Transplant 2×03 ‘Sever’ finds the doctors severing ties with any semblance of tranquillity as new opportunities and personal issues take over. Let’s dive right in:
chief. june. curtis.
As June looks at the OR schedule, wondering why she isn’t on the board, she learns that the board is hers. That’s right, Dr. June Curtis is officially Chief Resident. As Chief Resident, June manages the ED and assigns residents to the OR. Even though she is determined to learn the ways of the ED on her own, she finds herself listening intently to the advice of Dr. Singh and Dr. Atwater.
Throughout the day, June assigns herself to an incoming trauma and assigns her then-competition, Erica Harris, as her ED cover. When Erica steps away to assist a senior doctor and doesn’t find anyone to manage the ED or page June, June has to hear it. Dr. Singh reminds her that she should not have to be micromanaged and should have found cover for the ED as chief. Later on, Dr. Atwater also reminds June of her responsibilities and the importance of her presence in the ED.
As she confronts Erica about leaving the ED unattended, she quickly learns that having one person cover her in the ED will not suffice. June feels frustrated and disappointed about her first day. However, Dr. Singh reminds June that it was only the first day and that ‘today’s mistakes are over.’ He also supports June when she expresses her frustration about Erica not paging her but reminds her that these residents are also looking for opportunities, and it wouldn’t be fair to give those up.
It may not be smooth sailing, but June is ironing out her new position. She is already unapologetic about the prospect that not everyone may like her, but she has expressed her frustration with having to ‘politik’ as chief. Nevertheless, as June works through her new and well-deserved position, she tries to find a way to manage on her terms and respect the workload of those around her.
NOVAK V. EVERYONE
Now listen, Novak has managed to get under everyone’s skin at least once. But, the M&M Review in this episode should be rebranded as Novak v. Everyone because he manages to piss off everybody in one day collectively. So, let’s break down the cases before the M&M Review and the aftermath:
BASH’S CASE
Initially, Novak irritates Bash by being excited about an incoming trauma involving two teenage figure skaters. Then, Novak is seen bouncing on his toes while smiling and saying, ‘it’s gonna be bloody.’ WTF.
As Novak assists with the incoming trauma, Bash eventually takes over the case and tends to the two kids. Vincent, who comes in for a laceration, ultimately becomes the least of Bash’s problems, as Trish- his partner, loses consciousness from her head injury and then displays other acute and unrelated symptoms. It turns out that Trish has been taking supplements that have affected her liver and now requires a transplant.
Vincent and Trish’s case makes Bash reflect on his resilience as he informs the two teenagers that they’ve been ‘beating the odds all day.’ Bash sees the way they support and lean on each other, and he admires their accountability towards each other. This translates into Bash’s personal life as he ponders his relationship with Rania and the general idea of a support system for his PTSD and flashbacks.
THE M&M REVIEW
First, this show seamlessly knows how to cut two scenes together, such as the M&M review cut with Dr. Bishop’s recovery. As Dr. Novak infringes on Bishop’s credibility, we see Bishop fighting and making an effort to recover and get back to the job he loves. The symbolism here is not lost on anyone; as one person tries to destroy Bishop’s career, Bishop fights to build it back.
Novak leads the review, and as the other doctors so brilliantly pointed out, the case seems self-explanatory. Due to Dr. Bishop’s medical condition, he lost his vision and unfortunately misguided Bash on the chest tube insertion. However, Dr. Novak tries to prove that it was a ‘systemic failure of leadership.’ He tries to prove that Bishop knew what was happening, created an environment that would not allow his residents to challenge him, and therefore nobody said anything about his condition.
The beauty of this scene ties to Bash fighting for the people he loves. He refuses to accept any slander of the attending in the case and comes forward to defend Bishop. He eliminates the anonymity of the review and explains that Dr. Bishop has always fostered an environment of open communication and encourages pushback.
Even though Bash tries to defend Bishop, Novak further points out that in a room of highly trained doctors, who diagnose patients every day having just met them, how could they have missed Bishop’s condition. Claire explains that Bishop was hiding it and knew his recovery was not going to plan, but he didn’t know how severe; ultimately, Claire says that it was his fault alone.
THE AFTERMATH
As much as we want to see Bishop fighting for himself, we can’t help but admire him wanting to protect his team. For this reason, he sent Claire in there to make sure that, in the end, the fall was on him.
Bash defending Bishop does not go over well with Novak or Bishop. Novak claims that he is in Bash’s corner while simultaneously bringing up that his file does not contain Bash’s credentials, but only a sworn statement by Bishop that they exist. Furthermore, Novak’s manipulation in the elevator implies that Bash is protective of Bishop because he owes him, which outlines how much of a chip Novak has on his shoulder.
Considering Bash informs Bishop of these recent developments, Bishop feels frustrated that Bash had to defend him. However, Bishop wants to protect his team, taking the whole ride and ensuring the residents don’t make matters worse for themselves. Even though there may be a slight rift between Bishop and Bash, it comes from an admirable place of mutual protection.
MAGS V. NOVAK ROUND 2
Would it be an episode of Transplant Season 2 if Novak wasn’t trying to dismiss Mags adamantly? No, probably not. We all know Mags as the knowledgeable, sweet, and accommodating doctor, but Novak can’t stand how far she is willing to go for patients.
Mags starts the episode, having been on shift for the entire night. When Bash’s incoming trauma is first announced, Mags has an hour left till her shift is over, but even then, Novak doesn’t allow her to assist with any incoming traumas. So, Mags occupies her time with a lovely patient who found a dead rat in her milk.
Mags sets up the patient on an IV and essentially treats her for food poising; she delves a little deeper into the rat and spends two hours convincing public health to test it. At the end of the episode, when she comes back to start her next shift, Novak gives her the rat back, saying that it doesn’t need testing from public health since the patient is not at risk of anything serious.
When he gives it back to her instead of throwing it out, he does so under the guise that ‘knowing you, you might want to dissect it and test it yourself, or at least give it a proper burial.’ If he wasn’t insufferable, he is now. He makes it a point to make Mags feel like she does something wrong for being incredibly passionate about her job. He undermines all of her actions and intentions. Listen, I can appreciate sarcasm, but he’s isn’t sarcastic; he’s a condescending bulldozer.
CAN SOMEONE GIVE THEO A HUG. PLEASE.
For the first time in a long time, Theo starts an episode happy. He is over the moon that he was able to put his kids to bed over facetime and even turned it into a game of ‘Robot Dad’ that the kids loved. Needless to say, he feels like he’s finally balancing his new position and his family. But unfortunately, Theo’s happiness is short-lived.
Theo tends to a child whose tooth infection turns into endocarditis but is luckily treated on antibiotics in the hospital. What gets to Theo is the mother-son situation. They are on their own as they left her abusive husband, and now the mother is struggling with costs; she struggles with whether to get him a winter coat or take him to the dentist. Theo assures her that it’s not her fault and that she is a great mother who made a challenging and invaluable decision to protect herself and her child.
While Theo tends to his patient, his wife flies into town and expresses some heartbreaking concerns. Mel doesn’t feel happy anymore, and she doesn’t feel as if their arrangement will work. Theo tries to promise that everything will settle and that he’ll come back home if it doesn’t. Mel doesn’t want that because she knows how happy he has been with the job, and she can’t unsee that.
A conversation with the patient’s mother sticks out to him in the end: ‘every decision has consequences… and we don’t know what they are when we make them.’ For Theo, his decision to take the job he loves decided on his wife and their relationship. Mel and Theo are mutually apologetic, but Mel doesn’t want to take him away from his happiness, and she knows he can still be a good dad. On the other hand, Theo loves Mel, and he doesn’t want to hurt her. It’s a tricky balancing act, and sometimes it’s more heartbreak than anything else.
DOCTOR’S PERSONAL ANECDOTES:
- So proud of Bash for going to therapy for his PTSD and for trying to follow his therapist’s suggestion of leaning on others when he has flashbacks.
- Bash and Theo’s friendship is purity
- Bash is looking for a new place… hmmm.
- The hugs and little moments between Mags and June makes my heart all warm and fuzzy.
- Rania calling Bash and immediately knowing he’s stressed *sobbing*
- Rania also letting him know that she found a place and Bash immediately disapproving of the nieghbourhood had me on the floor.
- Mags grabbing lunch with her sister and talking IN FRENCH, was just such a breath of fresh air. She is so at ease and so happy, which is all we EVER want.
- Dr. Atwater about Novak: “I just hate. that. man.” and honestly SAME.
- Seriously, Novak is the worst.
- Someone give Theo a hug. NOW.
- Dr. Singh taking June for the rite of passage first-day-as-chief hot dog outside the hospital just shows how far their mentor-mentee relationship has grown.
- Bash renting a new place for himself and wanting Rania to move in *SCREAMING*
- Their banter is adorable; yes Bash you’re sleeping on a couch. Again.
- ‘I don’t need saving Bashir.’ ‘Maybe I do.’ followed by THAT heartfelt moment is EVERYTHING.
Let us know what you thought about Transplant 2×03 ‘Sever.’
Transplant airs Sundays at 10/9 C on NBC.
