Connor Rhodes leaving Chicago Med was a turning point for the NBC series. While the One Chicago brand has created a whole connected universe of shows, there are characters who stand out within the franchise, and the surgeon played by Colin Donnell was one of those heroes. From the moment he arrived at the hospital on top of a gurney, he won over fans -- who were heartbroken when it was announced that the character wouldn't be returning after Season 4.
Though the character made a final appearance in the Season 5 premiere to wrap up his storyline, his absence was a blow to Chicago Med that the show has never quite recovered from. It was also another time when TV viewers had been forced to say goodbye to Donnell before a show ended (see also: Arrow and The Affair). The shock of the situation made it mystifying to viewers, who've continued to wonder why Connor Rhodes left Chicago Med. Was Colin Donnell moving on from another show, or was the show moving on without him?
Who Was Connor Rhodes on Chicago Med?
Dr. Connor Rhodes started Chicago Med as a trauma surgeon from a well-to-do family; his father Cornelius Rhodes regularly turned up to cause Connor problems. The duo constantly butted heads until Cornelius was murdered by Connor's crazy ex-girlfriend Dr. Ava Bekker (played by Norma Kuhling) at the end of Season 4 in a desperate attempt to win him back. That ultimately led to him leaving the hospital for a new job at the Mayo Clinic.
Connor's storyline was one of incredible growth at the start; by the end of Season 1 he had decided to shift his specialty to cardiothoracic surgery, and after the death of his mentor Dr. David Downey, he formed an unlikely friendship with Downey's successor Dr. Isidore Latham. He also helped the hospital by successfully campaigning to launch a hybrid OR. However, in later seasons Chicago Med put him in more dramatic situations -- none moreso than having Ava kill his father, try to frame him for it and then attempt suicide in front of him. Unable to save her, it was no shock that he wanted a fresh start.
Why Colin Donnell Left Chicago Med
The news that Colin Donnell was leaving Chicago Med was a huge shock to fans, given that Connor Rhodes was one of the show's most popular characters. While viewers speculated that Donnell might be leaving because of the show's increasingly dramatic storylines, Deadline reported that it was actually the producers' choice to drop both him and co-star Norma Kuhling from the cast. Unnamed sources claimed the exits were for "creative reasons related to the characters' story evolution," which meant the producers had run out of ideas for them.
Donnell exited the show on good terms, as both he and Kuhling agreed to return for the Season 5 premiere to give their characters a proper conclusion (like Monica Raymund did after leaving Chicago Fire). He's done quite well since, starring in the stage adaptation of Almost Famous while also reprising his role as Tommy Merlyn on Arrow, acting in Hallmark movies, and filming the upcoming Peacock original series Irreverent. Meanwhile, Connor hasn't been mentioned on Chicago Med since, although his ex-girlfriend Robin Charles came back.
Why Connor Rhodes Shouldn't Return to Chicago Med
It sounds extremely counter-intuitive to say Dr. Connor Rhodes shouldn't return to Chicago Med, since the character remains a fan-favorite two seasons after his departure. More importantly, Colin Donnell is an incredible performer, so the quality level of the series has dropped in the last few years just by virtue of his not being there. But those are exactly the reasons why Connor needs to stay off-screen unless the show finds the absolutely perfect storyline for him and the actor who plays him.
By the time of Connor's departure, Chicago Med was already venturing into more risky plots, with its characters constantly putting their jobs and/or their morals on the line. While they rarely face consequences (except for Natalie being fired), that's not the environment that Connor would want to be in. He had a firm moral code and he was always very down to earth, often keeping others in line; he'd be upset by some of what's happening in the hospital now. The way he was written out made perfect sense; his professionalism and hard work deserved a spot at an elite hospital like the Mayo Clinic.
Any guest appearance wouldn't be good for Connor, and it wouldn't give Colin the spotlight he should have either. Fans would want Connor's return to be a Connor-centric episode, but Chicago Med has so much drama going on that he'd be more likely to support another character than get his own storyline. Bringing Connor Rhodes back only to short-change him would further disappoint fans who are still frustrated that Colin Donnell was let go in the first place.