What happened to Dr. Choi on Chicago Med?
Chicago Med has not been hurting for storylines in season 7. Dr. Halstead (Nick Gehlfuss), Goodwin, and the rest of the gang have had their hands tied with health scares and covert undercover missions.
That said, the absence of Dr. Ethan Choi (Brian Tee) has left a massive impression on fans. The character has been a staple thanks to his calming presence and direct approach to emergencies. What happened to him? Is he coming back?
Well, the answer is slightly complicated.
Did Dr. Choi leave Chicago Med?
The season 6 finale thoroughly disrupted the flow of Choi’s life. He was put in mortal danger when he tried to de-escalate a situation Dr. Dean Archer (Steven Weber) a crazed former patient. The patient pulled out a gun on Archer, and Choi sprung into action in an effort to get the gun away from him. Unfortunately, he was shot in the chest during the struggle, and had to rely on a high-risk procedure (performed by Archer, fittingly) to save his life.
The fragile physical state of the character is what has caused him to be absent from season 7 thus far, and showrunner Diane Frolov has confirmed that Choi will be MIA for most of the season. The offscreen cause for Tee’s absence is that the actor has landed a starring role on the new show Expats, and needed to take time away from the ED to accommodate his shooting schedule.
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Fortunately, Tee and the Chicago Med showrunners are on great terms, and there are no plans to excise him from the show. There’s also the added dramatic benefit of Choi dealing with the trauma of his shooting. “Ethan has to overcome both the physical and emotional trauma of being shot”, Frolov told TV Brittany F. “We also want to see how his near-death experience changes his outlook on life.”
There may not be a concrete answer on when Ethan Choi will return, but Chicago Med fans can rest assured that the good doctor will be back at some point.
For the latest Chicago Med season 7 spoilers and news, plus more on the entire series, follow the Chicago Med category at One Chicago Center.