The Resident: Most Important Quotes from “If Not Now, When?” (Season 2 Episode 20)
No matter the opening disclaimer that the stories The Resident Season 2 Episode 20, “If Not Now, When?” tells are fictional, it is a very difficult episode of television to watch — because at its core, it’s not fiction.
Lea Jordan Davies and Wade Davies’ story feels too real, and that’s because it is. It’s based on Kira Dixon Johnson and Charles Johnson’s story. Kira died in 2016 after complications from what was supposed to be a routine C-Section.
Johnson noticed blood in his wife’s urine and was told that tests would be done to determine the cause. Hours later, when he was still begging doctors to do a CT scan, he was reportedly told by the staff, “Sir, your wife just isn’t a priority right now.”
When Kira Johnson finally did make it to an operating room, she was bleeding so much internally that she died on the table.
The show seems to have changed names, genders of the children and highlighted racial bias through specific characters; specific medical details are also changed.
Charles Johnson did not seem to have a Devon Pravesh at his side. But other than that, the story is true.
This is the best episode of the season so far, for more reasons than this one. But I simply can’t critique any element of it.
Every storyline on the episode is devastating, and some have more entertainment value than others. But even though all The Resident fans are probably mystified by CoNic’s breakup, rehashing that doesn’t honor Ms. Johnson’s memory at all.
The small difference I can make to spread this story is to list the most important quotes of the episode and explain why they matter.
*Please note: U.S. gunshot incidents are also important to discuss, and another storyline on “If Not Now, When?” involves a random shooting. But as maternal death is a rarer storyline on TV, I’ll be focusing on quotes related to that plot.
Dr. Stewart to Devon: How long have you been in the U.S?
The title of this post isn’t “The Best” quotes of the episode. It’s “Most Important.” This line clearly establishes the doctor’s racial bias and validates the argument that Lea is ignored and dies in large part because of the color of her skin.
Wade Davies to Nurse: I’m telling you — something is wrong. If you can’t come, can someone else?
Being concerned and self-diagnosing are two different things. Family members know their loved ones better than a medical staff is going to know any one patient. So,Wade might not have ever seen his wife recovering from a C-section before, but I’m aghast that this fictional nurse dismisses him so quickly.
Nurse: She’s getting the same care as everyone else.
Devon: Respectfully, it seems to me that she is not.
Considering that when Devon goes to check on her Lea is shivering and barely conscious, this is a fact.
Devon to Dr. Stewart: I believe what I see, and in the ER I have seen you do way more based on less information for patients that look like you.
Unconscious bias is called that for a reason. There are subtle but powerful and institutionalized reasons for Dr. Stewart’s actions.
Is he acting from a place of hatred for Lea Davies? No. But one could argue that apathy toward her life is even worse.
Devon: Lea Davies wasn’t a priority.
This is perhaps the most important quote of the episode because as I mention above, Johnson was told his wife wasn’t a priority by one of the staff at the hospital. Imagine the rage you would feel if a medical professional said that about someone you love.
Devon to Dr. Stewart: Ask yourself, would this have happened if Lea wasn’t Black?
Dr. Austin to Devon: Not now, Pravesh.
Devon to Dr. Austin: Then when?
It’s a great question. When will black women become a priority within institutions? When should Devon have asked — after another woman dies?
Dr. Austin: This happens far too often to women of every color.
Mina: But it’s four times more likely to happen to black women. That’s a fact.
These are real statistics that are still true when socio-economic factors are equalized.
Dr. Bell to Wade: Your wife suffered what we refer to as a “never event” — something that should never happen.
Bell apologizes after this exchange and goes on to talk to Devon and Mina after it. He listens to them when they give him a dose of reality. But considering we just watched a white family with injuries they should “never” have survived come out alive with no major medical issues? It’s so unsettling that the term exists.
Dr. Bell: The United States is the most dangerous country in the developed world to give birth in. There is no excuse for that.
He says everything that needs to be said there. That is where I leave you.
What did you think of this episode of The Resident? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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The Resident airs Mondays at 8/7c on FOX.
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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.
3 comments
This was a phenomenal episode. I wish more people were watching this show! The acting was exceptional and that is was based on a true story, and how it was handled, was done perfectly. Five stars, I agree with my still broken heart. I can’t stop thinking about Kira.
I literally had to pause the episode & cry, I’m not an emotional person but this was a hard dose of reality on what happens especially in America….The random shooting, and especially the maternal storyline broke my heart, unconscious discrimination is more common than we’d like to admit and honestly I think its more futile than conscious discrimination though both are condemnable. The devastating part is that after such a powerful relatable episode based on true events, 85% of the audience’s feedback is on Con & Nick…..RIP Kira
I love this show very much
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