Sumith Prasad
The eighth season of NBC’s medical series ‘Chicago Med’ offers the viewers a window into the personal life of Dean Archer. Dean visits his estranged son Sean Archer in prison and shares an intimate moment with him. He also resolves his rocky relationship with Hannah Asher. In the ninth episode of the season, Dean struggles with his mystery illness, only to get confronted by Hannah. Dean opens up about his illness to his colleague and asks her to keep the same a secret. Since he is not able to fulfill his obligations as a doctor, the admirers of the character must be alarmed about Dean’s future at Gaffney. Well, here’s what we can tell you about the same! SPOILERS AHEAD.
What Happened to Dean Archer?
In the seventh episode of the eighth season, Sean Archer gets admitted to Gaffney since he gets brutally attacked by a fellow inmate. While Ethan Choi and other doctors treat Sean, the inmate who attacked Sean is brought to the ED, infuriating Dean. He gets into a brawl with the inmate who hurt his son, only to get badly hit by the prisoner. Dean struggles with the pain of the same severely and starts to take painkillers secretly so that he can continue working. However, his colleagues start to notice that something is off with him.
Dean’s condition worsens further as the eighth season progresses toward its conclusion. The doctor gets diagnosed with end-stage renal disease and he needs a kidney transplant as soon as possible to stay alive. Although he is on the list, Dean knows that it is extremely difficult to get a kidney within a short period. Hannah asks him to seek the help of Sean, who will be able to donate one of his kidneys if it’s a match. Dean doesn’t want to threaten his son’s life, which makes him hide the truth about his disease from Sean. Does that mean Dean will die? Is Steven Weber leaving the medical drama? Let’s see.
Is Steven Weber Leaving Chicago Med?
Neither NBC nor Steven Weber has made it clear that the actor is expected to leave ‘Chicago Med’ anytime soon. Furthermore, Weber signed a new deal to remain in the medical show ahead of the eighth and current season, indicating that he is expected to remain an integral part of the cast of the series moving forward. Since Weber returned to the eighth season as a regular, it is extremely unlikely that he would leave the series in the near future. Considering these factors, we believe that Weber will continue featuring in ‘Chicago Med.’
The writers of the series must have conceived Dean’s life-threatening disease to explore his relationship with his estranged son Sean. In the nineteenth episode of season 8, Sean meets his father upon learning about his need for a kidney transplant from Hannah. The son offers one of his kidneys to his father, only for the latter to dismiss the same. However, Dean eventually lets Sean know that he will accept his kidney if it’s a match. In the upcoming episodes of the series, we may see Dean and Sean bond over the latter’s sacrifice, which most likely will save the former’s life.
The eighth season of the show has already witnessed the departure of Guy Lockard (Dylan Scott), Sarah Rafferty (Pamela Blake), Asjha Cooper (Vanessa Taylor), and Brian Tee (Ethan Choi). Another departure of a series regular is the last thing the show and the viewers would want. Therefore, we can expect Dean to receive a kidney from Sean and stay alive. We may see a completely healthy Dean in the already-greenlit ninth season of the show. His relationship with his son may improve significantly after the latter’s potential sacrifice as well.
Read More: Why and When is Brian Tee’s Dr. Ethan Choi leaving Chicago Med?
