After Chicago Med’s Ripley Hit A New Low, Luke Mitchell Shares the ‘Hilariously Perfect Thing’ Coming Up With Chicago Fire

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As a die-hard TV enthusiast, I found myself pleasantly surprised by the lighter narrative that unfolded for Dean Archer in the February 26 episode of Chicago Med, but the tension was palpable for Ripley. With his suspension from Gaffney and all, he tried to lend a hand to Lynne, which led to an unexpected kiss. Now, I’m not a relationship expert, but even I knew that advice was in order, and it seemed to guide him towards Hannah… only for her to call it quits.

In the coming episode, Ripley is set to take risks usually associated with the brave first responders of Chicago Fire, and I had the opportunity to chat with actor Luke Mitchell about the turn of events and what lies ahead.

Discussing the emotional split between Ripley and Hannah proved to be particularly painful, as Ripley had expressed his love for her just beforehand. However, Hannah stood resolute, believing it was best for both of them since she couldn’t help him in his plight. (This episode is now available for streaming with a Peacock subscription.) During my conversation with Luke Mitchell prior to the upcoming significant episode featuring a Chicago Fire actor, we explored his thoughts on whether Ripley anticipated the breakup:

I believe he didn’t accept it. It seems unlikely he could ignore the impending sense of it, given his current trajectory. However, overwhelmed by grief and self-discovery, I suspect he refused to acknowledge it.

Given the flurry of events that One Chicago has seen lately, it’s understandable that Sully’s death might slip one’s mind. However, it’s only been a short while since then, and it’s natural for Ripley to still be in mourning. But let’s not forget, his grieving process may not have been the healthiest. To put it mildly, 2025 hasn’t exactly been his year yet. I couldn’t help but wonder, as filming the breakup scene with Jessy Schram took place outdoors in Chicago at night, how cold it must have been for the Australian actor?

It seems that the temperature during the filming of the intense scene between Hannah and Ripley was mild in comparison to the shooting on location for the forthcoming episode. Interestingly enough, the fitting title of this episode is “Down in a Hole,” as revealed by Luke Mitchell himself.

The breakup scene wasn’t overly unpleasant. In fact, it was quite bearable. If we were measuring the temperature in Fahrenheit, it might have been around 32 degrees or even a bit higher. However, when we filmed that scene on location for an upcoming episode, the weather was a stark contrast. It felt like the initial onset of genuine Chicago winter, and we were shooting an hour and a half away from the city. This was quite amusingly fitting, as on Chicago Med, we seldom shoot outdoors or very rarely do so, but then we got three days on location, and it just happened to be incredibly cold temperatures.

In the series Chicago Med, many of its medical professionals are often seen dressed in scrubs and sneakers. S. Epatha Merkerson, playing Sharon Goodwin, humorously compared this attire to pajamas and slippers as she dons suits and heels. Joe Mińoso, familiar with Chicago winters from his thirteen seasons on Chicago Fire, also joked that the difference between the two shows is so stark they refer to Fire as “Club Med” because it’s always clean and warm compared to the comfy scrubs worn over there.

In “Down in a Hole,” airing Wednesday, March 5 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC, Ripley won’t be lounging at Club Med. Instead, he’ll find himself in a tough spot, trying to rescue a woman and her daughter who are trapped in an old well. It seems that the confined spaces aren’t any friendlier for him than they were when Burgess faced a similar situation on “Chicago P.D.” However, Ripley will have some reinforcements this time – Mouch from “Chicago Fire” will be there to lend a helping hand! Christian Stolte, who has played Mouch for 13 seasons, is crossing over to aid in the rescue mission.

Regarding Luke Mitchell’s experience collaborating with the veteran “Fire” cast member during one of his occasional projects beyond the hospital, the actor could not help but express positive sentiments towards Stolte.

Working with Christian during the major crossover event was an absolute delight! I was fortunate enough to contribute to his storyline, and watching him in action, both as a top-tier actor and a genuinely wonderful person, was truly inspiring. When I heard they were considering him for this episode, I couldn’t have been happier. He’s the epitome of grace and professionalism, and our collaboration was nothing short of enjoyable.

It seems the actors enjoyed themselves immensely when they collaborated again following their work in the three-part One Chicago crossover reminiscent of the Avengers, judging by their comments. However, from the promo, it appears that their characters might not be experiencing such joyful times as depicted in the upcoming episode, as shown in the sneak peek below featuring Ripley trapped in a hole with Mouch.

If Ripley manages to survive his current predicament, it’s understandable if he prefers the comfort of casual clothes, sneakers, and warm indoor spaces for a while! Don’t forget to tune in on Wednesday, March 5 at the regular 8 p.m. ET time slot on NBC for an exciting episode of Chicago Med. This will be followed by episodes of Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D. at 9 p.m. ET and 10 p.m. ET respectively. Stay tuned next week for more from Luke Mitchell!

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2025-03-01 08:12