The latest episode of The Resident wrapped up some important stories and gave us so much more of what makes this show great. Some potentially interesting new stories and dynamics are forming for the latter half of the season. Any time we get to see women supporting women, I am all in and this episode that in spades.
The main focus of this episode was Dr. Billie Sutton (Jessica Lucas) confronting the man who assaulted her and was responsible for her pregnancy at the age of 13. It was a sobering reminder of the lengths in which abusers will go to protect themselves and ensure that their crimes never see the light of day. Billie’s abuser threatened to expose her past, which she hasn’t exactly kept hidden, which was proof of how low he was willing to stoop.
Another dynamic that was so devastating yet poignant was Dr. Kitt Voss’ (Jane Leeves) role in supporting Billie as an individual and in her position of power as CEO of Chastain Memorial Hospital. Along with Conrad’s father, Marshall Winthrop (Glenn Morshower), the powerful pair made it clear that Chastain needed to stand with Billie. For her bravery, Kitt was told to take a temporary leave of absence with the rationale being that there was potential for a conflict of interest. When women start supporting one another, they often face retaliation like this. It’s a sad commentary on the very real risks women in particular take when standing up for what’s right.
In an episode filled with touching moments, moments between Conrad (Matt Czuchry) and Billie ranked near the top. These two characters have really come into their own, especially this season. Their mutual respect is clear every time they’re together. Conrad’s choice to do the right thing and support Billie in her hour of need is a credit to how far this character has come. It’s worth noting that Conrad is really shining in a more supporting role, and is really in his element supporting his friends and co-workers when they need him. He’s the wingman these healthcare heroes deserve.
The dramatic moment of the episode went to Trevor (Miles Fowler) when he figured out the truth about his birth, and that the story of an ill-timed high school romance was designed only to protect him from the horrific reality. He interrupted the hearing that would have seen his biological father get away without any consequences was made for TV, and it was acted perfect. A.J. (Malcolm-Jamal Warner) showed his strength as a mentor and a friend, being there for Trevor when the world as he knew it came crashing down around him.
The B-story, which could have had an entire episode of its own was a focus on THE NURSES. Sorry for shouting, it’s just that every time a medical show acknowledges how amazing nurses are and that there aren’t always three surgeons handy to help a patient walk around, this nurse-turned-writer gets very excited. Jessica (Jessica Miesel) has proven again and again what an indispensable part of Chastain she is. It was cheer-worthy to see her stand up for her own worth and demand that her pay reflect the actual contributions she makes to this hospital.
This episode tackled the very real issue of travel nursing too. A contentious issue in the nursing community, it’s clear that as more real-life nurses demand to be paid what their work is worth, travel nursing will continue to become an even more attractive option. It was easy enough to see how the promise of not only being paid an acceptable wage but also having so many expenses covered would make many nurses think about taking this professional path.
The episode teased a storyline that is sure to be featured in this half of the season. Leela (Anuja Joshi) was asked by her twin sister Padma (Aneesha Joshi) to donate her eggs. Padma’s days of living in a van are coming to an end. As Padma attempts to take this next step in her life, hopefully we will see more of her and Leela together. Their relationship as twins and sisters is a strong one, and the show will only benefit from seeing them more often.
The Resident handled an incredibly difficult subject with grace. We saw Billie’s true strength and how important it is to be surrounded by love and support when you gain the courage to speak the truth. Devon (Manish Dayal) was conspicuously absent, for the very good reason that Dayal himself directed this episode. In many ways, this episode felt like a season finale since it was the conclusion of a major saga for a lead character. We know there’s lots more to come, however, and this episode proves that The Resident is capable of telling compelling stories.
Other Things:
- A.J. and Conrad’s opening workout routine? They definitely looked good doing it even though it looked far too advanced for this fitness novice.
- The use of Twitter graphics was an interesting choice. It was definitely a visual and audio representation of how alarming and invasive these alerts are, and how easy it is to feel harassed in 280 characters or less.
- Irving Feldman deserves a sugar mama. I said what I said.
- I’m still not over Bell and how far his character has come since this series started. It looks like he’s the newest member of Georgia’s State Medical Board. More KitBell content is always necessary.
- “If you’re going into battle, I want to be your wingman.”
- “I’ll take it from here, gentlemen.”
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