While Dana tends to a sexual assault victim, Abbot helps an officer injured in the field, and Mohan attempts to keep her uninsured patient in the ER.
At the top of the hour, Lupe informs Dana about a sexual assault survivor in triage. Ilana was raped by a friend. The episode cuts in and out of her storyline. She provides the emotional through line of the hour. The staff continue to face an overwhelming number of cases. Meanwhile, Dana legally has to remain in the exam room with Ilana as evidence is collected. Numerous resources are provided as she faces this trauma over time. People are there to support her whenever she needs it. At the moment, she's focused on how long this process will take. The exam is thorough. Dana and Emma collect Ilana's clothing. They swab various parts of her body. This procedure provides the support for her if she files a police report. It potentially strengthens her case. She sought treatment. She needed options at the hospital. Dana provides that support. She's a protector. She reassures Ilana about her safety. She respects her boundaries. She checks in on her mental well-being repeatedly. Dana outlines the process. It's interrupted when an advocate enters to provide aide longterm. Ilana isn't in a place to recognize that. She's barely holding on at the moment. The mood shifts again when Dana must perform a gynecological exam. That makes Ilana share the details of what happened and her fears. It's a powerful showcase. One that isn't done either. A break is needed. Dana understands that. Emma even knows a quest for snacks may be the solution to this particular obstacle.
The patients and their loved ones come to the emergency department for answers to their immediate problems. They expect solutions. Sometimes, the doctors don't have any. They may be limited in what they can do. Jackson's parents believe they can take him home. He's just stressed preparing for LSAT. In reality, he's suffering from a psychotic episode. The parents reveal an uncle also had undiagnosed mental health issues that led to his death from suicide. Jada and Jackson were completely unaware. Jada has to remain strong because that's the only way to help her brother. The doctors need time to see how he responds and what plan needs to be created to treat him going forward. None of that clarity can be provided now. That's frustrating. Similarly, Paul can't understand why the staff won't just release his wife. She's able to go home. She would be more comfortable there. That's not what she wants. She doesn't want to become a ghost in her family's everyday lives. She's already dying. She's made her decision to stay even though she may not get a bed outside of the ER anytime soon. Robby would like to free up the space. He must ultimately honor his patient's wishes. Right now, the stability of these healthcare workers is more reassuring than what Paul and Lena can provide. Roxie may change her mind at some point. That's just not where she's at.
Langdon doesn't get what he wanted from Robby either. He apologizes for letting him down. Robby is glad Langdon got the help he needed. He just doesn't know if he can trust him in his ER. Robby takes a great deal of ownership over the department. He expects to be recognized as the boss. He has the final word on any subject. He has clashed with Al-Hashimi repeatedly this shift because she has an equal amount of authority. She has pre-existing relationships with Mel and Mohan. She welcomes Langdon back with open arms. She supports how Robby conducted Louie's debrief. She assures Santos that she just has to grind it out regarding her charting. Even Abbot comes in and forges an instinct connection with his new daytime counterpart. Robby stands out. He's no longer aware of everything happening in his department. That's a daunting prospect for him to face. When the hospital executives need to warn the ER about what's coming, Al-Hashimi is the one to receive the message. Robby wanted to be consulted before the department's technology was cut off in a precaution to the cyberattacks targeting hospitals elsewhere in the city. Instead, Al-Hashimi was in the loop. Robby may not feel like he has to get along with his new colleague. However, the system is setting her up as his replacement. The department may not be the same when he gets back. He couldn't produce meaningful change. Now, someone new has been embraced to implement that vision.
Langdon is struggling to maintain his confidence while around Robby. Every interaction between them remains awkward. Small talk doesn't ease that one bit. Sure, it provides an update that Jake is about to become a senior. Robby is aware of what's going on in his life. That's an improvement from their last interaction. It's not enough to foster a stronger connection between Robby and Langdon once more. Langdon recognized that the department needed to set up a cooldown area for patients suffering from the heat. Those cases ramp up considerably. Sometimes, those cool conditions are all that's needed. In other circumstances, the staff have to be aware of more acute threats and treat them accordingly. It's all a very delicate dance. One that can't handle any bumps in the system. Robby's animosity towards Langdon doesn't create a nurturing learning environment conducive to healing. Langdon second-guesses his own medical opinions. Robby asks more questions than he was expecting. Langdon ultimately has the right course of treatment to follow. A man struck by a boat propeller is particularly gruesome. And yet, he doesn't have any internal injuries or bleeding. That means surgery just has to sew him back together. The ER doesn't have to keep up with rapid blood loss. That improves the patient's outcome. It doesn't ease anything between Robby and Langdon.
Robby receives backup from Abbot. He arrives during a shift working alongside SWAT. He provides medical support during missions. He's once again providing life-saving care while under fire. A bullet even grazes him. He tries to handle it himself. He's not capable of doing everything. Even the first intubation of his patient wasn't working. Robby had to come up with a creative solution. There's no ego involved. It's simply trying what's in the best interest of the patient. Abbot understands that. He accepts help from Mohan. She's upset because Orlando Diaz has left. Even after a bunch of creative thinking, the medical bill would still be too high. It's not safe for him to leave. Mohan would like at least another 12 hours to regulate his levels. She gathers supplies to treat his most immediate concerns at home. He doesn't stick around. She will have to deliver these products to his home. Abbot is willing to cover the cost. He doesn't care how the hospital will respond. It's the right thing to do. He's also in attendance when the hospital CEO breaks the news about the network going down. Princess is momentarily thrilled as she bet on Westbridge being victim to a cyberattack. Going analog sends everyone spiraling as the hour concludes. They will have to deal with the most immediate consequences while having the least amount of time to prepare.
Some more thoughts:
- More parallels to the first season are featured yet again. Joy and Oglivie wonder when they will get a lunch break. Now, Whitaker's the one informing them that won't happen and they should come prepared with protein bars. Meanwhile, Perlah volunteers Princess to take over for Dana as charge nurse while she helps Ilana. That's in contrast to last season when Perlah took the lead role after Dana's assault.
- Technology was failing before the shutdown. Santos couldn't communicate with Harlow because the system was freezing. Robby advises her to wait for another translator to arrive. Even that doesn't ensure her complete attention. Harlow has been waiting for seven hours at least. She complains of a headache. This could get complicated fast if no one is focused on her.
- The malpractice lawsuit has made Mel doubt her skills as a doctor. It's a statement that she did something wrong. She's been told she has nothing to worry about. What she actually needed was reassurance that she's one of the best residents Robby has had the pleasure of teaching. That encouragement lifts her spirit. That's potentially dampened by hearing over the phone her sister has stomach pain.
- Donnie knows how to work through a screaming baby. He doesn't even hear the noise. He can block it out. It's a complete distraction to Santos as she tries to chart. She doesn't make any progress with that. However, she succeeds in soothing the baby with a nice tagalog lullaby.
- Javadi's mother is encouraging her to pursue surgery. Now, her father stops by to introduce her to the chief of dermatology. He's just as blatant with his wishes. He also trusts her to make the right decision. Javadi voices her struggles deciding which speciality to pursue.
- Robby knows Santos and Whitaker live together. He wasn't aware of the amount of time Whitaker has spent with Amy. He was there when her husband was dying. He was hoping for the best. That didn't occur. This conversation again reveals how little Robby knows about what's happening in his department. He figures he needs to have a conversation with Whitaker now.
