St. Denis Medical Season 2 Episode 17 Review: Here a Righteous Woman Comes

St. Denis Medical Season 2 Episode 17, “Here a Righteous Woman Comes,” presents a hilarious and action-packed narrative from start to finish. It’s a solid penultimate outing that sets the stage for what’ll surely be a tear-inducing and tissue-grabbing season finale. This series has really found its groove in Season 2 despite a few bumps (and the inevitable growing pains) along the way. 

St. Denis Medical, “Here a Righteous Woman Comes” 

Let’s address the elephant in the room: the Matt and Serena of it all. Nothing impels two lovebirds to finally act on their feelings quite like the “We must pretend we’re dating because [X, Y, and Z] depends on it” sitcom trope. Kahyun Kim and Mekki Leeper boast an easygoing, understated chemistry. Most in the fandom might dismiss it because it’s not a blatantly hot-and-heavy dynamic. 

However, there’s something to be said about the crushes that are more sweet than burning, more yearning than sizzling. Serena taking her and Matt’s roles as two soon-to-be parents seriously is hilarious, and thankfully, Matt plays along. Who knew that Pumpkin was dishonorably discharged from the Navy, and Big Papi is in a Vanessa Carlton cover band? 

The entire series has steadily cultivated the budding romance between Serena and Matt, obstacles and all. This makes the kiss at the end of “Here a Righteous Woman Comes” feel entirely earned and organic. It’s a cheer-worthy moment. After Bruce encourages Matt to make the first move, he does, and it’s a memorable first kiss, to be sure. Matt’s development has been a thing of beauty this season, and his initiating that kiss doesn’t seem out of left field. 

Here, a Joyce Face Plants 

Wendi McLendon-Covey doesn’t get enough credit for her gift for physical comedy. In St. Denis Medical, especially this season, she goes all out. Joyce falling off that stage is as hysterical as it is cringeworthy. McLendon-Covey turns in her show-best performance yet, and that scene in the gift shop with Allison Tolman solidifies this.

McLendon-Covey deftly navigates the nuances of Joyce’s concussion without going over the top — she lets the comedy speak for itself while showcasing Joyce’s genuine disappointment that she won’t get the recognition she deserves. That she’ll one day shuffle off this mortal coil with nothing to show for it. Tolman’s Alex also exhibits immense growth by giving Joyce credit for the birthing center. It’s a beautiful moment. 

The scenes with Joyce, Val, and Alex are great. Kaliko Kauahi is woefully underutilized in St. Denis Medical, and “Here a Righteous Woman Comes” is proof positive of this. Val has some comedic bangers on this episode. Here’s hoping Season 3 thrusts her into the spotlight more often. 

Best Buddies in Medicine 

Ron begrudgingly stops by our titular hospital for his annual physical, and it’s a good thing he did. Of course, Bruce would be enthusiastic about the whole shebang, especially since he gets to bond with Ron. In typical Bruce fashion, he becomes smitten with the nurse performing their physicals (I hope Jayma Mays returns at some point), and it’s also hilariously in-character that Bruce asks for help with winning her over. It plays against the “classically handsome doctor” stereotype. 

Ron’s diagnosis (and impending triple bypass surgery) is a pretty serious plot twist for this series. David Alan Grier and McLendon-Covey are adorable together, and I love that Joyce abandons her moment of triumph to be there for her friend (although this writer still ships them). The Season 2 finale is titled “We Make Time,” and it’s clear that this found family will make time to support Ron. The narrative stakes are high, but these lovable doofuses are more than ready to face the music together. 

Stray Observations: 

• “The White Women’s Birthing Center” joke sent me to the Moon. If I were Joyce, I would simply vanish into the ether out of embarrassment. 
• To be fair, Spice Girls lyrics are motivational. 
• I love that the “Zig-a-zig, ah” (I had to look up how to type that out) bit paid off spectacularly after Joyce’s big choral performance. Long live Val. 
• If Ron is Bruce’s third-best friend and his mom is his first (aww), does that mean Matty is Bruce’s second-best friend? The math checks out. By the way, Bruce saying his mother is his number one BFF is a big green flag in my book. 
• Matt would be in a Vanessa Carlton cover band. The vision is so clear to me. 

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St. Denis Medical airs new episodes every Monday at 8/7c on NBC, with next-day streaming on Hulu.

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