Chicago Med Is Losing An Original Series Star For Season 11, And I Don’t Think The Timing Could Be Worse

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In the 2025 TV schedule, there are cast changes in NBC’s Wednesday night lineup, affecting Chicago Med, Chicago Fire’s Firehouse 51, and Chicago P.D.’s Intelligence Unit. Notably, Marlyne Barrett, who has portrayed Nurse Maggie Lockwood on Chicago Med since its inception, will be absent for the Season 11 premiere in October. Although Nick Gehlfuss is set to return, this transition comes at a less-than-ideal time due to a couple of unfavorable circumstances.

Marlyne Barrett Is Stepping Away From Chicago Med

Marlyne Barrett, known for her role in “Chicago Med,” will be temporarily stepping away from her series regular position starting with Season 11’s premiere. Although this means one of the show’s last three original cast members is leaving, there’s a positive aspect to it: Taylor Kinney’s temporary absence from “Chicago Fire” during Season 11 was managed successfully, and so might Barrett’s. Her decision appears to be for personal reasons, according to reports. The remaining two full-time original cast members are S. Epatha Merkerson as Sharon Goodwin and Oliver Platt as Dr. Charles.

In spring during Season 10’s finale, Maggie found herself emotionally entangled in a heart-wrenching case involving two critically ill children who required a single pair of donated lungs for transplantation. This poignant storyline moved me to tears back in May, but it didn’t involve the significant plot points such as Hannah’s pregnancy suspense or Goodwin’s private moment with Bert. Maggie is now leaving the show, and I wish her new endeavors much success and happiness.

Despite no one being at fault, it seems particularly unfortunate for the character Maggie in the ED that the timing isn’t more favorable.

Why I’m Bummed About The Timing For Maggie’s Absence

As a devoted viewer of Chicago Med, I can’t help but feel a pang of disappointment upon realizing that Maggie might not make an appearance in the Season 11 premiere. If only she could grace our screens one last time before her temporary departure for a few episodes, it would provide a satisfying explanation for her absence.

Similar to how Chicago Fire handled Taylor Kinney’s absence without a screen farewell, I wholeheartedly trust that Marlyne Barrett will be given the privacy and time she needs during this break. Nonetheless, I can’t help but miss Maggie, and I eagerly anticipate an early explanation for her absence in the season to come.

Another reason I’m excited about Maggie returning full-time is connected to Nick Gehlfuss reprising his role as Will Halstead. Although his comeback date and number of episodes haven’t been announced yet, the chemistry between Will and Maggie has always been a delight to watch. At times, Will could be annoying when he blatantly disregarded hospital rules, but let’s face it, he often drove many characters up the wall! On-screen, Will was an engaging character that viewers enjoyed watching from their homes. However, his coworkers in the show didn’t always share the same sentiment!

I’m hoping fervently that Marlyne Barrett can come back as Maggie for an episode where Gehlfuss appears as Will, but it remains to be seen. Fingers crossed that Barrett gets the opportunity she needs and is able to revisit her long-standing prime-time role on NBC.

On October 1st, Wednesday, at 8:00 PM Eastern Time, NBC airs the Season 11 premiere of “Chicago Med”. This is followed by “Chicago Fire” Season 14 and “Chicago P.D.” Season 13, which air at 9:00 PM and 10:00 PM ET respectively. Additionally, fans can catch up on some memorable episodes featuring Maggie from “Med” by streaming with a Peacock subscription.

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2025-08-29 00:40