Writers created more romance for Ethan with Cal's girlfriend Alicia Munroe (Chelsea Halfpenny), their affair causes a sibling feud.

Writers continued to portray Ethan as unethical through romance stories with his patients Leigh-Anne Carr (Cassie Bradley) and Effie Laurence (Abigail Hardingham).

Other stories include Ethan being involved in a mini-bus crash, being promoted to clinical lead and becoming disillusioned with the NHS system for over-working staff.

Richard Winsor was cast to play Ethan's brother Caleb Knight who would also secure employment at Holby City hospital.

Casualty's executive producer Oliver Kent stated "The arrival of Ethan and Caleb will instantly change the dynamic of the ED.

Although Ethan charms many, he fails when it comes to women - a flaw made all the more apparent next to his smooth-talking fast-moving brother, Cal.Ethan is characterised as a doctor with excellence, extremely attentive, very academic but relatively shy.

Rainsford told Daniel Kilkelly from Digital Spy that Ethan's "methodical nature" in medicine means that he sometimes overlooks the human aspect of cases.

[4] A writer from BBC Online states that whilst the character "thrives as a doctor" but has often lived his life in the shadow of his brother and fellow specialist registrar Cal.

Rainsford told Sarah Ellis from Inside Soap that the episode is stylised as a "crime thriller" with a "film noir" narrative.

[12] On-screen when a patient Clyde Jackson (Stuart Manning), dies because medics cannot resuscitate due to a DNR order, Ethan becomes suspicious and believes there is something sinister behind it.

[12] Another guest character in the episode, Bonnie Curtis (Renee Castle) who was billed as a "femme fatale" catches Ethan's attention as a suspect.

[12] Interviewed by Victoria Wilson of What's on TV, Rainsford said that Ethan is "quite gushing" about Bonnie and she "makes him act quite differently in that he almost loses himself in this woman, rather publicly in the hospital.

Cal had stolen Ethan's fifteen-thousand pound inheritance and gave it to his girlfriend Taylor Ashbie (Sarah Jayne Dunn), who turned out to be a con-artist.

"[29] Cal decides to track down his biological mother with the aim of collecting maximum information about his adoption and Ethan's maternity.

In July 2016, Winsor told Metro's Duncan Lindsay that Ethan and Cal would "end up competing" and "sparring" for the attention of the same female.

[43] Halfpenny told Sarah Ellis of Inside Soap that Alicia did have feelings for Cal too, so she takes the "easy option" and stays with him.

In September 2017, producer Lucy Raffety branded Ethan and Alicia's relationship "the lovely, glowy heart of the show" and expressed hope that her team could reunite them in the future.

Consultant Dylan Keogh (William Beck), who attempted to save Cal, confirms his awareness and suffering prior to his death.

On Ethan's suitability for the role Rainsford quipped, "he's previously done one shift as clinical lead, and in the world of Casualty that's as good a qualification than any!

Rainsford told What's on TV's Reilly that Ethan starts his new role "chipper" but there is "a lot of pressure on him and he quickly realises he can't keep everyone happy.

It begins when Ethan and his HEMS colleague Albert 'Big Al' Layne (Sam Callis), receive an emergency call informing them that a lorry has driven into a crowded indoor market.

[72] Rainsford told Hannah Davies of What's on TV that Ethan and Al are "polar opposites" who gain a "mutual respect" of one-another through the events of the attack.

[77] Writers played Ethan behaving unethically once again, this time using his position to get Effie onto a drugs trial to treat her cystic fibrosis.

[78] Rainsford branded the relationship "inappropriate" but understood that Ethan liked Effie's determination to fight her illness, which resonated with his experiences of Huntington's disease.

In turn, Ethan off-loads onto doctors Rash Masum (Neet Mohan) and Mason Reede (Victor Oshin), who is supposed to mentor.

[87] Further trailers revealed that Ethan would seek help from consultant neurosurgeon professor John Gaskell (Paul McGann) and Roxanna MacMillan (Hermione Gulliford) for his Huntington's diagnosis as part of a research project.

[93] Jack Seale of The Guardian opined that the episode was Sin City done a "doggedly small scale" and branded Ethan a "fussy registrar".

[94] Robert Hiley from What's on TV branded Ethan "a brilliant character and an amazing doctor" but opined that he appeared to give up on career progression when Lily was promoted before him.

"[99] After his work struggles, a reporter from The People said "speccy specialist registrar Ethan Hardy (George Rainsford) is back in the groove, charming more patients in the emergency department.

"[101] In 2021, Inside Soap's Alice Penwill described defended the character's constant traumatic stories because "Rainsford is just so good at the crying scenes".