Frozen – As the eighth episode of SkyMed begins, Lexi (Mercedes Morris) talks about moving somewhere hot although Nowak (Thomas Elms) doesn’t trust anywhere that doesn’t have four distinct seasons. He begins panicking and thinking about the accident as Lexi tells him to check his airspeed. She has to take control. Once they’re on the ground, Lexi asks if they’re going to talk about what happened. Nowak claims he had a moment of distraction and his FO overreacted. Tristan (Kheon Clarke) reminds him that he said he’d see a counselor. Nowak admits he sometimes has panic attacks although it has never happened in the air. He believes it is something he can handle on his own. Lexi doesn’t think he should fly until he has dealt with this. Nowak says he’ll get some sleep and regroup tomorrow. Chopper (Praneet Akilla) tells Lexi that he has been invited to selection camp with Space Program Canada.

72 out of 4,000 get picked and they told Chopper he is in. He panicked and hung up on them. Lexi believes he knows how to handle himself. He isn’t sure about selection camp because it is designed to mess with you. She wants to go get Nowak so he can put some sense into him, but Nowak went on a run to North House. Lexi calls Nowak to warn him that he is putting people in danger if he isn’t at full health. When she threatens to report him, Nowak reminds her that he kept her secret. She loves him, but she isn’t going to let anyone do this to her again. Lexi tells him that he has until he gets back to Thompson to tell Chief Pilot Pierce what is going on. Later, Lexi begins worrying when the guys don’t make it back. A couple knocks on the door because they had a wreck and heard nurses were there. Gordon (Josh Strait) and Abby (Lauren Cochrane) seem to be hurt from the accident.

Chopper wants to call an ambulance, but Gordon says no ambulance. When he tries to leave, he ends up collapsing to the floor. Lexi calls Tristan and talks to him and Emma (Rebecca Kwan) to get advice for dealing with the patient. He tells them they need to get vitals. Lexi was only able to find Crystal’s spare stethoscope and some gloves. Once she finds that his pulse is fast, Tristan instructs her to use the stethoscope to check both sides of his chest. She says it is a lot quieter on the left so they suspect it might be pneumothorax. Emma and Tristan think he will need a chest tube that will go through the chest wall to drain any compressed air from the heart and lungs. Lexi tells them that his veins are swollen. Tristan says they’re running out of time. Lexi says they don’t have a doctor or chest tube so she doesn’t know what to do. She asks Abby to take Hayden into Nowak’s room. Chopper knows they need a tube, something to puncture the skin, and a suction.

He asks about using a pen. Since his pulse is getting weak, they’ll have to try anything. Tristan says a pen won’t puncture the skin so Chopper will have to make an incision first. Tristan and Emma walk them through the procedure. The connection cuts out near the end of the operations, but Chopper manages to finish it on his own. He notices that it is sucking back in and they don’t want that. He asks Lexi if she has a condom since he needs something flexible to create a valve. They use a balloon and tape. It works. Lexi believes he has done some real astronaut crap. Lexi tries to convince Abby to call an ambulance since Gordon is going to need one. Abby reveals that Gordon is her father and she is getting divorced from Hayden’s father. She tried to fight for full custody, but couldn’t afford the lawyers he could. The last time his father had custody, Hayden walked home three miles alone because he was scared of him. She knew she couldn’t leave her son with him again.

After she took her son, her ex calls the cops. She didn’t want to call for an ambulance because someone might’ve recognized her at the hospital. Abby asks what she is doing to do now that she knows. At 10:30 in the morning, Lexi tells Nowak that he cannot fly until he has dealt with this. When he goes to his room, he gets a call from the dispatcher who says they’re stretched thin with the storm tonight. He is asked to fly right seat to take a patient to North House. He tells them he is on his way before he meets with Bodie (Aason Nadjiwon) on the plane. Bodie jokes about him being right-seat qualified before Tristan asks if he should be doing this.

They make it to the hangar and stay there with Dale until their ride gets there. Lexi calls him to ask if he should be there, but Nowak insists he got some rest and is feeling a lot better. Once the call ends, he accuses Tristan of telling Lexi that he is flying. Tristan denies it. He says SkyMed is small so it is no wonder she found out. Tristan isn’t happy about it either since he cares about Nowak. Once their ride comes, Tristan prepares to take Dale to the nursing station. Nowak throws his headphones down and breaks them. Bodie tells him that was like a thousand-dollar punching bag. He powered down 911, but they’re going to have to try to get out of here. They’ll have to keep up with the snow. If it freezes on the wings, they won’t be able to leave. Nowak decides to take the first shift. He calls his mother Irena while on the plane. He asks if she can let him borrow money to buy a new headset.

Irena doesn’t want to do that because it would be endorsing his career choice. The switch doesn’t work. When he returns, Bodie tells him Tristan is waiting for Crystal to show up with another patient. Nowak tells him he left the boost pumps on. Bodie says he turned the master off, but Nowak says that doesn’t matter since the boost pumps were on. Now, the battery is dead. Bodie suggests he forgot because he was so worried about keeping the plane clear. He thinks someone can fly them out a new battery and an AME from Thompson, but Nowak doesn’t think that’ll happen in this weather. They begin arguing as Nowak insists this wouldn’t have happened if he was in the left seat. He goes on to say Chopper is a better pilot while Bodie is a rich kid who had everything handed to him. Bodie claims he knows nothing about it. He asks why Tristan is all worried about him before questioning if Iceman is finally cracking under his own ego. The argument gets physical with punches thrown.

It continues until they’re both on the ground. Later, Hayley (Natasha Calis) calls Bodie to tell him about Madison (Emilia McCarthy) needs to get to the hospital, but the connection is bad and he doesn’t hear everything. Nowak thinks something must’ve taken out the tower. He learns that Madison isn’t due for another two months. Bodie tried to apologize to her, but she isn’t talking to him. Although he wants to be in his kid’s life, he thinks he messed that up. Bodie believes those rich parents he is always talking about stole him from his Indigenous birth mother. His white parents just went along with it and he always thought his mom gave him up. He knows what a pilot is, how to be a pilot, and where he is supposed to be. Bodie wonders who he is if he isn’t going to go to an airline. Nowak confesses he had a panic attack after the car accident and sometimes does when he is in the plane.

Bodie asks if that is why he broke his headset. Nowak says he can’t be a pilot if his head is screwed up. His parents would love that since they think it is beneath him. Bodie says being a pilot is impressive. Do they expect a brain surgeon? Nowak admits his brother has a PhD in neuroscience. He thinks he hated Bodie because he had a family that wanted him to live his dreams. He wanted to go to an airline for so long, but he isn’t sure if he wants that for himself anymore. He doesn’t know if he is flying because he loves it or he just wants to prove his parents wrong. He only feels like himself when he is flying. Once the snow lets us, Nowak suggests they can take two batteries and hook them up in a series to create a 24-volt power source for the plane. Once they get on the plane, they complete the checklist. Bodie says they’ll have one shot because the 12 volts will be drained after this.

Once they get it running, Bodie asks if he wants to do this since they might not make it off the runway. Nowak agrees to take the risk with him. At 1 PM today, Emma tells Crystal (Morgan Holmstrom) that she knows she is off-duty, but he just got a call from Randy Jacobs who has a history of epilepsy. He has a nasty dog bite. She wants Crystal to pick up Randy so he can be on Tristan’s flight and a driver is already on the way. Jeremy (Braeden Clarke) shows up seconds later. Later, they have to stop at a cabin because Jeremy’s truck gets stuck in the ditch. While Crystal stays with Randy and deals with his bite, Jeremy goes searching for firewood. He had Milroy since he was a pup and he used to lay with him when he had a seizure.

He never thought he’d have to put him down. Crystal doesn’t like the look of his wound. Later that night, she tells him he has cellulitis and it is spreading fast so he is going to need antibiotics to prevent sepsis. While Randy sleeps, Jeremy returns with stuff from his truck that they might be able to burn. Crystal asks about the black and yellow boxes, but Jeremy says he doesn’t do that anymore. She is surprised to find Treasure Island in the box. Jeremy reminds her that she used to read it to him in the canoe when she was trying to get out of paddling. Stories like that remind Crystal of the adventures they used to have in the bush. She reads the book as Jeremy tells her that not everything from her past is bad. He also doesn’t know why she is so hard on who she used to be. He thinks she was pretty great, but she doesn’t seem too happy right now. He contemplates going to land for a while since the people in the community don’t need his kind of help.

He burned the Oxy because he isn’t letting any more of that stuff come up here. Crystal thinks he should’ve told her because they could’ve figured something out. He believes she would’ve just given him crap as always though. Randy has a seizure. Crystal thinks he is getting too cold and they need to warm him up. Jeremy offers to be the peanut butter before they all cuddle in front of the fire. Crystal tells Jeremy that Maskwa doesn’t blame him so he needs to forgive himself. She begins burning Treasure Island while saying it is dumb to hold onto the past so much that they freeze to death now. She worries they’re not going to stay alive in this much longer. At 3 PM, Hayley arrives at the café as Madison tells her she was really hoping she wouldn’t come here when she is working. Hayley says she’ll have a cup of coffee and go, but she just needs a minute. Madison tells her to get it herself because her back is killing her.

A man at the restaurant tells Hayley how he and his brother would always order and eat from each other plates. Life is too short so you should eat dessert first. Although his brother is still alive, he isn’t talking to him right now because he told his brother what he really thought when he found out he was getting back with his ex. He says it is hard to break the ice. Someone in your life all this time can just suddenly leave. Moments later, he tells Hayley she should probably go because she won’t be able to make it out later. Before she goes, she learns that Madison is applying to a phlebotomy program because it is good money and she’ll be able to take care of the baby by herself. She didn’t take high school bio so she is making it up. Hayley thinks that is great because people will always need blood taken. Madison knows Hayley thinks she is come dumb local girl, but Hayley quickly denies that.

Hayley used to believe they could be friends. Madison begins mocking that before her water breaks. Hayley saw this all the time at Sinai. She needs to go to the hospital for antibiotics, tocolytics, and steroids. Since Hayley isn’t sure her car will make it, she decides to call an ambulance. Madison heard about a big pile-up in town so it might be difficult getting here. Hayley thinks it’ll be okay. They’ll time her contractions because most primip labor takes hours. Madison asks what happens if they can’t make it to the hospital. Hayley tells her she has never lost a patient anywhere. Once they’re 10 minutes apart, Hayley calls Bodie to see if he can come to get them. Once the call ends to no avail, Hayley gives advice and admits this is when she recommends the birthing partner rubs the mommy’s back.

Madison says Bodie has tried calling because he wants to help her and the baby, but she has to be able to take care of herself. Madison confesses that she already loves the baby more than anyone. Hayley tells her about her appointment with the oncologist in Winnipeg this morning. They found precancerous shadows on her MRI. The doctor recommended a preventative double mastectomy. Hayley discusses her options and admits she is so angry. She is angry that her mom died and that she has to make this big decision. When Hayley admits she thinks that is why she slept with Bodie, Madison tells her it still wasn’t right. Hayley knows that. Once Madison begins grunting in pain, Hayley thinks she needs to perform an exam to see how much time they have. She is at five centimeters and it is sometimes possible for a preemie to be delivered at 7 or 8 cm. Madison asks if she can deliver her baby here before Mike joins them.

Hayley asks if he can take her on the snowmobile. Even with a perfect delivery, the baby needs to go straight into a warmer. His lungs aren’t developed and won’t be able to breathe on his own. Hayley warns him that the baby has a 70% of dying without a NICU. She even offers to drive Madison herself. Mike says the snowmobile has a trailer so he’ll make a bed and they can all go. They hear Mike screaming outside. When they go outside, he was hit by a tree and seems to be badly injured. Hayley tends to him and puts him on the trailer before helping Madison get on it too. She gets them to the hospital. Moments later, Trevor comes out and shakes his head at Hayley so it isn’t good news. When Bodie makes it to the hospital, Madison asks him if he saw their baby boy. The nurse tells Bodie that they don’t have a proper NICU here meaning he’ll have to go to Winnipeg. Emma finds Jeremy and Crystal sleeping together.

When they wake up Randy, he tells them about the beautiful dream he had. They agree to take him to the station for an IV of antibiotics before getting him on a plane. Lexi tells Abby that she called an ambulance for Gordon. She thinks it might be a good idea for Abby and Hayden to be gone by the time they arrive. They can pretend they left while she and Chopper were sleeping, but Lexi admits she’ll have to call the police at some point. Chopper calls back to say he’d be thrilled to attend selection camp. Crystal receives good news as well. Nowak goes to Pierce (Jeff Teravainen) to request some time off. Pierce says okay and hopes he’ll tell him if there is anything he needs to know. Tristan offers to go with him to see the counselor, but Nowak thinks he needs to do it himself. When Lexi learns that he did it, she storms off. Chopper thanks Wheezer (Aaron Ashmore) for being there as they prepare to take Madison’s baby to Winnipeg.

 

SkyMed Review

The 8th episode of SkyMed was surprisingly effective in some areas. The show isn’t going to be right for everyone because it can be a bit silly and unrealistic at times. Plus, there is a good chance that a real medical professional would cringe at some of the medical scenes. Viewers willing to overlook those flaws and others may actually enjoy SkyMed for what it is.

The series does a good job of creating emotional scenes and that really showed during this episode. It seemed to bring bitter rivals together and smooth over their conflicts. The main performers do a decent job although some of the characters can be a bit annoying at times. SkyMed would be a good guilty pleasure as long as viewers don’t take it too seriously.

The episode scores a 6 out of 10. Recaps of SkyMed can be found on Reel Mockery here. Learn how to support our work at this link.