We're quickly nearing the return of all three One Chicago shows on NBC with their season premieres on Wednesday, Oct. 1, and we're finally learning more and more details of what to expect from the new seasons. Chicago Med season 11 already promises to answer our biggest question from the season 10 finale, but there's even more intriguing conflict coming in the season premiere.
Two weeks ahead of the Chicago Med season 11 premiere, NBC released the synopsis for the first episode of the new season, which is titled "We All Fall Down." Obviously, that title lends itself to connotations of friction between the team and something bad happening, but how worried should be about the Gaffney staff right at the top of the season? Maybe not as much as we think.
According to the season 11 episode 1 synopsis via NBC's press release: "A family of victims from a house fire are rushed to Gaffney. Lenox fights to save two sisters injured in an all-night rave turned tragedy. Tensions mount between Goodwin and Abrams over difficult staffing changes."
Goodwin will be in conflict with Abrams over staff changes in Chicago Med season 11 episode 1
While the staff in the ED treat families who were injured in a house fire and an all-night rave, its seems that two key staff members will be butting heads. In the season 10 finale, Goodwin was forced to fire Washington over budget cuts, but there could also be additional staffing changes at Gaffney that has Abrams clashing with the hospital's chief administrator. She was definitely bound to get pushback.
But Goodwin was beholden by the board to make those "difficult" changes to the staff. These changes don't only impact the existing staff members but also the hospital as a whole, as Washington eluded to as Goodwin approached him about his firing. Gaffney's in a real transitional period after facing struggles, and these changes could bring patients to doubt the hospital's care.
Gaffney's doctors are also losing vital resources and talent, which could present them with the stress of being stretched thin and/or breaking in new colleagues. However, those "staffing changes" could also extend further than the doctors. As we know, Marlyne Barrett won't be back in season 11 as the ED's charge nurse Maggie Lockwood, seemingly leaving her position open to fill.
Doris (Lorena Diaz) appears in a number of the season 11 episode 1 photos, especially one with her walking through the ED with Goodwin. Could she putting stepping up to the plate and taking over for Maggie while she's away? She's more than up for the task, but could some of her coworkers think she isn't ready to fill Maggie's shoes? Perhaps that's part of the tension brewing at Gaffney.
We'll find out what's in store for the Gaffney ED and its staff when Chicago Med season 11 premieres Wednesday Oct. 1 at 8/7c on NBC.