Chicago Medis still one of my favorite shows, but it hasn’t been the same without several departed characters. The medical drama has had one of the highest turnover rates in theOne Chicagouniverse, and few characters are left during season 10 who have been with the series since season 1. This cast change is not surprising, considering the show has been on for a decade. However, some newer characters have also left Gaffney Medical Center despite their popularity.
As a result, theChicago Medseason 10 castis almost unrecognizable to anyone who is returning after taking a break from watching this medical drama. New characters mean new story directions, andChicago Medhas created interesting conflicts by adding characters such as prickly Dean Archer (Steven Weber), who arrived in season 6, and Caitlin Lenox (Sarah Ramos), who is a new addition in season 10. However, the series has a different feel than it did in its early seasons, and some characters' absences are glaringly obvious.
4Crocket Marcel
Played By Dominic Rains
Marcel was a replacement for Connor Rhodes, who left afterChicago Medseason 4. He was my favorite character because he cared so deeply about his patients and often butted heads with other doctors and administrators over treatment plans.Marcel was also part of one ofChicago Med’s strongest love triangleswhen he and Will Halstead fought over Natalie Manning. However, the most interesting aspect of Marcel’s character was his tragic backstory.
Ironically, Mandy Patinkin’s Jeffrey Geiger had a similar backstory inChicago Hope20 years earlier.
Marcel came to Gaffney Medical Center to numb the pain of losing his 1-year-old daughter to leukemia. He was slow to open up to anybody about his tragedy or let anyone too close because of it, but once he let Natalie in, he told her everything — and it gave both characters and their relationship much more depth.Marcel’s every action at the hospital was layered, with pain, grief, and the desire to heal others all competing for top priorityas he navigated complex medical situations.
9 Former Chicago Med Characters Who Can Return In Season 10
There are several Chicago Med characters who have left Gaffney Medical Center over the past decade. Some of them could return in season 10.
His final storyline was as tragic as his past. Marcel had to decide to rescind approval for a liver transplant for a young boy at the last minute after the child developed an infection that couldn’t be resolved in time to do the procedure. Not only did the child die, but his father chose to take his own life. Marcel couldn’t bear the guilt and canceled his next surgery, though his final scene involved him promising Maggie he would be back “tomorrow.”
It adds insult to injury that after that strong story, Marcel didn’t get an exit scene.Despite his promise to return, whenChicago Medseason 10 premiered, Marcel was absentand someone commented that he had moved to Boston. I was disappointed by this off-screen exit, especially sinceChicago Medcould have given Marcel a proper exit story by having him quit at the end of his final story instead of promising a return that never came. Instead,Chicago Medreplaced him with the far less interesting Mitch Ripley, whose only character trait seems to be self-destruction.
3Will Halstead
Played By Nick Gehlfuss
For eight years,Will Halstead was the heart ofChicago Med.Halstead was the original reason for the spinoff — he was the brother ofChicago PD’sJay Halstead. Will was a rebellious resident who constantly did the wrong thing for the right reasons. His impulsive choices often kept him one step away from being fired, and in many of thebestOne Chicagocrossovers, he worked with Jay to get medical care for victims and bad guys off the streets.
In almost every respect, Will is an irreplaceable character, andChicago Medsimply isn’t the same without him.
Some of Will’s later storylines were silly — I hated when he went undercover to help Jay catch a Mafia boss — but his constant refusal to respect the rules madeChicago Medmore interesting. He was at his best when he butted heads with Marcel, but left the season before Marcel did. Thus, Marcel’s final season lacked something because of Will’s absence. Additionally, characters like Hannah would never have come to Gaffney if Will hadn’t crossed paths with them first. In almost every respect, Will is an irreplaceable character, andChicago Medsimply isn’t the same without him.
2Ethan Choi
Played By Brian Tee
Choi wasn’t a likable character, but he helped balance the medical drama, especially during his final few seasons. While his on-again, off-again relationship with April was central to his character,I most appreciate him for the way he tried to keep Archer in check during season 6.Choi and Archer served in the Navy together, and Choi brought Archer on board to be his temporary replacement as ED Chief while recovering from surgery. However, when Choi returned to the hospital, Archer had a difficult time taking orders from his one-time subordinate.
Actor Brian Tee has directed three episodes ofChicago Medsince leaving the series.
Choi was overly opinionated and often tried to control patient care in inappropriate ways, especially if he believed the other doctors were violating the rules. These qualities made him a semi-villian, but also led to compelling conflicts.While the current season’s Lenox is a similar type of character, her attitudes don’t have nearly the same impact that Choi’s did, underscoring how much he is missed.
1Natalie Manning
Played By Torrey DeVitto
The love triangle between Will, Natalie, and Marcel took up most of her final two seasons, and she also got involved with a shady patient who ultimately was proven to be a con artist. While these romantic storylines were interesting, there was a lot more to Natalie’s character than that, andChicago Medlost something when she left for Seattle.Natalie was a pediatrician who was just as passionate about patient care as Willwas. She was especially endearing when fighting for care for children who were too young to advocate for themselves.
While I’m happy that she and Will got their happy ending,Chicago Med’s stories aren’t as strong without Natalie fighting for children’s health despite the disapproval of administrators and other doctors.
The series has had two other pediatricians since Natalie leftChicago Med.Guy Lockard’s Dylan Scott gets an honorable mention, as he was also an interesting character, but he didn’t last, while John Frost seems like a younger version of Marcel. These characters don’t make me miss Natalie any less. While I’m happy that she and Will got their happy ending,Chicago Med’s stories aren’t as strong without Natalie fighting for children’s health despite the disapproval of administrators and other doctors.
Chicago Med
Cast
Chicago Med is a medical drama series that explores the high-stakes environment of a bustling Chicago hospital. Set against the backdrop of chaotic emergency room scenarios, the series follows a team of dedicated doctors and nurses as they confront challenging cases inspired by real-world issues, while navigating complex relationships.
