With Nic's due date steadily approaching, she and Conrad plan a relaxing day off, but their plans are interrupted when a patient with a medical mystery sends them rushing back to Chastain. Devon stays by Rose's side as she starts her clinical trial and things take a turn for the worse. Kitt is under pressure to bring Chastain out of debt.
In 2020, the television industry aired 493 scripted shows across numerous outlets. The way people consume content now is different than it used to be. It happens according to one's own schedule. As such, it's less necessary to provide ample coverage of each episode in any given season from a show. Moreover, it is simply impossible to watch everything. As such, this site provides 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.
"Hope in the Unseen" was written by Daniela Lamas & Michael Notarile and directed by Rob Corn
Everyone tells Rose that if she simply fights hard enough she can overcome any issue that comes up after being injected with the experimental treatment for sickle cell disease. It's a rather reductive argument because physical strength and a will to live don't determine fully how the body responds to a variety of factors. And yet, everyone pleads with Rose. She can't give up. She must endure all of this pain because of the hope that possibly awaits on the other side. The show puts her situation in dire straits as well. Phillip tells Devon that the future of his company is entirely dependent on how Rose responds to this treatment. If she does well, then he can procure other investors and avoid going personally bankrupt. If she does poorly, then his life will be completely destroyed. Of course, her life is the one that hangs in the balance. Everyone convinced her that this trial was a miracle. She needed to take it. It's hopeful when she gets to press the button to start it all. It's her life potentially pivoting to a better future. And then, she develops complications that are incredibly painful. Devon deduces that they have nothing to do with the treatment given to her. Her immunity system was compromised because of the chemo needed for her body to accept this drug. As such, she picked up an infection elsewhere. It wasn't caught earlier. And now, she may develop lifelong symptoms as a result. She doesn't want to suffer in that way. That's all she has ever known. She has no family or loved ones to be by her side. The doctors serve as her greatest advocates. She also carries a fear of all the pain and harm that can be done to her body as a result of these treatments. She gives up. Everyone tells her she can't do that. Cain ultimately has to promise that he won't let her suffer. That promise is enough to inspire her once more. It's still a story that plays into some tropes that aren't particularly helpful in a healthcare setting. That's perfectively obvious in another story playing out here. AJ's family is planning the next steps in treating his mother's cancer. It's a particularly aggressive form of the disease as well. Her lungs have already been compromised further. And then, the family gets the good news that a specific mutation allows treated therapy to be an option. It's a way to buy time for her to live while hoping for innovations in the field later on. She doesn't want to suffer through chemotherapy. Nor does she want to say goodbye to her family. This option is available to her simply because the science and resources are there to offer it. It's presented as a blessing. One where AJ has to anxiously wait for a little while for the results to come back. His parents see him at his best. He is compassionate and full of grace. That's not all that he is at the hospital. He is verbally abusive to Leela in the operating room. Bell sees her potential as a surgeon. The audience already has that certainty. It still needs to be spelled out to others in this world. That recognition is needed. However, the best doctors and nurses are those who lead with a willingness to save lives. They don't need the acknowledgement that their brilliance was capable of seeing something others could not. That's what Conrad and Nic's patient would like to reduce their profession down to. It's a bunch of arrogant and entitled people stuck in their ways. That's how he views life. It's dangerous for his health. He doesn't die here. Conrad and Nic don't get their relaxing day like they wanted. They still have complete clarity about this being the life that is happy and fulfilling for both of them. Sure, it's changing soon. That will cause things to shift. This story just highlights this moment of bliss and understanding before that change occurs. It's nice while also being simple in its ambitions. It affirms these characters at their cores. That creates space for others to be dealing with more turbulent times. The narrative needs that perfect balance of both. Some characters need to stand firm and solid with their convictions and abilities. Others are struggling with hard times. Earlier in the season, the narrative felt overwhelming and predictable with the strife it was giving its characters. That familiarity still defines things to a certain extent. That's a bit more obvious here than in the last few episodes. However, this season has been proud of its characters and the lives they live more openly now which has allowed the story to be a bit more free with its options as well.
Everyone tells Rose that if she simply fights hard enough she can overcome any issue that comes up after being injected with the experimental treatment for sickle cell disease. It's a rather reductive argument because physical strength and a will to live don't determine fully how the body responds to a variety of factors. And yet, everyone pleads with Rose. She can't give up. She must endure all of this pain because of the hope that possibly awaits on the other side. The show puts her situation in dire straits as well. Phillip tells Devon that the future of his company is entirely dependent on how Rose responds to this treatment. If she does well, then he can procure other investors and avoid going personally bankrupt. If she does poorly, then his life will be completely destroyed. Of course, her life is the one that hangs in the balance. Everyone convinced her that this trial was a miracle. She needed to take it. It's hopeful when she gets to press the button to start it all. It's her life potentially pivoting to a better future. And then, she develops complications that are incredibly painful. Devon deduces that they have nothing to do with the treatment given to her. Her immunity system was compromised because of the chemo needed for her body to accept this drug. As such, she picked up an infection elsewhere. It wasn't caught earlier. And now, she may develop lifelong symptoms as a result. She doesn't want to suffer in that way. That's all she has ever known. She has no family or loved ones to be by her side. The doctors serve as her greatest advocates. She also carries a fear of all the pain and harm that can be done to her body as a result of these treatments. She gives up. Everyone tells her she can't do that. Cain ultimately has to promise that he won't let her suffer. That promise is enough to inspire her once more. It's still a story that plays into some tropes that aren't particularly helpful in a healthcare setting. That's perfectively obvious in another story playing out here. AJ's family is planning the next steps in treating his mother's cancer. It's a particularly aggressive form of the disease as well. Her lungs have already been compromised further. And then, the family gets the good news that a specific mutation allows treated therapy to be an option. It's a way to buy time for her to live while hoping for innovations in the field later on. She doesn't want to suffer through chemotherapy. Nor does she want to say goodbye to her family. This option is available to her simply because the science and resources are there to offer it. It's presented as a blessing. One where AJ has to anxiously wait for a little while for the results to come back. His parents see him at his best. He is compassionate and full of grace. That's not all that he is at the hospital. He is verbally abusive to Leela in the operating room. Bell sees her potential as a surgeon. The audience already has that certainty. It still needs to be spelled out to others in this world. That recognition is needed. However, the best doctors and nurses are those who lead with a willingness to save lives. They don't need the acknowledgement that their brilliance was capable of seeing something others could not. That's what Conrad and Nic's patient would like to reduce their profession down to. It's a bunch of arrogant and entitled people stuck in their ways. That's how he views life. It's dangerous for his health. He doesn't die here. Conrad and Nic don't get their relaxing day like they wanted. They still have complete clarity about this being the life that is happy and fulfilling for both of them. Sure, it's changing soon. That will cause things to shift. This story just highlights this moment of bliss and understanding before that change occurs. It's nice while also being simple in its ambitions. It affirms these characters at their cores. That creates space for others to be dealing with more turbulent times. The narrative needs that perfect balance of both. Some characters need to stand firm and solid with their convictions and abilities. Others are struggling with hard times. Earlier in the season, the narrative felt overwhelming and predictable with the strife it was giving its characters. That familiarity still defines things to a certain extent. That's a bit more obvious here than in the last few episodes. However, this season has been proud of its characters and the lives they live more openly now which has allowed the story to be a bit more free with its options as well.
