Brilliant Minds became a fan favorite, not only because of its focus on mental health and Dr. Wolf’s approach to his patients, but also because of his team of interns.
Dana, Ericka, Van, and Jacob formed a found family in Brilliant Minds Season 1 as they discovered their hidden quirks and abilities and learned from them.
Their friendship and interactions have been missing in Brilliant Minds Season 2, and we’ve barely seen the four of them together.

The series introduced several new characters, and while we’ve enjoyed seeing how other characters handle cases, we didn’t want to sacrifice the interns’ screen time as a result.
They’re the heart of Brilliant Minds.
Jacob and Van Are Just Recurring Now in Brilliant Minds Season 2
We had heard the rumors, and it seemed that Jacob and Van were being dropped to recurring status in Brilliant Minds Season 2.
This didn’t make sense to me, given that they often had intriguing storylines. We had the most to learn about Jacob with how his concussion affected his career choice.

Now that Dr. Thorne is mentoring him, I wanted to see what medical specialty he would choose and if his father would finally be proud of him.
There was so much more they could do with Van, too. It wasn’t until Brilliant Minds Season 2 Episode 3 that he used his Mirror Touch Synesthesia to help a patient.
Van was the most in tune with Adam’s needs, and seeing Michelle in action helped him see her in a different light.
If the boring love triangle is over, there is a possibility for different match-ups, but we need Jacob and Van.
We Haven’t Seen All Four Interns Interact Since the Premiere, and I Miss Them

We haven’t even seen Wolf’s interns all together since Brilliant Minds Season 2 Episode 1, when Jacob confided that Tommy’s dad reminded him of his own.
That was a genuine reveal, and I wanted to see more development there.
I loved that Van teased Jacob about how conceited he used to be. Those two grew to behave like brothers, and I miss that bond.
It’s not about the love triangle (though I still saw a spark between Jacob and Erika). The friendship has always been the most important thread.
With less Jacob, we haven’t seen him act as Dana’s wingman, and he was such an entertaining shipper for Dana and Katie. It was a different kind of dynamic.

When Van’s on-screen, he’s known to tease his fellow interns, such as mentioning how Katie acted like a superhero.
I doubt he knew how much it would affect Dana, but these little interactions were what developed their friendships.
We’ve seen a lot of Dana and Ericka, but some of it’s still only been surface-level.
The series hasn’t explored Ericka’s pill-popping habit in depth, and I’m anxiously awaiting seeing how Dana discovers the truth and how it affects their friendship.
Fans Want More of the Interns, Not Charlie
Charlie seems to hold a grudge against Dr. Wolf. While we’re unsure why, he taunted the interns for their unwavering support in the “Dr. Wolf fan club.”

I had hoped that his secret would be related to another quirk or ability, like those of the interns, but I suspect Charlie resents Dr. Wolf and is Dr. Frederick’s mole.
He has the same personality, where he seems professional, but he lacks the sensitivity needed to relate to some of Dr. Wolf’s patients.
I hated how he kept questioning Adam and acted like Adam hit him on purpose, forcing Dana to clean up his mess.
We don’t need to see more of him acting like an insensitive jerk weekly, unless he’s going to be reformed soon and become one of the Wolf pack.
If he’s going to be an outsider continually and we’re going to be deprived of the fun-loving interns, let’s swap screen time, please!

Do You Feel the Same?
I feel like Brilliant Minds has been too cluttered, and it’s only going to get worse in a few weeks when Al Calderon joins the cast as a new nurse.
While I’m excited for his character, I didn’t want to sacrifice Van or Jacob for the new characters.
Over to you, Brilliant Minds Fanatics. Have you enjoyed the new doctors, or do you miss the interns’ friendship that was stronger in Season 1?
Let me know in the comments.
Agree? Disagree? Have a theory?
Let us know in the comments, or share this article with someone who will want to argue about it with you. That’s what makes it fun.
If you enjoyed our Brilliant Minds coverage and want to see more discussions about character-centric shows, yours truly covers Will Trent. We also cover medical shows like DOC, Best Medicine, and more. Interested in more analytical and passionate pieces? Check out our editorials and op-eds.
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