The Resident Review: Reverse Cinderella (Season 3 Episode 16)

I think we’ve been ring-baited.

After significant build-up across several episodes, the CoNic proposal on The Resident Season 3 Episode 16, “Reverse Cinderella,” is a huge letdown. 

Sure, it’s cute, I guess.  And this couple is so stable in their affection for each other that they don’t need a big schtick like Jessica and Irving. 

But there is a huge chasm between schtick and limp where this hyped romantic moment could have landed. 

At the very least, the proposal should have been at their new home. CoNic’s abode has been a strong feature of Season 3, from hosting game night to father-daughter kitchen table confessionals. 

The house they have together represents the strong, sexy, sincere, and playful bond they have built over the years. If the show wants to make an emotional impact with CoNic’s romance, their home should be where they get married and it should have been where they got engaged.

At the random outside location, we hear Conrad hurriedly list off a bunch of things about Nic that really only correlate with this season.

This is disappointing because their relationship has such a rich history.

Peppering the proposal with only the most recent stuff makes it feel inauthentic and shallow. It’s as if their whole relationship is reduced to the few hours we have of them together on screen.

Great romantic scenes help us feel the depth of the relationship and make us imagine all the intricacies and moments we miss out on as viewers. 

It is a bummer that the proposal flops so hard. But, the wedding is the real deal anyway. Surely, that will be an episode the honors the amazing CoNic.

As a whole, “Reverse Cinderella,” is perfectly fine. No story pulls us in with any real emotional resonance.

In fact, the poor OBGyn resident in tears over her lost future is the most provoking part of the whole episode!

But, the medical cases are interesting. 

The message about listening to our loved ones, especially teens, about their bodies and pain is especially strong. Nic listens to her patient, trusting that her pain is real, not in her head. 

So often, young women are treated like overly dramatic storytellers. Doctors approach them with a suspicious and skeptical lens. 

Nic is a very special kind of practitioner who makes everyone around her more trauma-informed and patient-centered. It is always a pleasure to see her use those skills. 

This ending to the story of Nic’s patient is also great because it doesn’t make it seem like this family is “cured” of their conflict just because they learned what is wrong with the daughter.

Hospitals can only treat so much. 

Mina is a gosh darn rockstar who I would follow to the ends of the catwalk. It is wonderful to see the show honor Mina’s love and gifts for fashion. 

This would be far more effective if we actually got to see the designer’s fashions and Mina’s full dress. We get to see the back of the dress, but only the top section. 

For the most part, a full view is obscured by blocking or camera angles. We want an EYE FULL of the gown!

Dr. Okafor’s smile is so radiant and it graces the screen on a couple of occasions on the episode and that earns it a full star right there. 

Minator is my ship on this show, so the short dance is not near sufficient to sate my thirst. Hopefully, more Minator content is coming down the pipeline, especially with all the romance in the air for other couples. 

Love is certainly in the air as Chastain! Hopefully, that will be enough fuel for the fight against Red Rock that these lovers are about to embark on.

Doctors Notes

• The Rapunzel Syndrome is disgusting but also so fascinating.
• Pravesh in a love story is not for me. He doesn’t always need a love interest and giving him these flash in the pan romances is not serving his character. 
• Jessica knocking over Irving is the cutest part of that whole proposal. I love these two!
• Dr. Bell knowing about Mina’s fashion skills and inviting her to the gala is truly endearing. It is a construct to get Mina and AJ at the same place, all dressed up, but it doesn’t feel contrived or awkward.
• Where is Kit Voss! Come back!

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

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The Resident airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on Fox.

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