Summer is winding down, and you know what that means. It’s officially time to swap beach reads for TV marathons! And if you’re anything like me, nothing hits quite like a good medical drama. There’s just something comforting about curling up on the couch and diving into the high-stakes world of hospitals.
And guess what? Several medical dramas are set to return with new seasons in the fall. Each of these shows is worth checking out if you haven't already, and you may want to start watching them soon before their new installments begin airing. Don't worry! We're not going to leave you scrambling. Below, we shared the five best medical dramas to watch this fall. That way, you can already have them on your radar.
Most improved: Chicago Med
- Chicago Med season 11 starts airing on NBC on Oct. 1 at 8/7c.
Chicago Med has been around for a very long time now, and it's unlikely to go anywhere anytime soon. When the NBC medical drama returns with its eleventh season in October, viewers can expect more high-stakes cases, emotional patient stories, and gripping drama behind the scenes as the doctors navigate life-and-death situations at work while also dealing with their own complicated personal lives.
Dick Wolf created Chicago Med, which is the third installment in his popular Chicago franchise, following Chicago Fire and Chicago PD. It revolves around the doctors, nurses, and staff at Gaffney Chicago Medical Center as they race against the clock to save lives, navigate impossible cases, and occasionally deal with their own messy personal drama.
Nick Gehlfuss is confirmed to be coming back for the eleventh season. Epatha Merkerson, Jessy Schram, Steven Weber, and many others are also expected to return.
Most emotionally charged: Doc
- Doc season 2 premieres on Fox on Sept. 23 at 9/8c.
Doc is one of the newer medical drama series, but don't let that fool you! This show easily stands its ground among the long-running favorites. Following a successful first season, a super-sized Doc season 2 is confirmed to premiere on Fox in September. There are 10 episodes in the first season, and 22 episodes in the upcoming second season.
Loosely based on the true story of Dr. Pierdante Piccioni and adapted from the Italian series Doc – Nelle tue mani, the Fox series follows Dr. Amy Larsen (Molly Parker) as she works to rebuild her life and medical career following a traumatic brain injury that erases eight years of her memory.
Omar Metwally, Jon Ecker, Amirah Vann, Anya Banerjee, Patrick Walker, Charlotte Fountain-Jardim, and other talented actors make up the cast as well. Emmy Award-winning actress Felicity Huffman and FBI: International star Emma Pfitzer Price are new cast members for season 2.
Most iconic: Grey's Anatomy
- Grey's Anatomy season 22 will begin airing on ABC on Oct. 9 at 10/9c
While we recommend checking out all of the shows on this list, we strongly recommend that you watch Grey's Anatomy. This iconic series set the template for emotional, character-driven medical dramas, making it easier for newer shows to succeed. There's a reason why it's still on the air after two decades. People can't get enough of the rollercoaster romances, jaw-dropping hospital drama, and the beloved characters. The highly anticipated twenty-second season is set to premiere on ABC this October.
Grey's Anatomy follows the personal and professional lives of the surgical interns, residents, and attending physicians at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. The cast is made up of Ellen Pompeo, Chandra Wilson, James Pickens, Jr., Kevin McKidd, Caterina Scorsone, Camilla Luddington, and others.
Most thought-provoking: Brilliant Minds
- Brilliant Minds season 2 will premiere on NBC on Sept. 22, at 10/9c.
Brilliant Minds is another new medical drama series that's definitely worth a watch. The first season aired on NBC from September 2024 to January 2025, and although its fate was initially unclear, the network made the right decision and renewed it. The second season is slated to start airing in September.
Brilliant Minds follows the highly intelligent, and sometimes quirky, Dr. Oliver Wolf, a neurologist with a knack for solving the weirdest brain mysteries at Bronx General Hospital. Alongside a team of eager interns, he tackles baffling medical cases, all while somehow managing to balance his chaotic work life with his personal life.
Zachary Quinto stars as the main character, Oliver. Tamberla Perry, Ashleigh LaThrop, Alex MacNicoll, Aury Krebs, Spence Moore II, Teddy Sears, Brian Altemus, and John Clarence Stewart are also in the cast.
Most promising: Watson
- Watson season 2 is scheduled to premiere on CBS on Oct. 13 at 10/9c.
Last but surely not least is Watson, the CBS medical drama that reimagines Dr. John Watson from the classic Sherlock Holmes stories. Since the first season saw strong viewership, CBS went ahead and renewed Watson for a second installment in March 2025. We're not far away from the season 2 premiere date, so you might want to get all caught up. It'll be October before you know it!
Watson stars Morris Chestnut as John Watson, a doctor with a knack for investigation, who runs a clinic for rare medical cases. When clues emerge that his late friend's nemesis might still be alive, Watson must confront his past while solving medical mysteries that are anything but ordinary.
Also joining Chestnut in the cast are Eve Harlow, Peter Mark Kendall, Inga Schlingmann, Ritchie Coster, Rochelle Aytes, and others.