An abandoned patient gets the royal treatment when Chastain Park Memorial learns of her wealthy background

The Resident continues to bring in unique, unexpected stories into the mix with every single episode in its inaugural season. This week gives us a homeless woman stumbling into Chastain Park Memorial’s black-tie event to thank its donors. Clearly delusional and beside herself, Conrad (Matt Czuchry), Nic (Emily VanCamp), and Mina (Shaunette Renee Wilson) rush to her side to aid her. She is taken to the emergency room but is unable to be ID’d. However, while treating her Nic notices that she has an EKG lead on her chest which alerts to the revelation that this patient is from another hospital. Basically, another hospital did not want to treat and left her on the doorstep of Chastain Park-and Nic knows exactly which hospital it was. When Conrad tells Dr. Bell (Bruce Greenwood) and Lane (Melina Kanakaredes) that they are running a battery of tests on the patient, they are very displeased at the idea of a homeless person being treated for things she cannot pay for. After learning Atlanta General is responsible for leaving her, Dr. Bell demands that they call and have them pick up the patient.

When the patient starts to drown in her own blood, Mina is called in to treat her, during which she notices that the woman’s purse is extremely expensive. Inside the purse, a name is etched into it, and when Conrad looks up the name “Sara Ravenscroft”, they learn that the patient is not homeless, but in fact from an extremely wealthy family. After reaching out to her parents, Nic learns that her mother believes Sara is a paranoid schizophrenic and needs to be put on her medications, which she is no longer taking. Of course, upon learning this she is transferred to the V.I.P. wing and Dr. Bell shifts his attitude towards her. He tries to hold off the parents from moving her while Nic and Conrad try to find a diagnosis, as they believe something else is going on with her medically. After examining all her symptoms and signs, they diagnose her with Wegener’s, which has caused all the issues she has been exhibiting. Not only does the treatment begin to help her, but her parents realize that their daughter was not at fault for her behaviors.

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This week also introduced us to Devon’s (Manish Dayal) parents. Throughout the episode, Devon is irritated and annoyed by his parents who show up at Chastain to see him in action. We soon learn that Devon harbors embarrassment over his father’s profession as a cab driver and therefore keeps some distance from his parents. Thankfully, by the end of the episode, he realizes his behavior is crass and uncalled for and apologizes and acknowledges all his father has done for him.

The Resident may have very well introduced a new ship this week with Mina and Micah. Micah comes in for a follow-up and begins to flirt with Mina who is ignoring his advances. They share a sweet moment when Micah shares his feelings for her and asks her to give him a chance. We can’t wait to see where this will go!

Here to discuss Devon’s parents, Chastain’s “homeless” V.I.P. patient, Mina and Micah’s chemistry, and more is our roundtable, so let’s get to discussing this week’s episode of The Resident!

Anam (@anamiii)– Writer, Activist, TV Junkie

Jess (@mattczuchryff)– TV Nerd, Matt Czuchry FanForum Moderator since 2005

Amanda (@dudeamanda)- Writer, reader, and full-time TV watcher

Nikki (@halsteadsass)– Have a whole universe inside my head, lover of all things charming and angsty

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

1. This week Chastain Park Memorial held a fancy dinner to thank all those that donate money to the hospital. What did you think about the schmoozing Claire and Dr. Bell were doing knowing their hospital is a hot, unethical mess?

Anam (@anamiii): At the end of the day, money is what makes a hospital run. They need it in order to operate. Is it the most ethical thing to promote yourself as great when you know you have issues? No. Is it necessary? Yes. They were doing their jobs.

Jess (@mattczuchryff): I didn’t have a big issue with it. Unethical or not, hospitals need donations nowadays to survive.

Amanda (@dudeamanda): I thought it was a little funny, to be honest. To me, they kind of looked a little out of place. It was a little uncomfortable to watch them try and talk about something other than money.

Nikki (@halsteadsass): Fake it until you make it, right? It was both expected and non-surprising. These are two people who are keeping secrets of their own and are good at doing so. Money seems to be the main priority and motivator behind the scenes. As long as it’s coming in, who cares about the real issues at hand like the patients care and wellbeing.

Meli (@Melikeit70): I doubt those people know how that hospital works and for Claire and Dr. Bell this was the perfect time for another quest for more money.

2. Micah and Mina may be The Resident’s new ship. Are you all in for this new ship? Yay or nay?

Anam: They’re adorable together. I totally ship it.

Jess: I have a soft spot for Micah since he was introduced at the beginning of the series. And his crush on Mina is the cutest. “Oh, the wait…my heart just skipped a beat” Can you say Awwwww? Someone like Micah might actually be good for Mina. So I definitely want to see more scenes with them.

Amanda: I am so in! I think they’re adorable! And I think Mina is finally starting to see Micah in a new light! I think they could be such a cute couple and I hope we continue to see more!

Nikki: I thought they were absolutely adorable! I’m a total sucker for the soft, pure one falling for the one who seems tough and untouchable. Micah has such a charming personality that I can see how easily Mina could get attached even though she detests the idea. All it takes is one special person to walk into your life and change your entire outlook on the world. I think Micah is that person for Mina.

Meli: Yay! I love Micah but sadly I fear that ship won’t sail…let’s wait and see.

3. We got to meet Devon’s parents in this week’s episode and we learned he was embarrassed by them and their background. What are your thoughts about this and can you relate?

Anam: I think everyone has been embarrassed by their parents at some point or another. Not necessarily job or background related, but parents always embarrass their kids at some point – especially the teenage years. So yeah I can see where he was coming from. Although, I did feel for his parents. They don’t see their kid that much, and from what we’ve seen he seems like an only child. They just wanted to spend time with him. I’m glad that he was able to see that by the end of it and make things right.

Jess: I definitely can relate, I mean haven’t we all been embarrassed by our parents at least once in our lives? But I liked that Devon ended up apologizing for how he treated them all day, he can definitely be proud of his father for all he did to give his son the best life possible.

Amanda: I personally cannot relate, but I thought it was a fantastic storyline. I have seen so many people with stories similar to Devon’s on and off TV, and I feel like this is one of the best depictions on TV. I was impressed by how Devon handled his apology, and how he handled the conversation with the patient.

Nikki: I felt bad for his parents most of the time. All they wanted to do was spend time with Devon and he let pride get in the way. I felt his embarrassment wasn’t warranted. His father was a hardworking man who did a hell of a job raising him the best way he could. Was it the most prestigious job? No, but it got the job done. That’s all that matters in the end. I’m sure we all can relate. It’s the “grass is greener on the other side” syndrome. We all need to step back every once in a while to see that we should be grateful for what we have. I’m glad Devon was able to in the end.

Meli: Well, even Devon is not a saint. Good to know because that makes him a little more layered and more interesting. Anyway, his parents were adorable so…no, I can’t relate! I’m glad he ended up apologizing.

4. Atlanta General dropped off a patient at Chastain Park Memorial because they did not want to treat her as they believed her to be an “undesirable patient”. What did you think about this?

Anam: This was horrible. The idea of hospitals just dropping patients off at other hospitals is so wrong. What happened to patient care first?

Jess: Not sure if it made me sad or really pissed off. Maybe both and I honestly don’t want to think about how often that actually happens in reality.

Amanda: I had no idea this was a thing in the hospital world, but after watching this show, I cannot be surprised. It’s clear hospitals believe they’re a business, and they do not care about patients if they cannot afford the care they need. I think it is a disgusting practice and I am appalled that it happens.

Nikki: I thought it was quite despicable to see people treat other people like that. These are places that you seek out for help and expect to be given that service. Human beings aren’t disposable. I thought it was worse knowing that Chastain would give her back knowing she’d be mistreated and dumped on the streets again. At that moment, they weren’t much better.

Meli: I thought about that patient who a couple of months ago was dumped by Baltimore Hospital at the bus stop, at midnight and in freezing weather, in just a medical gown and socks. And now tell me that show is not accurate. It’s horrifically accurate.

5. Conrad seems to be playing into Dr. Bell’s greedy mindset in order to get things done around the hospital. What are your thoughts about this?

Anam: I think Conrad is using ways to get his patients the care they need. If a patient they thought was homeless suddenly becomes someone of a VIP status, he used that pull to get her the care she needed. Conrad isn’t thinking about the money like Bell is, he’s thinking about his patients.

Jess: Conrad is always putting his patients first and as long as they get the best care possible it does not matter to him what he has to do to reach that goal. In this case, playing the money card with Bell was the easiest way to get there.

Amanda: I thought it was brilliant. Conrad is so smart when it comes to getting the best care for his patients, and playing into Bell’s love of money was perfect.

Nikki: I’m glad that Conrad stooped to his level and basically stuck it to him. Conrad will do anything to help his patients in their time of need. When you are surrounded by dirty players, it’s impossible to stay clean. You have to make those hard calls and Conrad is good at doing so. I even sensed a little satisfaction from Conrad knowing he beat Dr. Bell at his own game.

Meli: He’s a smart guy and knows sometimes you have to fight the system by breaking its rules and sometimes you have just to play it and people like Dr. Bell.

6. After learning Sara is from a wealthy family, Dr. Bell’s attitude toward her changed but at the end of the episode, he didn’t rush to obtain payment for services rendered. Do you think he is starting to get soft? Why or why not?

Anam: No. He’s been around the block and I’m sure he saw the moment that he was going to interrupt wouldn’t have gotten him the check he wanted. He knows what he’s doing and was going to go back when he knew they would be generous with their checkbook.

Jess: After all that has happened, I have a hard time believing that Dr. Bell is getting soft. So I actually have a really hard time judging that scene.

Amanda: I do not think he’s getting soft. I think like Conrad said to Nic, he’ll be back before lunch. He needed to make an appearance and it’s clear that he’s not doing a very good job.

Nikki: Dr. Bell is nothing short of a hypocrite. The way he was so ready to dump Sara without any regards to her future is mind-blowing. I don’t think the change of heart is due to him getting soft, but about keeping his image alive. The only reason he changed his mind is that a family with money was involved. Even Nic and Conrad who work closely with Dr. Bell see it’s only a facade. We know he gave up the majority of his soul in order to survive in the industry, but sometimes enough is enough.

Meli: I don’t think so but to be honest I still have to figure out Dr. Bell’s motivations and where they come from. I hope we’ll find out more about him and his backstory.

7. Every week we are introduced to a negative aspect of hospital administration. However, there are a lot of positive moments that the show focuses on as well, such as diagnosing/saving patients. What are some of your favorite, uplifting moments from the season so far?

Anam: My favorite moment was probably Devon’s solo day and seeing him stand up for himself with Conrad. I think that moment really changed their relationship. Conrad respects him now and they work well together. I also love any scene Mina is in. She’s such a badass, it’s lovely to watch.

Jess: Sara’s case might actually be one of my favorite cases so far. From being misdiagnosed and left alone by her parents, to being dropped from another hospital, to finally being diagnosed right. A beautiful story. All it took was one doctor and one nurse to see her as more than the drugged-up/drunk and insane person that she looked like at first.

Amanda: I love when the doctors and nurses take time to listen to their patients, not just about their illnesses, but about life in general. It’s been nice to see a more personal side to the doctors, and see how much they really care for their patients!

Nikki: My favorite parts of the season so far are the moments between Conrad, Nic, and Devon. The way they work and grow together as a team. In the end, being able to be proud of the choices they were able to make to save someone’s life. It’s so inspiring to see people come together with a common goal in mind with good intentions. I also have really loved the heartfelt moments with the patients when you think all hope is lost but there’s always light at the end of the tunnel. I’m truly looking forward to seeing how the dynamics continue moving forward.

Meli: I think people are shocked by the number of negative things which happen in that hospital because other medical dramas never went so far but there are many positive and relevant moments on that show. I think one of my favorite ones was when Conrad was able to treat and solve his patient’s pain mainly by talking with him and listening to him.

Final Verdict: The Resident melts our hearts with a new ship, a life-saving diagnosis-and Devon’s parents

As we near the end of The Resident’s first season, it is interesting to think about where the story will end. This week takes a break from investigating Dr. Hunter’s shady clinic and takes an emotional approach to focusing on family. This family-centric episode illustrates a different aspect of The Resident, rather only focusing on the medicinal drama of it all. While those elements are still strong in this episode, it is nice that the show took a moment to give more meaning to the characters. Meeting Devon’s parents gives us a better understanding of where he comes from and why he is the way he is. Even the interaction between Sara and her patients is heartbreaking and joyful and reminds us of the bond that families share.

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This episode is strong, powerful, and still manages to remind us of the dark secrets and intentions that lurk hospital halls. Dr. Bell continues to be caught up in the finance of it all and this is very obvious when Sara goes from homeless to a V.I.P. patient. More devastating than that is the moment that we learn patients are dropped off at other hospitals when they are considered a nuisance to deal with. The Resident takes this storyline very seriously and alerts viewers to a custom that many may not have known even existed. The series never fails to catch its fans off-guard with its brave and courageous storytelling-and this week is no exception.

Next week, the team seems to be focused back on exposing Dr. Hunter. From the looks of it, Conrad is worried about the impact it will have on Nic for attempting to retaliate against someone with Dr. Hunter’s status. Will they finally gather enough evidence to catch Dr. Hunter’s unethical overtreatment of patients for billing purposes? We sure hope so!

The Resident will return Monday, March 26th at 10/9c on Fox!