Content Warning: the following article contains discussions about medical malpractice, violence, abuse of power, and death.
The new Peacock Original series Dr. Death tells the story of Dr. Christopher Duntsch, a surgeon who harmed his patients during routine surgeries. The series follows Dr. Duntsch's rapid rise in the medical world and the doctors, patients, and lawyers who helped put him in jail. Unlike other medical dramas such as The Good Doctor, Dr. Death is based on a true story.
The series not only tackles the horrific story of Dr. Duntsch but also showcases memorable characters that showcase the best and the worst of human nature. The best characters from the series are relatable and give viewers a chance to develop a connection to the real-life sinners and saints involved in the case.
Dr. Christopher Duntsch
Like another scary doctor villain Hannibal Lecter, Dr. Duntsch is intriguing and gives viewers a character they love to hate. The young doctor is a surgeon who harms and sometimes kills his patients when they go to him for simple surgeries. Even though Christopher comes off as narcissistic and cruel, viewers also see a side of him that is broken and trying to prove himself.
The series also takes viewers on the journey of Duntsch's life before his medical mutilations began as a way to make sense of his actions. His upbringing and lack of self-confidence deepen his character and reveal how he ends up becoming nicknamed Dr. Death. Christopher's actions on the show are still inexcusable, making him a difficult character to relate to, but he is nonetheless a fascinating character to watch.
Wendy Young
Wendy Young might have started out as a cruel character, but her growth during the series ultimately redeemed her earlier actions. While they started out as friends, Wendy and Duntsch grow closer as he establishes his practice and they soon become romantically involved. Wendy becomes pregnant with their child, but she also begins to notice his dangerous behavior and eventually ends their relationship.
Wendy has a good heart and ultimately wants to be the best mother that she can be. However, because of her ties to Dr. Death, Wendy is shunned by her friends and family and has to support her child alone. Wendy is relatable to viewers because of her desire to be a good parent while also dealing with the guilt she carries from her relationship with Christopher.
Earl Burke
Earl Burke is a relatively minor character who has a memorable story on the show. Earl trusts Duntsch's questionable medical expertise concerning his wife, who dies shortly after her surgery. Despite his overwhelming grief, Earl helps Dr. Kirby, Dr. Henderson, and Michelle Shughart put the amoral physican in jail.
Earl's emotional turmoil and resilience in seeking justice for his wife pull at the heartstrings of viewers each time he is shown. While only appearing in a few episodes, Earl's heartbreaking story and empathetic personality make him a standout character.
Dr. Randall Kirby
Dr. Randall Kirby is the surgeon who helps Dr. Henderson end Duntsch's criminal activity. He is passionate about his work and helps the previous patients of Duntsch recover from their traumatic experiences. He also offers some comedic relief to the show, which adds the right amount of levity to the show's serious subject matter.
Kirby is a likable doctor in the series because his passion for making sure the victimized patients are safe is admirable. He also helps move the narrative along by teaming up with Dr. Henderson to stop Duntsch from continuing to commit crimes. Dr. Kirby has a blunt attitude makes him relatable and one of the best characters on the show.
Kim Morgan
Kim Morgan is another character that played a significant role in the show's narrative. Soon after opening his practice, Christopher hires Kim as his nurse practitioner. She assists him in multiple surgeries and develops a romantic relationship with him during their time together.
While not the most moral person in the series, Kim has redeeming qualities that make her a relatable character. After Kim notices that Duntsch is botching the surgeries he is performing, she initially refrains from revealing her lover's crimes. At the end of the series, however, she testifies against him in the trial. Kim's character was interesting to watch because the viewers saw her evolve from a superficial love interest to a complex woman who was empowered enough to help the authorities convict Dr. Death.
Josh Baker
Josh Baker is another minor character that made a big impact on the show's climax. He is the nurse that aids Christopher on a few surgeries, but he notices right away that something is not right. He urges Duntsch that the surgeries are taking too long, there is too much blood loss, and that he is operating incorrectly and recklessly.
Josh is one of the main reasons that Duntsch's behavior is finally noticed. He assists Dr. Henderson after he becomes aware of Christopher's crimes and answers any questions concerning his former co-worker. He also helps to make sure that the immoral doctor never operates again and harms another patient. While his screen time may have been minimal, Josh's actions heavily influenced the show's finale and the final fate of Dr. Death.
Michelle Shughart
Michelle Shughart is a character that can easily be ranked as one of the best in the show. She is immediately interested when Dr. Henderson and Dr. Kirby try to bring Dr. Death to justice. Michelle also took the time to build a case against Duntsch and communicate with the patients affected by his horrible surgeries.
Michelle is one of the best characters because she was pure of heart throughout the series. Like the best lawyers on television, Michelle's unyielding professional and personal interest in seeking justice helps drive the show's narrative in the last few episodes of the series. In particular, she provided insight to Dr. Henderson and Dr. Kirby about how they could stop Duntsch. She also came up with the elder abuse charge that leads to the doctor's arrest and eventual incarceration.
Dr. Robert Henderson
Dr. Robert Henderson is another fantastic character that made a big impact on the series. Viewers are first introduced to Dr. Robert after he is called in to make an assessment of Madeline Beyer. She recently got surgery with Duntsch and is suffering more than when she went under the knife. The veteran doctor realizes something is wrong and quickly works to correct her botched surgery.
Dr. Robert is crucial to the series because he works alongside Dr. Kirby to end Duntsch's operations. He also sees a pattern of criminal behavior by interviewing Duntsch's victims and gathers as much evidence as he can in order to put Dr. Death behind bars. Dr. Robert is a good character because he is the first surgeon who finds out about Duntsch and initiates the investigation that eventually leads to his imprisonment.
Madeline Beyer
The best character in the series is Madeline Beyer. She went in for a routine surgery overseen by Duntsch and came out with limited mobility. However, Dr. Henderson takes her back into surgery in an attempt to alleviate the damage caused by Duntsch.
Madeline is one of the most interesting characters because she is the afflicted patient that viewers get to know the most. Viewers can tell she is reserved and deeply affected by the trauma she endured. She is also the catalyst that helps Michelle build a case against Dr. Death. It is her testimony, more than any other character in the series, that not only guarantees Duntsch's fate but also is the emotional climax of the show.