Wednesday, January 18, 2023

The Resident 6x12 Review: “All the Wiser” (Penultimate Peril) [Contributor: Justine]


“All the Wiser”
Original Airdate: January 10, 2023

The Resident’s penultimate episode of the season feels in many ways like the beginning of the end. At the very least,  it’s the story of characters facing their own crossroads. There’s little time left to resolve everyone’s arcs and give everyone a satisfying ending before the season finale. The fate of Chastain is also hanging in the balance. 

The steamy opening to this episode feels like it comes out of nowhere but it’s oddly sweet. As someone who has begrudgingly tolerated the Conllie storyline, this opening sealed the deal that maybe these two were meant to be together. Unfortunately this is also probably proof that the show should have taken their time to develop these two as a ship to cheer for. There’s chemistry here and a good friends-to-lovers story is always the right choice. 

Relatedly, Cade and James could have been so much more. It’s great that they’ve found each other after being dumped by their respective exes. However, with the shorter season, this arc feels incredibly rushed. It’s nice that they found happiness in each other even though there’s not much time left to see them together. It’s too bad the powers that be didn’t see these two as a couple to care about. 

Also, it’s more than a little infuriating to think that we could have seen Cade and Billie being best friends and incredible doctors from the beginning. While it’s great that they’re not pitted against one another, this is another relationship that should have been explored in greater depth. Adult female friendships are such a rare and precious thing. The show has an opportunity to lean into developing both of these characters on their own and then bring them together. 

Of course, the main medical drama of the episode is the helicopter crash with the idiot fictional Governor of Georgia. Karma comes for us all, and it’s come for the governor in a spectacular way. There was always going to be a moment of reckoning. This man has always been tempting fate by showing his contempt for Chastain, and for the provision of healthcare in general. 

Of course, The West Wing already did the storyline of an elected official lying about their health history. Let’s be honest: they did it best. However, it’s absolutely believable that a man who seems to be so viscerally awful would put the Chastain team in this position. This clearly isn’t over and this situation is going nowhere good. 

Unfortunately, while it’s nice to see Devon do some actual doctoring, this episode is proof that the show may have lost its way when it comes to this character. Seriously, Devon is terrific as a character but the back and forth between him as a front line doctor and him as a researcher is getting more than a little messy. He’s not given an anchor to hold on to, which would allow the character to grow and develop. Thankfully this episode finally gives us some enthralling Leela/Devon content, but of course it’s all too brief. 

Ian’s return is handled in a very bizarre fashion. The character seems destined to go the way of Trevor, in that the show found a way to simply write out a character who had been a lead. This story has fizzled out way before its time. It’s a shame that no one could think of a compelling way to end this story, at least for now. The addiction storyline had a lot of potential since so many people, including healthcare professionals, live with this health condition in real life. 

The very questionable ethical choices that are made on this episode are vintage The Resident. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen this Rebel With a Cause dynamic play out and it’s incredibly refreshing. Agree or disagree, these hypothetical decisions were not arrived at lightly. AJ and Conrad have considered the greater good and the consequences for doing so. 

As always, Kit Voss remains the absolute star of this show. She’s not afraid to call out flawed reasoning and bad decisions, even if she loves the people she’s calling out. She’s going to need this inner strength with Bell’s health on the rocks yet again. This power couple is going to need all the love and support to face what is ahead. 

Hopefully this penultimate episode of a short season does not signal the beginning of the end for The Resident. The stories told here position the series for an ultimate finale or to continue into at least another season. With only the finale remaining, the end of the season is sure to be a wild ride. 

Other Things:

  • Poor Padma just can’t catch a break. Hopefully this is her turning a corner and getting the help she needs. 
  • It’s unclear whether this guy obsessed with immortality is meant to be a joke or whether he’s supposed to be taken seriously as a plot device. Honestly, neither are working. 
  • If anything, and I mean anything, happens to Sammie, there will be riots 
  • “It's like musical chairs around here.” 
  • “It's hard to predict which patients we'll get attached to. But you know, a lady chopper pilot? That's pretty badass.” 
  • “I don't know how I managed without you. I'm serious. You came here all those years ago, and you changed my life. I love you, Leela Devi.”

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