I think all of the Burzek fandom can sleep well tonight because FINALLY!

Fina-frickin-ly! 

The Burgess and Ruzek hookup/reunion/romance—call it what you will—has been a long time coming, but the wait only made the moment that much sweeter. 

Adam Ruzek has gone to great lengths for Burgess. His love for her has been clear for many episodes and many seasons, but she needed to do the work and the healing so that she could finally arrive at a place where they could happen. Where a relationship between them was healthy for everyone involved, including Makayla. 

The feelings were always there, on both sides, but the timing was always off, especially after Burgess’ near-fatal accident that shook her to her core. All of the feelings she had for Ruzek were diminished as she felt numb, scared, and terrified of taking another step. 

Once she finally realized that she could no longer go on allowing the PTSD to have such a hold on her life, she broached the topic of therapy, eventually putting in all of the work to start healing the trauma. One of the major steps was to confront the situation with help from her partner. They are living together, working together, and co-parenting, but until this moment, they’ve never sat down and had an honest conversation about their feelings—they’ve just skirted around the topic with Ruzek simply accepting that they weren’t in sync. 

He waited, though. He waited until she was finally ready, championing her every step of the way. When her hand didn’t tremble when she took the shot at Ethan, the suspect who reached for his gun at the train yard, Ruzek noticed, and he felt an immense sense of pride. 

And when she suggested that they do a family therapy session, he didn’t think twice about it, agreeing because he knew it could help her. The real reason it took so long for Burgess to ask Ruzek if he’d go with her had nothing to do with her fear that he wouldn’t want to go. Deep down inside she knew that he would do it for her and that meant being completely transparent and raw. It’s a scary thing, but I’m truly so proud of them. 

We honestly should all be thanking that therapist for the great work she’s been doing. 

Also kudos both Marina Squerciati and Patrick Flueger for keeping Burzek alive all these years and somehow managing to keep the spark ignited through all the pain and hardships. It was evident that we’d always get here—that they would be endgame—but for a moment, it did feel like a lost cause, and yet those two never gave up hope or that thing that made fans year for their reunion. Seeing them light up the screen in a moment of realization was magical. 

The rest of the episode was almost irrelevant because of how powerful and passionate those final moments between the two of them were. I said almost because the case was important as it helped Burgess find the bravery to put herself first. 

There were also so many good moments throughout the hour, including Burgess informing Ruby that Ethan wasn’t a partner because he walked away when a good partner stays with you through the hard times. It was at that moment that there was so much clarity for Burgess about the man who has remained by her side this whole time, always checking in on her and making sure that she feels loved and taken care of. My heart is just bursting. 

Burgess is in this unique position where she asks the victims involved in her cases to be brave, but she of all people knows how incredibly hard that is. It’s something she struggles with quite often because it’s not something you can just do because someone asks you to. Burgess had all the tools to help Ruby, a victim-turned-suspect, and she just needed to establish a connection and get through to her. 

Thanks to her own therapist and the important work she’s been doing, Burgess knew how to handle Ruby, deciding that exposure therapy would be the most effective way of getting her to open up. She brought Ruby to the abandoned bar where the rape happened, which made her open up and agree to help the police find Ethan, the man who raped her and was now forcing her to be an accomplice while robbing mom-and-pop shops.

CHICAGO P.D. — “Out of the Depths” Episode 1017 — Pictured: (l-r) Marina Squerciati as Kim Burgess, Patrick John Flueger as Adam Ruzek — (Photo by: Lori Allen/NBC)

It was truly an unfortunate situation because while Burgess knew that Ruby was a victim, she couldn’t let her off the hook as she was an active participant in six robberies that resulted in someone being beaten within an inch of their life or murdered. Ruby never willingly went to any of these robberies, and that might work in her favor, but the reality is that she’d do some time even with a deal for cooperating with the police. 

Chicago PD loves itself an “it’s not black or white” storyline, so it wasn’t a surprise when Burgess felt conflicted about how they got Ruby’s DNA. While there’s no law prohibiting cops from using a rape kit to match DNA to a crime, it was a huge violation of victim rights. It might not have sat well with Burgess, but at least she made the best of it, vouching for Ruby, helping her through the case, and freeing her from a life of captivity. 

It’s a good thing she was the responding officer on the case because things might not have turned out the same.

And though it was an interesting case that forced some introspection on Burgess’ part, there’s no doubt about it that the episode was A+ because #Burzek is officially an item!

What did you think of the episode? Sound off in the comments below! 

It’s the beginning of the end for Riverdale. After an 8 months hiatus, The CW series kicked off transporting the Riverdaleans (Cheryl said it!) smack dab into the middle of 1955. 

Jughead was seemingly the only one from the group to remember that they were actually from the future, but his attempts at jogging everyone’s memory using a time capsule were fruitless, nearly backfiring as Archie, the picture of an all-American boy, suggested people were going to think he was a “loony” and warned him not to get sent to the Sisters of Quiet Mercy. Remember how good it was when that place no longer existed?

Much of the episode focused on Jughead wondering if the cataclysmic event of Bailey’s Comet simply brought them to the past or if this was a past from another alternate universe, while the rest of Riverdale’s finest lived their best lives… or as good as they were going to get in the ’50s. 

Veronica Lodge arrived in town from sunny Los Angeles where things were anything but. After a deep heart-to-heart with Archie, who was goo-goo gaga over her the minute she walked into the classroom, she revealed that her parents abandoned her because of their devotion to their hit series, Oh Mija! Is it giving anyone else Live with Kelly! vibes? Veronica hid behind red lipstick and thick-framed spectacles, but in reality, she was just covering up that she’s a lonely girl who wants to be loved. 

It was nice seeing the characters in the “original” Archie Comics versions, though I don’t think anyone is actually buying that Archie can pass for a junior in high school, not even KJ Apa. There were times when it almost seemed like he was trying to stifle a laugh over the material, but I chalked it up to Archie’s go-lucky attitude. 

Riverdale — “Chapter One Hundred Eighteen: Don’t Worry Darling” — Image Number: RVD701fg_0028r — Pictured: Lili Reinhart as Betty Cooper — Photo: The CW — © 2023 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Betty spent most of the episode helping Toni and Tabatha spread the message of what they witnessed in Mississippi during the Emmett Till trial. Riverdale has always steered from addressing current events, but you can’t really tap into the fabric of the ’50s without acknowledging one of the most appalling events of the era. There was so much more to the time that would shape the future other than rock n’ roll, hot rods, and poodle skirts—though that was a vibe. 

As Jughead put it, anyone who considered the ’50s to be the greatest decade needed their head examined. I’m sure you could say that about any decade, but the focus on Till’s murder lent itself to a point that the real Tabitha made toward the end of the episode about ensuring that the moral arc of this universe bends toward justice. Even without that knowledge, the ladies of ’50s Riverdale went above and beyond to ensure that Till’s story was told, deciding to deal with whatever consequences may come at a later time. They were determined to make a stand, be heard, and make a change, kickstarting important discussions. It was also nice to see Toni get some powerful material to work with. 

All of their actions in this timeline ensure that, at some point, they can make it back to a Riverdale that’s not on the verge of moral and societal collapse as it was right before Bailey’s Comic struck. It’s a situation of the past impacting the present.

Riverdale has never been a series that’s forthcoming with answers, so it was nice that the real Tabitha—the one from the present and Riverdale’s Guardian Angel—clarified what happened to not only Jughead, who was kind of spiraling, but also the audience. We don’t have to wait several episodes to get some clarity! 

In short, Cheryl wasn’t successful in stopping Bailey’s Comic from extinguishing Riverdale, and the trip to the ’50s was Tabitha’s last-ditch effort to save everyone by throwing them into a timeline where she would have enough time to reverse the effects and hopefully find a way to get everything back sorted and everyone back to their timelines. It’s a tall order, and one she needs to embark on knowing that Jughead isn’t running around causing ripples and corrupting the timeline by asking too many questions. Essentially, there’s no Riverdale to get back to, so why would she let Jughead suffer in the ’50s by holding onto all of his memories, especially when no one else had any recollection of the past-future? It would be torture for him. And thus, she made the conscious choice to erase his memory, which actually might be more torturous for him as now he’ll go on trying to remember what it is that he forgot. 

Riverdale — “Chapter One Hundred Eighteen: Don’t Worry Darling” — Image Number: RVD701a_0716r — Pictured (L – R): Cole Sprouse as Jughead Jones, Madelaine Petsch as Cheryl Blossom, KJ Apa as Archie Andrews, Casey Cott as Kevin Keller and Nicholas Barasch as Juilian Blossom — Photo: Michael Courtney/The CW — © 2023 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Maybe he’ll figure it all out with time. He did write all those comics logging what happened to them while chowing down a 30-cent burger and fries at Pops! All I know is that his makeout session with Veronica in the teaser trailer makes a lot more sense if Jughead has absolutely no idea what’s going on just like the rest of them.

It’s a different dynamic for Riverdale, but somehow, it feels like the most grounded and normal season… for now, at least. I know things are about to take a wild turn as everyone fully embraces the ’50s and new relationships start forming, but it also feels like the closest we’ve ever gotten to the most authentic Archie Comics characters. It’s a refreshing twist for the final season, that’s for sure.

The slate has basically been wiped clean, and anything can happen, but the innocence of the season likely won’t stick around for much longer either, if the teasers are to be believed. Tabitha mentioned that the timelines have been knotted, so I wouldn’t be surprised if that means that strange things are about to start happening—stranger than we’ve ever seen before.

Other Musings

• Jughead telling everyone where they end up in the future was comical as he really had to hold back for Kevin and Cheryl, simply suggesting that one of them joined an organ harvesting club and the other became a witch. I wouldn’t believe Jughead either. 
• Jughead suggesting Betty and Archie make out on his bed while they blow up a bomb underneath wasn’t his best moment… I know that’s how they got into this mess in the first place, but it was pretty desperate. 
• It’s strange to see Betty’s whole family back together again as one big happy unit, including Hal Cooper. 
• I’m hoping we get to see an appearance from Hiram Lodge this season—he’s a crucial part of Riverdale. 
• Jughead owning a dog named Hot Dog truly is so fitting.
• Cheryl’s twin isn’t Jason Blossom, it’s Julian, which might be the hardest change to wrap your head around, especially because her relationship with Julian is the complete opposite of the bond she had with Jason!
• Tabitha and Jughead truly are endgame. Their kiss at the end was mesmerizing, and such a heartbreaking moment for her to give up the love of her life for the greater good. 
• “Awesome… I mean swell.”  The writers are having a lot of fun here already. 

I can’t wait to see how the series comes back from an extinction-level event and reverses all of this. It’s been—and continues to be—a wild ride. 

What did you think of the episode? Did you like the reset or do you miss old, tortured Riverdale?

Chicago Med delivered yet another dose of drama with the inclusion of 2.0, this time forcing Marcel Crockett and Sam Abrams to butt heads while performing a risky surgery.  

On Chicago Med Season 8 Episode 17, the doctors took on a very fragile and unique case with Kwan, who spent most of his life bent over and bedridden. The case was so unheard of, in fact, that Mr. Dayton paid to fly the family to Chicago and, in return, asked that the surgery be captured on film as part of a documentary to promote the cutting-edge technology at Gaffney, helping to position it as a top-tier hospital. 

Now, there’s nothing wrong with that line of thinking from a marketing and financial standpoint. If you’ve got it, flaunt it. However, there’s this thing called a time and place, and the filmmaker’s approach simply did not consider that, nor did he seem to understand that there were lives at stake and that Crockett and Abrams weren’t paid actors but doctors who were tasked with a significant challenge. 

Kwan’s life was hanging in the balance, with Crockett and Abrams the only two that could help him get a new lease on life and sit up for the first time in 19 years. It was incredibly stressful, so it didn’t help that the filmmaker kept asking questions and distracting them by requesting commentary for the camera. One wrong move could have cost them everything. Could that commentary not be added in after the fact?  Why not let them focus, especially when there’s a chance that the surgery doesn’t have a good outcome and their responsibility, first and foremost, is to the patient? 

The cameraman took it even further, trying to sensationalize the situation by requesting commentary from the terrified and distraught mother once a complication arose. The doctors didn’t even give her an update, so he wanted a real and raw reaction, which again, would undoubtedly make for a great movie, but this is a real-life situation with potentially deadly consequences. I’m glad that Sharon Goodwin found the courage to put her foot down and stop them from exploiting the patients. While she’s not going to stand in the way of marketing the hospital and its potential, she’s also a doctor first and must protect those that walk through the doors. Without patients, there’s no hospital, and it would be good for Dayton to remember that. 

I also love that Sharon isn’t afraid of Dayton in the way others are, including new board member George. She doesn’t care if she steps on toes or if she makes him angry, as long as she’s making decisions that she can live with and that put patient care at the forefront of what they are doing. 

The good news is that Kwan’s surgery was successful, with both Crockett and Abrams hailed as heroes. Unfortunately, they still don’t see eye to eye when it comes to the AI technology. And honestly, they both have valid points. Abrams has always been blunt, so it’s not surprising that he’s avoiding the spotlight at all costs and not trying to become a mouthpiece for Dayton. But it’s also unfair to hold it against Crockett when he’s simply embracing new-world tech that’s making it possible for them to even person such surgeries in the first place. If it wasn’t for the AI, they wouldn’t have been able to help Kwan, so Crockett sees the trade-off as beneficial.

Crockett isn’t agreeing to these documentaries and promotional pieces because he wants a career boost. It’s never for his own personal gain, but for some reason, everyone around him just rolls with the false assumption because it’s easier to drag your colleague than to admit that maybe sometimes a machine is better than a human—or, at the very least, that the tools can elevate what the human can accomplish. 

Abrams then points out that Dayton is reserving the AI for paying customers only moving forward, which as Crockett pointed out, seems to be a larger issue with the healthcare system in general. It’s not exactly surprising—how many times has Goodwin emphasized that the hospital is a business at the end of the day? I have full faith that Crockett will vouch for his patients, but there’s only so much that man can do, and he cannot and should not carry all the burden all the time. 

Dr. Charles’ time spent with Kwan’s mother also helped him reframe his own thinking when it came to sending his daughter off to college. When she initially told him about possibly applying to Stanford, Charles’ shocked response indicated that he wasn’t ready for his little girl to spread her wings and fly, however, once he had a heart-to-heart with Kwan’s mom about the beauty of letting go because once they want to leave, it means you’ve done your job as a parent well, he realized that he couldn’t keep Anna in Chicago for selfish reasons. It was his job to prepare her for the world—it wasn’t her job to diminish her sparkle and opportunity simply to take care of dad, though the fact that she considered once again speaks volumes to the girl he raised. 

There was also some progress with Neil Archer’s storyline—and in one hour, he went from a man who was refusing help from everyone around him to the person that asked for help and accepted that his illness does not define him. The change was thanks to a little wake-up call from Maggie, who previously dealt with the same feelings bubbling up to the surface when she received her cancer diagnosis. It’s always good to get some perspective, as Archer didn’t want to be seen as the sick frail man, but the tough guy act was doing more harm than good. 

CHICAGO MED — “Know When to Hold and Know When to Fold” Episode 817 — Pictured: Steven Weber as Dean Archer — (Photo by: George Burns Jr/NBC)

Everyone, including Zach, was trying to be supportive and make Archer’s day-to-day a little less stressful and taxing. Archer isn’t one to apologize, but he understood the point and made it up to Zach, who got the brunt of his anger throughout the episode. 

Maggie truly is the one keeping things afloat at Gaffney, and the way she stood up for Zach just adds to how awesome she is. 

Archer also told his son, Sean, who got a job at the hospital as a valet driver thanks to Hannah, about his condition, and while he didn’t want to burden his son with the news, transparency and honesty are necessary if they are going to have a functioning relationship. 

Archer also asked Asher for help with his dialysis treatment, and now, I’m rooting for them even more than I already was. There’s so much unspoken love between the two of them, which was made even more evident when Asher decided to stick around and keep him company so he didn’t go through it alone. 

As for Will, he’s finally coming around to the idea that he is romantically interested in Grace. And though I’d typically say that’s a terrible idea based on his track record with dating women at the hospital, the fact that Will recognized that his past was problematic means that he may just be ready for this next step. And Asher—his ex who has turned into one of his closest confidants (proving that men and women can just be friends)— brought up a good point that he’s no longer hung up on Natalie, which was the core problem in all his previous relationships. Since he’s not pining for her anymore, he’s ready to give it a real shot with someone else. 

Grace’s nomadic lifestyle does make me a little hesitant because it seems that she goes wherever Jack Dayton assigns her, though she didn’t seem too keen on moving around anymore, so maybe her relationship with Halstead will allow her to make permanently call Chicago and Gaffney home. She’d be a great addition to the team!

What did you think of the episode? Did Sharon Goodwin do the right thing? Are you shipping Asher and Archer? Or do you think Halstead and Grace are a better romantic team-up? And is Crockett doing the right thing by standing by the AI?

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