Chicago Med Finally Unmasks the Father of Asher’s Baby
Chicago Med season 11 hits the ground running, decisively ending Hannah Asher’s baby-daddy mystery by settling the Mitch Ripley versus Dean Archer question in the premiere.
If you were waiting for Chicago Med to drag out the baby-daddy mystery, surprise: the show did the opposite. Season 11 opens and immediately answers the Season 10 cliffhanger about Dr. Hannah Asher's pregnancy. No teasing, no smoke bombs. Just the answer. And yes, it makes sense.
So, who is the father?
It is Dr. Dean Archer.
Season 11 kicks off with Hannah showing up at Archer's place late at night to tell him she is pregnant and that the baby is his. Given their earlier night together at his house, he connects the dots pretty fast.
How they each take it
Hannah says she is planning to raise the baby on her own and is not asking anything of him. Archer respects that, but also tells her he wants to be involved in the child's life. After everything she has been through — years of sobriety and getting past her addiction — Hannah says she finally feels ready to become a mom. Archer promises to support her, and the scene ends with a hug and two friends on the same page about what happens next.
Gaffney being Gaffney
The news does not stay contained for long at Gaffney Chicago Medical Center. Nurse Trini overhears Hannah and Archer talking and jumps to the wrong conclusion: she thinks the baby is Dr. Mitch Ripley's. That leads to Mitch confronting Hannah. She tells him straight that the baby is not his. He is surprised and angry — understandable — and admits he had wanted to be a father.
- Season 10 ended with a paternity cliffhanger after Hannah spent time with both Mitch Ripley (her ex) and Dean Archer.
- Season 11 wastes zero time: Hannah tells Archer he is the father during a late-night visit to his home.
- Hannah plans to raise the baby herself; Archer wants to be part of the child's life and promises support.
- Nurse Trini overhears and mistakenly assumes Mitch is the dad.
- Mitch confronts Hannah; she confirms it is not his child. He admits he wanted to be a dad and is upset.
- Hannah admits she is scared of new beginnings; Archer shares his own worries about being an older dad.
- They decide to lean into the pregnancy together and let everyone else figure it out gradually.
Where to watch
Chicago Med Season 11 airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on NBC, with episodes streaming the next day on Peacock.