Chicago Med had a few big characters introduced in Season 10, but one stood out as the best!
Chicago Med viewers had to wait a while before Season 9 premiered as the 2023 Hollywood strikes put it off until it debuted in January 2024. It had a big arrival in new doctor Mitchell Ripley (Luke Mitchell), who had a good push. His past with Dr. Charles gave him some depth, his romance with Hannah Asher was well done and he came off well. Yet his temper and often dark past could be a shadow on him that put some viewers off.
The season 10 premiere introduced a new regular character, Dr. Caitlin Lenox (Sarah Ramos), who was brought in to help oversee the department and eventually become the Chief of Emergency Medicine. However, the character hasn’t been popular on or off the show due to cutting costs, firing various doctors and an often arrogant demeanor.
While those two new additions could be divisive, Chicago Med did give us a surprisingly fun new character in Dr. John Frost (Darren Barnet). A pediatrician, he joined Med from another hospital that had recently closed down. His first day had him aiding in a massive influx of patients due to a ferry boat disaster. Despite only being on the show for a few episodes, Frost has connected well thanks to an intriguing backstory and a dedication to be a new standout for the cast!
Frost’s fun backstory
The first episodes with Frost showed him settling into his new hospital, handling patients and seemingly dedicated to the job. He dropped hints of a tricky childhood, which some may have thought was a troubled youth. It turned out to be anything but.
It started when a woman dropped by the hospital to try and get Frost’s picture. She confused the other doctors, gushing about how she’d always been a fan of the guy, and was surprised they didn’t know why. It took one computer search for the truth to come.
It turns out Frost had been a child star of a 1990s TV sitcom, the cute kid with his own quirky catchphrase. That had him naturally needled by his co-workers, who nicknamed him “Hollywood.” He even had to put up with a couple of interns dressing up as his show’s characters for Halloween.
That would have led to the easy assumption Frost could afford medical school. Sadly, like many child stars, Frost found it hard to get work when the show was canceled and he grew older. Worse, his parents mismanaged his money to blow through his fortune. So, like any other doctor, Frost was still struggling with medical school debt. He also realized acting wasn't for him and wanted to really help people as a doctor.
It’s a fun and original background that gives Frost some push on the show.
Frost is dedicated to his job
Despite that Hollywood background, Frost is dead serious about being a doctor. He proved that when he told the parents of a child how risky surgery would be. When the parents lied to the kid about how he’d be on the mend fast, Frost bypassed them to tell the kid point-blank that he wasn’t likely to survive long. That got him a talking to from Lenox and into a physical encounter with the boy’s father but Frost held his ground that he’d done the right thing.
Frost has been shown helping other patients, from youths in a car crash who may have been abused at a youth camp to suspect a father was secretly harming his daughter. He clearly cares about kids and knows firsthand how a parent can mishandle their own child, an experience shaping him more. He’s also handled stuff like being caught in a tricky position of a wife and mistress arguing over whether or not to save the man they were both in love with.
So far we don't know too much about Frost's background. It's clear he and his parents are estranged and that might come up later although we don't know if he has siblings. It's also unsure about his romantic life but that might get more focus in the future. This "blank slate" means there's a lot to build on for the character to help him connect more with viewers.
The character has so much potential as he can rise from the comic relief he started out as to a more serious doctor. He has the drive and skills, loves helping patients, and already proved he’s willing to bend rules to help those in need. John Frost has been a good spark for Season 10 of Chicago Med, and the hope is that he will become a bigger part of the show and develop into a character as loved as anyone else.
Chicago Med Season 10 returns Wednesday January 8, 2025 at 8/7c on NBC.