Code Black: how Rob Lowe’s Dr. Willis can make season 3 a success

After Code Black‘s first season there were some changes made if the show had any hopes of having a second season. One of the biggest changes was letting go two of its original cast members: Bonnie Somerville and Raza Jaffrey. While it was the surprise no one saw coming, it was announced shortly after that the CBS show was adding some new characters including Rob Lowe.

Thus the character Dr. Ethan Willis was born.

What made Lowe’s character a success was the way in which he was integrated into the show. It was realistic and, despite never explaining Somerville and Jaffrey’s characters departure, his arrival in the hospital made sense. What was so great about the first episode of Season 2 and Willis’s arrival was the first case he had at the hospital. It was to help shark bite victims by taking a helicopter. His military training and quick thinking made him likable to fans and made them interested in who he was. For the rest of Season 2, fans tuned in every week to see if they would get the answer to their questions about him.

Now going into Season 3, how can the show feature him in a similar manner that made him so likable in the first place? Well, the recent announcement that Willis would be getting some field training with Rox (Moon Bloodgood) is definitely a good start. With him being the only ER doctor that will be taking on this type of training it allows Willis to be front and center and with Rox having never met him before, this would allow the audience a chance to learn more about him.

What we would like to see this season is Willis in a uncomfortable and new environment in the field. Something that challenges him to think about how he can use his background to solve the problem. In this capacity, Willis wouldn’t have the comforters of the ER, but would put his military medical techniques in the spotlight like never before.

What also worked before was putting his character center stage with his skills second. His strong friendship with Dr. Leanne Rorish (Marcia Gay Harden) should also be seen more as this brings out the humility and epithetic side of him. This worked in Season 2 and it can work in Season 3, however, the show needs to figure out a way to make it new and fresh as to not completely copy Season 2.

Code Black returns in early 2018 to CBS. For more news related to Code Black, be sure to visit this link. (Photo: CBS)

This story was written by Samantha D’Amico. If you want to follow her on Twitter, you can do so at @SAM_iamXO.