The Resident Review: Comrades in Arms (Season 1 Episode 3)

The Resident is not a comedy. But, grown doctor dudes flying through the forest on mountain bikes and daring each other to be brave enough to jump over a puny stream has me doubled-over with laughter.

What an unintentionally hilarious opener to The Resident Season 1 Episode 3, “Comrades in Arms.”

Adding hip-hop music does not automatically make something sexy and cool.

“Comrades in Arms” has three compelling moments that make the episode, and the entire show, worth watching.

I think this show is worth sticking around for, so, lest my rants turn you away from the show, I’ll start with highlighting the positive.

Merrin Dungey arrives on the screen (finally!) as level-headed hospital CEO Claire Thorpe.

The video-conference call packs a punch as it showcases the bottom-line mentality alluded to in The Resident Season 1 Episode 2 “Independence Day,” without treating the audience like we’re toddlers who need every little thing spelled out for us.

Claire Thorpe bargains with people’s lives like she is an MLB owner trading players. But, there is a reverence to her body language and facial expressions that strongly messages-this isn’t a vendetta, this is how hospitals operate.

And it is true, if the hospital is unable to remain afloat financially, many people would suffer from a lack of care. Thus, Dungey’s Claire Thorpe revives the heartbeat of “Comrades in Arms” by bringing it back to the deeply troubling question: what does it mean to “first, do no harm.”

Importantly, Claire Thorpe wants to make it work. She is not a Big Bad, trying to pursue personal gain at the expense of anything else (Dr. Bell is available for that!).

But it is sickening to see the callous treatment of individuals.

On an episode that brings to the forefront Conrad’s military past, the CEO’s negotiation has a fascinating connection to the choice to take military action, knowingly there will be innocent casualties.

It’s not as much a life or death decision as it is a-what to do when one death can save many lives-decision.

To be clear, I believe Luisa deserves the surgery right away and that is the only right call.

However, I appreciate that Thorpe gives the impression that these types of decisions are the incredibly tough calls she has to manage regularly. That is her job and she does it expertly, not controlled by emotions.

She’s a character I can get behind (other than calling ICE-which she doesn’t admit to so I’m assuming that was upcoding Barb).

Nicolette steps up on “Comrades in Arms” and catches a lethal, lawsuit-inducing, error before it is made. The real heroism, though, is Nicolette’s ability to politicize that win and get Barb fired from Chastain Hospital.

Nicolette is a diplomat whereas Conrad is a dictator (recall his magnificent bicycle leap over the rushing water! He takes action, no matter how risky!).

I am intrigued to see how Nic and Conrad’s styles of enforcing morality will interact, especially as their moral choices at the hospital become even more interlaced with their romance.

The Resident has developed Conrad’s character far more than Nic’s so far, so it would behoove the show to focus on Nic for the next couple of episodes.

I like to see well-balanced ships!

The third compelling piece from “Comrades in Arms” is the concept of CUTE upcoding.

Don’t get me wrong, I think the writing did a terrible job of portraying this concept. It is rushed, clunky, and way over-the-top.

But, at its core, the idea of a system in place that incentivizes profits and de-incentivizes care, is deeply disturbing and has a distinct ring of truth.

The Resident needs to SLOW DOWN so that these insidious harms have time to fester. More than one episode needs to be devoted to each medical ethics issue for it to provide a lasting message.

Relatedly, “Comrades in Arms” lacks nuance. Medical billing is an entire profession-systems of coding and financial management are complex.

Boiling them down to one character, Barb, and making her immediately in every room of the hospital is overkill.

Not all patients are treated equally because of nationalism, racism, sexism, and ableism. Hospitals, like any other business, including the military, have a bottom-line.

These realities interact with each other, and any discussion or argument about how to wrench health from the hands of these knotty issues MUST be nuanced.

The Resident flat-lines in this regard.

Further, and most importantly, The Resident misses a very important and timely opportunity to passionately articulate why Dreamers, undocumented immigrants who were brought into the U.S. as young children, are just as much citizens as those born in the U.S. and why they deserve the exact same level of care as documented citizens.

Dr. Pravesh is amped up and begins to make the case for Luisa. He says nothing. He doesn’t talk about the incredible contributions Luisa is making to her community, working with the hospital while also studying for medical school.

His only solution is to rely on Dr. Okafor’s ambition compelling her to do the surgery, even though it’s against the rules.

This is a huge missed opportunity. I yearn to hear the stories of Dreamers. I want to see a person who has been provided privileges his entire life proclaim that a person without such privileges is equal to him and worthy of saving.

I don’t hear any such speech on “Comrades in Arms,” and it is going to take the full week for me to recover from the disappointment.

Hospitals are an excellent place for restoration, so I look forward to watching The Resident attempt to repair the damage.

What did you think of this episode of The Resident? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

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The Resident airs Mondays at 9/8c on Fox.

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