Since Chicago Med is an ensemble show, one of the most important factors in whether the show fails or succeeds is the strength of the series' cast. Fortunately, for fans and everyone who works on the series, the show stars talented actors like S. Epatha Merkerson, Oliver Platt, Steven Weber, Jessy Schram, Luke Mitchell, Sarah Ramos, and Darren Barnet. While those actors deserve to be celebrated for helping to make Chicago Med great, that doesn't mean that their ensemble couldn't be improved.
In the future, the team behind the show needs to remember that Chicago Med has featured supporting characters who deserve more credit. One of the medical drama's underrated characters is Naomi Howard. In fact, looking back at Naomi's time on the show makes it seem clear that there are several reasons why Naomi should become a bigger part of Chicago Med.
Why Naomi Howard should join Chicago Med's main cast
After Naomi Howard was introduced as a student doctor during Chicago Med season 9, she became a much bigger part of the show's storylines during season 10. Since then, Naomi has been a pivotal part of several memorable Chicago Med storylines. Despite that, the character has never fully been given the spotlight. However, I would argue that needs to change, with the first alteration being adding Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut to Chicago Med's main cast.
One of the biggest reasons why Naomi should become one of Chicago Med's main characters is her involvement in a delightful ongoing storyline. During season 11, Naomi has become part of a surprisingly great love triangle with Dr. John Frost and Chicago Fire's Lizzie Novak. While the entire storyline has been a great addition to Chicago Med's storylines, I feel strongly that Naomi should be the one who gets chosen when the love triangle comes to a head. After all, it would be wonderful to see Naomi come out of her shell as viewers watch her in a relationship.
Another reason why Naomi should become a bigger part of the show is that it would be interesting to see her character evolve in the coming seasons. First introduced as a student doctor, Naomi's confidence has already grown in leaps and bounds. With fans currently being invested in how the character has evolved, it seems like a no-brainer for the show to allow them to continue watching her path.
The final reason why Naomi should get the upgrade is the fact that Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut is perfectly cast in the role. Since Naomi has been such a quiet character, the only way that she would have worked as an onscreen presence was if viewers could read her emotions through other means. Thankfully, Chestnut's highly expressive face has allowed the actor to breathe life into the role.