The Resident Season 2 Episode 2 Review: The Prince & the Pauper
Jasmine Blu
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The Resident is so good this season that it's a bit overwhelming!
Maintaining the same standards of that fantastic season premiere, The Resident Season 2 Episode 2 was another solid installment that highlighted how much this series has grown and found its footing.
It was also our first introduction to guest star Jenna Dewan's character, Julian.
You know what is doing wonders for this series? The expansion. Expanding the world of The Resident not only introduces new characters that provide entertainment, but it also enriches the characters that we already know and love.
The battle of the emergency choppers, for example, was so exciting and intense! We didn't need to know all the players to get wrapped up in the drama of it all and understand the root of it. Get sweet little Jack to Chastain!
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More notably, Devon's experience with the med students provided all the mixed feelings that come with novice running around the hospital, but also rewarding, reflective moments too.
The med students weren't interns, but that dynamic was similar enough. It's always a poignant moment when all the fumbling errors, jokes, and mishaps are out of the way, and the person leading these wide-eyed newbies realizes that they were just like them once upon a time.
There Devon was riding a scooter with Mina, who has become a colleague and friend of his. He had Irving and Conrad there, and they have been mentors and friends. He's accepted as one of them now.
Next thing you know, Devon is given the task of teaching these disastrous med students just like Conrad (and Irving) taught him. It was a reminder that Devon unofficially graduated to acceptance and earned his stripes, and looking at those students was like looking at his past and who he used to be.
Irving: Where are your med students?
Devon: I sent them home. I'm done babysitting.
Irving: That's too bad, Conrad. Oops, I mean Devon.
Devon: I'm not Conrad, and they're sure not me. That gunner nearly killed Abby.
Irving: Didn't your first patient end up brain dead? The kid who screwed up is still here. He's in the ICU watching them work on Abby. Thought you should know.
Devon had a momentary relapse because he thought he was above all of it and didn't see the poignancy of the situation. He can be a cocky little something that Devon.
It was especially humorous when Devon took such issue with the gunner of the class because the guy was such a know-it-all, but he failed to realize that he used to be like that guy too. Gunners are a pain in the ass because they almost always require a heaping slice of humble pie.
That kid was so gosh darn arrogant, and you couldn't tell him a damn thing. It was infuriating to witness, especially when his arrogance led to him making such a monumental error.
His mistake with Abby was such a grating one because, in addition to him being an arrogant little prick, he did that thing where he felt he didn't need nurses.
Nurses exist for a reason! Kudos to this show for always giving nurses the due and appreciation that they deserve. Of course, it was a fitting scene too; the gunner was supposed to be a bit like Devon.
In his early days, Devon had some issues with nurses too.
The gunner's role in Abby's near-death experience humbled him in the same way that Devon's brain-dead patient from the pilot humbled him (and Conrad losing his young patient whose picture he carries in his wallet humbled him). The scene between Devon and that guy was such a full-circle one.
Gunner: They're putting her on a vent. She may never recover.
Devon: We all make mistakes. I made plenty, but what matters is that you learn from them.
For one, I love that Irving reminded Devon of his past and errors that weren't that long ago. It showed that as much as Devon has grown, he's not above needing to be taught. There is still so much he has to learn.
It's like Conrad and Irving split custody of Devon, and while Conrad has the tough love more paternalistic way of mentoring him, Irving has a more subtle, almost nurturing approach that can be just as effective. Anyway, that Irving and Devon mentor bond/bromance is solid gold viewing every time.
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But, I loved that Devon humbled himself, saw that the kid was affected by the error he made and took his job as mentor serious. He knew that whatever he told the kid at that moment would leave a lasting effect on him, so he made his words good ones.
How do we feel about Julian?
There was nothing unlikable about the character, and she didn't make a strong impression either way. The only thing that was frustrating about her was that she popped up out of nowhere and continued to do that throughout the hour.
You know what it is? She was every bit the pushy salesperson. There were some scenes she was in that were fun. It was pretty funny when she assessed the med students and determined what they would pursue.
Her rapport with Devon was interesting. Although, anyone else wondering if Devon will still be marrying Priya by season's end?
Julian: You're interested in the ER, right?
Devon: OK now you're batting a thousand.
Julian: You won't be just a doctor. You're too smart for that. All the best ones do more than one thing.
We saw both her and Cookie at the top of the hour during that super sexy opening with all of our faves being all casual and chill in their off time. Again, the music, I die. Is there a Resident playlist? Where does one get their hands on it?!
Devon doesn't seem into the whole engagement thing though, so is that a sign that there is trouble in paradise for him? He and Julian were hitting it off.
Outside of Julian casually flirting with Devon and sucking up to AJ, her presence was odd. She popped in at random times, and it was so we could remember who and what she does so that when she approached Jack's father about that insulin pump, we could get up in our feelings because poor Abby couldn't afford one.
I don't know what to make of Julian right now, so we'll have to see what she brings in the next installment.
As for Jack, his father was not one of those obnoxious rich guys, which was refreshing because as much as we love this show sticking it to the upper-class, they're not all bad.
Jack's father was devoted and loved the hell out of his son, and when they broke down everything that family endured over the years, who wouldn't want to fork over all the money in the world if it meant keeping Jack healthy and happy?
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Jack was such a sweet kid who won a girl over mere seconds into his introduction because he got injured while helping someone. He was sunshine and rainbows, and everything about his case was a nail-biter because if they had killed that kid by the end of the hour, it would have been unbearable.
Conrad: Millions of people are uninsured; that flight could equal bankruptcy.
Bell: Would they rather be dead?
Conrad: Well that's the option, your money or your life?
It's a cold, cruel world where a 14-year-old like him gets prostate cancer, but Conrad was on it! He was so attuned to that kid, and it saved his life. The sophomore season of The Resident is making it its mission to have viewers on the edge of their seats gripping onto anything in the vicinity for dear life.
Jack's life being in the hands of HODAD was the most stressful aspect of the hour, but it was gratifying too. What is it about Bell? You want to root for that guy.
He's the worst in so many ways, but you want to root for him to be a better man and person. Then, when it seems like he may be on the path towards redemption, he gets side-tracked.
Jack's fate lay in the hands of a man who used to be in his prime being the only one in that hospital who could pull off that Whipple procedure. Team HODAD, indeed.
Bell has been itching to get back into surgery because he misses it, even though him being away from the OR is the best for everyone the majority of the time. AJ knows it too, which is why he goaded Bell.
Running a hospital is not an easy task. Is it $1.5 million difficult? That seems excessive, doesn't it? Is he paying himself twice because he's CEO and Chief of Surgery?
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It's difficult to determine if Bell is doing a good job running the hospital though. He has some moments where it seems he may be decent at it, but then there are other moments when his choices are questionable. He doesn't appear to like it very much either, other than when he gets to power trip.
Marshall: Is that our new uninsured patient? I hear she could end up costing Chastain a fortune.
Nic: That's one way to look at it, or you could see a 13-year-old girl fighting for her life. Her name is Abby. According to her mom, she loves astronomy and Beyonce. She's a straight A student and got diabetes when she was 10. Her mom works two jobs; still can't afford the medicine. It's over $2000 a month. So Abby didn't want her mom to know she needed insulin; started rationing her doses and ended up here.
Marshall: Is she going to make it?
Nic: Maybe.
Marshall: Is there any way this could have been prevented?
You know who is good? Marshall!
Out of loyalty to Conrad, instinctively hating the guy feels like the right choice, but as a businessman, Marshall is pragmatic and fair.
He is practical when it comes down to the money and numbers, which led to his statements about Abby, but he's also open to the humanity of it all. He was unexpectedly (at least to Nic) affected when she told Abby's story to remind him that Abby isn't just a drain on the hospital.
When Marshall called Conrad into the meeting and said it was because residents are at the center of care, it was genuine and not some half-hearted attempt to appeal to his son or stir things up with Bell. Marshall thinks the hospital needs both Conrad and Bell.
Marshall knows that balance is the key, and so far, he's the mediator making sure that he maintains balance as best as he can while improving patient care and making the hospital money.
Marshall is very level-headed and very receptive. It's quite refreshing to see. He's at least open to Nic, Mina, and Conrad's idea of an outpatient clinic for the uninsured.
Why is it not the least bit surprising that Chastain has been doing the bare minimum to qualify for their tax exemptions? Nic, Mina, and Conrad's passion in that one scene was exciting. Bring it on!
Bell may want to play nice with the others because if he doesn't, he'll give them a reason to dig deep into his background and they'll uncover his solicitation charge.
Bell in his offtime is a sad creature. Lane's actions and sentence have done a number on him, and he's down in the dumps like something we've never seen from him before. Am I the only one who didn't realize how much he loved Lane?
HunterBell was hot in an evil kind of way, but I never imagined that Bell would consider her the love of his life. The guy is hurting over this. It's sad and a bit disconcerting. He went so far as picking up who he presumed was a sex worker who looked like her to help him sort through his grief.
Bar patron: Who was she?
Bell: The love of my life. She turned out to be a psychopathic doctor who poisoned her own patients. She's in jail for murder. You have a nice night.
Bell should know better. A guy with as much to lose as him should use escort services, not streetwalkers. It's so quintessentially Bell to not inform the medical board about his indiscretion. He's going to pay for that big time.
Meanwhile, Mina and Micha's love affair is still going strong. They are the cutest cuties to ever cute. So far, they're working through their issues like mature adults in love, and the lack of relationship drama is a dream come true.
All that said, they could use the space and time apart. Mina is so afraid of losing him that she smothers him. Can you imagine what she would be like at his rehab facility if every time he tried to move, she yelled in concern?
Mina will wait for him. She's head over heels for the guy. The question is will AJ make things a bit awkward in the interim? You know The Resident is kicking butt when they're hinting that AJ may be developing feelings for Mina, and I'm not losing it over the possibility of a love triangle.
Choosing a favorite character in this series is impossible. If ever there was the need for a short list, however, AJ Austin would be very close to the top. Of course, he's triple certified. He has killed it in the past couple of installments.
Over to you Resident Fanatics.
What did you think about Julian? Are you enjoying what Marshall brings to Chastain? Would anyone be onboard with a Mina and AJ 'ship? Has our little Devon grown up?
Hit the comments! Don't forget you can watch The Resident online here via TV Fanatic!
Jasmine Blu is a senior staff writer for TV Fanatic. She is an insomniac who spends late nights and early mornings binge-watching way too many shows and binge-drinking way too much tea. Her eclectic taste makes her an unpredictable viewer with an appreciation for complex characters, diverse representation, dynamic duos, compelling stories, and guilty pleasures. You'll definitely find her obsessively live-tweeting, waxing poetic, and chatting up fellow Fanatics and readers. Follow her on X.
