambsbait-and-switch because that happens at the end of the movie there.”
MacDonald referred tothe third act of the 1990s thrillerThe Silence of the Lambswhen itseems like FBI agents are raiding Buffalo Bill’s house. But, when there is a knock on the door, the movie cuts to Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster), who is the one at his home. It was a smart idea to take inspiration from this memorable and haunting moment, although. of course, it’s on a much less terrifying and dangerous level in theChicago Medseason 10 finale.
MacDonald continued that while he can’t say that Archer is the father of Hannah’s baby, he understands viewers will wonder about that. He said:
“I’m sorry to say that I can’t tell you that it officially confirms anything, because there’s more things coming up in the fall, and I do enjoy torturing the audience all summer long.”
Whilesome characters could exit after theChicago Medseason 10 finale, it doesn’t seem likely that Hannah, Archer, or Ripley will go anywhere since they’re now the focus of an important love triangle. Although it has been great seeingpast characters like Robin Charles (Mekia Cox)this season, it’s also beencompelling to watch Hannah evolve and change. Her pregnancy storyline is clever since it creates tension with her ex Ripley and her potential love interest Archer, but also showcases her challenging relationship with her sister Lizzie (Erin Anderson). Learning more about Hannah’s personal life makes her a more interesting and well-rounded character, and while she knows she has had tough times in the past, she’s determined to keep moving forward and trying to be a better person.
Chicago Med Fans Hope For A Potential Hannah Asher/Dean Archer Storyline
In his interview with TV Line, Allen MacDonald said"online, it’s two factions at war” because some fans want Hannah to pick Luke Mitchell and others want her to be with Dean Archer. A few months ago, Redditor@sarahlampardstarted a thread and asked about Hannah and Archer,
“Do we think they’ll ever get together??? Very clearly made for each other!”
Redditor @floracalendula replied:
“I’d like to think the writers are at least exploring the possibility. As we’ve seen this season, anything can happen - and with a new showrunner, we have to acknowledge that anything could.”
Whilesome hope that Hannah will get back together with Mitch Ripley, others think she and Dean would ruin their friendship if they started dating. Likeother popular medical dramas,Chicago Medbalances the doctors' hopes to get ahead in their careers along with their sometimes intense off-the-clock problems. Each season has featured some memorable relationships, andwhenChicago Medseason 11 premieres in fall 2025, it will be interesting to see what happens next for Hannah.
