Chicago Med season 11 has officially begun, and it's starting with a real bang. Before the season began, we knew that we would be catching up with one of the show's best characters, but we probably didn't expect to meet up with him so soon. Without wasting a second, the new season is celebrating a huge milestone and welcoming back Dr. Will Halstead.
In the episode airing on Wednesday, Oct. 8, which is the 200th episode of Chicago Med and a major celebration of the medical drama's longevity, Nick Gehlfuss returns to season 11 to reprise his beloved character Dr. Will Halstead. Gehlfuss began the show in season 1 essentially as the leading star, but ended up leaving the show after season 8. Fans haven't seen him since.
But ahead of the 200th episode, NBC shared first-look images of Gehlfuss returning to his old stomping grounds as Halstead. Even though it's only been two seasons since he left, fans have definitely been missing seeing Halstead around Gaffney. But he's back, even if only for one episode. Check out the pictures below and find out what's bringing Halstead back to Chicago!
Chicago Med welcomes Halstead back in season 11 episode 2
Don't adjust your vision. Yes, that's Halstead back at Gaffney! According to an interview with Chicago Med showrunner Allen MacDonald, he's been trying to figure out a way to bring Halstead back into the fold, and even considered making him the father of Asher's baby. Thankfully, the writers didn't go in that direction for Halstead's return, but it's still sure to be an occasion to remember.
MacDonald lovingly called Halstead "messy" and admitted that he's one of his favorite characters from the show, having gotten to know him after becoming the showrunner and watching past seasons. He's sure to stir the pot a bit by popping back into the hospital in the midst of Asher's baby drama and more conflict between the doctors. But this might not be his only episode in season 11.
"What I can tell you is that he drops by Gaffney to say hi to old friends. He has Natalie's son, Owen, in tow, and they're going to a Bears game, and it's Chicago Med. So if you think it's that simple, it probably isn't. He pops up in the 200th episode, and it's the first of several episodes," MacDonald revealed about what's bringing Halstead back and who he's bringing with him.
Halstead's return to Chicago with Natalie's son might be about attending a football game, but when he visits his old friends at Gaffney, he's reunited with his past. One of the photos NBC released finds Halstead catching up with Asher. There's a lot of history between these two, and given where Asher's life is now, they definitely have a lot to talk about!
Gaffney has changed a lot since Halstead left. For starters, Maggie currently isn't working due to mysterious circumstances that haven't yet been explained, but there are also a trio of new doctors that he hasn't met yet. Dr. Ripley (Luke Mitchell) arrived in season 9, and Dr. Lenox (Sarah Ramos) and Dr. Frost (Darren Barnet) both started in season 10. One of the photos finds Halstead meeting and chatting with Lenox and Frost, possibly about a patient they're working on.
Halstead also reunites with fell original Chicago Med characters Sharon Goodwin (S. Epatha Merkerson) and Dr. Charles (Oliver Platt). In the photos, he has a big smile on his face while he's talking with Goodwin and Charles!
But Halstead appears to be getting back into the mix of helping save lives at Gaffney, as another photo shows him going over a patient's scans with Lenox and Frost in Goodwin's office. The episode's synopsis doesn't tease what case he'll be assisting with, but in the 200th episode, we can expect Ripley and Archer butting heads. Maybe Halstead can be the voice of reason between them!
Halstead returns to Chicago Med on Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 8/7c on NBC, streaming the next day on Peacock.