The Resident Review: Broker And Broker (Season 2 Episode 22)

In hindsight, it’s not hard to guess that Nic does not buy a kidney from the organ broker for Jessie on The Resident Season 2 Episode 22, “Broker And Broker,” but his presence lends to the really creative title of the penultimate episode of the season. 

We also have Elliot to thank for pushing Alec out of town…so feel free to pop the champagne.

But don’t drink the bottle too fast, because if this really is Alec’s final appearance at Chastain, I’m struggling to figure out what the point of his existence is at all. 

This happens with any character whose ending on a show is unsatisfactory, even ones you love. Their journey is over and you are left feeling badly so you wonder what the point of your pain is at all. 

With Alec, it’s such a struggle. He’s not the reason CoNic broke up, he (thankfully) isn’t going to be Jessie’s donor, although I’m starting to think that would’ve been more intriguing to watch.

Sure, he helped Nic start the clinic but even he knows she doesn’t need him and never did. So I’m left….satisfied but still wondering why I spent so much of my energy disliking him. 

Alec is gone, so lamenting about his purpose is pointless. You may continue sipping. Because you’re going to need liquid courage as we dive into Nic’s black market kidney dilemma. 

I did a poll on our Twitter account and results were split the last time I checked. Half of you had no idea if you would buy a kidney for your sibling under such shady circumstances — and half of you definitely wouldn’t walk toward the kidney at all, even for a sibling. 

I can’t say I blame you. I would probably give my brothers a kidney if one of them needed it and I were a suitable donor (I would never lock myself into a choice in anything I published).

But — buying one under such shady circumstances like having to fly them out of the country for the surgery? Trusting a desperate donor who doesn’t really know what they’re doing and who isn’t even making most of the money that they need so badly? That’s a different story. 

While it’s not hard to guess Nic’s choice for practical reasons, like the fact that there is one more episode of the season, a black market kidney storyline feels like it deserves two episodes at least. While I disagree with her decisions for most of the episode, her turmoil and anger are easy to sympathize with. 

Because it must have been hard, knowing her sister is dying and she has to say “no” to a perfectly good kidney. 

Blaming Bell for Jessie’s circumstances is taking things a bit too far. Bell did not force Jessie into the trial. She might not have known exactly what she was getting into but she’s an adult and she knew enough. 

I want Jessie to live. She’s one of my favorite characters on the show. But Conrad stepping in to set Nic straight is necessary. 

Matt Czuchry’s scenes with Emily VanCamp and Miles Gaston Villanueva are the two most intense scenes on the episode. Perhaps because they bring home how ridiculous and dangerous it would be to buy an organ from an organ broker. 

Or perhaps it’s because of Conrad’s history with Nic. He cares so much about her his feelings have to come through, and they’re feelings that Alec (Villanueva) can’t have without history, no matter how hard he tries.

Now that Nic is on Chastain’s list, the big question is what Conrad gave or gave up for Bell. 

Especially with Kitt not around, Bell is back to his old ways. Watching the money he was so counting on for Chastain fall through in such a hysterical way is entertaining. And in case you didn’t know to take the weekly payments if you ever win the lottery now you do. 

It’s actually good to see Bell is returning to the conniving person we know…because I was starting to wonder if they were gaslighting us into believing he is a nice person who cares about rules. I still want to know where his tremor is. How could an issue from the pilot just go away so quickly? 

That’s an answer we may never get. But hopefully, Mina and The Raptor confess their feelings to each other by the beginning of Season 3 the latest. I want to talk about them. I will have tons to say when we are given the scenes to talk about. 

Right now, they’re holding back their feelings so much and stuck on the same mentor/mentee page. So, I feel chemistry there. But it’s difficult to talk about because in the scenes we are seeing they are not supposed to be giving in to any of this. 

It’s not like they’re friends denying feelings. The professional aspect of this means there are fewer chances for those feelings to seep through. 

We are all eagerly waiting until they do. But the season finale is all about saving Jessie’s life. Any other answers we get will be a bonus. 

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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