Al-Hashimi reveals details from her medical history, forcing Robby to face an ethical dilemma as he prepares to leave for his sabbatical.
A woman and her baby would both be dead if Robby wasn't around. She didn't want any medical care during her pregnancy. She rationalized that everything would work out because women have been giving birth for thousands of years. She feared modern medicine. She wanted to ease her headache. She couldn't connect that pain to the distress happening elsewhere. Her condition deteriorates quickly. Abbot and Crus are running the trauma. They are teaching Nazely while only receiving an obstetrics nurse from upstairs. When the patient flatlines, more hands are needed. Teams have to work in tandem to save these lives. Robby was monitoring the trauma from the outside. He was juggling so much additional drama. Yet he knew he needed to remain close. He had to jump in as the situation developed. His instincts were right. This intervention saves both lives. It's miraculous. The C-section is brutal. It's unclear for several moments if either will survive. The teams are looking for any indicators that signal good news. That eventually comes. This serves as the latest piece of evidence of how skilled Robby is. He belongs in this environment. It's more than just a distraction from his empty life elsewhere. This is his calling. He continues to do a whole lot of good.
Robby can recognize all of his achievements in emergency medicine. He knows the precise role he played in saving numerous lives. However, he also theorizes that every death he has encountered has taken a part of his soul. This place has worn him down until he doesn't feel like living anymore. Duke promises to be vigilant with his ongoing care if Robby agrees to do the same. Robby can't make that promise. Instead, it's up to Abbot to get through to his friend. Robby has listed his fellowing attending as his emergency contact. Abbot doesn't want to be contacted at some point while Robby is away. He knows Robby needs to leave this place. The healing he requires can't be found here. His motorcycle sabbatical isn't the solution either. That's just him being reckless with his life. He doesn't care if something bad happens to him out there. He's indifferent about the possibility. He tempts fate by not wearing a helmet. He's choosing not to prioritize his health and those around him. He's endangering others. That's not who he is. That's not in his job description. He's meant to uplift and save lives. He can't do that if he remains in denial.
Robby's in a place where he will actually listen to Abbot. Only a few people can break through to him like that. Langdon used to have that trust. Langdon broke that. Robby blames himself for losing that bond. He carries the responsibility of failure. He wanted to avoid Langdon for as long as he could. He punished him because it was easier than punishing himself. He didn't want to make anything easy for him on his first day back. He felt compelled to push Langdon so he would know if he could still handle this job. Langdon ends the season in a healthier place than last year. He wanted to have a meaningful conversation with Robby. That just couldn't happen. Robby has his walls up. He can't communicate with Langdon like that anymore. That's no longer what their relationship is. Langdon says all the same things to Robby about getting help. He's not the source of inspiration to inform what Robby does next. Instead, the attending is actually comforted by the sight of the family Whitaker has created. It offers reassurance that someone has their priorities sorted out. Of course, Whitaker has plenty of his own problems. This relationship isn't entirely healthy. It's enough to help Robby cope. That's the life he imagined for himself. That's not what reality turned out to be. It's never too late to find it though.
Like Langdon, Mohan can't take anything Robby says as his honest opinion. He's been too condescending and dismissive of her for a long time. When he's dealing with unfinished business, she's not on his list. Their interaction happens randomly. She just so happens to walk out into the ambulance bay. His confession of thinking he would be married with children at this point seems genuine. He and Mohan are kindred spirits in how they've prioritized work above all else. She only sees his confession as a manipulative tactic in an attempt to connect. The audience sees the internal struggles. Mohan believes she allowed her mother to treat her like a child. She allowed that thought to enter her brain. It compromised care. She wasn't able to provide the assistance others needed. She changed many lives over the course of this shift. She listens to the needs of her patients. That's incredibly empathetic especially as it pertains to the elderly. Robby made a comment about the pace. That makes her fear embracing this speciality. It would be admitting he's right about her skills. She ultimately has to do what's best for her. She knows this place only functions with Robby. She tolerates that even though he's frequently been a dick. She must determine her own path. That's her lesson at the end of this shift.
Everyone has to do what's ultimately best for them. It doesn't matter what plans they've laid out previously. Trauma requires them to think in the moment. Being creative is the only way to survive. They must access and adapt to changing circumstances. It sucks that Mel has to be deposed again. Yet it's encouraging that she decompresses through karaoke with Santos. Al-Hashimi confides in Robby about having two seizures during the shift. She believes they can be managed through increasing her medication. However, Robby requires her to get that under control before being able to drive or see patients. That needs to be her priority. She can't refuse to accept help when it's obviously needed. Robby is talented at giving that advice to other people. He's not trying to issue the most damaging punishment possible. He offers a path towards redemption. He gave that to Langdon. He's doing so for Al-Hashimi too. He needs the grace to accept it himself. That's the biggest hurdle. At the end of the day, he's comforted by Baby Jane Doe. He knows what it's like to be abandoned as a child. That became a part of his backstory just a few episodes ago. Life hasn't treated him well. He knows the innocence of this baby is fleeting. Comfort and clarity right now are powerful tools he offers. They are healing for him too. It eases his momentary suffering. No firm decisions are made. Right now, he's more at peace than he's been in for awhile. He may pursue that or he may choose to be reckless with his planned sabbatical. Either option is available without ruining the emotions that build throughout this finale.
Some more thoughts:
- A man spent the entire day shift in chairs waiting to be seen. He complained of constipation. Now, he's discovered to have died out there. That's alarming. Yet Ellis and Shen have to be careful not to alarm the other people waiting to be seen. It's an unfortunate scene that must be handled delicately even though it's strangely one of the lighter moments of the finale.
- Digby is revealed as the one who has been moving the test dummy around the department all day. He too spent the shift in the hospital. Dana and Emma offered him tremendous care. They brought out his humanity. Yet he leaves without a place to go. He knows plenty of facts about fireworks. He's smart and caring. The staff could ultimately only do so much.
- Javadi's parents have been pressuring her to declare specific specialities. She still had plenty of time before having to make that decision. Now, Whitaker helps her realizing that mental health is what she's passionate about. That's the focus of her social media videos. Everything suddenly clicks into place. Robby reassures her that she will succeed in whatever path she pursues.
- It's terrifying when Al-Hashimi gets into her vehicle and starts to drive away. Robby underlined how dangerous it is for her to be driving. That's especially true on the same day when she's experienced multiple seizures. She eventually stops. She couldn't continue as if nothing happened. Clearly, she was triggered by working pediatric emergency cases. She wasn't expecting that.
- Mel heard about Langdon reducing the spinal cord injury an hour ago. She thinks it was so cool and wants to learn the technique. Meanwhile, Langdon ends the shift reflecting on the potential mistake he made. A woman had her leg amputated. Robby didn't outline anything Langdon did wrong. He didn't support his actions either. That allows doubts to linger.
- Dana gets a second wind as charge nurse. If she's not too careful, she'll be stuck working a double. More importantly, she stops officers before they leave to ensure they take the rape kits with them. These specific officers aren't to blame for the delay in pickup. Dana yells at them nevertheless to get her frustration out.
- Dana tries to convince one of the doctors to apply for emergency foster placement to care for Baby Jane Doe. None of the residents are remotely interested in the prospect. She can't do it either because of her husband. Robby's final moment with the baby could indicate he takes on that responsibility. Yet he has a lot to figure out about himself before being able to care for anyone else.
- For most of the day staff, the shift closes watching the fireworks on the roof. It was an emotionally grueling day for all. So much attention was placed on Robby's journey throughout the day. It was difficult for many. This display serves as an emotional release that doesn't require talking. It's simply about being there for people who understand exactly what they've been through.
