FOX's The Resident - Episode 3.02 "Flesh of My Flesh"
Cain tries to recruit Bell and Kit to join him on a dangerous surgery, with the intent of garnering publicity for the hospital. The Raptor finds himself with an emotional attachment to a patient whose life is put in his hands. Mina's friend, Adaku, arrives at the hospital with shocking news. Devon rotates out of the ER. Nic plans a surprise for Conrad.
In 2018, there were 495 scripted shows airing amongst the linear channels and streaming services. The way people are consuming content now is so different than it used to be. It happens according to one's own schedule. As such, there is less necessity to provide ample coverage of each specific episode in any given season from a show. Moreover, it is simply impossible to watch everything. As such, this site is making the move to shorter episodic reviews in order to cover as many shows as possible. With all of that being said, here are my thoughts on the next episode of FOX's The Resident.
"Flesh of My Flesh" was written by Elizabeth J.B. Klaviter and directed by James Whitmore Jr.
The show brings in Montel Williams to better articulate the new hospital administration's push for better publicity. That is not an inherently wrong idea. Following the numerous scandals that have occurred in the series so far, the hospital probably needs some good press. It's just odd that the show uses Williams to demonstrate that point because he hasn't had a syndicated talk show on the air in over a decade. He isn't known to a modern audience for telling these human stories of compassion. There is a whole new generation of talk show hosts who do that. As such, it feels like the story is a relic from a different time. That's not good because the show always wants to be as innovative as possible with its depiction of medicine and the health care industry. If it doesn't feel topical and relevant, then it seems too standard and bland. That's unfortunate. All of this is an issue that could have been fixed if the show had a more relevant guest star in this particular role. Plus, it also treats doctors appearing on television to promote their hospitals and high-profile cases as a novel idea. It isn't. It's not even the first time the show has done this. Bell was introduced as a doctor more familiar to television audiences than the staff at Chastain. Conrad once told him he should make a career out of that instead of operating on actual patients. That was a core part of their tension in the early going. And now, the show has basically accepted that Bell is a competent physician. No one should have any ongoing concerns about his abilities. In fact, the show is trying to say that he, Kitt and Cain are the dream team of surgeons who can save this woman's life. All they have to do is not kill her on the table though. So long as she survives the surgery, then the press will celebrate the story with a happy ending. That's not the reality that Kitt wants to embrace. She knows just how daunting this surgery is. It's unlikely to succeed and actually give this woman more time with her children. That's still a powerful motivator though. Everyone gets sucked into the heartwarming story. But again, the cynicism should win out in the end because this story may not be as uplifting as it seems. The show just presents it as such without indicating whether or not it will be of ongoing importance to the hospital. And so, it feels like a half-baked idea. One that could showcase how Cain operates. His style certainly doesn't mesh well with the rest of the hospital. And yet, he is propped up as the savior surgeon who makes everything within Red Rock work. That's very dangerous. It all presents as interesting story. The show just seems weary to embrace it fully. That's awkward. It makes it clear that time is better spent on Austin and his biological father. Austin searching for his family has been an ongoing concern for him. He got some answers last season but chose not to meet the family that abandoned him. And now, Lamar ambushes him at the hospital. It's an aggressive move. One full of dying proclamations. The viewer has come to expect family members in medical procedurals to always be struggling with some disease. As such, it was inevitable that all of this drama would build up to something more. But it's mostly contained to this one hour. Mina's concerns with her friend getting pregnant can be ongoing for the season. It's also beneficial that the show reminds the viewer that she was previously seen when Mina's mother came to town last year. This may not be the last Austin sees of his biological father either. However, it certainly provides clarity that is clear and concise. That energy was needed across the board in this hour. Meanwhile, Conrad and Nic are simply being a happy couple right now. Nic is a little more active overall because of her continuing clashes with the administration. But the show may be hinting that Conrad could be embracing some bad behavior with his ongoing recovery following the recent explosion. That may be a little unnecessary. Though it is rewarding to see them finally moving in together.
