One Chicago’s 5 worst parents
2. Cornelius Rhodes
Right off the bat in Chicago Med history, one of the first things we learned about Dr. Connor Rhodes (Colin Donnell) is that he went to medical school in Mexico to get away from his father. When that is your introduction into the One Chicago universe, you know you’re not a good parent.
The first time we were introduced to Cornelius Rhodes (D.W. Moffett), he was attempting to convince Connor to return to the family department store and put everything that had happened behind them. But as it turned out, that was a long list. Not only did Connor leave the country to escape his father’s long shadow, but he was also convinced that Cornelius pushed his mother Elizabeth into taking her own life. Not only did he bully his son, but also the woman he supposedly loved.
The conflict between father and son got worse in the very next episode, “Fallback.” Cornelius returned to the hospital with Connor’s sister Claire (guest star Christina Brucato) in tow after one of his employees is injured by a falling chandelier. Connor asked if the medical bills for the man, a childhood friend and Claire’s fiancee, would be paid for by the company; Claire says yes, but Cornelius later denies this. He’s only concerned about how much his company might lose, and so concerned about it that he makes two different attempts to get Connor removed from the case.
Cornelius seems to openly delight in screwing with his son at every opportunity. He does throw out the rare compliment, but it always comes after he’s done something terrible. This One Chicago season has taken his behavior to a whole new level, as well; when Connor’s then-girlfriend Dr. Robin Charles (Mekia Cox) is busted for shoplifting at his department store, Cornelius isn’t shy about belittling her right to Connor’s face. Robin overhears him, and his words only add to the damage that ultimately prompts her to end their relationship.
But Connor’s dad went from rude to creepy this week, when he made a romantic advance toward Connor’s colleague Dr. Ava Bekker (Norma Kuhling). After flattering her the first time they met, he sent flowers to the hospital and then asked her on a dinner date—not caring about how improper it would be, the obvious age difference between them, or the fact that she worked with his son. In fact, he straight-up told her that making Connor crazy would be a side benefit. Luckily Ava turned him down, but now we really don’t like Cornelius Rhodes.