Felicity Huffman Joins 'Doc' Season 2: Whiskey, Marlboros, and a Comeback You Didn't See Coming

Move over, drama queens of primetime—there’s a new (or rather, returning) HBIC scrubbing into Doc Season 2, and her name is Felicity Huffman. Yes, that Felicity Huffman. The Emmy-winning Desperate Housewives star is officially making her big, bold return to network TV, and she’s bringing plenty of old-school grit and charisma to Fox’s breakout medical drama.

Felicity Huffman Is Back in a Big Way

Let’s address the stethoscope-wearing elephant in the room: this marks Huffman’s biggest television role since the 2019 college admissions scandal. But she’s not easing back in—oh no, she’s diving headfirst into the high-pressure halls of Westside Hospital as Dr. Joan Ridley, a double-boarded internal medicine and surgical pro with a penchant for whiskey, Marlboro Reds, and no-nonsense leadership.

She’s reuniting with Fox and Sony Pictures TV after a guest role on the legal anthology Accused, and now she’s joining Doc as a series regular. You could call it a comeback, we guess.

Meet Dr. Joan Ridley: The Mentor You'd Fear—and Secretly Love

Dr. Joan Ridley isn’t your average TV doctor. She’s charming, dangerously smart, and rocking enough swagger to steal scenes with a single raised eyebrow. The character’s old-school approach to medicine—and life—makes her feel like a mash-up of House, Miranda Bailey, and your favorite snarky aunt with a sharp tongue and a hidden agenda.

She’s also the former mentor to Doc's lead, Dr. Amy Larsen (played by Molly Parker), who’s navigating her own medical redemption arc after a memory-wiping car crash. Their relationship is layered, complicated, and has just enough tension to spark all kinds of dramatic fireworks. Think tough love with a scalpel in one hand and a glass of scotch in the other.

Oh, and she’s got secrets. Because of course she does.

Let’s not gloss over the strategic brilliance here: Fox knows exactly what it’s doing by adding a seasoned, headline-grabbing talent like Huffman to a show that’s already gaining steam. Doc was granted a nearly unheard-of 22-episode Season 2 order in an era of streaming-friendly short seasons. That’s network TV’s version of rolling out the red carpet.

Not to mention, Huffman has serious acting chops. She’s an Academy Award nominee (Transamerica), a five-time Emmy nominee (Desperate Housewives, American Crime), and she recently dipped back into the true crime world with The Thirteenth Wife: Escaping Polygamy. Whether you love her, hate her, or just love to hate-watch, there’s no denying she brings heat.

What to Expect in Doc Season 2

With Huffman’s Joan Ridley stepping into the role of Chief of Internal Medicine, expect major shakeups at Westside. She's here to “help,” sure—but she's also got her own mysterious motivations. And we’re betting they’re a lot more than just updating hospital protocol.

Add in the continued struggles of Amy Larsen to reclaim her medical mojo post-amnesia, some returning fan favorites, and a few rising stars getting series regular upgrades, and Season 2 is shaping up to be more dramatic than a double shift in the ER.

So mark your calendars, prep your popcorn, and maybe keep a defibrillator handy—because Doc Season 2 is about to get wild.