One of the things that is probably the most difficult about being a medical professional is death. Nobody wants to talk about it, and we understand. It’s a tricky subject that nobody wants to think about. But working in healthcare, you can’t escape it no matter how hard you try. In St. Denis Medical Season 1, Episode 9, “You Gotta Have A Plan,” everyone was forced to think about their mortality and how to be prepared for it.
MORE: Where is St. Denis Medical set?
Death Brings Out The Worst In People
Serena and Matt were paired up to monitor a patient who was receiving end-of-life care. Their responsibility is to keep him comfortable and watch for the time of death. With that duty also comes managing his family and their drama. His children are fighting a lot over what he wants after he passes. They also think each one has an agenda to get certain things that belong to him. It’s a very contentious situation, and it’s a real one that the show highlights very well. I have taken care of my fair share of patients who are at the end of life. I have seen the fights. Emotions are high, understandably so.
Matt and Serena were caught in the middle and did their best to manage everything. Unfortunately, Matt paid the price by getting an arm or, rather, a can of tea to the face when he attempted to step in and play referee during an argument. Serena was impressed by how Matt stepped in. This led her to realize she had been underestimating him. I was impressed with him, too, because since Matt started working at St. Denis Medical, he’s come off as the nice guy who is a bit too naïve at times. He’s pretty patient, but this family tested that patience, and he couldn’t stay quiet anymore.
When Serena and Matts’s patient dies, they see the family’s vulnerability revealed and get to the root of the matter. The siblings each had their own set of guilt over their relationship with their father. Those feelings are what led to them getting into so many arguments. Serena and Matt made them see that what they were arguing about was small in comparison to what was happening in the room. They ensured that the family understood why they were all together and that they should have supported each other instead of fighting.
What I enjoyed most about watching Serena and Matt work together was that Serena learned more about who he is. It was shocking to see his scar from his time doing farm work back home in Montana, and based on his description, he has more. Serena thought she had Matt figured out, so she was surprised to hear some of his stories. I hope we get the same with Serena because I want to know more about her and what made her choose a nursing career.
Part of me feels like even though she loves what she does, there is something else she wants to do. I also hope that she realizes that Matt has a crush on her. His signals couldn’t be more noticeable, but she currently thinks he’s gay. I also need Matt to stop being so scared and speak up. The silence isn’t helping. I hope he eventually asks her out because I want to see them outside the hospital if possible.
While Serena and Matt cared for their patient, Alex and Ron were in a crazy battle over who would be the executor of Joyce’s estate. Yes, you read that right. As everyone was discussing their end-of-life plans, Alex’s level of preparedness was impressive to Joyce, so she decided to enlist her to be the one to handle her affairs in the event of her death. This involved her signing some documents brought over by Joyce’s notary. Alex didn’t want to do it. That much was clear, but instead of saying no, she made Joyce believe she was on board, but then she tricked her into changing the executor to Ron.
Since watching St. Denis Medical, I have learned that you don’t mess with Ron. He will get you back. I have to say the scenes between him and Alex were hilarious. I think that Allison Tolman and David Alan Grier bounce off each other very well with their comedic timing, and I love their back-and-forth so much. Alex’s plan backfired when she learned that whoever was the executor of Joyce’s estate would receive an executor fee of $50,000. That changes things, and she begs Ron to let Joyce make her the executor. Do you see how money changes people? It changed Alex’s tune, and Ron had no qualms about calling her out.
The joke was on both her and Ron, though, when they learned that the notary was Joyce’s boyfriend Sanderson, and she was testing him because they were in a fight. So, neither one of them ended up being the executor once he shut everything down. This whole thing was a lesson for both Ron and Alex. More so, Alex because she’s a caring person and she has a big problem with saying no to people. It’s okay to say no. If I were Alex, I certainly would not have wanted to be the executor for my boss. That’s a line I would never cross, and I think Alex should have just been honest and told Joyce she wasn’t comfortable doing it. She and Ron didn’t even have to resort to any of their sneaky tactics, and the whole thing would have been over with a simple “no.”
MORE: Here are 5 reasons to watch St. Denis Medical?
Other Thoughts
- Bruce… Cryotherapy in the morgue? Really?
- Serena wanting her ashes mixed with glitter and blown out of an air cannon at a club in Vegas (on the strip, not off) is on brand for her.
- “I made em, I’m keeping em.”
- It would have been nice to see more of Bruce coming to terms with the fact that his DNA screening revealed he was at risk of developing Hollins Syndrome. Especially since he prides himself on doing everything to stay healthy. Not to mention, he thinks he’s invincible and incapable of dying.
- Ron stirs the pot, and I enjoy it every time.
- I still can’t believe Serena can’t tell Matt likes her.
- “Part of me respects you; a large part can’t wait to teach you a lesson.”
- Matt getting hit in the face accidentally by his patient’s family highlighted the risks of working in healthcare. Nurses get hurt more than a lot of people realize.
- “Okay, Montana!”
Agree? Disagree? What did you think about St. Denis Medical Season 1, Episode 9 “You Gotta Have A Plan”? Share with us in the comments below!
St. Denis Medical airs Tuesday Nights at 8/7c on NBC.
