Chicago Med producer and co-showrunner Andrew Schneider explains character Ethan Choi’s exit story in December 7’s episode. A former US Navy officer, Ethan — portrayed by actor Brian Tee — starts off fresh in season 1 as a Resident at Gaffney Chicago Medical Center, before progressively moving up in the ranks and finally becoming the Chief of Emergency Medicine in season 6. Ethan is one of few characters to have appeared for all aired seasons of Chicago Med, though this is about to change.
Schneider shares with People about the end of Ethan’s journey on Chicago Med season 8, and gives context on how that journey will wrap up in episode 9. He reveals that his story is closely tied to April (Yaya DaCosta) in two major ways, the first being their long-awaited wedding, and the second is their future working together in a mobile clinic, upon their departure from Gaffney. See more of what Schneider previewed below:
They're starting a mobile clinic so that together they can take first-rate medical care to underserved neighborhoods in Chicago… They'll remain in town!... We felt [the wedding] gave closure and a happy ending to the Ethan-April love story. It also felt like a compelling next chapter in his life as a doctor.
How Ethan's Exit Will Impact Chicago Med
Ethan’s reliability was inextricable to his often acting as Chicago Med's moral compass. Arguably one of the best examples of character development in the series, Ethan showed gradual but consistent growth in his career and relationships. His romance with April was a strong pull for audiences who rooted for them to get together in early seasons, and wondered whether they would rekindle their relationship after a series of ups and downs that eventually led to them breaking off their engagement. In addition, Ethan’s struggle with PTSD from his days in active duty and experiences with patients, as well as grappling with his father’s death, also added further heart to the show.
Despite Schneider’s shared details, there are of course unknowns, the primary being the state of the E.D., with the antagonistic Dr. Dean Archer (Steven Weber) as the now permanent chief at the helm. However, viewers have already been eased into this transition with Tee’s reduced role in Chicago Med season 7 due to filming upcoming Amazon Prime’s Expats, when Ethan sustained a serious injury and went on hiatus. In addition, the show has skillfully addressed character departures and incorporated new ones, as seen with new MD additions like Dean, Crockett (Dominic Rains), and Hannah (Jessy Schram). There’s no reason to think that Ethan’s loss won’t be handled similarly smoothly.
For Tee and audiences alike, his character marked a step forward for the representation of Asian Americans in leading television roles, and Ethan will surely be missed. Though Ethan and April will soon be off to another suitably noble venture, viewers can be hopeful that they will return – most likely in the form of cameo appearances, but potentially even in recurring roles, which Tee has made clear not to rule out. In the more immediate future, Tee will be returning to the set of Chicago Med for episode 16, this time as a director; though not in front of the camera in typical fashion, viewers can rest assured that Tee is very much still a part of the One Chicago universe.
Source: People