All of the pieces of Doc keep coming together in exciting ways.
I’m not the only one who feels that way after watching Doc Season 2 Episode 5, am I?
The hour concluded with more forward movement in the Ryan Clark mystery, but even setting that aside, it was great to see flashbacks that specifically related to Katie.
Speak Your Mind, Say Your Peace, Tell Your Truth
Both medical cases this week were compelling in their own right, effectively interconnecting with the hour’s common theme of honesty with loved ones and ourselves.
It wasn’t until the awkward locker room exchange with Jake that I realized just how often Amy and Jake work on cases together, but also, how rarely she’s had the chance to work on things herself because of her accident.
The situation with Sal and Dawn was both interesting and timely, as it’s hard to ignore the impact of the Ozempic craze on the masses.
Joan is judgmental far too often, and when she speaks about things as she does, especially with cases and patients, it rubs me the wrong way. Because we love to sell the idea that doctors are supposed to be impartial people who never let their personal biases interfere with how they treat patients.
But we all know that’s a load of crap. Doctors allow these biases to influence their treatment of patients. We see that stuff all of the time, and for those who haven’t witnessed it firsthand, they likely experienced it directly.
Hell, I’ve seen loved ones get raw deals and been on the receiving end of some frustrating things myself. And Joan seems like the type of doctor who would be frustrating.
That said, aside from her going on about people having willpower and the idea that all it takes is a strong mental capacity, diet, and exercise to fully regulate someone’s weight, her irritation with Ozempic and how it’s been marketed is valid.
Both Medical Cases were Compelling Enough to Carry the Hour
These drugs were primarily for diabetic patients, and we’ve reached a point where those who genuinely need them can’t even get access because others don’t want to use them as a quick fix to lose weight.
When the truth of the matter is that taking a drug like that without also learning how to adjust your diet properly and setting up an exercise routine and so forth is a death sentence on the worst days, which is what we almost saw with Dawn.
She was basically starving herself and not getting any of the nutrients that she needed, all because she thought this miracle drug was the answer to her prayers. It definitely speaks to the diet culture that still runs rampant in our nation, even as it contrasts with the obesity problem.
This entire case seemed prime for Gina’s involvement, so I was surprised when she didn’t appear in it. Instead, we had Amy running interference between the couple, doing a remarkable job of treating them both physically and emotionally.
I love seeing the side of Amy when she really uses her own experiences and genuine empathy to connect with her patients and give them the type of whole-body healing that you rarely get to see onscreen because our healthcare system doesn’t necessarily allow for any of that.
Amy’s Compassion and Empathy Were a Highlight of the Case
The level of animosity and mistreatment overweight and obese individuals face in healthcare is appalling, and the notion that it’s a level of rudeness and inhumanity masquerading as “tough love” that can get them to make the necessary moves they need has been pervasive.
But it was simply Amy’s humanity and appeal to Sal that made him realize his journey toward self-care and weight loss was for him alone, not for Dawn or anyone else, and it resonated with him in a way it may not have before.
Nearly dying had that effect, and he was able to relay that same information to his wife. Amy did as well, giving them both the chance to speak their truths and say all the things they wouldn’t tell each other, which only exacerbated their issues.
Truth was very much at the center of all of this.
Jake experienced something similar with Jess and Casey. Poor Jess discovering she had epilepsy is one thing, but the embarrassment of sleepwalking, talking, and with Jake, kissing, had me ready to crawl out of my own skin!
Only in sleep was she able to be brutally honest about her feelings when it came to her sister. What I loved was that Casey seemed to take it all in stride, and it didn’t spiral into something worse that could have put the sisters at odds.
There’s this unspoken idea of how keeping secrets, hiding your feelings, holding things in — all of it not only affects relationships but it causes health issues as well. The hour was devoted to the idea that it’s better to tell the truth because avoiding it doesn’t help anyone.
Jake Rebounding? Didn’t See It Coming!
Of course, Casey was more focused on landing Jake, so that’s another reason she didn’t have too many issues with her sister.
Casey was so ridiculously thirsty and forward that it made me laugh in disbelief. But, hey, I guess I can’t fault a woman for shooting her shot when she felt like it, and the other staff members kept encouraging it, too.
Jake was definitely flattered, even when trying to remain professional, and after seeing his ex-wife, I’m starting to wonder if he has a type, because Casey may fit that.
Amy watching as Casey flirted with Jake, and he may have even taken her up on the offer, is the type of messiness that makes Doc so entertaining, and I was totally here for the mess, I’m not going to lie to you!
The opener with Jake and his ex was interesting. It’s clear that he hasn’t moved on from what she did and hasn’t fully forgiven her, as the moment he had a chance to make a slight dig, he seized it. Aside from the fact that I abhor infidelity, Jake’s ex seemed pretty likable.
You can tell that she genuinely still cares about Jake and what’s best for him, and she was thrilled to hear that he may have found someone. It didn’t seem like she was faking that at all. It makes me curious about the rest of their story. I hope we get to see her again.
Revisting the Softer Side of Sonya Helps — She Needs Something Outside of the Quadrangle and Rivarly
Sonya had her bout of personal issues, too, and it was nice for the series to revisit Doc Season 1 Episode 7 to dig into the aftermath of things for Sonya after she told the truth about her assault.
The hour introduces an unexpected dynamic that works with Sonya and Michael, and honestly, it made me love Michael even more. He’s such a “Girl Dad”, and he has a raw empathy that’s not too imposing and works on those around him.
But it was especially compelling as it juxtaposed with his flashbacks with Katie and how much he struggled to give her what she needed regarding Amy.
Michael had to learn from his mistakes with Katie, making him a solid choice for Sonya to confide in. He could listen to her as a friend and understand, and he could also share his perspective as a father who loves his daughter and, although he flubs, wants to make things right.
I loved Michael’s moments with Sonya. They certainly made her more likable, since she tends to struggle with that because of the messy love quadrangle stuff.
One of the most interesting little moments when her father showed up was hearing that Amy praised Sonya directly to him years ago, which is a nice way of coloring the Sonya/Amy dynamic. Maybe Amy didn’t give her positive reinforcement, but she spoke highly about her to others.
Michael is the Leader Everyone Needs, But Not What the Board Calls For
Sonya getting to speak to her father on her terms and express how hurtful it was that he made excuses for her mother and how awkward he’s been about her assault was something that must’ve been weighing on her, so I’m glad she found some peace.
These are the moments where Sonya shines best. Hopefully, we’ll get more of that and less of the Mean Girl, unrequited lover girl angle that often brings her down.
Since Doc Season 1, I’ve been concerned about Michael and how much longer he has in this position at the hospital. He constantly puts himself at risk for the right or well-intentioned reasons, but he’s been skating on thin ice with hot blades for a while now.
A change of position or the board ousting him feels imminent. He did all the right things with Sonya’s father, but his empathy for her took over. Now, for reasons I don’t understand, her father isn’t donating to the hospital, so it’s something that will fall on Michael.
Michael is hanging onto job security by a salt-and-pepper chin hair, and it stresses me out!
The hour also delivered on some solid Katie content, which is precisely what I anticipated when we learned she’d become a series regular.
We’re Finally Getting Juicy Katie and Amy Background (and It’s Brutal)
The moment Amy mentioned that sglobe, I figured that Katie would know about it. It’s become a pattern that whenever Amy mentions something, everyone around her has an ulterior reason for not wanting to assist.
Did anyone else struggle with piecing together the timeline? I’ll have to recheck my notes, as I’m now left wondering how long Michael and Amy stayed together after Danny’s death, given that Katie seemed so much older than when he passed away.
Amy got that snow globe in 2021, which was apparently two years after Danny died, according to her conversation with Katie. So everything is aligning, but for whatever reason, I envisioned Katie as younger.
They committed to a dark, dreary color grading to truly capture the time period and the rough conditions of that era.
Michael and Katie had to continue attending family therapy together for a while before Amy even participated, likely due to her busy schedule. And Katie’s frustration was palpable.
More Background on the Dissolution of the Family Has Me Afraid a Shoe Is About to Drop
She was virtually done with her mother at some point, and it was causing her more harm than good to see Amy keep acting like they didn’t exist or treating Michael horribly. As time went on, she also started losing respect for her father.
I also get the impression that things may not have been all roses for Michael, but both parents may have recognized that Katie needed at least one parent she wasn’t angry with, and he was the most obvious choice. Amy, even in her colder era, would have taken full blame for Katie’s best interest.
It’s a tough position. Naturally, Michael wouldn’t want to slam or badmouth Amy in front of Katie. Parents, at least healthy ones, usually try to keep a united front for their kids. But at some point, things were bad enough that not acknowledging the truth was infinitely more harmful.
Michael, still holding out hope and not wanting to damage Amy and Katie’s relationship further, made sense. However, Katie’s ire over her father not facing the elephant in the room and protecting Amy was valid.
There’s nothing more frustrating than when someone refuses to face the reality of a situation and subsequently invalidates your feelings by doing so.
Hannah on a Warpath Upped the Stakes
It’s clear that Michael reached a point where he had to choose between his wife and daughter, and I’m not sure if he ever truly chose Katie, or if the situation simply unfolded that way. It’s interesting to learn that Amy was already looking at apartments and preparing to divorce Michael before he knew about it.
The whole situation is painful and messy, so it’s no wonder Katie kept her feelings close to the vest. What I’m curious about is what happens when they all have to reopen these old wounds.
And with Hannah on the path toward finding out about her father, that may come sooner than we think. She’s such a sweet girl, but she turned on a dime when that HR lady gave her something to pounce on. We already discussed last week how the whole HR stuff is a hot mess.
Well, they double down on it, but at least it gave Hannah leverage to get this lady to tell her about what happened with Ryan and Amy. Sadly, it’s not like anyone at the hospital knows much, since Amy kept things off the record.
But now, all Hannah knows is that three months after losing his job because of Amy, he killed himself. And just like that, the one friend Amy had for a bit will be angry at her, too, for things she can’t remember.
Let’s keep the conversation going — it’s the only way the good stuff survives.
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