The Resident Review: Fear Finds a Way (Season 2 Episode 12)
Visually, The Resident Season 2 Episode 12, “Fear Finds A Way,” uses a few cool techniques in the very beginning of the episode.
The viewer sees what Nic sees when she’s walking into the house, including her fingers and peeks of Conrad. Then in the next few scenes, we can actually see a visual representation of the germs moving around the hospital.
These are small details, but they’re fun. The team for this episode just chose to shoot these scenes from a different point of view and using different graphics techniques than usual to emphasize their points.
There is no big or grand point they are making with these two choices. They are just different. As a viewer, I appreciate that.
The big issue I want to discuss (finally!) is Conrad and Nic’s relationship. When considering the title of this episode, the most immediate connection I see is Nic’s fear of moving in with Conrad. Boy, did her fear find a way in.
I don’t understand what she wants. She has a man she loves offering her a house with chickens. She’s been through a lot with this man — enough that it caused a breakup. He’s changed since then.
He opens up. He knows what he wants. He can commit. It’s disconcerting that while he can do all of that now, she can’t. As viewers, we only know them in the after, so it’s easy to put the blame on Nic. I want to. But the truth is, it’s fine if she doesn’t want a house or chickens or kids or a piece of paper as commitment. What doesn’t work is that Conrad wants all of this now, and he’s ready.
I don’t think he’s right to suggest that Nic only wants a project she can fix. But relationships can and do end because someone is ready to move to the next step and their partner isn’t. Nic is wrong to make him wait.
Viewers “ship” couples. We want Conrad and Nic together. If they aren’t, we’re frustrated. But if they ultimately break up because they are in two different places in life? For now, I’d be fine with that. It definitely doesn’t feel like they’re ready for marriage or a kid, which by TV standards is where you need to take couples eventually.
This fight feels like an impasse they both need to walk away from.
It’s sad that this springs up out of Conrad offering her a house and chickens (my cousin and his girlfriend also have a house and chickens… apparently it’s a thing?) But talking doesn’t fix this. They need to go live the lives they want, and maybe there is a path that will lead them to each other again.
As long as that path stops looking like it’s headed straight into a triangle, I’ll be fine with it. Or maybe the truth is… that ship has sailed. It looks too much like a triangle already. I don’t know. I like Shaw as a doctor. He’s clever and innovative. But any time he gets too buddy-buddy with Nic, it irks me.
Something else that irks me? Devon or the show insinuating that Julian is his soulmate. I’ve written in circles about this before, but Devon and Julian don’t work. I’d like to see him get over her and move on.
Speaking of getting over someone, I’m glad AJ is not mystified by his “mentor” anymore. Once again, Mina to the rescue.
AJ has the gumption to suggest that Mina is only trying to save him because she doesn’t want to lose a mentor. But I’m going to let it go, because if there is any duo I want working against Quovadis, it’s those two.
What did you think of this episode of The Resident? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Reviewer Rating:
User Rating:
The Resident airs Mondays at 8/7c on FOX.
Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!
Esme Mazzeo
Esme Mazzeo is a lifestyle and entertainment journalist from Long Island. When she's not writing for work, she's writing for fun, or searching for something to satisfy her sweet tooth. She thinks rainy days are the best kind of days. Certified night owl.