Though canceled by CBS after one season, medical drama Good Sam made better use of Sophia Bush's talents than her previous role on Chicago P.D. Less repetitive plot lines, more potent chemistry with costars, and the title role all highlighted Bush's versatility. While her portrayal of Detective Erin Lindsay over the first four seasons of Chicago P.D. was well-loved by critics and fans, the character's storylines became stagnant melodramas over and over again. Bush's performance as Dr. Sam Griffith in Good Sam gave the actress more opportunities to shine.
While Erin was a major player during Bush's time on Chicago P.D., Sam was the main attraction on Good Sam. Bush led the show as a talented but restricted surgeon given the opportunity to supervise staff on her terms once her father/boss fell into a coma. While both characters were significant to their respective shows, Bush's role in Good Sam was central to the plot. Her Chicago P.D. heroine was often subjected to a reactionary role in other characters' storylines.
A recurring theme for Chicago P.D. was Erin's overcoming of tragedies only to slide back into self-destructive behaviors. Through four seasons and several crossover episodes, the growth of Bush's character was repeatedly halted, leaving viewers with what became a stagnant storyline. Though she shared some of the same leadership qualities seen in Sam, Erin's arc became one-note. Her triumph in helping heroin-addicted Nadia was a short-lived victory that led to a dramatic downward spiral for the former addict. Bush's role as Sam provided her an opportunity to be taken more seriously as a leading lady by having more control of the narrative.
Both Chicago P.D. and Good Sam placed Sophia Bush's characters in a significant mentee relationship with a father figure. The differing dynamics in the latter highlighted Bush's strengths. Erin's relationship with the problematic Hank Voight was full of mercurial interactions. Sam stepped confidently up to her father, Dr. Rob "Griff" Griffith, holding her own when challenging his decisions. Sam was more sure of herself than Erin, and Bush had better chemistry with Jason Isaacs than Jason Beghe, whose behavior reportedly led her to quit Chicago P.D. after four seasons.
Portraying Sam also allowed Bush to play the dominant character in romantic relationships. Sam's relationship with surgery resident Caleb Tucker was very different from the back-and-forth romance between Erin and her partner Jay Halstead. While the detectives' relationship drove much of the action on Chicago P.D., Erin was easily replaced by Tracy Spiridakos as Hailey Upton. On Good Sam, Sam called the shots in her relationship and its demise was more of a footnote in the overall story.
Sophia Bush was able to play more of a leadership role on and off-screen in Good Sam. While Erin Lindsay on Chicago P.D. was well-loved, her cyclical storylines became lackluster and a negative working environment caused tension with co-stars. Getting the chance to work as a show's leading lady highlighted Bush's command of the screen and she had much better chemistry with the cast of Good Sam. While the series may have been short-lived, it's a better example of her talent.