It's been a difficult season for Dr. Charles on Chicago Med. He has been struggling with his own personal matters and mental health, which have directly impacted his ability and want to do his job. He's also been contemplating retirement after being teased by his friends earlier in season 11. We're not getting rid of him quite yet though, as Charles already has a return date after his brief break.
Having a panic attack and realizing that he's not operating at 100% brought Charles to make the difficult decision to take a step back from Gaffney for two weeks. Well, those two weeks have ended and we know when Charles will be back on Chicago Med season 11. The latest episode preview teased his return as the new synopsis hints at what he'll be up to!
Dr. Charles returns in Chicago Med season 11 episode 11
Chicago Med season 11 episode 11, which airs on Wednesday, Jan. 28 on NBC, welcomes Charles back after Oliver Platt was absent in episode 10. Charles' return date was confirmed in the synopsis shared in the episode 11 promo that immediately followed episode 10. Even though the trailer mostly focused on Ripley and Lenox's budding romance, Charles will indeed be back.
Fresh off his hopefully restorative break from work, Charles dives right back into a new case, and his latest patients are another blast from the past for the doctor. As the synopsis reveals, Charles will be confronting some hard feelings from yesteryear when his best friends from med school stop by Gaffney. Based on photos from the episode, one appears to be a patient.
Check out the official synopsis for Chicago Med season 11 episode 11, titled "Our So-Called Lives," as shared on YouTube: "Old resentment stirs up Charles when his best friends from med school visit; Asher is forced to overcome obstacles in the treatment of one of her patients; Ripley looks to honor his best friend, Sully, on the one-year anniversary of his death."
Desperate Housewives star Brenda Strong, pictured above, appears in the episode as Dr. Suzie Mankiewicz and Perfect Strangers star Mark Linn-Baker plays her husband Dr. Howie Mankiewicz. We don't know just yet what brings the couple to Gaffney. Are they simply in Chicago and choose to pay their old pal a visit? Do they specifically seek him out for his medical care?
Knowing Charles, no matter how he feels about his old friends, he will help them out while also settling their differences from the past. Perhaps they will also further this thoughts about retirement and his future as a doctor. Not to judge from a photo, but Suzie and Howie look comfortably retired. Will they inspire Charles to make a difficult choice? We'll have to wait and see what his return brings!
Watch the teaser for the upcoming new episode of Chicago Med below:
Chicago Med season 11 episode 11 airs Wednesday, Jan. 28 at 8/7c on NBC.