Chicago Med is another creation of Dick Wolf, the brainchild behind the Law & Order franchise and the third installment of Wolf's Chicago franchise that already included Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D. and Chicago Justice. Wolf's ability to shed light on everyday heroes like police officers and emergency room doctors is a refreshing take on a world so caught up with heroes in a cape.
These everyday emergencies are not only captivating but traumatic, leaving viewers to ponder the real-world consequences of illness and death, making this one of the more interesting shows on television. While many fans relate to most of Chicago Med's characters, there are still a few that stand out above the rest and a few main characters that need to take a backseat in the overall plot.
More Screen Time: Maggie Lockwood
With her mother being a midwife, Maggie grew up around the hospital scene and it shows, as she is a natural caregiver who puts her position in saving lives above everything else. Maggie also has had one of the more interesting character arcs on the show, as she has been arrested for refusing to take the blood of a drunk driver who was critically injured because of hospital policy that the patient must consent. She has also had her own struggles in life, being diagnosed with cancer and having to go through chemo-therapy with the support of her family.
Less Screen Time: Emily Choi
It seems like every medical show has an Emily Choi now. The sister or brother that never amounts to anything, mooching off his or her more successful siblings. By now, it is just a played out character arc that needs to be retired. Emily a semi-professional gambler and estranged sibling of Ethan that gets thrown out of her apartment only to wind up on his couch, breaking his rules from the moment she moves in. Ethan then has to search for her after she leaves and finds herself on the streets, homeless.
More Screen Time: Dr. Daniel Charles
Dr. Daniel Charles is an interesting character, to say the least. He spends his time trying to help other patients cope with traumatic experiences, while, he, himself, suffers from a deep depression. His choice to stop taking his medications to keep from misdiagnosing patients tells a lot about who he is as an individual, with his willingness to sacrifice for others.
The struggles he has faced with his wife divorcing him and then remarrying, only to learn she is terminally ill with cancer, is heartbreaking television. Every scene with Daniel Charles proves to be special.
Less Screen Time: Natalie Manning
The problem with Natalie Manning isn't that she is boring or that her character's story is boring. It is just her struggles fly by too quickly for fans to get engaged. An example of this is when she sustained a brain injury that began affecting her work capabilities. She struggled for a few episodes before finally acknowledging that the injury had left her brain-damaged. However, a few episodes later, the tension that had been built up was cast aside to focus on her troubled relationship. It was a lost moment where fans could have connected with the character.
More Screen Time: Sharon Goodwin
Sharon, the Chief of Services at Gaffney Chicago Medical Center, is a former nurse turned administrator, who still has that passion for saving lives above all else. Her devastating divorce after celebrating 32 years with her former husband Burt was heart-wrenching for her character, but, like always, she bounced back and focused her attention on her work more than her personal life. Her friendship with Dr. Charles is one of the most enduring relationships on the show, as both truly care for each other and depend on the other's support during troubling personal problems.
Less Screen Time: April Sexton
April Sexton's love triangle with Ethan and Crockett is beginning to become a bit stale. Ethan loves her but because of a kiss and some flirting with Crockett, she can't move forward with Ethan.
A love triangle normally would bring drama into the series but with only Ethan passionate about April while Crockett not wanting anything serious with her undermines the whole love triangle between the three of them. It is hard for fans to build up the stress and feel emotionally involved in who she chooses when she only has one option.
More Screen Time: Ethan Choi
Unlike his sister Emily, Ethan is a memorable character that has continued to have strong character arcs. While the drama with his sister Emily was a revolving door of problems, it never lessened his character. It only slowed down his storyline. While his relationship and love for April makes for compelling television, it is also his love and affection for her that drives it home. This supposed love triangle between Ethan, April and Crockett just isn't believable, as in the end, only Ethan truly cares for April and will do anything to secure her happiness.
Less Screen Time: Crockett Marcel
Crockett Marcel has his moments, like the time he refused on giving up on saving two children in a bus crash. That did make him a temporary hero in the eyes of some fans. However, for the most part, Marcel just hasn't found his place on the show. His arrogance makes it hard for other characters to get along with him, resulting in unneeded controversy, while his love triangle with Ethan Choi and April Sexton seemed to fizzle out because of a lack of interest on his part. At this point, his character is just there to be controversial.
More Screen Time: Connor Rhodes
Connor Rhodes has been the heart and soul of Chicago Med since the very beginning, and even though he left, his presence is still felt. His replacement, Crockett Marcel just doesn't have the charisma that Rhodes had.
Rhodes' exit saddened fans but wasn't unexpected after the suicide of Bekker and the death of his father. Once Rhodes can reflect on the circumstances, and maybe, just maybe, he will return with a renewed sense of self and if or when he does, he deserves far more screen time than his replacement.
Less Screen Time: Will Halstead
Will can be annoying at times, especially when he just doesn't know when to take no for an answer. Such as when it comes to either his patients or his love interests. No matter if fans love or hate his character, he does play an instrumental role in many of the main plots in the series, which is a big problem for Chicago Med. Whether he is going undercover to bust gangsters or just willingly sabotaging his engagement, he just comes off as someone who is all over the place but, at the same time, nowhere at all.