St. Denis Medical is a funny show, but it also manages to balance serious topics. And it does it in a way that everyone can understand. On St. Denis Medical Season 1, Episode 14, “Listen to Your Ladybugs,” the theme was fear. And that fear was captured in various ways. There was the fear of the unknown as Joyce faced an unexpected piece of news, the fear of pain as shown by Ron’s patient, and the fear of being enough, as we witnessed with Bruce.
Will I be Okay?
One of the most important things a woman can do is to take care of her breast health. It seems simple enough, but many women don’t get mammograms regularly. In St. Denis Medical Episode 14 “Listen to Your Ladybugs” Joyce organized an event to encourage women to stop at the hospital to get their screenings done. While Joyce wanted to get the word out about St. Denis’s new state-of-the-art mammography machine, the goal of promoting breast health was far more significant. Joyce understood just how important it is, and when she had an exam live for all to see and learned that a lump had been found, she understood that much more.
Naturally, this news sent Joyce into a bit of a spiral and we can’t blame her. We’d be freaked out too. So we were able to relate to her avoiding having the biopsy that was recommended to find out if the lump was benign or not. A diagnosis of breast cancer can be life-altering and Joyce’s fear of the unknown kept her from agreeing to the exam. Thankfully she had her fellow Ladybugs Alex and Serena by her side to help her.
MORE: Need a refresher on what happened on the last episode of St. Denis Medical? Read our review of St. Denis Medical Season 1, Episode 13, “Some Famous Internet Guy”
What I loved about the scenes between Alex, Serena, and Joyce was that they let her know she didn’t have to do anything alone. They even recited her mantra: “Make the time, don’t be afraid, and lean on a loved one.” Joyce learned that, though Alex and Serena may have been coworkers, that didn’t mean they wouldn’t be there to provide her support. Their support was undoubtedly much better than Sanderson’s (we don’t like that guy either, Alex).
This support was a reminder that the people at St. Denis Medical are like her family. They want to share in the good and the bad times. We’re glad that everything worked out for Joyce. And that Alex, and Serena was there for her to celebrate the good.
Google University
Ahhh yes, Google University. It’s the new age of medical care where everyone is a medical professional as long as they’ve got their trusty devices to hit that little Google Search. On St. Denis Medical Season 1, Episode 14 “Listen to Your Ladybugs,” Ron dealt with Ben, a patient with an abscess on his chin. For Ron this would have been a simple in and out type of thing except that his patient was, as one of his colleagues stated, “A Googler.”
As we’ve mentioned before, Ron is old school. He’s finding it hard to adjust to tech growth because it affects his job. What is his purpose as a Medical professional if all a person has to do is consult ChatGPT or WebMD to find out what’s wrong with them? How is he supposed to compete with a world filled with AI doctors? And it doesn’t help him much when Matt seems to favor the new technology.
What’s The Point Of Us?
Ron quickly finds out that there is something that AI will never be able to do. Provide compassion and reassurance. What he learns from Ben is that his obsessive Googling was more about his fear of what was wrong with him. He expresses a moment of vulnerability and reveals his fear of pain. We have all had our fair share of being Google Doctors. I’m a Nurse and I still Google my symptoms. Fear of the unknown makes us seek out answers. Ron’s kindness and understanding came out authentically when he supported Ben through his procedure.
In his way, Ron was able to find the balance between that technology he so dreaded because even if AI could provide an answer, he was still needed. There is no replacement for human connection, especially in the medical field. When people come to the hospital, they are at their most vulnerable. Patients want to know that someone is there for them and will provide the helping hand and comfort they need. That’s exactly what Ron did.
You Don’t Have To Be Good
Like Ron, on St. Denis Medical Episode 14, “Listen to Your Ladybugs,” Bruce questioned his purpose and existence. After an elderly man said the words, “You don’t have to be good,” it triggered Bruce. Despite Val’s information that the patient had dementia and repeated those words over and over, Bruce couldn’t get over it.
As mentioned in our interview with Josh Lawson, since the beginning of St. Denis Medical Season 1, we have seen more of Bruce’s vulnerability revealed. This week was no different. Bruce gets in his own head a lot and now we know why he has such a perfectionist nature. Because Bruce’s father died when he was a kid, he has a need to be the best because he wants his father to be proud of him. That was revealed during his conversation with his mother.
MORE: Love Bruce? Read our exclusive interview with Josh Lawson!
After running into the patient with his daughter, she put things in perspective for him and made him realize that all the accolades in the world are not what defines you. Though Bruce acted like he wasn’t that affected by what she said, it was clear he was. And sometimes, we all need a little reminder that we don’t always have to be good.
Other Thoughts
- Serena initially refusing to wear the Ladybug costume was on brand for her.
- “Is this a breast exam or a Panini press?”
- “This is a hospital, not some Quiznos.” *dies.
- Matt not knowing what a Quiznos is… we are old.
- “It’s a effing sandwich shop!”
- The other doctor refusing to take the patient trade from Ron after he found out he was a Googler, absolutely hilarious and entirely accurate.
- For those who want to know, the words “You don’t have to be good” are from the poem “Wild Geese” by Mary Oliver.
- “It’s funny what ends up being important to you at the end of the day.”
- “I guess there are some things a search engine can’t tell you. When it comes down to it, there’s really only one question patients want answered- Will I be okay?. You come to me for that one.”
St. Denis Medical airs Tuesday Nights at 8/7c on NBC.
