6 Things We Learned About 'Chicago Med's' Second Season

Courtesy of Elizabeth Sisson/NBC

'Chicago Med'

Exec producer Dick Wolf also discussed when viewers might be able to expect a four-show crossover.

Ahead of its move to Thursdays this fall, castmembers from Chicago Med joined Dick Wolf on Tuesday at the Television Critics Association's summer press tour to tease what's ahead for the medical drama's sophomore run.

"Going into season two is because we actually have the tools in our bag and we don’t have to learn all of these things from a cold start. But we're only improving, I think, as we continue to live in the characters' skin more," star Colin Donnell told reporters. "Our writers are creating better and better story arcs for us. Everything has forward motion, which is awesome."

The team behind the medical drama offered six more teases about what's to come:

Dr. Reese Is Still Out at the Hospital (for Now)

After rejecting her pathology match in favor of a specialty that will allow her to interact more with patients, Dr. Reese (Rachel DiPillo) was basically unemployed at the end of season one. "When we see her at the beginning of this season, she's working as a barista," said Wolf. "But she ends up coming back. … She won't stay a barista."

A New Mentor for Dr. Rhodes

After not only watching his mentor die, but traveling to a tropical island to spread his ashes, Dr. Rhodes (Donnell) has now switched to cardiothoracic surgery going into season two.

"Dr. Rhodes has chosen a different path in the hospital and he actually has a new mentor," said Donnell. Enter Vinyl and Elementary grad Ato Essandoh, who plays an African-American Jewish doctor and Dr. Rhodes' new boss. "He's fit right in with our quirky little family," Donnell said of the newcomer.

A (Temporary?) Truce With Dr. Halstead

Dr. Rhodes and Dr. Halstead (Nick Gehlfuss) "actually pick up in a good spot this season — I think Halstead and Rhodes are in a good place where they are colleagues," said Donnell. "We've put some things behind us. I'm sure the relationship will grow and fall apart and grow and fall apart. … It wouldn’t be fun if we're weren't butting heads a little bit."

Meet the New Chief Resident

Dr. Choi (Brian Tee) gets a promotion at the beginning of season two. "He feels like he knows how to run a good ship," Tee said, referencing his character's experience in the U.S. Navy. "Within an ER department or within the hospital, it really is the nurses that run the ship. There's a lot of conflicting ideas." Just because he's been bumped up doesn't mean the end of his season-one issues, namely his continued struggle with his PTSD from his service days. Which also means more of the bird that helped Dr. Choi deal with it at the end of season one. "The bird is still around," he said. "Stealing scenes left and right."

April's Health Crisis

At the end of season one, April (Yaya DaCosta) was diagnosed with tuberculosis. "She's not contagious at this point, so the antibiotics she's on is not only curing her, but making it that it stays dormant so that she can continue to work," said the actress.

So what does this mean for April's love life, particularly after her boyfriend proposed? "It's definitely been a huge distancing for her and her boyfriend. He keeps trying but she's definitely keeping her distance because she is paranoid," said DaCosta. "For six weeks, she hasn't really that much and he's having a hard time with that."

A Four-Show Crossover

A four-show crossover was originally planned for Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., Chicago Med and Law & Order: SVU for February. However, because of the complicated logistics, it was scrapped for a two-show crossover between SVU and P.D. Although Chicago Justice does not launch until midseason, Wolf already has his eye on a four-show, Chicago universe crossover.

"It's very complicated to figure out," he said. "It’s a question of how intensely would a crossover story impact on all four shows. It may not be as totally integrated as the SVU crossover was last year. It's a little premature, but I think there will definitely be a four-way sometime in the spring."

As for integrations between the four Windy City dramas, where one character from Fire might appear on P.D., or a doctor could visit Justice, Wolf said the possibilities are endless. "I think the integrations can be as seamless as they've been for three or four years now."

Chicago Med is set to return Thursday, Sept. 22, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.