The Resident Review: Burn It All Down (Season 3 Episode 20)
The Resident Season 3 Episode 20, “Burn It All Down,” is the show’s unexpected season finale. And that is exactly how it feels: a sentence hanging in the air, unfinished.
Unfortunately, there is currently no guarantee that we will ever get a proper conclusion. The reason for The Resident’s early end is totally out of their control, so we certainly hope Fox considers that when making a renewal decision.
Despite the too-soon finale, the episode is strong.
Dr. Kit Voss tears into Cain with vigor and razor-sharp accuracy. We have been craving this call-out all season and the hallway rumble really hits the spot.
“Burn It All Down,” really refers to what Cain does to his own life on the episode. Because of his choice to go along with Kim and hide the superbug, Voss’s son-in-law is dying.
The fact that the superbug is at Chastain at all is Cain’s fault. It all goes back to him and his need for power and control.
The dominoes fall down and he is left in the ashes. It doesn’t get more burnt than sitting at the bedside of your dead “the one who got away.”
We feel the weight of his past choices, his past Icarus identity, on his sagging shoulder.
Even though the chemistry between Justine and Cain is more platonic than anything else, the story takes us there emotionally.
Cain can only rise from the ashes like a phoenix if he has a newly grown morality. That will be an interesting journey to see.
CoNic don’t get any attention on the episode and that is the greatest casualty of the early season end. They are engaged and even though this is a medical ethics show, not a relationship drama, CoNic is the moral heart of the show. Their romance is enmeshed in that.
It can NOT be the end of the road for the CoNic saga!
Minator is another romance that carries weight beyond the two individuals on The Resident. When Mina’s easy smile drops from her face as she turns away from Andrea, we know. Mina wants to be the one going home with AJ to meet his parents.
It hurts, but not in a bad way.
The thing is, AJ has been clear that he wanted to try and be with Mina in more than a professional relationship. Mina said no, and AJ respects that.
It is getting awful close to too late for Mina to change her mind.
AJ is taking Andrea home with him to meet his parents on their big wedding anniversary. AJ is not the type of guy to casually date. We get confirmation of this when Mina says “you know how it is,” and Aj clearly does NOT know that.
If Andrea and AJ are serious, like if he proposes, it is not in AJ’s personality to impulsively or carelessly throw that away because Mina has finally decided to give them a try.
It’s a good kind of frightening because we all know how meant for each other Mina and The Raptor are. We ache for them. And they might lose each other. But, they’ll always have each other even if they never get to hardcore makeout.
But, my God, imagining a reality in which Minator never gets to hardcore makeout makes me want to sob.
The dynamic duo ends the season in a good place. It’s full of sexual tension, longing, and a whole lot of friendship.
The finale’s cliffhanger involves Conrad getting an offer to be the new Cain. It’s pretty lackluster as far as cliffhangers go because it’s not clear what that offer even means.
Certainly, Conrad would have more power. Maybe he’d be able to subversively right the Chastain ship. Perhaps all the policies that we’ve seen contribute to the ethical demise of the hospital he loves could be course-corrected.
But, none of that is exactly clear. Even if it was clear, the monolith that is Red Rock is not an enemy that is singular or standing still.
The Resident can do an amazing job of unpacking complex and unknown medical ethics issues. It is at its strongest when it is fully embracing its identity as a medical ethics drama that lives in the grey.
The Resident Season 3 finale swims in this identity. But, the final punctuating point still needs to be made. The Resident Season 4 is a must.
Doctors’ Notes
- A popcorn kernel leading to a brain infection is a beyond terrifying concept.
- The Raptor and cumbia? Yes, thank you, more, please.
- Nic’s empathy knows no bounds. She knows how horrid Cain is. Still, it is obvious that her heart breaks for him.
- Kim has an endless amount of busses to throw people under. I look forward to seeing his take-down.
- Conrad is building trust with his father and that’s one of the hopeful things this show has ever given us.
What did you think of this episode of The Resident? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Janelle Ureta
Janelle Ureta is equal parts Veronica Mars, Raven Reyes, and Rebecca Bunch, but she aspires to add some Tammy Taylor to the mix. An attorney turned teacher, Janelle believes in the power of a well-told story. She is currently exploring how to tell short stories, 140 characters or less, on twitter. She loves to talk about TV, and right now she can't shut up about Timeless, Dear White People, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, The 100, or Younger.