The Resident is off to a stirring, dramatic start–with the dashing Matt Czuchry at the center of it.

The series premiere of The Resident didn’t waste any time getting the drama started. Within the first few minutes, we witnessed a surgery taking place. However, this was no ordinary surgery as the lead surgeon/Chief of Surgery, Dr. Randolph Bell (Bruce Greenwood), took the life of a patient during a routine procedure. Fully aware that his hand tremor was the cause of this mistake, he proceeded to blackmail his team to cover it up. This was just the beginning of the many questionable things we would see Dr. Greenwood do during the premiere.

The episode also brought in four other major characters–Nurse Nic (Emily VanCamp), Dr. Conrad Hawkins (Matt Czuchry), Dr. Devon Pravash (Manish Dayal), and Dr. Mina Okafor (Shaunette Renee Wilson). Dr. Pravash began his first day as an intern in the Chastain Park Memorial Hospital and was placed under the guidance of Dr. Hawkins, a third-year resident. Devon quickly learns that Conrad isn’t the conventional doctor and strives to think out of the box in treating his patients and expects the same of his interns. Dr. Conrad’s unique approach also led him to confront Dr. Bell multiple times throughout the episode and will be a rivalry to follow.

RELATED | 5 Reasons To Watch ‘The Resident’

A medical drama isn’t true to its form without a mysterious love story–which we found in Nic and Conrad. Their past appears complicated yet this does not prevent them from heading into the call room for some sexy time. Watching their relationship unfold–past and present–will be an interesting thing to follow as the season progresses. On the other hand, Dr. Okafor provided an intense perspective on dealing with patients–straight to the point and no sugar-coating. She faced a dilemma of her own when Dr. Greenwood insisted on performing a robotic surgery only she was trained to do. Faced with his threat of getting her deported, she opted to do the surgery but allowed him to take the credit for it. The drama was non-stop in the series premiere of The Resident and we have a sneaking suspicion–it’s just getting started!

The series premiere was something, right?! Now, let’s meet our roundtable and get to discussing all that went down!

Jenny (@Tzenaki81)- I’m a working mom who watches a lot of TV…I mean A LOT.

Ariba (@WatchWithReebs)- Optometrist, Writer, and Senior Editor for TVAD

Stephanie (@StephyPooh82)- Optician, couch potato and dill pickle enthusiast

Sofia (@mttczuchry)- Student, Latina, Matt Czuchry fan

Meli (@Melikeit70)- Lawyer, music addict, and avid reader

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1. What a series premiere! What were your thoughts on the very first episode of The Resident?

Jenny (@Tzenaki81): I watch so many medical dramas I kind of felt myself comparing the characters to those on House, ER, Greys Anatomy, etc. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t love the show! It was great and was a very full 1 hour! I wish my doctors looked more like Conrad!

Ariba (@watchwithreebs): The first episode was a medical rollercoaster! I loved seeing a different angle to the genre of medical drama, one that we haven’t quite seen before. Seeing the deep, dark secrets of a hospital setting was more intriguing than I anticipated. Although the typical cliches were present, I was invested in all aspects of the story and I can’t wait to see what comes next!

Stephanie (@StephyPooh82): I loved the first episode of The Resident!! It was great, and had me hooked from beginning to end.

Sofia (@mttczuchry): Amazing. Medical dramas are usually not my thing but the cast called my attention and I was awed by their performances. Every character we got to meet was interesting and made me eager to know them better. The episode kept me on edge the whole time: is Dr. Bell going to screw up? Are Devon and Conrad going to get along? Are they going to be able to save them all? I can’t wait to see more episodes.

Meli (@Melikeit70): It was fast paced, the characters were already fleshed out, and I love the dark tone. I was in from the first scene.

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2. Many shady things went down this episode, especially when it came to Dr. Bell. From covering up his mistakes or taking credit for someone else’s work–he was basically the worst. What did you think of his character and unethical behavior?

Jenny: Ugh! He is by far the worst of the worst and the type of doctor that I always fear running into. It actually made me question how often things like that happen in the ER! He’s disgusting!

Ariba: Dr. Bell was so frustrating! I couldn’t believe the way he was manipulating the medical team and getting his way through the entire episode. It seemed like he had something to hold over every person’s head and as a result, has basically bullied his way to the top. I hope karma comes around and serves him right!

Stephanie: I pretty much hated Dr. Bell from the very beginning and he did nothing to win me over. He obviously forgot about the Hippocratic Oath.

Sofia: I disliked Dr. Bell from the beginning and he only became worse as the episode continued. However, his character is necessary to the story. The Resident is trying to show us a different take on medical dramas, as the cast has said multiple times, it pulls back the curtain on the good and bad. Dr. Bell is not the bad guy but he is a bad guy, or at least that’s how he came off in this first episode. He refuses to accept that his time as a surgeon is coming to an end and gets away with it, intimidating those who go against him. In real life, probably most of us have met our fair share of Dr. Bells. He is real and a necessary evil in the show.

Meli: That, unfortunately, is pretty realistic, especially when power and money are involved. I also think he’s the worst “now” but probably he was great when he didn’t have any medical issues. Physical decay led him to moral decay.

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3. Dr. Conrad Hawkins has a unique approach to dealing with patients. What do you think about the way he practices medicine and teaches his residents?

Jenny: While his method may be a bit odd, I like the method of REAL teaching vs. school book teaching. I’m the type of person who would rather beat the crap out of the bush than beat around it. He’s a little rough around the edges but he does “tighten the screw” to quote Nurse Nic.

Ariba: I am totally digging Conrad’s method of teaching and practicing medicine. I love that he doesn’t follow the rules in the conventional manner and truly cares for his patients. The scene where he talks to Devon about the brain-dead patient was extremely powerful. He didn’t believe in resuscitating the patient because it would result in prolonging a life where she would never wake up and give false hope to her family. It was a difficult moment but his logic proved his interests lie with the patient.

Stephanie: I thought I wasn’t going to like Conrad at first, but he grew on me. Unconventional, yes, but he has a good heart.

Sofia: Conrad is definitely not the typical doctor we’re used to seeing in medical dramas. His way of practicing medicine is quite unique but that’s what makes his character great. He doesn’t follow the rules and he doesn’t practice medicine “step by step”, but that seems to make him a better doctor. All the patients love him and he is effective in what he does. He seems very selfless, not even staying to take credit after saving a patient’s life, who instead Dr. Bell takes credit for. Conrad’s main goal is always to do what’s best for the patient and that’s what he teaches to his residents, he’s hard on them but at the end of the day they seem to really appreciate it.

Meli: He’s an unconventional one, that’s for sure, but he also tries to do what’s the best for the patient. Not for the hospital. I believe that’s the point of the way he approaches medicine.

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4. Despite their complicated relationship, Conrad and Nurse Nic are well on their way to be the next couple to ship. How do you feel about them as a couple and do you see a future for them?

Jenny: I don’t care about their future right now, I want to know what happened in the past! Conrad did say he’d get her back. What happened? I need to know!

Ariba: They are so adorable together! I know we haven’t seen much of them yet, or know about their complicated past but I am looking forward to finding out. VanCamp and Czuchry have strong chemistry on-screen and I think it’s going to make for some amazing moments in the inaugural season. I definitely see a future for them, fingers crossed!

Stephanie: I think we’ll be waiting a while for Conrad and Nic to get back together. I am interested in some flashbacks to see why they broke up.

Sofia: I LOVE Conrad and Nic, their scenes in this first episode were hot but you could also tell they have a lot of respect for each other and there seems to be genuine care between them. Matt Czuchry and Emily VanCamp have great on-screen chemistry and they did an amazing job in showing the deep and complicated feelings that Conrad and Nic have towards each other in just one hour. Their future seems rocky but I’m hopeful they’ll make it out.

Meli: They remind me of Carol and Doug (ER). He was also a rebel (and sometimes a total mess too) and she was the voice of the reason. Anyway, Matt and Emily have tons of chemistry, so I’m ready to see more of them.

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5. If this premiere episode was any indication, Conrad and Dr. Bell will be butting heads a lot this season. What do you think the reason is that Conrad (or anyone else) doesn’t report him?

Jenny: Dr. Bell probably has something hanging over everyone’s head. He’s the type that has a file on every person and uses it to exploit them. You saw what he did with the surgery and how he held it over her head, like, “if you don’t do this I’ll have you deported”. He’s a freaking jerk.

Ariba: Ugh, I really wish someone would rat him out but it seems like he always has a card to play and blackmail to unleash. I think his power of position plays a big part and most of them don’t want their careers derailed for going against him. They’re afraid of speaking up because doing so could cost them everything they have worked so hard for. It’s just so frustrating!

Stephanie: I think Conrad and the other doctors and nurses don’t report Dr. Bell because they’re afraid of what he’ll say and do. He’s blackmailing them, and they don’t think anyone would believe them over him.

Sofia: When Mina said no to helping Dr. Bell he threatened her with her visa. He’s been in the field for a while and he knows all the important people, he is powerful and has fame. Dr. Bell is on a higher workstation and sadly, seems to have something against each of his inferiors.

Meli: I think it’s because Dr. Bell didn’t just cover his mistakes but also other doctors’ ones (to protect the hospital’s interests) but also uses that thing to blackmail them and keep his job and position.

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6. According to Nic, medical error is the third leading cause of death. If this is indeed true, how do you feel about this hidden statistic?

Jenny: I’m genuinely curious if this is a real statistic or made up. It is terrifying to think that this is real. It doesn’t really give you any comfort in going to see a doctor.

Ariba: This is absolutely horrifying, if there is indeed truth to this. The fact that we have no idea why something goes horribly wrong is scary and frightening. Whether or not this stat is true, I appreciate the show shedding some light on topics like this. It is due time we become aware of the unknown!

Stephanie: Medical error being the third leading cause of death is SUPER scary!! Just shows everyone makes mistakes and you never really know how safe your life is in the hands of doctors.

Sofia: The fact that medical error is the third leading cause of death is scary but it’s the truth and it’s something important to keep in mind. Of course, it’s not a commonly known fact, imagine the number of lawsuits if people knew about the all the doctors who have accidentally killed patients. This show is trying to give us some light on how the system works and how it affects us and this is an important fact that we should keep in mind whenever we are subjects of a medical procedure.

Meli: I think it’s pretty true. And pretty scary.

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7. We quickly learned that Dr. Bell makes his own rules, but pretending to do the robotic surgery was next level dishonest. Did you see that coming and how did you feel about it?

Jenny: When I saw him performing the surgery with such ease, I figured it out a few seconds before Conrad did. He’s shady as s***. It’s also very sad because someone else is working hard and someone else is getting the credit for it. Not only that but then people believe he is the “best” general surgeon meanwhile he can’t do anything!

Ariba: I feel like I was on the same frequency as Conrad because as he was piecing together what was going on, so was I. As soon as he got up, I was thinking to myself, “Oh gosh, Dr. Bell isn’t the one performing surgery, is he?” I was so annoyed and frustrated about his dishonesty to his colleagues and that he blackmailed Dr. Okafor. He backed her into a corner and gave her no option but to go along with his ridiculous plan. I hope he gets caught soon!

Stephanie: I kind of saw Dr. Bell pretending to do the robotic surgery coming. There was no way he was going to go out there and screw up that surgery in front of everyone. He needs to check his ego or have someone check it for him.

Sofia: I, for one, was definitely not expecting that it would be Dr. Okafor performing the surgery while Dr. Bell put on a pretty face for the cameras. At first, I thought he got lucky but it made more sense that he forced Mina to do all the hard work while he got the credit. It seems that we will get a lot more of him getting the credit for work he has not done. I feel bad because it should be Dr. Okafor getting all the praise but I’m glad that at least Conrad realized it wasn’t him doing the job.

Meli: Unfortunately, not shocked at all. I feel bad for people who think those things don’t happen in every environment, even in the medical field.

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Final Verdict: The Resident has more drama and secrets to uncover–and we are ready for it.

The series premiere of The Resident was a whirlwind of secrecy, unethical behavior, and so much drama. While all the medical jargon and situations may not have been completely accurate, the cast and plot made the series engaging and exciting. Moving forward, it will be riveting to see how Dr. Bell’s behavior begins to affect the hospital and the team. Will he ever get caught for blackmailing, giving himself high ratings, and performing surgeries with a hand tremor? And will anyone ever call him out for his behavior? We sure hope so, because it could only spell disaster for Chastain Park Memorial Hospital.

As the hospital grapples with Dr. Bell, Devon’s intern adventures are just getting started. With the unique guidance of Conrad and emotional advice from Nic, his medical career is off to one insane start. And while Devon gets his bearings, the rest of the team must continue to do what they do best–practice medicine. Here’s to hoping the Hands of Death and Destruction doesn’t keep them from doing so!

The Resident is finding its place in the world of medical dramas, and quite frankly, is off to a strong start. The cliches are there, along with the usual ingredients of a medical drama–hot doctors, steamy sex, and over-ambitious residents. However, this didn’t prevent the pilot episode from shining on its first night–and setting itself apart from the others. In the weeks to come, the hope is a lot will be uncovered, including more secrets from behind the hospital doors.

The Resident will return Monday, January 29th at 10/9c on Fox!