'Chicago Med' season 5: The hybrid OR won't be going out of business even after Dr. Rhodes's departure, here's why
The hybrid Operating Room (OR) is a remarkable feature that was introduced in the fourth season of 'Chicago Med'. The idea was born after a patient's aorta ruptured while Colin Donnell's Dr. Connor Rhodes and Norma Kuhling's Dr. Ava Bekker were transporting the patient from the Emergency Department (ED). This is when Dr. Rhodes argues that if the doctors had been able to repair the rupture without moving the patient, he would still be alive and proposed the idea for the hybrid operating room. At first, the board of directors for the hospital rejects the idea because it would cost them too much money. But Dr. Bekker goes behind Dr. Rhodes's back to talk his father, Cornelius, into funding the setting up of the hybrid OR.
The hybrid OR was also built with the condition that Connor stays at Gaffney Chicago Medical Centre and head it. So, Dr. Rhodes rejected his lucrative offer from Mayo Clinic and agreed to stay on to head the hybrid OR. The ED head nurse, Maggie Lockwood (Marlyne Barrett), also moved to become the head nurse in the hybrid OR. This meant that the viewers got to see Maggie being more hands-on and saw her medical skills, rather than her just overseeing the nurses in the ED.
However, in the season 4 finale, it was revealed that Maggie has cancer. Moreover, Donnell was announced to be leaving the show after appearing in the season 5 premiere to wrap up Dr. Rhodes's storyline. With this in mind, many viewers are obviously concerned about the future of the hybrid OR on the show. Considering an unspecified and huge amount of money was spent by the hospital on the hybrid OR, the departure of one character and the cancer diagnosis of another should not affect its future going forward. According to TVLine, the hybrid OR will not be going anywhere. But in Dr. Rhodes's absence, who will be in charge of it and how will the hybrid OR go forward without him? This will need to be solved in the first few episodes when 'Chicago Med' returns for its fifth season this fall. Viewers would also be wondering who would be taking over the reins from Dr. Rhodes.
There could be three candidates. First and most likely is Dr. Ethan Choi (played by Brian Tee). Not only is he one of the best doctors in the hospital, but his skills were also proven time and time again through the previous season. The second candidate could be Dr. Jimmy Lanik (played by Nate Santana in a recurring capacity), the Chief of Trauma. However, viewers and the board of directors do not seem to have much faith in the character of Dr. Lanik to take over from Dr. Rhodes.
Another candidate could be Dr. Will Halstead (played by Nick Gehlfuss). Will's character was mostly involved with his failing relationship with Natalie and his undercover stint with the FBI. In season 5, the character could set out to achieve new heights professionally by taking over the hybrid OR. As for Maggie, April Sexton could possibly take over her role as the hybrid OR nurse while the former deals with her cancer diagnosis and possible recovery.
In whichever way the writers see fit to deal with the hybrid OR, Dr. Rhodes's absence is sure to be felt, but this could potentially open up new avenues for the medical drama.