Transplant 2×08 “Scars” showcases survival. This episode focuses on the physical and emotional scars of fighting demons. The doctors and the patients relate to one another as they struggle to overcome their past and focus on a future beyond the challenges. Let’s dive in:
SACRIFICES
Sacrifices can be willful or not-so-willful, but we see a heartwarming story of young love and sacrifices in this episode. Malik comes in with a distressingly low glucose level and fluid in his lungs. Malik is in kidney failure, and his girlfriend Ruby has made it clear that she is donating her kidney to him.
When Ruby lies and says she is emancipated, Bash has to call her mother to get consent for donation. When the mother comes in, she drags Ruby away from Malik. Later Bash finds Ruby in the storage closet with a deep self-inflicted cut on her arm. When Bash stitches her up, he learns that she has had a previous history of self-harm.
Unfortunately, Theo lets Bash know that Ruby won’t be able to donate now because they don’t want to risk post-op depression. Ruby feels heartbroken, and while the mom is against it, she wants Malik to move in with them. She wants Ruby and Malik to return to her home and be under her care.
Bash feels a weight lifted off his shoulder because, at the very least, the kids have someplace to stay, and Malik will receive proper care. It’s just one of the fifty things weighing on Bash’s shoulders. He is proud that Ruby was willing to sacrifice everything despite her traumas and scars; it reminds him of himself.
With the lawsuit and the need to protect Mags, with Khaled’s immigration, he feels like he needs to take on everything by himself. So he protects everyone from everything, and not only is it bringing up emotional scars but adding to them. Bash is all heart, but he needs to make sure he doesn’t bleed dry.
IT’S PERSONAL
Mags’ time in cardiology comes sooner than she wants. When an infant is brought in with supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), Mags finds herself drawn to the child. Mags stabilizes him in the ER with the help of Jake and Theo and then continues to stay with the baby throughout the tests and procedures.
Considering the baby was born with tricuspid atresia, the SVT increases the possibility of cardiac death, and therefore, treatment is a constant monitoring game. Mags relives her previous cardiac health issues as she attends to the infant, and it’s clear this case is dredging up emotional and physical scars.
The cardiologist assigned to the case informs Mags of the options and allows her to inform the parents. When Mags is concerned that the parents will ask what measure to take, the cardiologist tells her to be honest, considering she has lived their reality. Mags does as told but negates offering any support to one option over the other.
Later on, when the infant has another SVT episode, he grabs Mags’ finger, and she tells the parents to do the riskier procedure. It’s clear that the minute he grabbed her finger, she felt like he was giving her a sign. Furthermore, Mags believes he is a fighter, and she knows from personal experience what the risks are.
We see a heartbreaking moment where Mags almost breaks down. She has always put others before herself, and this case is no different; it’s just a little more personal. Yet, it’s also clear that cardiology is her calling. She has the experience, the empathy, and the passion for being an excellent cardiologist. So, let’s see where this path takes her.
OVERBEARING EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
Theo has a busy day, to say the least. First, Theo treats a patient who seems to be having an asthma attack but is not responding to the usual treatment. Upon further investigation, it turns out that the child is exhibiting signs of TB, and Theo finds out about their travel history late in the game.
Theo reprimands Jake for not asking about international travel considering it could cause the infection that mimics TB. Jake takes it upon himself to investigate other causes and finds the infection source with a bit of help from Mags. The infection came from the compost pile the dad has in his garden.
Finally, Theo is impressed with Jake and manages to see a kinder side of the patient’s mom. The patient’s mom isn’t just being kind to Theo, as she takes a liking to him. She asks him bluntly if he would like to come home with her. Watching Theo so confused and out of the game was the highlight of this episode.
It was also nice to see Theo helping out where he could, like when the baby was brought in, when Malik needed a procedure in the ED and when Bash needed some support and guidance. Theo seemed to be in control and potentially on a better road this episode. It seems like he’s working through his emotional scars.
DOCTORS PERSONAL ANECDOTES:
- Seven doctors v. one bird; Bird 1 Doctors 0
- Jake wants to meet Mags’ sister *CUTE*
- June not remembering personal information about others but remembers the state of someone’s organs… is so significantly… June
- Bash calling to check on Khaled
- oh no… this lawsuit is going to be ongoing, isn’t it?
- Bash and Claire are a duo I didn’t know I needed
- “UNSUBSCRIBE” JUNE
- oooooh Trauma OR… fancy
- June and Dr. Singh are having a conflict… OUCH
- Bash and Mags’ tension… OUCH
- breathe Bash, breathe
- Mags and her sister having lunch with Jake is hilarious and awkward
- “I can’t talk about him if he’s here’ SAME
- THE FRENCH
- wow, the sister is harsh, but like mildly, right?
- June is trying to get into the emotional side
- Jake is adorbs
- awwwww Bishop is checking in on June
- June protecting her brother is precisely like June.
- Theo is hilarious, adorable and also soooooo out of the game.
- Bash needs a hug
Agree or Disagree? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
Transplant airs Sundays at 10/9c on NBC.
