The eighth season of Chicago Med debuted on Wednesday, and Yaya DaCosta's unexpected cameo made it clear that fans would enjoy it.
From seasons 1 through 6, the 39-year-old actor played ED nurse April Sexton on the program. He also played the part in Chicago Fire and in crossovers with Chicago P.D.
The showrunners Andrew Schneider and Diane Frolov have explained what it means for the character's future now that DaCosta is back on Chicago Med after leaving at the end of season 6.
DaCosta's April made a comeback in the season 8 opener when Dr. Ethan Choi (Brian Tee) saw her paying tribute at the grave of his father.
The ex-couples got along well, talking about how they hadn't gotten married since their breakup in season 6, and April revealed that she now works as a nurse practitioner in Chicago.
After being admitted to a nurse practitioners programme in season 6, April had departed Gaffney Chicago Medical Center to pursue a new employment opportunity.
According to Schneider and Frolov, DaCosta's character will continue to appear on the show after the season 8 premiere.
The showrunners confirmed that DaCosta would be returning to Chicago Med as April in an interview with TVLine, but they did not say if she would be returning as a regular cast member or only for special appearances.
After leaving Chicago Med, DaCosta starred in the programme Our Kind of People, but it was terminated after one season. According to Schneider and Frolov, DaCosta's comeback had nothing to do with the Fox program's cancellation.
Said Schneider "Not for that reason. We had the notion to bring her back for Dr. Choi last season, and [DaCosta] was willing to do so. It's not like we were anticipating the end of her television show. For us, the time just so happened to be perfect."
Frolov also said "She will return in a few more episodes as well. She will have a lengthy plot."
Frolov said that DaCosta would return in episode 5, while Schneider indicated that future episodes will "address" viewers' issues regarding the character, notably those pertaining to her relationship with Ethan.
Schneider reflected on April's development since becoming a nurse practitioner and said: "She is genuinely unique. She has matured both professionally and emotionally, which truly accentuates the changes in Ethan's emotional life."
