Chicago Med hints at tension between Dr. Charles and newcomer

Dr. Daniel Charles (Oliver Platt) is pretty agreeable as far as Chicago Med characters go. He doesn't get into arguments with his co-workers, and he doesn't antagonize newcomers the way that a guy like Dean Archer (Steven Weber) does. Nevetheless, Dr. Charles seems destined for drama in season 9.

The second promo for One Chicago 2024 has been released, and it gives us a better look at the bond between Dr. Charles and the new employee at Gaffney Medical Center, Mitch Ripley (Luke Mitchell). It was previously stated that the two men go way back to when Ripley was a child, which led some fans to believe that they would have a mentor-student relationship.

Dr. Charles and Ripley have known each other for 20 years

It looks like nothing could be further from the truth. In the promo, Ripley sidles up to Dr. Charles and tells him that he's a physician at Gaffney Medical Center, and not to treat him "like the boy" he met 20 years ago. The camera holds on Dr. Charles' surprised expression as Ripley walks away.

While it makes sense that Ripley would want to establish himself as a sturdy presence at Gaffney, and avoid any rumors that he got the ED gig at the behest of Dr. Charles, the exchange does provide the first true glimpse into his character, and the sort of intensity he brings to the show.

Related: Chicago Med star confirms season 9 time jump

Ripley is a pseudo-replacement for Dr. Will Halstead (Nick Gehlfuss), who was largely characterized by his easygoing and warm demeanor. Ripley seems to be a little more rigid, which will make it fun to see how the rest of the Gaffney Medical Center staff, Dr. Charles included, responds.

Ripley and Archer bump heads in Med season 9 premiere

While the promos have done little to flesh out the dynamic between Ripley and Dean Archer, the pics that NBC has released suggest that there will be some additional tension between them. As we said at the onset, Archer doesn't get along with many people, so the fact that Ripley seems to want to do things his own way, without regard for the standard, will lead to some tense Med moments.

Archer is going to play a crucial role in the season 9 premiere and beyond, as the character is still dealing with health issues and waiting on a kidney transplant. We expect the transplant arc will be resolved sooner rather than later, given the character's weakening condition.