S02.E13: Virtually Impossible

[Bort]

Conrad, Kit, Mina and the Raptor work to save the life of a med student in need of a triple-organ transplant, drawing Bell back to the OR for one of the Chastain's riskiest surgeries yet. After the police find Julian's empty car in a nearby lake, Devon does some investigating of his own to find out what might have happened. Meanwhile, Mina and the Raptor hound Bell to halt his business with the risky medical device company, Quovadis, and Nic makes a rash decision regarding her sister.

Airdate: Monday, February 4, 2019

[rhys]

Poor Nic with her stupid junkie sister. Gah!

[Happy Harpy]

A bit too much on the lacrymal side with the main case, but still in tolerable dose, so I liked this episode much much better than the previous one.

It's in vain, of course, but I still hope that Devon's search for his case of cold feet will end with finding her body. I don't know if the writers truly want me to root for them but if so, the message on the mirror (poor Priya) was a terrible idea. I wasn't going to root for them even before I saw it, but it renewed my dislike for both characters.  Moreover it would highly annoy me that they killed off Lane, an entertaining character, but will keep a wet blanket instead.

The newbie I really love is back, so yay. See? Obviously, Kit would be Lane's "replacement" on many fronts but she's a good character and Jane Leeves is good in the role so I appreciate her and want her to stick around.  It's also obvious now that Kit and Bell are going to be a couple. I didn't want them to, I like them as friends, but I have to admit I did see some spark this time and not only a buddy chemistry (unlike Mina and Austin, who still make a great team and nothing more for me). I'm still concerned though, because she's like the little angel on his shoulder to Lane's little devil and Bell is the only shades of grey character left. I missed the little "all's well that ends well but..." twist, here.  Evil CEO being pissed off isn't a twist.

Finally, Nic opened her eyes and her attitude made a 180. I felt for her, and I was 100% behind her when she kicked her sister to the curb. I don't feel one bit sorry for the sister. I can't stand people who blame everyone but themselves and refuse to take responsibility; and those scenes did a great job at showing how manipulative this type of person is. I don't think it was her addiction speaking, imo she was an asshole to start with. Good for Nic that she didn't cave in -for how long, though?

Nic and Conrad were in a good place at the end, and it's in vain of course but I still hope it stays this way since it becomes both characters and the show. I wish they showed them talking about the sister and Nic's decision. They're the main characters, after all. 

[cathmed]

Good medical episode even if a bit unrealistic with the triple transplant surgery.  Rather predictable it had only been performed once successfully and typical touch and go with her and parents but happy they all pulled through.

Cautionary tale with Jess's high school friend (Lettie) which only confirmed Conrad's suspicious about Jess.  no real surprise she  returned to her bad habits to Nic's disappointment but realization that she (Nic) can't help Jess until she wants to stop using.   Glad it appears Connic are on better footing this episode.  Are we to assume she's spoken with Conrad about Jess?   It would have been nice to show vs. making us presume what happened.

Why did Devin keep Priya's picture on the fridge (and put spoiled milk back, LOL) after calling off the wedding and pining for Julian?  Let him be the hero to find Julian and get on with it.  I din't want them together--especially on the "how"-- but if that's what the writers want, ok - meh.

Love Mena ad Austin ("Mentin") together--professionally and personally.  Have been a fan of Raptor since inception as he's confident, self-assured and so gifted/talented without the hubris, arrogance or bravado.   The chemistry and tension between them has been there since the beginning.   I'm a bit surprised if the scene from next week is "real".  IMO, it really doesn't make sense if Raptor is actually proposing - it's too soon but we know how the writers like to tease and it is Valentine's week!

Bell and his tangled web hasn't gotten strangled (yet) and Gordon Page is not/should not/will not go quietly.   We know it's a matter of time before he meets his demise--by either Julian or Bell--but what will be the consequences to Bell.  Bell can't continue to be Mr. 9-Lives; he's gong to have to pay somehow.   It was apparent Kit would be Bell's "love" interest after Lane's departure.  Maybe she has a hidden agenda on Bell?  Hope there's a better plot twist than simply a love interest.

Edited February 5, 2019 by cathmed

[sempervivum]

We never heard definitively that Julien's body was NOT found, right? If I understand the timeline, she's only been missing a week or 2, so I suppose she could be in hiding.

Is junkie sister coming back to apologize or break in to steal something (hidden pills?)? I want her gone- this kind of wash/rinse/repeat storyline is the main reason I get tired of shows. 

[Rap541]

1 minute ago, sempervivum said:

We never heard definitively that Julien's body was NOT found, right? If I understand the timeline, she's only been missing a week or 2, so I suppose she could be in hiding.

There was no body in the car and Conrad told Devon on the phone call they had that there was a search going on for the body. So Julien's body was not found.

4 hours ago, Happy Harpy said:

Moreover it would highly annoy me that they killed off Lane, an entertaining character, but will keep a wet blanket instead.

Lane was entertaining but completely written into a box - the show is a medical soap opera and once Lane ended up a mass murderer, there's no where to go with her character that doesn't dramatically change the show. Or rather, we already have several versions of Law and Order, do we really need Law and Order: Atlanta?

I mean, ok, I'd watch it but...

4 hours ago, Happy Harpy said:

Finally, Nic opened her eyes and her attitude made a 180. I felt for her, and I was 100% behind her when she kicked her sister to the curb. I don't feel one bit sorry for the sister. I can't stand people who blame everyone but themselves and refuse to take responsibility; and those scenes did a great job at showing how manipulative this type of person is. I don't think it was her addiction speaking, imo she was an asshole to start with. Good for Nic that she didn't cave in -for how long, though?

I thought they did all but have puppets put on a show to let us know that the sister was using and *Nic was not seeing it* so I was a little annoyed. That said, I did like the confrontation between them because it was pretty classic addict justification. That said, while I love Nic kicking her out because there's a point where you can't save someone who doesn't want to be saved, I am also willing to bet we see Nic's sister OD as the season finale. 

[DFWGina]

I didn't notice the cat when the people were "wiping" her apartment.  How in the world is the cat not just going wild for food by now?  My cats go feral if we are 5-10 MINUTES late to feed them their wet food meal (sharing a small can of fancy feast each night) -- that poor cat wouldn't have had a meal in a couple of weeks.  Definitely didn't act hungry or LOOK hungry....   

[Madding crowd]

The nosy landlady said she had been feeding the cat.

[izabella]

2 hours ago, Rap541 said:

Lane was entertaining but completely written into a box - the show is a medical soap opera and once Lane ended up a mass murderer, there's no where to go with her character that doesn't dramatically change the show. Or rather, we already have several versions of Law and Order, do we really need Law and Order: Atlanta?

I mean, ok, I'd watch it but...

I think Lane was always intended to be a one-season character.  From what I can tell, this show seems to be choosing one problem in our horrible medical system to highlight each season.  Lane was last season - doctors who over-treat and over-prescribe in order to scam extravagant sums of money and defraud patients, insurance providers and hospitals.  This season is focused on med device companies that cut corners and make shady contract deals with insurance providers and hospitals in order to scam extravagant sums of money.

I like that they are focusing on the systemic issues, greed and corruption in our health care.  It's a different angle on the standard medical show, and while the drama is amped for television, the issues are real. 

[Jlina]

8 hours ago, cathmed said:

proposing - it's too soon but we know how the writers like to tease and it is Valentine's week!

It's Micah proposing I'm betting (and it looked like to me.)

I like this seasons Bell but what happened to the hand tremors and the valium problem? And whatever will he do with a morally upright woman? Lol.

The sister is trying to see if the door is locked.  I hope it is.  I agree she will overdose.  Spiralling Nic away from or into Conrad.

So glad Devon found the phone records so we get to bring down Government agencies too!  I like Devon.  Imo, he tried to do what was right all the way around.  And he's gorgeous.  

I have a secret hope that Bell's assistant gets to do something day saving, or even world saving. Save him from certain death??

[alexvillage]

This show's story on the transplant failed again. I am not a doctor so I don't know if the last minute changes on donors, the type of transplant is possible (plus how absurd is it that a resident would just ORDER the doctors to harvest the other organs while he saves the world?)

I am raging against the eugenicist idea that the woman deserved the transplant because of her "accomplishments". This type of discourse is one reason why disabled people are denied life-saving medical care, transplants even when a parent is a willing donor (in at least one case of a child who needed a kidney).

My anger goes through the roof when I see this stuff played out. Yes, someone mentioned that this is not how things work. But two problems: one, it was a forgettable mention because the argument of the woman's "value" was written to be more convincing, and two, that IS how things work when a potential recipient is disabled. In the medical field, despite the supposedly best intentions, some humans are more human than others.

Fuck all of those who wrote that shit.

[Tielsmomma]

I always get a charge out of the unrealistic storylines.  For residents and interns, they have an awful lot of free time and leeway to do whatever they want when they are working. 

Honestly,  I miss shows like ER, where stories didn't always end well and showed how insanely busy and chaotic medicine can be.  

[cathmed]

On 2/5/2019 at 2:15 PM, izabella said:

I think Lane was always intended to be a one-season character.  From what I can tell, this show seems to be choosing one problem in our horrible medical system to highlight each season.  Lane was last season - doctors who over-treat and over-prescribe in order to scam extravagant sums of money and defraud patients, insurance providers and hospitals.  This season is focused on med device companies that cut corners and make shady contract deals with insurance providers and hospitals in order to scam extravagant sums of money.

I like that they are focusing on the systemic issues, greed and corruption in our health care.  It's a different angle on the standard medical show, and while the drama is amped for television, the issues are real. 

Points well taken and if that's the case, Bell should be written out this season with all his underhanded dealings and cover ups with Quo Vadis (let alone having killed a patient) but presume he is a primary character, so he'll stay.   And yeah, have his tremors simply vanished or is he on drugs?  He seems to be jumping in doing (more) intricate surgery as of late!!