The Resident Season 6 Episode 7 Review: The Chimera
The Resident Season 6 Episode 7, “The Chimera,” does what the show has always done best and mixes the cruel reality of the healthcare system with the fictional world of Chastain.
We are given three critical situations in which our doctors must fight to bring patients health and safety. But sadly, we are shown that these individuals can’t always succeed.
Great television allows its fans to relate to the storyline by presenting scenarios that are a possibility. The fear of not being able to access or afford health care is real, and The Resident knows that.
Before diving into what matters, let’s talk about the triangle slowly becoming a square. With the addition of a new cast member as Billie’s suitor, things get a bit more complicated.
Thanks to Irving’s photos (Conrad sure isn’t happy about that), Cade is now suspicious of Conrad and Billie’s relationship. Even though Conrad reassures her that she has nothing to worry about, we are witnesses of the opposite.
By letting us hear Billie and Conrad’s conversation and seeing his reaction to the new doctor pursuing something with his dead wife’s best friend, we know Conrad is lying to Cade. And to be honest, it feels incredibly out of character.
Conrad has always been a very straightforward man (death before dishonor), and watching him be dishonest feels off. Love triangles can be fun, but this one seems like it will bring a lot of unnecessary drama.
Health Care and Prison
The first scenario we are introduced to is the cruel reality prisoners face regarding their health. They are denied access to treatments, or their symptoms are dismissed.
What The Resident does is show these prisoners are still human beings who deserve to have a voice in their health. Then, to make it even more personal, they relate it to The Raptor by making the patient the brother of the nurse who cared for his mother during her last days.
This is typical for the series as it connects important cases to the doctors to ensure the audience cares more.
However, what is so interesting about this scenario is the fact that the patient has two DNAs. I personally haven’t seen that done before, so I am very intrigued by the development of the case.
What captivates and helps us connect with the patient more is that every medical term is explained to him by his sister. Therefore, viewers receive a simplified definition of medical terms we may otherwise not understand.
Health Care and Government
From the beginning of Season 6, we were given hints at how big the fight between Voss and the government would be. “The Chimera” proves exactly that.
Kit Voss will never have to face her demons alone with a willing and ready husband to step up and call out BS when he sees it. So how could he stand by when he sees the governor mocking Kit’s accent and her dedication to the people of Atlanta?
However, the power couple may have to prepare for an even bigger battle this time. As Bell points out, when attacking the governor, this is a dirty man who has used his money and power to get away with fraud.
Who is going to stop him now? No one.
The governor is insulted and will use his power to come for Bell’s dirt. But, because we know about Bell’s past, we know plenty of skeletons in the closet may benefit his new rival.
What The Resident does well is prove that no one in Chastain will turn against Bell. But, first, they introduce a new scrub tech to the scene.
The governor has to choose him because he knows no one will betray a doctor like Bell. This is proven by Jessica’s desire to respect the doctor’s schedule.
But this doesn’t end with “The Chimera.” The governor is definitely coming for more.
Health Care and Money
A sad reality of the American healthcare system is that not everyone can afford it, and The Resident doesn’t shy away from this topic.
Even though this concept is introduced by a foreign couple who compares it to free health care, this storyline still shows how expensive it can get.
The couple is so afraid of going to the hospital that the wife ends up terribly sick, and not even the great doctors of Chastain can help her. She dies in Bell’s OR — which is perfect for the governor!
But before the tragedy hits, the couple thinks about selling their car and apartment to afford the surgery and every cost involved in the woman’s treatment.
The Resident tries to give us a happy resolution with Kit showing up with an affordable arrangement, but that isn’t always the case. On the contrary, many end up drowning in debt because of the simple procedures they need to survive.
Time after time, The Resident proves that it is looking to educate the public and entertain. The upcoming battle with the governor will do that.
The biggest fear is what this will do to Bell. We’ve seen the man overcome so much; can he overcome this?
Hopefully, the love triangle/square won’t take too much time. Usually, The Resident doesn’t waste screen time on moments that aren’t highly relevant to the story — and one has to pray it stays the same with this storyline.
—
What did you think of this episode of The Resident? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Critic Rating:
User Rating:
The Resident airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on FOX.
Follow us on Twitter and on 
Instagram!
Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!
Lara Rosales
By day, Lara Rosales (she/her) is a solo mom by choice and a bilingual writer with a BA in Latin-American Literature known as a Media Relations Expert. By night, she is a TV enjoyer who used to host a podcast (Cats, Milfs & Lesbian Things). You can find her work published on Eulalie Magazine, Geek Girl Authority, W Spotlight, Collider, USA Wire, Mentors Collective, Instelite, Noodle, Dear Movies, Nicki Swift, and Flip Screened.