What to Watch: The Resident
On the heels of watching the Gilmore Girls series in it’s entirety, for probably the 10th time. I ran across Logan Huntsberger’s new series. Well it’s not actually new, more new to me. Matt Czuchry stars in The Resident as hospital resident who is mister know-it-all, but has an interesting origin story that takes about two seasons to figure out. Now, what I didn’t notice was the first season aired back in 2018 and I was 6 years behind.
The show is ER on a emotional high with some great acting. The biggest treat came in late season one, when Malcolm Jamal-Warner joined the cast. Please note, I wrote this post initially prior to the news of Jamal-Warner’s accidental death in Costa Rica. I’ve made it through all 6 seasons and was hooked like crazy till the very end. One of the most amazing episodes highlights maternal health and how the United States is far behind in caring for women in this country, not only during pregnancies but overall women’s care. The 20th episode of season 2 is in memory of Kira Dixon Johnson. Johnson would died from internal bleeding following the birth of her second child. Primary staff did not prioritize Johnson care and she died of neglect of the medical staff. The showrunner and actors crafted a truly amazing episode that should be watched purely for educational reasons.
The Resident jumps into so many hot topics of society. The first three seasons were filmed prior to COVID, The last three seasons not only were filmed post-COVID but they were centered around the ripple effect that COVID left behing, in the last seasons. I spent most of my 20’s watching ER and watching from a distance while I ate dinner at the table alone, in the 80’s. As my mother watched St. Elsewhere. (I ate alone on week nights because typically my family ate dinner before I got home swim practice.)
The releviance of medical shows like this today, is very important. The Resident touches on so many major issues that are plaguing societies across the planet. From Healthcare Inequity to Work Life Challenges of medical workers. The latter being a hot topic in the Post-Covid society. Watching social media and the news. The amount of disregard of what the planet went through in 2020 and 2021, can be summed up the anti-mask movemnt and shamming that still remains today. I am the first to admit, I do shake my head when I see someone riding a bike or walking in our neighborhood with a mask still on. I am fully aware of people issues with allergies or immune issues. That’s why I choose not say anything to anyone, okay well maybe to Clem. The reality is masks have become such a norm, they have a medical need for sure. They are also a way for people who struggle socially to navigate social interations.
Overall, the story arch of all the characters in the show eventually become elevated and resolved by the end of the 6th season. One of the themes that touched on each season, was the issue with physicians self medicating and managing their own care. The hardest storyline for me was Jamal-Werners journey as his mother’s health declined on the show and would be placed into Hospice. I learned so much from those episodes, not just validating my experience with caring for my mother. But learning some key lessons I wish I had known, going into my mother’s pallative care. For example, “Planes, Trains & Automobiles” which is when the person has a burst of energy and is ready to go on a trip or planning some sort of outing. I experienced this with my mother and my grandmother in the end. I will write a post on that later.