15 Reasons ‘The Resident’ Needs a Second Season

13. Death Before Dishonor

Dr. Conrad Hawkins has two tattoos — the one on his forearm depicts the Rod of Asclepius, symbolizing the message of the Hippocratic Oath: “first, do no harm.”

This forearm tattoo is the first things we see of Conrad on the show. And then he references the message explicitly in the pilot episode when he tells Dr. Pravesh that what no one tells you is that “there are so many ways to do harm.” The concept of doing no harm is central to the first season’s character and plot development.

Less prominent, so far, is the moral code depicted in Conrad’s other tattoo: “Death Before Dishonor.” The tattoo is large, but remains more hidden that his other tattoo as it spans the top of his back.

The code, too, is more hidden. “Death before Dishonor” hearkens to Conrad’s military past. But, the show has yet to make clear what this means for the resident.

It could be that “dishonor” in the context of the Chastain E.R. is failing to save a life. So, when Conrad fails to save everyone, that dishonor causes an internal death.

Or it could foreshadow that Conrad’s career is heading in the direction of Dr. Bell’s, where he is not willing to admit fault and bring about dishonor, even when that means people die.

A second season would allow The Resident to examine death and dishonor, both frequently occurring things in the E.R. With an additional season, the show can also show where the two codes Conrad seems to live by are at battle with each other.

14. Vicarious Trauma

Vicarious trauma, or secondary trauma, occurs when a person witnesses another person’s trauma. This can happen from hearing a traumatic story, seeing a person suffering a trauma, or other indirect experiences.

Vicarious trauma is very common for nurses and doctors who work in the E.R. setting. Finding unhealthy ways to cope, like binge drinking or high-risk sex, is also very common!

We see the Chastain Hospital staff enjoying drinks after work, but we have yet to see some of the very real and very dark manifestations of vicarious trauma.

The symptoms of vicarious trauma can be similar to those of PTSD, and include suicidal ideation or drug addiction. Vicarious trauma is a real and intense threat.

If provided a second season, The Resident could take a main character through a journey of vicarious trauma, educating viewers on what it is and what good self-care looks like. The show could share the very important message that heroes are people who ask for help and take care of themselves.

15. A Chance to Cover Sexual Assault #Metoo #HospitalsToo

Emily VanCamp shared in pre-season interviews that The Resident will cover sexual assault in its first season. A second season will allow The Resident to extend its coverage to how a hospital reacts when a doctor is the abuser.

Dr. Hunter asserts “doctors protect their own.” The Chastain Memorial team is up against an insular culture, where mistakes are forced under the rug.

The powers that be are likely to want to cover-up and hide allegations of sexual assault against a doctor. It is a power struggle seen across industries but is even more important to show in the hospital context where patients are so vulnerable.

The Resident can take on how victims are particularly impacted when the person and place that is supposed to provide healing, doctors at a hospital, are the source of injury.

The Resident is tackling difficult topics and it should be renewed for a second season so it can address #hospitalstoo

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Are you loving The Resident? What other reasons would you add to our list? Share them in the comments below!

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

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