Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Medical drama revives classic themes, bloody scenes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Chicago Med
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 6 parent reviews
Based on 14 kid reviews
Kids say the show is entertaining and provides a good blend of medical drama and character storylines, though it has been noted for its graphic content. While it is generally recommended for older teens due to some disturbing episodes and themes, many fans appreciate its focus on medical accuracy and ethical dilemmas, deeming it one of the better shows in the genre.
- medical accuracy
- mild gore
- teen appropriate
- engaging drama
- ethical dilemmas
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Created by Law & Order's Dick Wolf, CHICAGO MED is the third installment of a trilogy of Chicago-themed dramas. The series, which follows the day-to-day operations of Chicago's newest state-of-the-art trauma center, stars Colin Donnell as Dr. Connor Rhodes, the new trauma fellow at the city's largest hospital, who, alongside chief ER resident Dr. Will Halstead (Nick Gehlfuss), Dr. Natalie Manning (Torrey DeVitto), and Dr. Ethan Choi (Brian Tee), does what he can to help patients who are suffering from severe to life-threatening conditions. Assisting them is ER nurse April Sexton (Yaya DaCosta) and fourth-year resident Sarah Reese (Rachel DiPillo). Providing services and support when needed is Dr. Daniel Charles (Oliver Platt), the hospital's chief of psychiatry. As doctors do what they can for their patients, Chief Administrator Sharon Goodwin (S. Epatha Merkerson) must balance the needs of the doctors and their patients with the expectations of the hospital administration.
Is It Any Good?
This intense medical procedural weaves together dramatic story lines about doctors treating severely sick and injured patients and the efforts being made to treat them. Adding to the fray are the interpersonal relationships among the medical staff, which range from lighthearted and friendly to competitively tense.
The soap-opera-like tales featured here will feel familiar to fans of popular 1990s hospital dramas such as Chicago Hope and ER. Nonetheless, the overall series is both well-written and engaging. Meanwhile, the way characters from its sister shows, Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D., pop up in each episode adds an interesting crossover angle. If you're looking for some solid but standard medical stories, this show will fit the bill.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what goes on in an emergency trauma unit. What kind of pressures do doctors face when dealing with severely injured patients? How do they train for that? Does this show offer a realistic view of what it's like?
Why do you think there are so many medical shows on TV? What do we find interesting about the inner workings of a hospital?
TV Details
- Premiere date : November 17, 2015
- Cast : Colin Donnell , Nick Gehlfuss , S. Epatha Merkerson
- Network : NBC
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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