S05.E15: My Way

[helenamonster]

Quote

While Doctor Andrews treats a foster kid for injuries sustained at his group home, Shaun and team look to Lea’s expertise with cars and auto repair to help a patient whose iron lung has broken. Meanwhile, the patient’s niece, a documentarian, takes an interest in Shaun.

Original airdate: 4/18/22

[SunnyBeBe]

Tom Jones makes anything awesome! Lol 

[Annber03]

50 minutes ago, SunnyBeBe said:

Tom Jones makes anything awesome! Lol 

I loved Andrews' dancing to the song :D. I liked his whole story with that kid in general this episode. 

Also glad that Jordan and Lea were able to sort things out with Glassman in the end. I had a feeling suggesting him as a partner would pose some potential problems, but hopefully now they've talked things out it'll go much more smoothly.

I can appreciate Shaun wanting to do a show highlighting people like him, that's understandable. But yeah, I'm bracing for this reality show idea to backfire. 

[SunnyBeBe]

I’m not a huge Glassman fan, but I didn’t get how his opinion on Leah’s plan was sexist.  I would have welcomed his input.  They don’t know as much as he does.  

I like the little person. Hope she becomes a regular.  She resembles someone I know!  
 

Reality show wedding!  Obviously, neither of them watch reality tv.  What could possibly go wrong.  LOL

 

 

So, is Andrews going to be the new foster parent?  I got the feeling he was leaning that way. 

Edited April 19, 2022 by SunnyBeBe

[KaveDweller]

41 minutes ago, SunnyBeBe said:

I’m not a huge Glassman fan, but I didn’t get how his opinion on Leah’s plan was sexist.  I would have welcomed his input.  They don’t know as much as he does.  

I like the little person. Hope she becomes a regular.  She resembles someone I know!  
 

Reality show wedding!  Obviously, neither of them watch reality tv.  What could possibly go wrong.  LOL

Glassman's opinion didn't seem sexist, but his comment about Leah and Jordan being "too sensitive" seemed a bit sexist. But it did kind of seem they weren't super prepared for answering his questions.

I liked the producer running the reality show, but man, this is going to go really bad for awhile. I assume they'll wrap up the season with a happy ending and the wedding happening tough.

Edited April 19, 2022 by KaveDweller

[greekmom]

I thought that Andrews was going to foster the teen but I guess not.  Loved Andrew's dancing.

The reality show idea was confusing. Is it a reality show or a documentary? (because she said she does documentaries). There is a episode documentary on Netflix of people with autism finding love and it's well done and respectful. Reality shows are a hot mess of garbage.   Lea and Shaun should have a lawyer hammer out a contract.

I really didn't care about the Lea, Jordan and Glassman story.

 

[possibilities]

Andrews would be a mandatory reporter, wouldn't he? The group home would have to be investigated. I'm not saying those investigations are efficient and successful, but Andrews acting like he couldn't do anything if the kid didn't confess, and then like once the kid confided in him the thing to do was beg the home to do something? Ye gods, the misinformation in this show is stunning.

It freaks me out that an iron lung would just fail and there'd be no back up system or parts available. 

The assumption by the producer that it was Shaun who didn't want to do the show (not Lea, who was the actual person not wanting to do it), surprised me. One minute she's all about not making assumptions and the next she's leaning into them.

--

I didn't actually have a problem with Glassman giving them advice. I thought he was right about what he was saying about the project, and wondered why would they think they can get investors if they can't even answer those questions?

I actually thought that him saying "let's call it quits" when criticized was shockingly obnoxious, though. I mean, if he thinks he was behaving badly, then his obligation is to shape the hell up, not abandon the project and leave the people he allegedly respects twisting in the wind. It's like he was punishing them for their reaction, not actually showing remorse. 

If he had said: "I can't be part of this if I don't feel like my point of view is really wanted. I will bow out if you don't want my perspective, I don't want to control how to proceed if you disagree with me. But based on my experience with these issues, I don't think this project will work without addressing the issues I raised" -- I would have respected that. 

But it's condescending as hell to just tell them that since they seemed unhappy, he's out, because he thinks he was sexist and can't change, and framing it as though he's actually quitting out of respect. The thing to do if that is the situation is to say: "Can we work this out? I made XYZ mistake and will do my best to correct that. Do you still want to work with me? Do you want me to remove myself, or would you prefer to continue together? What can we do to make this a good situation for all of us?"

I thought how he handled it proved not that he understood what he did wrong but that he totally rejected the criticism!

Edited April 19, 2022 by possibilities

[preeya]

10 hours ago, SunnyBeBe said:

I’m not a huge Glassman fan, but I didn’t get how his opinion on Leah’s plan was sexist.  I would have welcomed his input.  They don’t know as much as he does.  

THIS↑.  That whole "sexist" accusation was total bullshit.  His retort that he would have made the same observations if they were both males was right on point. Lighten up with the woke stuff.  SHEESH!

Edited April 19, 2022 by preeya

[Granny58]

Sorry, as a hospital employee, Leah fixing the iron lung really bugged me.  There are entire Biomechanical Departments that specifically do stuff like this and have reports to file, etc.  They would NOT have the IT person fixing it.  Yeah, it's fiction and they have to give her some reason to be on screen, but please, not this nonsense. 

Count me as one who didn't think what Glassman said was sexist.  Let's reserve the sexist label for actual instances.  

As for the iron lung breaking and OH NO WHAT DO WE DO!!!!  The portable version (like a vest, as seen) has been available for a long time and there are other options too, so this was nonsense.   Not a fan of this episode.  

[jabRI]

I've spent my whole career in IT, a male-dominated profession still, and have developed a pretty good radar for micro-aggressions.  What Glassman was telling them was the same thing you'd see on Shark Tank... know your numbers, have a plan for the next step, etc.  They came to him for an endorsement, he wanted to become an investor also, so of course he's going to have questions.  Maybe he was a bit out of line for talking about them getting 'emotional' (no way he'd say that to a male colleague).  But they seemed woefully unprepared, like somehow they'd have all the answers once they got in front of investors when they couldn't even answer in his office.

Writing could have been better.

[SunnyBeBe]

The story of Leah and her partner’s product reminds me of the whole thing regarding Elizabeth Holmes and her so called discovery that turned out to be a scam. (Was supposed to be  a blood testing machine.) She’s awaiting sentencing now.  There’s a series about it now called The Dropout and a thread about around here under drama.  Endorsing a product without vetting it can be quite risky.  Billions were lost on that one.  Do they really understand the science?  Maybe, the help they’re being offered is a good thing.  
 

 

Leah and Shaun should really watch some reality tv before signing up.  

Edited April 19, 2022 by SunnyBeBe

[greekmom]

3 hours ago, possibilities said:

Andrews would be a mandatory reporter, wouldn't he? The group home would have to be investigated. I'm not saying those investigations are efficient and successful, but Andrews acting like he couldn't do anything if the kid didn't confess, and then like once the kid confided in him the thing to do was beg the home to do something? Ye gods, the misinformation in this show is stunning.

Thank you. I forgot to mention that. And when he talked to the lady who was running the group home, she kind of pushed it off as "Yeah we've known about Happy Hour for a long time but we don't have staff to control it. But we will keep an out of for him." Like seriously?!?!  At that point, Andrews should have said "Ok. I'll be reporting it to your superior and to the police."

[Virtual]

15 hours ago, SunnyBeBe said:

So, is Andrews going to be the new foster parent?  I got the feeling he was leaning that way. 

I thought it was going to go that way as well, until he found a way to keep him at the hospital for another week before his new home so he wouldn’t have to go back to the awful home he was in. There’s no way I would have sent him back there either and I would have filled the police in after that woman in charge of the home just said, “We don’t have the staff to handle the situation but we’ll keep an eye on him.” 
 

Shaun on a reality show... I can’t help but think that will be a disaster for him since he doesn’t like people leaning into his routine.

I watched Fresh Prince of Bel-Air growing up, so I thought it was hilarious to see the Carlton dance on this show.

[thuganomics85]

Yeah, I'm not too familiar with the workings of the Iron Lung machine, but I have to imagine hospitals would have been more prepared for those types of issues, instead of just being lucky enough to have the head of their IT department be a good mechanic as well.  I get that they needed to have Lea being involved in this particular storyline, but they probably could have found a better way.  Still liked both of the characters and I'm looking forward to seeing more of the documentarian at least.

The stuff with Lea, Jordan, and Glassman was as clunky as I figured it would be.  Glassman was displaying some sexist tendencies; especially with the too sensitive remark; but I do think it holds true to the character that he probably would have almost acted the exact same way with anyone regardless of gender.  He's always been a pushy, over-opinionated person who lets it get the better of him, but I don't think he's really been that different when comes to interacting with both men and women.  I'm also guessing the whole scene at the coffee shop was suppose to play a part: like he was feeling insecure about his age since the teen/younger woman was wanting to give up her seat for him.  I guess he doesn't like the fact he's becoming an old man now!  But I guess it has all worked out for now: although it really doesn't feel like Lea and Jordan have a solid plan yet.

Andrews' case was probably the best use of his character in a bit.  Thought they were going to have him consider adopting the kid himself for a second, but that doesn't seem to be the case.  But I do wonder if he could come back and a more mentorship like relationship could be on the cards.

Can't remember what the other show was, but this is the second one in recent time that references Carlton Banks.  It's a Carltonsance!

Shaun and Lea's wedding being turned into a reality show is so going to backfire in a lot of ways, but will probably work out when it is all said and done.  Curious to see how the other characters will factor in.  I'm having either Reznick or Park be the one who gives the best snarky commentary in the confessional booths, while Asher will be the go to guy for over-the-top reaction shots!  Not sure who will get the honor of getting bleeped out (assuming they keep it TV-14!) due to swearing: Glassman maybe, but I can see Lim cussing like a sailor to depending on the circumstances.  I want answers!

[circumvent]

6 hours ago, possibilities said:

Andrews would be a mandatory reporter, wouldn't he? The group home would have to be investigated. I'm not saying those investigations are efficient and successful, but Andrews acting like he couldn't do anything if the kid didn't confess, and then like once the kid confided in him the thing to do was beg the home to do something? Ye gods, the misinformation in this show is stunning.

Still haven't watched but yes, it is mandatory and anyone who doesn't report abuse (I am assuming it is an abuse case, not having watched it) is in trouble for not reporting. I know for sure that the abuse hotline is 1-800-96A-BUSE (not sure if it changes by state but the big sign needs to be posted near the phone in every group home)

[dshgr]

7 hours ago, preeya said:

That whole "sexist" accusation was total bullshit.  His retort that he would have made the same observations if they were both males was right on point. Lighten up with the woke stuff.  SHEESH!

I don't think he would have called them "ladies".  I thought he was very condescending.  I was a computer engineer at a defense contractor in the 80s, and that conversation sounded very familiar.

[rmontro]

10 hours ago, preeya said:

That whole "sexist" accusation was total bullshit.  His retort that he would have made the same observations if they were both males was right on point. Lighten up with the woke stuff.  SHEESH!

Agreed, I was rolling my eyes at the sexism stuff.  

I also thought Dr. Andrews was going to foster his Patient of the Week himself for a moment there. 

 

11 hours ago, possibilities said:

It freaks me out that an iron lung would just fail and there'd be no back up system or parts available. 

Same here.  The fan motor on my furnace went out a few years back, and I had a new one in a few hours.

[tinkerbell]

23 hours ago, SunnyBeBe said:

’m not a huge Glassman fan, but I didn’t get how his opinion on Leah’s plan was sexist.  I would have welcomed his input.  They don’t know as much as he does.  

It wasn't his opinion that was sexist, it was the way he presented it. They wanted to collaborate,  and his attitude was more like he was taking charge. He wanted their product  to do much more than they intended. Calling them ladies and sensitive didn't help.

 

10 hours ago, greekmom said:

Thank you. I forgot to mention that. And when he talked to the lady who was running the group home, she kind of pushed it off as "Yeah we've known about Happy Hour for a long time but we don't have staff to control it. But we will keep an out of for him." Like seriously?!?!  At that point, Andrews should have said "Ok. I'll be reporting it to your superior and to the police."

No kidding! He's  a minor,  in the hospital with serious injuries that happened on someone else's watch. The police and child protective services HAVE to be notified.  Group homes have lost funding, lost state contracts,  over incidents like this.

[possibilities]

8 hours ago, circumvent said:

(I am assuming it is an abuse case, not having watched it)

The kid (teenager) was in BAD shape-- broken ribs and facial bones around his eye, apparently the ribs were also broken before and healed badly which shows no follow up to his previous injuries. The staff was allowing the other teens to beat him repeatedly, as a group. He was badly bruised and depressed and terrified besides.    

[circumvent]

I didn't hate the episode. The stories were centered on disabilities which is good, but the writers still managed to miss. It feels like someone gave them the idea but there was no actual consultation with actual disabled people. Even the little woman had a line that was really close to pity porn. She was right on her assessment that it is tiring when it is only one person accommodating a disabled person, but the conversation fell short and incomplete. And I really hope they drop the reality show/inspo porn soon. Not interested at all in seeing a neurotypical actor playing an autistic doctor in a reality show directed by a neurotypical person. It already hurts, just to think of it. So many ways this could end up a even bigger mess

Glassman's conversation with Jordan and Leah was typical sexist stuff masked with condescending tones and infantilization. He wasn't overtly sexist but that's how sexism works when people are half-invested in not being sexist. If you are a woman, think about all the times you have to deal with anything directly with a man, something that has culturally be defined as something men do, even if times have changed and you can deal with it pretty well without help. I bet you have experienced some form of infantilizing exchange. It is the way people talk to you, or how they don't really say things. Try to have an argument about anything with a man, something you know you are factually right about, and most times you will get something like "listen lady"; or try to simply have an argument with a man without being interrupted several times, if possible have another man have the same argument and see if they get interrupted as much (they will not). Micro-aggressions don't always seem like aggressions, but that's what they are. 

 

Editing: The group home manager (?) saying that their staff was 10 to 1 does not sound accurate. I know that most states, if not all, have a limit of how many people can be in the same group home, and that number never exceeds 6. There is also a requirement for ratio resident/staff. The way they threw that in there would make the group home an institution, or a juvie hall

Edited April 20, 2022 by circumvent

[tennisgurl]

I think that Glassman did come off as a bit unconsciously sexist, telling them that they were getting too emotional or condescendingly calling Jordan and Lea "ladies" but I think the greater issue is his general tendencies towards assuming he should be in charge of things and bulldozing over people. No matter who asked him to help them with a project I am sure he would have tried to take over assuming that he knows best, even if he might have phrased things different if it was, say, Asher putting the project fourth. It makes sense, he is an expert in his field who has been in charge for a long time, but it can make collaborating with his tough if he goes into everything still acting like the boss.

The plot with Andrews and the foster kid was probably the best plot he has had in awhile, his Carlton dance was also seriously on point. I found myself confused by why Andrews was acting like he had no other way to help the kid beyond talking to the woman in charge of the group home. Isn't Andrews a mandatory reporter? He should have been on the phone with CPS or even the cops the second the kid admitted that he was being regularly beaten up at his group home. I am sure that its rough running a big, probably underfunded group home full of teenagers, but her basically shrugging with a "what can you do?" really bugged me. This place clearly needs a bigger investigation from a greater authority, even if it wouldn't end up doing much it would at least be something, someone else clearly needs to be involved if the administration cant be assed to do anything. Group homes have been closed for less than staff ignoring regular beatings so bad that kids need to be hospitalized. 

I know why they wanted Lea to be the one fixing the iron lung, but it really feels ridiculous that the hospital has no one else to deal with these kind of mechanical issues. Lea's an IT engineer, not a mechanic, even if she used to work on cars. I can see why Shaun and Lea want to do the reality show about their wedding, but I feel like its inevitably going to be a total mess. 

[circumvent]

49 minutes ago, tennisgurl said:

The plot with Andrews and the foster kid was probably the best plot he has had in awhile, his Carlton dance was also seriously on point. I found myself confused by why Andrews was acting like he had no other way to help the kid beyond talking to the woman in charge of the group home. Isn't Andrews a mandatory reporter? He should have been on the phone with CPS or even the cops the second the kid admitted that he was being regularly beaten up at his group home. I am sure that its rough running a big, probably underfunded group home full of teenagers, but her basically shrugging with a "what can you do?" really bugged me. This place clearly needs a bigger investigation from a greater authority, even if it wouldn't end up doing much it would at least be something, someone else clearly needs to be involved if the administration cant be assed to do anything. Group homes have been closed for less than staff ignoring regular beatings so bad that kids need to be hospitalized. 

I agree with what you said but the part on bold is not really true for - guess - Florida. There was a group home type here for disabled people, teenagers and young adults, that had many, many complaints, the State knew about them all, promised to close it, but they never did anything. It was terrible and disgusting. There are also several group homes where the social workers report finding things like cockroaches in the kitchen and all that happens is that they give the place some time to clean up and everything is fine. So many social workers give up because they are not only overworked, they feel powerless when something happens, they try to do what is needed, but things end up just being swept under the rug. In the cases I mentioned, those were all for disabled people and there is a serious shortage of good places in the community but it is not that easy to close them, at least in Florida.

It is not only Florida, though. Massachusetts has the infamous Judge Rotenberg Center, where "inmates" - children and teenagers - are shocked for not complying with absurd rules, like not hanging up their coats, or raising their hands to ask a question at the wrong time (it doesn't even make sense). Parents actually defend the place and the shocking continues. 

Here is an article on the place in Florida - Carlton Palms - with mention of the JRC. Carlton Palms has finally closed down but I am positive the practices just shifted to another place owned by the same capitalists who don't care about humans - the "profoundly disabled in the title is misleading. the teenagers there were disabled youth that were too poor, whose families didn't have supports to fight for better services, including an autistic  kid from Maryland who was sent to solitary after being arrested because he was waiting for the library to open and got overwhelmed after security triggered him. He was "freed" after a campaign but the arrangement sent him to Carlton Palms, so still abuse. You can find his story if you google "Free Neli" 

https://www.floridabulldog.org/2015/12/unrestrained-profit-and-abuse-at-florida-group-homes-for-the-profoundly-disabled/

[whydoiwatchtv]

I mean, we all know they stretch the truth about most everything to create drama but I had to laugh at the kid just getting to spend another week or so in the hospital for a fake infection. Can you imagine the bill? I guess Andrews will pay it and no one will care a hospital bed is being taken for no real reason when in reality they kick most people out too soon.
 

I’ve liked the show, even some of the weird plot ideas that went nowhere, but I feel like it’s running out of steam. 

[Diana Berry]

Hoping andrews is a mentor to the kid.  Maybe even get him a part time job at the hospital so he can spend less time at the  foster home.

question about the art book…were the pictures drawn by the kid in the style of the different artists ?  Had a hard time hearing the dialogue.

Edited April 21, 2022 by Diana Berry

[possibilities]

1 hour ago, Diana Berry said:

were the pictures drawn by the kid in the style of the different artists ?  

That's how I took it. 

[Granny58]

On 4/19/2022 at 5:09 PM, dshgr said:

I don't think he would have called them "ladies".  I thought he was very condescending.  I was a computer engineer at a defense contractor in the 80s, and that conversation sounded very familiar.

isn't ladies just the female version of gentlemen?  Is it sexist to call men gentlemen?

22 hours ago, tennisgurl said:

but I think the greater issue is his general tendencies towards assuming he should be in charge of things and bulldozing over people.

agreed.  My former boss, who has retired, would absolutely try to take control if she were contacted with a project.  

[Zonk]

On 4/19/2022 at 2:46 PM, possibilities said:

It freaks me out that an iron lung would just fail and there'd be no back up system or parts available. 

That whole thing was just dumb. It's an electric motor moving a membrane back and forth. Just get a modern electric motor and transmission and you are good. Sourcing parts from an old car was literally the dumbest thing they could have come up with.

On 4/19/2022 at 11:09 PM, dshgr said:

I don't think he would have called them "ladies". 

He probably would have called them "gentlemen". Same thing, just gender appropriate. Somewhat condescending in context, but that's very consistent characterisation for glassy.

So I don't think he's sexist, just a bit of a prick.

Edited April 21, 2022 by Zonk

[jabRI]

Or as what's her name called it, it's not so much that he was sexist just used to being the boss. Maybe they should have met in a conference room instead of his office, where he is behind the desk and defacto in charge.  Might have set them up for a different vibe.

[bros402]

This episode leaned hard into inspiration porn.

With the iron lung - I think I remember reading a while back (after one of the last people in an iron lung died) that there was a specific company that just maintained iron lungs until the early 2000s - and now when there is an issue, they just take parts from one of the many many iron lungs left around and pop it in.

I also think the only sexist thing Glassman said was saying they were emotional - it was much more that Glassman is used to being the boss and the big man in the room. They should've met over coffee, or in Shaun & Lea's apartment - somewhere more casual.

is anyone else expecting a Good Doctor-Shark Tank crossover? I bet Mark Cuban and Robert would go in a deal to fund their pill.

Edited April 22, 2022 by bros402

[A.Ham]

On 4/20/2022 at 12:26 AM, possibilities said:

The kid (teenager) was in BAD shape-- broken ribs and facial bones around his eye, apparently the ribs were also broken before and healed badly which shows no follow up to his previous injuries. The staff was allowing the other teens to beat him repeatedly, as a group. He was badly bruised and depressed and terrified besides.

Exactly. It's one thing that these types of placements are often understaffed, but if you can't keep a minor from ending up in the hospital with life-threatening injuries, you should not be running the place or it needs to be shut down. Especially when they are well-aware of the "happy hour". What in the fresh hell.

Edited April 22, 2022 by A.Ham

[Court]

On 4/18/2022 at 11:04 PM, SunnyBeBe said:

I’m not a huge Glassman fan, but I didn’t get how his opinion on Leah’s plan was sexist.  I would have welcomed his input.  They don’t know as much as he does.  

I like the little person. Hope she becomes a regular.  She resembles someone I know!  
 

Reality show wedding!  Obviously, neither of them watch reality tv.  What could possibly go wrong.  LOL

 

 

So, is Andrews going to be the new foster parent?  I got the feeling he was leaning that way. 

Yes, I agree. I really tried to see how he was being sexist and I didn't. So the message while very relevant and necessary absolutely missed the mark.