The Resident Season 3 Episode 8 Review: Peking Duck Day
Jasmine Blu
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There's nothing like taking a brief intermission to celebrate the holidays.
It was an hour devoted to Thanksgiving on The Resident Season 3 Episode 8, with outrageous holiday-related injuries, family shenanigans, and longing and blues over those who are gone.
Sexy Thanksgiving didn't last longer than a few minutes, but it made up for it in other ways.
The holiday season is a difficult time for those who have lost loved ones. The first holiday after a loss is the hardest thing to overcome, and the Nevins felt it with Jessie's absence.
Thanksgiving was a meaningful holiday for the Nevin family. It was also the last holiday Nic spent with her mother before she died.
It's no wonder she opted for a sexy day with Conrad, with movies, takeout, no interruptions, and making out.
It would've been a nice distraction had they not been cockblocked by Kyle. Parents, am I right?
But in Kyle's defense, with a lifelong holiday of importance and Jessie dead, why didn't Nic consider spending some time with her father? She's all he has left now.
Sexy Thanksgiving is the perfect way to give thanks.
Nic
We've been wondering how Kyle will come into play this season and where he's headed as it relates to storylines.
It was something about how he left Nic at the end of the night and went home to rewatch old footage of baby Jessie that had an ominous tone.
AJ mentioned that the ones we love most are those we take care of more than those who take care of us, and Kyle took care of Jessie.
He was by no means a perfect dad, and the show has confirmed it multiple times, but he looked out for her.
Is it a given that one Nevin will always screw up Thanksgiving?
Kyle
Understandably, the latest perception of Kyle as a father is puzzling and conflicting at times, but it's no question he's taking Jessie's death hard.
He fixated on Sadie, a young, recovering addict alone on the holidays. He meant well, even if it was expected that she would raid CoNic's medicine cabinet and steal Nic's jewelry.
Nic called out Kyle on projecting and trying to save the young woman from OD'ing because he couldn't save Jessie. It is what he was doing, but it doesn't mean his projection is a bad thing.
AJ: I don't think you can manufacture the type of relationship those two have without a shared history.
Conrad: The history starts today.
It could be Kyle's calling; through the death of Jessie, he could get into counseling addicts or working for the cause. He could do good and save people, and it could give him some peace, however minuscule.
Except, there's something foreboding about Kyle's behavior. He grew more melancholic as the hour went on.
Kyle doesn't have anything keeping him going. Kyle has Nic, but he also knows that she'll be OK without him and has been before, and she has Conrad.
CoNic spoke to each other about Kyle and how he's family, but it's not something they express to him directly often. He hasn't gotten the impression that they'd miss him if he were no longer around. He's the type to think Nic would be better off without him.
Now, whether that means that he'll leave Nic again or do something more tragic is another question. Nevertheless, the thought of him extracting himself from Nic's life in some capacity is ever-present.
Conrad returned home in time to be supportive of Nic as she cleaned the kitchen and thought about Jessie.
She spent the majority of the day trying not to think about her sister, but by the night's end, it was too much.
Not only did they share a sweet scene, but both of them did a single tear cry. It's criminal for anyone to look so pretty while crying, but of course, Conrad and Nic do.
Conrad spent most of the day with the Peterson family. Little Tommy wasn't doing well, and like any rational person, Anthony Peterson wasted no time takingTommy and Ryan to Conrad's.
Without surgery, today little man will not make it past Thanksgiving.
AJ
Can you blame him? If I lived next door to a doctor who was accessible and friendly like Conrad, I would be over at his house all the time.
Ryan was so obsessed with his brother's health it almost seemed like something happened to him, and he felt guilty about it. It's proof of how sibling relationships are complicated; I assumed the worst.
My brothers openly showing concern when I'm sick is suspicious. Thankfully, The Resident didn't kill a kid for the holidays.
Hundley: What are you grateful for, Dr. Austin?
AJ: A job where I'm in high demand and far away from family.
They have our eternal gratitude for that move. The Peterson brothers were mostly there to give AJ some reason to reflect.
Also, Conrad's only-child syndrome and wishing he had siblings is more reason why his hospital friendships matter so much.
Conrad and Nic are cute and everything, but Conrad's friendships with AJ, Devon, and Mina, substitute the lack of siblings.
The Petersons and Conrad put things into perspective for Dr. August Jeremiah Austin.
So, that's what AJ stands for, eh?
Bonnie: Oh, August Jeremiah Austin, you were a troublemaker.
Yee: Your mother has been showing Bonnie your wall art phase.
He planned to spend Thanksgiving with both his adopted family and his biological family. It was bound to be an entertaining ordeal, and it didn't disappoint.
His brothers, Mark and Cameron, could not be more different than him, and Lamar is obnoxious and always makes things worse.
It seemed as though they would set up things up so that his brothers were jealous of him for the privileged life AJ leads. Despite highlighting some differences, it never seemed to come into play.
Are you kidding me? A purple man-bun?
Lamar
Cameron attends Community College, maybe, but he's a performer. Lamar doesn't approve of it.
Both brothers lacked couth, but Mark's faux pas was the comment about AJ's culture.
He couldn't understand AJ's transracial experience as an adopted kid to an interracial couple. AJ was right; his father raised him and shared his culture with AJ since they had him.
AJ: The Austins celebrate our multicultural heritage by having my father's most revered dish, Peking Duck. It's a Chinese delicacy.
Marcus: Bruh you're not Chinese.
AJ: Genetically speaking, you're right, but culturally, my father raised me with a deep love of Chinese culture and tradition, so actually, I'm about as Chinese as any third-generation Asian kid with a black mom.
It's very much his culture too. In an age when the lines between cultural appropriation and appreciation are muddled, and too many fail to distinguish the difference, it was lovely to see AJ take so much pride in his Chinese culture.
The Austin home is beautiful, and AJ's parents are so adorable. Yee is such a delightful, bubbly person. He's a ray of positivity and sunshine, and it's hard to imagine anyone not loving him instantly.
AJ was so nervous about bringing his two families together, and it felt like tiptoeing around land mines when it came to some conversation.
It was awkward, and you couldn't blame him for retreating to his happy place: the hospital.
AJ: Hey, I'm grateful for you.
Hundley: I'm grateful for you too.
In his absence, Bonnie and the Austins bonded nicely, though.
By the time he returned ready to give this family thing a shot, he unwittingly fell into a sweet spot with his brothers.
They're all united in their shared annoyance with all things Lamar. AJ's brothers were impressed with how he shut Lamar, and his unwanted criticism, down.
And Cameron realized while the others were looking through photo albums that AJ was more than an "uppity" cardio surgeon or whatever impression they got from him.
AJ: We're not quite at the place where you can criticize me.
Lamar: OK, criticize? It was advice.
AJ: Advice is criticism in a cashmere sweater. You can keep both to yourself. Indefinitely.
We can forgive them for not knowing how to handle vinyl if they can appreciate how incredible AJ is. Also, come on. Who wouldn't want to spend the holidays with the Austins?
The hour also gave us an oldie but a goodie: Bell and Mina.
They were such a fun, intriguing duo during The Resident Season 1. It's good to know that Bell still values her, and he has a subconscious need to mentor someone even if they are already exceptional.
Neither Bell nor Mina longed to celebrate the holiday. They were in their element and giddy about scrubbing in for surgeries.
Bell: That is an intact turkey wishbone.
Mina: How do you swallow a wishbone whole?
We know a lot about Mina's background, but we don't know much about Bell.
Does he have a family? It seems like Chastain is his life.
After spending most of the season in suits calling shots or mediating between Red Rock and Chastain people, he was back in his scrubs.
It was good to see him spending the day in the OR and treating patients himself.
Bell: I have been the spine of this hospital for over a decade.
Logan: And amply demonstrated it's too much for one doctor. A top tier of surgeons is going to lead this hospital forward. I sincerely hope you can be one of them, Dr. Bell.
It was better experiencing badass Bell flexing and giving Logan the business.
Cain was absent, but Logan was running around trying to be a shot caller, and Bell refused to make it easy for him.
Devon and Irving treated Delandre (their sanest Thanksgiving-related injury of them all) until they found out about the wishbone.
Can you imagine swallowing a wishbone whole? How does that even happen?
Yes, I'll go for balance again. Both sides of handling Delandre's case made sense.
Logan: Dr. Bell, you're doing the surgery now.
Bell: Ask nicely.
Logan: Dr. Bell, please, will you do the surgery?
Bell: Of course.
Logan is hyper-focused on the optics, and Delandre was a high-profile celebrity patient. It's good publicity for the hospital, and he wanted to take advantage of it.
Red Rock does seem to be pushing a diversity agenda. Cain is their new poster boy, and he wanted Torres out there as the primary surgeon working on Delandre.
There's nothing wrong with highlighting the diversity of their staff. Oddly, there is something to unpack about some of the villains and/or antagonists being those of color.
Is there something deliberate about how Red Rock is weaponizing diversity?
Logan figured a young, up-and-coming hotshot like Torres was a better fit than the seasoned white guy with too many titles.
But wouldn't it also be good optics if the Chief of Surgery/CEO scrubbed in? You could spin that well, too.
Bell and Logan going toe to toe was nothing if not amusing. It has been a while since Bell took the gloves off and brought out the arrogance and snark.
Logan is forceful and makes a lot of decisions in a manner that reminds people he has no background whatsoever in medicine.
You'll see, Pravesh. Thanksgiving is the most dangerous holiday of the year.
Irving
Bell didn't mind reminding him of it.
Bell relied on Mina a lot, but upon scrubbing in with Torres, he realized he was a good surgeon.
They hit it off, and Bell was thrilled to have someone who shared his interest. Torres didn't have an ego when Delandre needed a rare gallstone surgery that Bell was better equipped to handle.
He rolled with it even though it seemed Logan wanted Torres to perform it.
Devon: Who pushes someone through a plate glass window over a toy?
Irving: Delusional, selfish, narcissistic helicopter parents.
Practicality and logic ruled out.
It's hard to make sense of Logan's facial expression while watching Bell and Torres.
Does he dislike how the two of them hit it off?
Was Torres part of a strategic plan to handle Bell? Bell's guard is down with Torres, and he likes him. It's more than can be said about anyone else from Red Rock.
Additional Notes:
- The mutual appreciation expressed between AJ and Nurse Hundley was adorable. It also was a nice way to carry over the nurse appreciation.
- Irving and Devon have so much fun when they work together.
- Irving was right, Thanksgiving is a dangerous holiday.
- Irving planning a special Friendsgiving for Jessica was so sweet. He's earned boyfriend of the year.
- Poor Nolan. I can't imagine putting myself out there to propose only to get rejected and told they were in love with someone else.
- Um, Conrad is right. If given an option between Die Hard and Elf, you choose freaking Die Hard. It's not even a debate.
- Just reiterating that Malcolm-Jamal Warner has the BEST voice.
Over to you, Resident Fanatics. Did you like this kooky holiday-inspired hour? What do you think is going on with Kyle?
Did you miss Bell and Mina teaming up? What do you think about him pushing back against Logan? What was your impression of AJ's brothers?
Did you enjoy getting another peek into AJ's personal life? Did you happen to catch a portion of Resident Fanatic, V's eloquent comment referenced in the weekly Resident round table? Hit the comments below.
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.
