FOX's The Resident - Episode 3.07 "Woman Down"
When one of Chastain's own is brought into the emergency room with life-threatening injuries, the staff rallies around each other to try to save her life, while disagreements over how to best handle her care put Cain at odds with the rest of the doctors. Bell is met with an unexpected response when he voices concerns regarding the nursing shortage that Nic brought to his attention. Conrad turns heads when he shares data about Hemopleatin. Kyle begins volunteering at the hospital.
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.
"Woman Down" was written by Jessica Ball and directed by Kelli Williams
It's staggering to watch people operate with no sense of empathy whatsoever. Nic comforts her new nurse trainee by saying that she doesn't have to like every patient she treats. However, it's important to rise above it all knowing that the doctors and nurses have the ability to save lives and provide hope during dark times. It's an uplifting message meant to encourage this young woman who has started questioning her choices over the last few years. The staff at Chastain has to rally together here because Jessica has been severely injured in a car accident. She fell asleep behind the wheel. Everyone is quick to blame Red Rock for cutting the nursing staff which has forced those remaining to work double shifts in order to provide the basic standard of care. No one wants to compromise patient health and safety. That just means they continue having to exert themselves far past the point of exhaustion. They are willing to do it too. Nic articulates that perfectly. And yet, they are humans at the end of the day as well. It's okay not to be fine. It's okay to admit when you have hit your limits. People may be chastised for not speaking up when a problem clearly exists. But that is only an option when a person feels like they live and work within a safe and healthy environment. These doctors and nurses have long been questioning the health care industry. They are horrified by the abuses that occur every single day. They understand how corrupt the system can be. They navigate it from the inside. But now, Jessica needs their help. She needs everyone to come together and offer their medical expertise. That means giving her the best treatment based on the right decisions to make at any given moment. Mysteries still persist though. Conrad doesn't want to operate until he gets a greater understanding of what's going on within Jessica's body. If that mystery isn't solved, then Cain's surgery may not save her after all. Cain is so eager to cut. He is so boisterous and aggressive in that way. He has a severe superiority complex. He has long been built up as the savior of the profession. He works within a system that exploits patient care in order to drive up the profits. He works effectively at Red Rock. He has friends and allies within the system that now controls Chastain. That makes him a powerful adversary. It also means he offers no compassion or empathy during this entire ordeal. Again, that is so horrifying to watch. How cynical does a person have to be to feel nothing about the personal attachment to the woman on the operating table? Doctors are asked to be objective at all times. They have to be clear and level-headed in order to perform their jobs effectively. It's hard when it's one of their own who needs a risky surgery though. Everyone has an emotional connection that could inform the medical decisions. It's powerful to see how this uncertainty with Jessica hits Bell. He has always presented as the administrative obstacle standing in Conrad, Nic and Devon's way. Here, he is just as devastated and willing to do absolutely anything to help his favorite nurse. He trusts her completely. She is his family too. Cain has no such loyalty. He balks at the suggestion that it could be relevant. Instead, he complains when he doesn't get to do what he wants. And then, he lashes out at Conrad for having the audacity to perform another procedure in his OR. Conrad saves Jessica's life. He may find the evidence to take a dangerous drug out of circulation as well. But it's all about ego and intimidation for Cain. That's the way he operates in this world. It's one driven by power and influence. That should never be at the forefront of how someone in public service should act. The public needs these doctors and nurses to care about them no matter what. Cain is concerned about being in control and earning a lot of money. That's the wrong message he should be sending. But again, he is protected and allowed to drastically change so many lives without a second thought. Jessica may survive all of this. Everything may work out this time around. However, the situation is growing more intense as Cain's methods are bound to clash in an explosive way with those who challenge the system as it currently stands.
