Colin Donnell returning to Chicago Med is the fantastic news we always hoped for but figured never to hear. It once seemed impossible to think of Chicago Med without Colin Donnell. And then it seemed improbable that he would ever come back. But miracles happen, and this one actually makes a hell of a lot of sense.
When Donnell’s character Dr. Connor Rhodes left the NBC medical drama in 2019, a hole opened up that it took years to fill. It was a controversial choice because Connor was the soul of the series. Sharon Goodwin and Dr. Daniel Charles are the heart of the show, but Connor was the soul—making everyone around him better, including the audience watching at home. He had an incredibly rich character arc where he wanted the best and pushed himself to deliver the best, and not just as a surgeon but as a human being. He was an aspirational character that everyone could connect with. And while obviously the plot points were on the page, it was Donnell’s grace, presence and emotional intelligence that made all of that work.
Connor went through more evolution than any other original Chicago Med cast member. The guy who arrived riding on a gurney proved to be not just the strongest voice in the room, but also the voice of reason; his early tension with Dr. Will Halstead was a real oil and water situation that transformed into a mutual respect as both characters grew up. Connor also moved into a new specialty, faced the death of his mentor Dr. David Downey, and formed one of Chicago Med‘s best friendships with his second boss, Dr. isidore Latham. Particularly in the Connor and Latham relationship, and Connor’s romance with Dr. Robin Charles, audiences saw Connor’s own emotional intelligence. It had developed through a lot of self-discovery and self-awareness, but he could turn around and help other people in ways that had nothing to do with medicine.
Donnell was the absolute best actor to play that; Connor’s ability to connect with people comes out of the actor’s ability to connect with people. He also has an incredible perception of character. Anyone who’s followed his career either pre- or post-Chicago Med knows how he’s built extra layers into moments and even characters that may not have had them. His casting is the reason Tommy Merlyn in Arrow didn’t just feel like the witty best friend; Donnell also gave him a seriousness and even a pain when the situation called for it. He’s returning to Med not long after his performance as Father in the Tony Award-winning Lincoln Center revival of Ragtime, where he beautifully played not only the growth of the character, but audiences could feel his internal struggle to reach that growth. There’s such detail and such emotion in each of his performances, yet it comes out with a surgical precision. Chicago Med saw him really get the chance to unravel a character, not only in terms of the length of time but because Connor became a real presence on the show. He always had his voice, yet he was stronger and smarter in using it, and able to use it more for other people. It made him a joy to watch.
Unfortunately, as the seasons progressed, Connor became something like a port in the storm. His plotlines were less grounded—up to and including his exit storyline, in which his ex-girlfriend Dr. Ava Bekker was revealed to have killed his father, shortly before she died by suicide. It was a dramatic plot for sure, but it also felt too far removed from what made Connor’s storylines great. When the character walked away from Gaffney Chicago Medical Center, it was bittersweet because the audience didn’t want him to go, but there was also a sense that he’d be happier someplace else. That Connor had outgrown the hospital itself.
And so it became difficult to imagine that he’d ever return, even as other legacy characters walked back through the doors. Bringing back former main characters on any TV show is a challenge, because if it’s done truthfully, it’s about a whole lot more than just their return. It needs to be authentic to who those characters are, while also giving them an actual purpose for being present with the current cast, and letting the current cast be present with them. They’re old friends, not commodities. Given the way that Connor left, and the general direction of his plots leading up to his exit, there wasn’t a reason to bring him back other than missing Colin Donnell. And while that’s a perfectly valid feeling, both Colin and Connor deserved more than just a nostalgia trip. Thankfully, Chicago Med has exactly the man to finally give Dr. Connor Rhodes a proper second act.
Allen MacDonald has demonstrated that he’s a fan of Chicago Med since he took over as showrunner in Season 10. And not just in the sense of liking the show; he’s shown thoughtfulness about the stories and a genuine love for the characters, whether they were part of his era or not. That’s proven by the last time he did this: bringing back Will and Natalie Manning as part of Med‘s 200th episode. The Will that viewers saw in Season 11 felt almost exactly like the Will who had been a regular in Seasons 1-8. There was room made for Natalie’s son Owen, who didn’t always get that space before. And while Will and Natalie had plenty of screen time, it didn’t come at the expense of the Season 11 cast. Those two episodes weren’t perfect (poor Owen getting shot), but they were good efforts done with the best of intentions and a sense of Chicago Med as a whole, not just in the moment.
There is every reason to believe that MacDonald will give Connor Rhodes the same consideration. He’s on record as being a fan of the character, so he’s going to know those big turning points and the little details that he can use to tell a story that fits Connor. The extended time away also works in his favor; Connor couldn’t just walk back in that door a season or two later. That wouldn’t be true to him. He needed space to grow and to refocus on himself. It’s much more authentic to do this story now, years later, when he’s had that space. His personal life should have stabilized and his career will certainly have advanced—based on what he accomplished near the end of his Med tenure with the hybrid OR, Connor is definitely leadership material. How would that shift his perspective? The whole One Chicago franchise is asking this season how being a leader changes someone. What will it be like for him to see the old hospital again, but also when it’s essentially new, because most of the people he worked with have gone? So it’s a growth opportunity for him as well, not just a hit of nostalgia.
Just as importantly, though, Connor Rhodes will be good for Chicago Med Season 12—and not solely for the boost in viewership that Donnell’s guest spot is going to provide. While things at the hospital will surely change in the episodes between now and then, viewers know that Gaffney is in yet another state of flux. Budget cuts and being short-staffed are nothing new; Mallory Sloan is the new Gwen Garrett. But on a personal level, there are several characters searching for a direction, whether it’s Dr, Mitch Ripley wrestling with mortality on multiple levels, or what’s going to be in store for Dr. Caitlin Lenox when she comes back, or the aftereffects of Nurse Doris confessing to being the leak. These are not short-term questions. Connor is not going to answer any of them, yet he’s going to provide a strong and stable presence in contrast to all that uncertainty. Because even in the most unpredictable times (remember saving a panda), fans knew that Connor would always find a way through. He’s going to come in and be as strong and stable as he was years ago, even if the rest of the ED is on fire.
And depending on how much narrative flexibility MacDonald has, Connor could be a positive influence on any number of stories. Dr. John Frost just experienced the loss of his father and we don’t know yet if he’s still coping with it; Connor’s been there, albeit in a much more extreme way. Ripley is trying to be a supportive partner to Lenox as they navigate the challenges of her prion disease; Connor knows what it’s like to love someone dealing with a health issue, through his relationship with Robin. Even Goodwin’s legal battle—whatever comes out of Doris confessing isn’t going to erase the bad blood between Goodwin and Miranda. Connor could act as a sounding board for her, as someone she’s known for so long. As great as the scenes between Goodwin and Dr. Daniel Charles are, Charles doesn’t have to be her only confidant. It all comes down to what makes sense within the stories that MacDonald wants to tell, but Connor Rhodes is going to add something to a season that’s already established tremendous potential for growth. Connor is the very example of character growth, so why not bring him back now?
It is, of course, too early to say how this will all play out. Colin Donnell’s return isn’t happening until the midpoint of Season 12, and those episodes may not be perfect. But they don’t have to be; they just have to honor the character, honor the actor, and let both add something to the current tapestry. Allen MacDonald bringing Connor Rhodes back isn’t only a delightful guest star appearance. For a lot of Chicago Med fans, it’s answering a question they’ve had since 2019. It’s giving them closure, and it may even feel like righting a wrong, because Connor was never expected to leave. The mere making of that choice shows how much MacDonald cares about the fans, by finally filling that space that’s been in their hearts. And because he is a fan, he knows what the fans will be looking for. It’s not anything massive or overly complicated; it’s just the joy of seeing Colin Donnell again, recapturing the dynamic energy that Connor Rhodes brought to Chicago Med. The show was never the same without him, and now he might just change it for the better all over again.
Chicago Med airs Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.
