Yahoo Lifestyle Chicago Med’s Steven Weber: Dean and Hannah Have Grown Into ‘Something More Important’ Than Romance
Chicago Med star Steven Weber is well aware that there’s a passionate contingent of viewers rooting for a romantic relationship between his character, Dr. Dean Archer, and Jessy Schram’s Dr. Hannah Asher.
“That’s incredibly flattering. I guess there’s a lot of people who like to see old, crumply guys and really hot, fit, young women,” Weber tells TVLine with a laugh.
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The actor admits that the ‘shipper support “makes sense because [Dean and Hannah] have a bond. But at the end of the day, I can’t see that happening. But something else happened. Something that is, in a way, more important.”
Through their friendship and their support of each other, the characters have “built something that’s not romantic, but it is loving. Something that is intimate, but not sexual,” Weber describes. “And it’s hard for them to kind of express it, but you feel it when you see them.”
That said, Weber and Schram did at one point wonder if the pair was on the verge of veering from platonic into something more.
“For a second, we thought, too, like, ‘Hey, maybe they’ll get together. That’ll be weird and fun, but if that happens, let’s not make a traditional [relationship],” Weber shares. “These are people who are complicated, and they’re a bit broken. [It] should be hard for them to relate, and I think the writers did a good job in avoiding that potential mess. It’s very nice for people to think that [they should be a couple], but there’s something else at play here that’s still developing.”
Dean is also plagued by insecurities that stand in the way of his even considering Hannah, who’s currently dating Dr. Mitch Ripley, as a romantic option.
“I think there were a few moments in the preceding seasons where he had occasion to look at her with growing respect and true love, and I don’t even know that he entertained the thought,” Weber shares. “First of all, he’s still a guy who’s growing, who’s hated himself for years. Aside from the age difference, it’s hard for me to think that he would feel comfortable enough to think that he’s worthy of somebody as wonderful as Hannah.”
So while “it’s possible” that Dean and Hannah will explore a romantic relationship, “the fact that they don’t get together the way everybody expects is a smart thing to do,” Weber adds.
His co-star Schram, meanwhile, told TVLine ahead of Season 10 that “there’s nothing that’s ever completely off the table,” but “that not where the focus is.”
“For right now, I love where they’re at and just want to see more of their platonic love relationship,” the actress said. “But to be honest, it can go anywhere at any time, and I’m here for the ride.”
Chicago Med returns with a new episode on Wednesday, Jan. 8 at 8/7c on NBC.
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