‘It’s Hard Not To Take It Personally’: Chicago Med’s Steven Weber Opens Up About Tough Reactions From Fans And Archer Vs. Lenox

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As a seasoned gamer of One Chicago’s long-running drama, I have witnessed the ebb and flow of characters like the tide itself. However, the latest developments on Chicago Med have left me utterly captivated. The tension between Dr. Archer and Dr. Lenox in “Family Matters” was a powder keg waiting to explode, and boy, did it ever!

heads up: episode 7 of Chicago Med’s season 10, titled “Family Matters,” may contain spoilers. To watch it, you’ll need a Peacock subscription for streaming.

The clash between Dr. Archer and Dr. Lenox on Chicago Med, airing in the 2024 TV schedule, was bound to have consequences, as they reached their limit in the last episode. One of them had to make a significant change in their roles as ED Chiefs. Although it’s easy to sympathize with Dr. Archer due to his extensive history in One Chicago, Dr. Lenox remains determined to keep her position. The surprising turn of events from “Family Matters” adds weight to Steven Weber’s comments about the series and his character, making them more impactful.

I spoke with Steven Weber about Archer’s journey in Season 10, and his comments shed some interesting light on what’s been happening.

Steven Weber On Playing A “Flinty” Character

After Archer became a well-known figure within the Emergency Department (ED) and forged strong relationships, such as the one with Hannah, it’s simple to disregard that he initially stirred up problems for Ethan during Season 6. In fact, Archer was fiercely opposed to Goodwin rehiring Hannah at the start. This antagonistic behavior resurfaced in Season 10 upon Lenox’s arrival, ultimately leading to Archer’s fall from grace as ED Chief and his demotion to attending physician.

At the NBC One Chicago press event, I wondered aloud if Archer might have interacted with Lenox in a different manner had she not been introduced to him by Goodwin. Steven Weber graciously offered his thoughts on this scenario.

It seems that there’s a touch of territorial instinct in both of them. She may come across as tough and concise, but he has had more opportunities to develop, particularly on the show. This makes it difficult for him not to retaliate immediately towards someone who he perceives as potentially encroaching on his domain. However, being an adult, he’s made efforts to modify his behavior and strive to be a better individual.

Essentially, Lenox didn’t plan to undermine his territory, and his territorial instinct might have contributed to his fall. While appearing to prioritize the ED, he essentially issued an ultimatum towards Goodwin. This occurred in the same episode where he had a public outburst against Lenox in front of many peers. Although he’s changed, he remains the character of Archer at heart.

As Sarah Ramos previously mentioned to TopMob this season, Lenox received a rather frosty reception from Archer, making her uneasy about revealing herself. This situation reminded me of Archer’s initial introduction, as only Ethan showed genuine interest in him during his early days.

When I mentioned to Weber that his character initially came across as rough or harsh, he replied:

There’s a level of self-absorption and pride associated with acting, as actors tend to crave approval, even when portraying villainous characters. They strive to appear appealing, and their characters often reflect real people, who have complex histories and flaws. If you grasp this, it can be challenging not to feel disheartened when your character is met with dislike or anger, as the criticism might seem like a personal attack.

Reflecting on Weber’s viewpoints about facing disfavor, it stirs memories of my early skepticism towards Archer. Although Archer wasn’t exactly a villain, he often played an adversarial role in certain narratives. However, with time, Archer has garnered many fans, and his relationship with Hannah is what I admire most about the series – it offers a glimpse into his compassionate side.

As the newly-demoted game character, it’s still uncertain how my softer side will unfold in the upcoming levels. But fear not, my on-screen rivalry with Lenox doesn’t carry over into our real-life interactions!

Steven Weber Praises Sarah Ramos

This season on Chicago Med, we’ve introduced two new characters – Dr. Lenox played by Sarah Ramos and Dr. Frost portrayed by Darren Barnet. Interestingly, Archer seems to get along much better with Dr. Frost compared to Dr. Lenox. As for the acting aspect, Steven Weber, one of the cast members, commended his fellow actor for taking on a “challenging role” in Season 10.

In a bold manner, she stepped into this production, embodying her character fearlessly. It seemed to me that she felt like she was becoming someone new, immersed in a fresh setting, tackling a challenging role that might not receive much affection. That was how I felt joining the cast as Archer. So if there’s anything that unites actors and even their characters, it would be this shared experience. She’s fantastic!

Absolutely, producing 22 episodes each season keeps the workflow brisk, and Weber pointed out that they frequently need to transition from scenes even when they’re becoming enjoyable or “fun.” He stated this in his own words.

In these moments, by the time they become enjoyable to act out, we’ve typically filmed and completed the scene since we’re focusing on mastering those hard-to-pronounce lines and technical terms. Instead of actually playing the scenes, our time is consumed by learning them and attempting to convincingly portray being in Gaffney, at this fictional hospital, as these imaginary characters. However, she’s exceptional. She embodies everything that character requires, and as the series progresses, viewers will discover a deeper backstory for her character, just as they did for mine.

2024 won’t have much room left for the progression of these two characters on Chicago Med, with the fall finale approaching, followed by a break in the One Chicago schedule until 2025. For now, let’s delve into the trailer for the fall finale, featuring Rachel DiPillo’s return as Dr. Sarah Reese, the former psych resident, and Archer contemplating his resignation from the hospital. Here it is:

Don’t miss the fall finale of “Chicago Med,” titled “Love Will Tear Us Apart,” airing on NBC this Wednesday, November 20, at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. Prior to that, catch “Chicago Fire” at 9 p.m. ET and “Chicago P.D.” at 10 p.m. ET. If you want to rewatch previous episodes, you can find them streaming on Peacock right now.

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2024-11-14 06:07