Abhiroop Das
Co-created by Dick Wolf and Matt Olmstead, ‘Chicago Med’ chronicles life at the Gaffney Chicago Medical Center through the eyes of its many doctors, nurses, and other health professionals. Among these is Dr. Daniel Charles, the hospital’s head of psychiatry, who has been a main character since the season 1 pilot. Over the years, Charles has saved countless lives by digging deep into his patients’ psyches and figuring out what no one else could. In season 11 of this medical procedural drama series, however, he is faced with an unknown series of variables, be it in the form of hi-tech, new ways of digital psychiatry as introduced by Theo Rabari, or in the recurring bouts of depressive episodes that make Charles’ job even more challenging than before. By episode 9 of the season, he is at a critical juncture, and a major step seems imminent.
Charles is Temporarily Stepping Down to Focus on His Own Health
‘Chicago Med’ season 11 episode 9 ends with Charles realizing that he needs to take a well-deserved break from his job, to which end he informs Goodwin that he will need a couple of weeks off. As such, there is a good chance that Gaffney’s beloved head of psychiatry will not be appearing in the future episodes of this season. However, even if that were the case, there is no indication that Charles is leaving the profession itself, and as such, his eventual return to the team is all but guaranteed. It is not uncommon for major characters to slip in and out of the show, as we have seen with Hannah in this season alone. In Charles’ case, there is a clearly established reason for his proposed absence, which in turn also opens several potential plot threads beyond the scope of the hospital.
For the better part of season 11, Charles has been dabbling with the concept of retiring in various ways, be it due to his difficulty in keeping up with modern trends or the stress that has been building up for potentially decades. In episode 10, we see the first cracks in his psyche emerge, as an intense choice concerning two heart transplant patients causes him to have a panic attack. Worse, he even ends up shouting at one of his co-workers, Dr. Morris, and only later does he reflect on how uncharacteristic that moment was. Charles has more worries on his plate as that panic attack was also accompanied by serious chest pains and a nosebleed, which could mean that his proposed leave is not just to decompress psychologically, but also to get checked up for something more serious.
While Charles’ doctors believe that his body is simply having an adverse reaction to his medicines, he believes that there is something more going on. To begin with, he has not had any major changes in his lifestyle or medication, and his panic attack is the first to happen since med school, which indicates that something has truly gone wrong. ‘Chicago Med’ is not unfamiliar with putting its core characters in intense life-or-death situations, and the same can be true for Charles’s trajectory. While he may be temporarily stepping out as a psychiatrist, it is entirely possible that the show will devote an entire arc to him in the upcoming episodes, one that can take place outside of the hospital’s perimeters. Still, given the show’s episodic Gaffney-centered approach to storytelling, such a scenario is unlikely.
Actor Oliver Platt Will Likely Reprise His Role Soon
With Charles requesting some time off, there is a good chance that veteran actor Oliver Platt will also be taking a temporary break from the role. In that vein, it is also possible that the writers have integrated this temporary absence in line with Platt’s availability in the production. Still, given that there are ample mysteries to unfold regarding Charles’ mysterious health condition, chances are that the actor will step into the fan-favorite role sooner rather than later. There is also the thread of Charles’ difficulty in coping with his newly convoluted reality. And that might give Platt even more opportunities in the upcoming episodes to flex his acting prowess.
As of writing, neither NBC nor Platt himself has confirmed whether his time with the show has come to an end. However, given how often the show teases the idea of the head of psychiatry leaving his post, it is probable that this occasion is in line with the previous ones. In an interview with TV Line, the showrunner, Allen MacDonald, talked about Charles’ arc this season and what it means for Platt, stating, “We’ve really been doing a slow burn on Dr. Charles’ arc (…) He’s been having some issues with his antidepressants (…) not feeling as physically well as he has in the past.” While MacDonald maintained that Charles has been eying retirement for quite some time, nothing indicates that a potential period of absence from season 11 episode 9 onwards will translate to Platt’s exit from the show.
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