When Did We Begin to Change is the first episode of Season 6 and the 105th overall of Chicago Med.
Summary[]
As COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the world, paramedics and hospital staff continue to adjust to the new normal. Dr. Halstead deals with Hannah's latest relapse while he treats an air traffic controller who seemingly has a drinking problem. Dr. Marcel and Dr. Manning treat a young patient whose leukemia has returned, leading to tension due to Crockett's past. April and Dr. Choi are put in charge of the COVID-19 unit and deal with the latest patient to die from the virus. Dr. Charles has recovered after contracting COVID-19 and is ready to return to work, where he provides counseling to the hospital staff, while at home his relationship with Anna continues to remain strained. Sharon is forced to work from home due to her diabetes putting her at risk for COVID-19.
Cast[]
Main Cast[]
- Nick Gehlfuss as Dr. Will Halstead
- Yaya DaCosta as April Sexton
- Torrey DeVitto as Dr. Natalie Manning
- Brian Tee as Dr. Ethan Choi
- Dominic Rains as Dr. Crockett Marcel
- Marlyne Barrett as Maggie Lockwood
- S. Epatha Merkerson as Sharon Goodwin
- Oliver Platt as Dr. Daniel Charles
Recurring Cast[]
- Tehmina Sunny as Dr. Sabeena Virani
- Hannah Riley as Anna Charles
- Nate Santana as Dr. James Lanik
- Jessy Schram as Dr. Hannah Asher
- Lorena Diaz as Nurse Doris
- Marie Tredway as Trinidad Campos
- Amanda Marcheschi as Nurse Dina
- Carlos Rogelio Diaz as Nurse Hank
- Desmond Gray as Paramedic Desmond
- Sarah Brooks as Paramedic Juliette
- C. Anthony Jackson as Security Guard Earl
- Anthony Irons as Alvin Booker
- Ari Morgan as Owen Jeffrey Manning
- Michael McCracken as Dr. Joseph Harper
Guest Cast[]
- Michelle Hurst as Beverly MacNeal
- Tom Choi as Martin Lieu
- Brenna DiStasio as Anita Palmer
- Teddy Boone as Brad Palmer
- Alizé Lee as Kellie Lieu
- Jorge Corral as Andre Gomez
- James Chisem as Frederick MacNeal
Themes[]
The episode highlights many aspects of the coronavirus pandemic as it was happening in the fall of 2020, including:
- The disproportionate effects on minority communities.
- The discrimination of people with Asian features based on the stigma that they are responsible for spreading the virus.
- The inability for relatives to be with their dying loved ones.
- The mental and emotional toll on healthcare workers.
Medical cases[]
- Many patients are being treated for COVID-19.
- Hannah Asher is treated for a heroin overdose.
- A young teenager named Kellie Lieu is treated for heart failure caused by the chemotherapy medication she is taking to treat her leukemia.
- A teenager is brought in with a gunshot wound.
- A woman named Anita Palmer is treated for auto-brewery syndrome.
Notes and Trivia[]
- In a scene between Dr. Halstead and Dr. Charles at 28:18, the laptop on Dr. Charles' desk is closed when viewed from Will's perspective, while it is open when viewed from Daniel's perspective.[1]