Dominic Rains’ departure from Chicago Med leads to Crockett Marcel leaving Gaffney Chicago Medical Center. While most of Chicago Med‘s cast returned for season 10, Rains’ departure was announced before the season began. While One Chicago is not new to cast reshuffles, NBC and Wolf Entertainment’s hit franchise also need to be creative with how they explain why each player is no longer around. For Marcel, that comes in the form of expository dialog in the Chicago Med season 10 premiere.
Marcel had been the main surgeon in Chicago Med since season 5, when he replaced Connor Rhodes (Colin Donnell). Over the years, he evolved from a sleazy womanizer to a compassionate, caring doctor who was motivated to help others because of his personal tragedy. Marcel being one of the characters not returning to Chicago Med in 2024 is a big loss for the show, as Marcel had been involved in many important stories revolving around patient care. Despite that, Rains seemingly has a good reason for leaving Chicago Med, with his departure opening the door for new characters to come.
The Likely Reason Dominic Rains Left Chicago Med
The Actor Has Not Given A Specific Explanation
While Dominic Rains has not spoken directly about why he left Chicago Med, there are some likely explanations. Many actors leave shows in the One Chicago universe after several years because they have gotten too used to playing the same role, and want to explore other creative opportunities. In some cases, they leave or are let go because of budgetary concerns, as networks are increasingly unable to afford the high salaries that actors who have been with a series for a long time command.
It’s also possible that Marcel’s storyline simply came to an end, with both Rains and the writers mutually agreed that there was nothing further to be done with the character. After five years in a medical drama, it can be difficult to find fresh storylines that will challenge an actor and excite the audience. Thus, Rains might have decided it was time to move on to different projects rather than continue with the same types of situations for Marcel as in past years.
What Happened To Dr. Crockett Marcel & How Chicago Med Wrote Him Out
His Final Storyline In Season 9 Became His Exit Story
Marcel’s final storyline in Chicago Med season 9 made it ambiguous about whether he would return for season 10. Near the end of the year, Marcel had to make the difficult decision to deny a liver transplant to a child who would die without it because the child developed an infection that could not be cured in a timely manner and another patient was ready for transplant immediately. This angered the child’s father, who left with his son after telling Marcel off. This story became doubly tragic when Marcel learned the father had ended his own life after his son’s death.
While the scene ended with Marcel saying he would be back tomorrow, there was widespread speculation that he would quit because of his emotional distress.
Marcel had a hard time dealing with this double loss. In addition to questioning whether he had made the right decision, the incident triggered his grief over the loss of his infant daughter, and he confided to Maggie that throwing himself into work was not distracting him from his pain as it usually did. While the scene ended with Marcel saying he would be back tomorrow, there was widespread speculation that he would quit because of his emotional distress.
While this incident was likely the catalyst for Marcel’s decision to leave, this wasn’t explained in the Chicago Med season 10 premiere. Marcel had already left Gaffney Medical Center before the events of the opener, and dialogue revealed that he had a going-away party before he left for Boston, presumably to work in a different hospital.
Could Dominic Rains Still Return To Chicago Med?
He Was Written Out In A Way That Leaves The Door Open For His Return
Gaffney Medical Center has moved on from Marcel; Chicago Med has already introduced Sarah Ramos and Darren Barnet as two new doctors to somehow replace him while also injecting new blood to its ensemble. However, that doesn’t mean that he can’t return in the future. Marcel did not leave on bad terms with the hospital or quit medicine altogether, so there is no reason he can’t come back for a visit. Alternatively, if Rains wants to return full-time, Marcel can decide that he doesn’t like his new position in Boston and ask Sharon for his old job back.
Gaffney Medical Center might be a different place if and/or when Marcel decides to return to Gaffney Chicago Medical Center. The overarching story of Chicago Med season 10 seems to be that the hospital needs to adjust its policies because of the expected mass influx of patients after the closure of another facility in the area; the changes and added pressure would offer compelling storylines for Marcel to deal with if he were to decide to come back in the future.
