It has been said that one of the most challenging niches to penetrate in the TV series scene is medical-oriented drama. Naturally, new shows of this nature die natural deaths because of one long-running show that is really hard to dethrone.
There has been quite a number of medical-oriented dramas that tried to dethrone "Grey's Anatomy" but they have failed and died of natural causes. Shows like "Monday Mornings"' and "Do No Harm" were some of those who challenged the empire built by Shonda Rhimes. Both were unsuccessful and true enough, they have failed to leave a mark.
Here comes the underdog, "Chicago Med". The recent ratings suggest a very promising future for this show. According to Cinemablend, "Chicago Med has actually managed to make a mark. In its second week on air, the Chicago Fire spinoff has continued to dominate in the ratings."
Critics highlight the fact that it "Chicago Med" had a jumpstart by having a close airing schedule with 'The Voice'. On its first episode, it drew in a 2.2 rating among adults 18-49 with 8.6 million viewers. How is that for a grand entrance? It is possible that "The Voice" could have given it a big push.
On its second episode, it is as if it aired without training wheels. Fans could expect the ratings to spiral down since it was aired on a 9 p.m. slot. There was only a slight decrease in ratings. It hit a 1.8 rating with 7.6 million total viewers. This is good news. Although it dropped quite a bit, it goes to show that the rating was not only because of the lead in from 'The Voice'. A lot of viewers actually needed to see the next episode.
The dinosaur existence of 'Grey's Anatomy' is up for a good challenger. It has been a true pleasure to witness the evolution of the TV series and it might be the right time to pass the crown. It is still too early to judge but "Chicago Med" is in a great start and everyone has their fingers crossed now that it has to air without a lead-in from 'The Voice'.