What better way is there to start the new year with the return of St. Denis Medical?
The latest episode makes great use of the ensemble cast by showcasing each character in a different light outside of their usual personalities.
Save for Matt, but he’s already perfectly lovable – and the show certainly capitalizes on that.
In addition to addressing Matt and Serena’s will-they-won’t-they, the sitcom returns to the big reveal on St. Denis Medical Season 2 Episode 8: Sanderson and Joyce’s engagement.
Unfortunately, for both romances, the future isn’t looking so bright.
Amid all its drama, St. Denis Medical finds its heart with a storyline about parenting and the theme of relationships as a two-way street when it comes to respect.
Help Me Get Married!
Poor Alex always gets roped into the most stressful and embarrassing situations, which is why it shouldn’t be a surprise that Joyce recruits her to help with wedding preparations.
The details of the wedding’s odd Viking theme and Sanderson’s desire to commit entirely to that aesthetic are hilarious.
If you think you’ve seen some crazy engagement photos, wait until you see Sanderson and Joyce’s, which involve a giant human-sized shovel in the picture.
Sanderson’s demand becomes so outlandish that Chaplin Steve, who first appeared this season on St. Denis Medical Season 2 Episode 6, is hired to help with the wedding.
To Alex’s credit, she does a great job of pointing out that Joyce fails to be assertive in relationships, even though she has a commanding presence in the workplace.
She always shines in a position of offering empathy and understanding to someone who’s going through a difficult time.
Alex’s influence starts to show as Joyce finally begins to veto her fiancé’s ridiculous ideas, though the wedding cake ends up being unfortunate collateral damage.
It’s heartwarming to see Joyce achieve an emotional breakthrough with Alex’s help.
And even though it’s played for comedy, this episode is one of the rare moments Joyce and Alex both get vulnerable and honest with each other, which works wonderfully with their established dynamic.
Clark Kent Has Nothing on These Glasses!
From the very first episode of St. Denis Medical Season 2, I’ve been raving about how much I love Matt.
When he shows up wearing glasses and his co-workers comment on how great he looks in them, I had to nod and agree with their sentiment.
The only person who initially seems to disagree with this sentiment is Serena.
Surprisingly, the usually self-obsessed Bruce picks up on Serena’s jealousy as she overhears Holly thinking out loud about asking Matt on a date.
After watching several episodes in which Serena insists she doesn’t have feelings for Matt, it’s a relief to have a character confront her about her genuine emotions.
It’s refreshing to see Bruce focus on someone other than himself, and he absolutely crushes it with humorous commentary about Serena and Matt.
Serena fights back against him, both physically and verbally, but she has trouble combating Bruce’s assertion that she is a “shark” when it comes to relationships.
Plus, given their friendship, there’s no surprise that Bruce is also trying to look out for Matt, especially since the young nurse is relatively inexperienced in love.
Even though Serena denies that she tends to veer toward the tougher side of affection, her polite refusal to join Holly, Matt, and the other co-workers for a drink suggests she takes Bruce’s words to heart.
And her shocking decision at the end of the episode demonstrates that she might be continuing to act out instead of realizing that she’s repressing her affection for Matt.
Don’t Poke Me!
Ron’s storyline was unexpectedly touching, especially considering his tendency to be grumpy and cold compared to his co-workers.
He and Matt team up to attempt to administer a shot to a child whose parents refuse to help the doctors persuade him to take a shot.
At first, Ron uses classic tricks, such as fear and bribery, but ends up frustrated when they don’t get him any closer to persuading the kid.
He only begins to reconsider his methods of parenting and talking to kids when Alex and Matt react in shock when he tells a story of how he raised his kid and used humiliation as a tactic.
Seeing Ron reflect and make amends with his own child after learning the lesson of respect and empathy from this plotline was really sweet and nearly enough to make me tear up a little bit.
This episode worked very cohesively, with themes of emotional growth across all characters.
But the best moment is still Matt showing up as “Hospital Man” in a makeshift cape. More of that in future episodes, please!
What did you think of the newest episode of St. Denis Medical? Where do you hope the rest of this season is headed?
Comment your thoughts below!
Don’t forget to give this episode a rating in the poll below!
St. Denis Medical Season 2 is available to stream on Peacock.
Enjoyed this review? Let us know!
Drop a comment or share it — it’s free, painless, and helps keep independent TV coverage alive.
-
2025-2026 TV Guest Stars Who Stole the Show And Maybe Our Hearts, Too!
Guest stars can make or break an episode and these guest stars excelled so much they stole the show. Check out our list.
-
Can Pilot Season Save the Dismal State of Comedy? It Needs It!
With major networks like NBC and CBS bringing back pilot season, it looks like comedy might be making a comeback.
-
St. Denis Medical Season 2 Finale Reminds Us To Cherish Our Friends
St. Denis Medical Season 2 Episode 18 ends the season on a surprisingly heartfelt note and shines a light on the best parts of the hospital.
TV Fanatic is searching for passionate contributors to share their voices across a variety of different articles. Do you think you have what it takes to be a TV Fanatic? Click here for more information and next steps.
