Transplant 2×06 “Liberty” finds the doctors thinking of freedoms, some by choice and some by necessity. As we’ve seen, this season has been no stranger to tumultuous relationships and tensions running high. In fact, it seems like one thing or another comes to a head in every episode. Transplant 2×06 “Liberty” is no different, as the doctors decide whether to let go or hold on. So let’s dive right in:
BASH MEET STRESS.
Bash is just barely holding it together this episode. His personal and professional life are walking a tightrope, and the only way is either across or down. Bash deals with a patient brought in for four gunshot wounds, his grandmother who won’t leave him, and the police asking for a DNA sample. Bash envokes patient care before all else and manages to delay the officer, informing her she needs a warrant.
Meanwhile, the patient’s grandmother is determined to take care of him when he’s released and help him, no matter what trouble he’s gotten himself into. The grandson appreciates his grandmother, but he doesn’t want the police or anybody else looking for him and forcing her into the middle.
For this reason, Bash, who was already at odds with June about his patient’s line of treatment, has to ask her to remove his chest tube when the patient informs them he’s leaving. This doesn’t sit well with the grandmother, who believes that the doctors failed him by letting him go, and the officer believes the only way to help him is by finding him.
While Bash and June may not have been on the same wavelength with his treatment, they did manage to come together, in the end, to comply with the patient’s wishes. Bash feels for this patient, who doesn’t want to put anyone in danger due to his actions. For this reason, he gives the patient’s grandmother supplies, just in case the patient shows up at her house. Even when the patient is no longer in his care, he ties up every loose end.
Meanwhile, at home, Bash is dealing with some unresolved tension. He and Rania can’t seem to get on the same page. When Bash discovers pads in Amira’s bag, he questions Rania why he didn’t know. Rania defends herself by arguing that he is always at the hospital and that it is fine because Amira knew what to do.
Bash has held on to the idea of normalcy and fixing the past for so long that the thought of recreating it seems like the only action. But it’s not. He acknowledges that everything has changed, but he’s not a quitter, and he wants to fight for his relationship. Rania knows her worth, and she knows it’s not enough.
In fact, she confides in him that she believes they are living a lie. Rania tells Bash that there is no more intimacy, that she’s just the nanny. If he doesn’t love her, he needs to tell her. She lets him know that it won’t be enough if he doesn’t feel the same way. But we know Bash. He wants to fix everything, but in this case, Bash seems to be holding on to something that isn’t meant to be.
The past can only be relived so much because we outgrow the past. Bash feels on edge because he’s missing out on his family while at the hospital while trying to act as normal as possible at home, and it’s just not balancing. Balance is key when you’re already committed, but you can’t balance your way to wanting something, and you can’t balance your way into a relationship. In this case, Bash might just be pushed in a new direction.
WRECK BAR
Theo finds himself walking a similar tightrope as Bash. Theo’s patient comes in having accidentally ingested his mom’s sleep edibles. Fortunately, Theo can treat the patient and even deal with his duelling parents. The parents remind Theo of his current situation as he fights for joint custody of his kids.
When the father gets upset with the mother, Theo puts his foot down and calms them. The social worker even consoles the parents, stating that there was no intent of harm and a simple prevention plan should be enough going forward. The social worker even notes Theo’s need to fix the parent’s relationship and recommends that he release his own frustrations at Wreck Bar.
When Theo arrives, it turns out it’s not really a bar. Instead, it turns out it’s a rage room, and while Theo assures her the next day that he prefers more constructive ways of releasing his anger, we see that the room would have been useful. Theo is clearly harbouring some stress surrounding his student, who he believes isn’t putting in enough effort, and his divorce situation.
Theo smashes his phone at the end of the episode when he finds out his ex-wife wants full custody. Sometimes, it’s better to get out the insurmountable rage we feel, even if it’s smashing your own phone. The point is that Theo needs to start working on his own stressors and releasing/accepting his emotions. Everything is just gonna snowball if he can’t find a way to accept it.
We know that Theo is lovable and a supportive member of his York Memorial Team. However, pretending that he’s not going through it will get him nowhere. We saw how concerned he was for Amira when she fell and hit her head in this episode. He sutured her up, let her talk to him, and even taught her to dress a wound when asked for a few more minutes away from Bash and Rania.
Theo told Bash about Amira picking up on the tension, and unfortunately, Bash lashes out at him because of how Amira expressed her concerns. In truth, Theo misses hanging out with Bash, and he misses his normalcy. But, even then, Theo ignores Bash’s outburst, knowing it’s not about him and carries on.
No matter what is going on in Theo’s life, he is front and center when it comes to helping others. But again, you can’t help others until you help yourself, and right now, that’s what Theo needs. Theo needs to help himself so that he can be free and embark on his own journey.
JUNIE
June’s brother Charles was the light of this episode. He brought a little laughter and joy when we needed it most. He starts off by calling his sister ‘Junie’ and bantering with Theo about him never calling her that. Eventually, Charles lets June know that he is here because of their father.
It turns out that Charles has been working remotely from Toronto so he can take care of their dad. June clarifies that despite everything, she does not want to have contact with their father, and she is doing her best to help out in other ways, like hiring a nurse. Charles even calls her out for avoiding him because he knew she didn’t want to talk about their father.
Charles eventually calls her cold and lets her know that their dad is dying. June revisits their conversation later on and clarifies that just because she doesn’t want to have a relationship with their dad doesn’t mean she doesn’t want a relationship with Charles. Charles agrees to keep their relationship separate from their father.
It was nice to see the sibling bond between June and Charles and to see her so free when talking to her brother. The most admirable thing about their interaction was that June kept her boundaries and that Charles came to respect that. We tend to compromise ourselves for family, sometimes even for just the title of family, when in reality, our boundaries should be respected as they are an extension of us.
The siblings’ respect and honesty was refreshing to see. Especially considering we don’t get to see June in such a personal light, it was nice to see how close she is with her brother.
BISHOP AND MAGS WORK TOGETHER
This episode sees an unlikely duo teaming up. Mags finds a hospital caretaker injured from what the lady says is a steam accident. Half of her hand seems to be burned, and Mags takes it upon herself to dress and clean the burn.
Veronica- the cleaning lady, doesn’t want to file a complaint or workplace injury report because she doesn’t want it to backfire. Mags reassures her that if anyone gives her trouble, Mags will handle it.
Later on, she finds the steam cleaner and tries to figure out how it works to see what could have gone wrong. Finally, Bishop finds Mags with the steam cleaner and jokes about her being in every department in the hospital.
Bishop is yet to okay Mags’ potential time in cardiology even though he knows that emerg would come first. He lets Mags know that he is aware of what ‘biting off more than you can chew’ feels like, and for now, he would like her to stay in emerg. But, overall, it is her decision. Seems Bishop doesn’t want to set his residents free.
Veronica comes back later with a full-thickness burn to her hand. Turns out that steam burn was actually ammonia because the maintenance team decided to order cheaper ammonia undiluted and in bulk. Mags believes that since Veronica does so much for the hospital, Mags could at the very least get her the best possible treatment.
At this point, Mags ropes in Bishop, who gives her the number of a plastic surgeon, the only one who may be able to save Veronica’s hand at St. Luke’s, while he talks to maintenance. Even though he didn’t want to get involved, Mags’ big heart and persistence helped her save Veronica’s hand and pushed Bishop into a different role.
It was an unlikely duo, but the way they challenged each other as mentor and mentee were interesting to see. Mags got to build connections and save her patient, while Dr. Bishop learned just how much caring a little more can save you and the ones around you.
DOCTOR’S PERSONAL ANECDOTES:
- Well, ugh, that was an, ehm, uncomfortable morning in the Hamed household *tension*
- “Ad lib- At liberty. As in, I’m at liberty to remind you they teach that in first year.” HAHHAHA MAGS THAT WAS *PERFECT.* sorry jakey. also the nurse cracking up in the back is me.
- ‘Junie.’ Same Theo. Same.
- Bash, Mags, and June all disagreeing, and Theo annoyed with Jake just proves personal tension is bleeding into work.
- Mags and Jake are…. interesting
- June and Charles are the most sibling, siblings I have ever seen.
- They are pushing Bishop out, nooooooo.
- Mags is the sweetest person.
- WOW BASH is on edge today
- ‘no matter what he can always come home. you make it so that he still can’ -damn
- Theo thinks the social worker is ‘interesting’ hmmm interesting
- Bishop’s little sigh at Mags trying to take on everything is hilarious
- that is one powerful grandmother
- Theo’s reaction to ‘wreck bar’ is priceless
- awww Amira having a dance recital and Bash wanting it to be a family trip
- Theo is just adorable
- Jake running a differential on Mags… again: interesting
- this hospital is one giant family, the way Bishop and Theo were fixing up Amira
- time is function
- OUCH Bash and Theo’s tension.
- JAKE AND MAGS. *CUTE*
- ‘whether I find you charming or annoying’ yessss Mags same.
- June roasting Jake’s personality is amazing. Apparently it’s open season on Jake today.
- I’m glad Bishop is fighting for his position
- Rania and Bash are breaking my heart
Let us know what you thought of Transplant 2×06 ‘Liberty’ in the comments!
Transplant airs Sundays at 10/9c on NBC.
