Chicago Med: 6 Things Learned About Season Two

On Tuesday, Dick Wolf and the cast of Chicago Med were at the Television Critics Association press tour for the new season. We get some juicy new details for season two.

"Going into season two is because we actually have the tools in our bag and we don't have to learn all of these things from a cold start," said star Colin Donnell telling reporters. "But we're only improving, I think, as we continue to live in the characters' skin more. Our writers are creating better and better story arcs for us. Everything has forward motion, which is awesome."

With that here are six more teases of what to expect this season:

Dr. Reese is still out at the hospital

After rejecting her pathology match in favor to work in the ER so she can interact more with patients, Dr. Reese (Rachel DiPillo) was basically unemployed at the end of the first season.
"When we see her at the beginning of this season, she's working as a barista," said Wolf. "But she ends up coming back...She won't stay a barista."

Dr. Rhodes's New Mentor

After not only watching his mentor die, but traveling to a tropical island to spread his ashes, Dr. Rhodes (Donnell) has now switched to cardiothoracic surgery going into season two.

"Dr. Rhodes has chosen a different path in the hospital and he actuall has a new mentor," said Donnell.

Here comes Vinyl and Elementary star Ato Essandoh, who plays an African-American Jewish doctor and Dr. Rhodes' new boss.

"He fits right in with out quirky little family," Donnell said of the new member.

A (Short?) Truce with Dr. Halstead

Dr. Rhodes and Dr. Halstead (Nick Gehlfuss) "actually pick up in a good spot this season - I think Halstead and Rhodes are in a good place where they are colleagues," said Donnell. "We've put some things behind us. I'm sure the relationship will grow and fall apart and grow and fall apart....It wouldn't be fun if we're weren't butting heads a little bit."

New Chief Resident

Dr. Choi (Brian Tee) gets a promotion at the beginning of the second season.

"He feels like he knows how to run a good ship," said Tee, referencing his character's experience in the U.S. Navy. "Within an ER department or within the hospital, it really is the nurses that run the ship. There's a lot of conflicting ideas."

Just because he's been bumped up doesn't mean the end of his season one issues, his struggle with his PTSD from his service days. Which also means more of the bird that helped Dr. Choi deal with it at the end of season one.

"The bird is still around," Tee said. "Stealing scenes left and right."

April's Health

When we last left at the end of season one, April (Yaya DaCosta) was diagnosed with tuberculosis.

"She's not contagious at this point, so the antibiotics she's on is not only curing her, but making it that it stays dormant so that she can continue to work," said DaCosta.

So what could this mean for April's love life, mainly after her boyfriend proposed?

"It's definitely been a huge distancing for her and her boyfriend. He keeps trying but she's definitely keeping her distance because she is paranoid," said DaCosta. For six weeks, she hasn't really that much and he's having a hard time with that."

Four Show Crossover:

A four show crossover was originally planned for Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, Med and Law & Order SVU for February. But because of the complicated logistics, it was scrapped for two show crossover between SVU and PD. Although Chicago Justice does not launch until midseason and Wolf has his eye on a four show, Chicago universe crossover.

"It's very complicated to figure out," Wolf said. "It's a question ov how intensely would a crossover story impact on all four shows. It may not be as totally integrated as the SVU crossover was last year. It's a little premature, but I think there will definitely be a four-way sometime in the spring."

As for integrations between the four Chicago series, where one character from Fire could appear on PD, or a doctor might visit Justice, Wolf said that the possibilities are endless.

"I think the integrations can be as seamless as they've been for three or four years now."



Chicago Med returns this fall on it's new night, Thursday, Sept. 22 at 9/8c on NBC.