St. Denis Medical is back after a short winter break, and episode 2×09 ‘You’re In His Bubble’ picked right back up where we left off in the aftermath of Sanderson’s shocking marriage proposal to Joyce. And we also got a full episode of Serena truly coming to terms with her feelings for Matt. All in all, it was a great way for the show to return.
MORE: Need a refresher of the last episode? Read our review of St. Denis Medical Season 2, Episode 8!
Joyce, the “Bride Captive”
After Joyce accepted Sanderson’s marriage proposal, things began to move rather quickly. We know from Joyce’s “mmmhmm” response that she isn’t totally invested, which is why it came as no surprise that she was letting Sanderson run the show. And because she’s not fully prepared for it, she tapped Alex to be her wedding planner. Alex, of course, accepts it because she’s just way too nice. And as always, she bites off more than she can chew. She learns that Sanderson wants a Norse Viking wedding with Joyce as the “Bride captive” and Chaplin Steve officiating.
Alex, of course, thinks this is a terrible idea, and I agree. When she asked Joyce what it was that she wanted, she couldn’t get a straight answer. As she attempts to get Joyce more involved in the planning, they start to check things off Sanderson’s list of wants to nail down what Joyce does, and doesn’t want. It becomes clear to Alex that what Joyce wanted off the list is Sanderson.
Joyce’s Wake-up Call
Joyce and Sanderson have always had an interesting relationship to me. And when I say interesting, I mean loveless and unromantic. The two of them would be better suited as friends. Sanderson was so blinded by his excitement that he couldn’t see how Joyce really felt. And that is precisely what Ron talked to him about in St. Denis Medical Episode 2×08 ‘A Waste of Time and Marble.’ He doesn’t truly think about what Joyce wants or needs. If he did, he would have known she was completely checked out of the wedding planning.
It’s no surprise that Joyce had a panic attack as she thought more and more about what was ahead of her. But it was the wake-up call she needed. Joyce doesn’t feel for Sanderson the way he does. He’s not her person. I’m glad that she finally got the courage to tell him that she couldn’t marry him anymore. Better to do it before the wedding day and save them both some embarrassment. That being said, my theory of a possible Ron/Joyce still stands, and I’m interested to see if the show will explore that.
“The Nursius Thirstius”
When Matt showed up to work rocking his pair of glasses, it rewired the brains of every lady in the ER. And Bruce, too. They all realize that “Matt is a snack” and start envisioning going on a date and getting to know him better. When Holly expresses her interest in him, the ladies tell her she should because they’d be cute together. Serena, on the other hand, doesn’t and pretends to be unaffected by his look. Until Bruce calls her out.
As Bruce goes on a fishing expedition to get Serena to admit that she thinks Matt looks good in glasses, he presses her so hard she blurts out that she loves him. Shocked by this, she attempts to clean it up by saying she didn’t mean it the way Bruce thinks. I will say I did believe Serena when she said she loved Matt, but not in the way he was thinking.
Serena and Matt have been working together for a while. And they have become friends. Serena can love Matt like a friend and still think about him in a way that they could maybe pursue a relationship. There are different kinds of love, and Bruce knows that. I also know that what Serena chooses to do with her relationships and her feelings for Matt are nobody’s business including Bruces.
Sharks And Minnows
Bruce realizes that he has overstepped so he apologizes to Serena for being so pushy. But not before warning her that if she were to pursue something with Matt she could end up breaking his heart. According to him, she and Bruce are both sharks and Matt is a minnow. He thinks that Holly is also a minnow and someone who will mesh well with Matt. Which isn’t to say that Serena would not. But he knows, or at least he thinks he knows what type of person Serena is. And the person she is, could change Matt forever if she were to break his heart.
It was obvious that Bruces words affected her because when Matt invited her to happy hour at O’Malleys after work, she made up a lie and told him she had charting to finish. She saw that Holly really seemed to like Matt and this made her think twice before accepting his invitation. What shocked me more than this was that she left right afterwards with Chaplin Steve. Steve! I shouted “NO GIRL” at my TV so fast.
I understand why Serena turned Matt down, but it made me sad. Serena is a good person. And I don’t think she’d do anything to hurt Matt. She’s just afraid of what could happen. For whatever reason, something is holding her back from allowing herself to go for it with him. Whether it’s because she’s afraid of ruining their friendship or their working relationship, or just that she herself has been hurt in the past, I wonder if we will find out what’s stopping her. She certainly deserves much better than Chaplin Steve.
Other Thoughts About the Episode
- I understand children having body autonomy, but if they step on a rusty nail, they need to take a Tetanus shot. Period.
- “Hands off my man. Very Vampire Diaries.” Bruce being a fan of The Vampire Diaries makes so much sense to me.
- Sanderson was out of his mind with that “Bride Captive” stuff.
- Alex, girl, it is okay to say “No” to people sometimes.
- “He’s one of my best friends. I love Matt.” Awwwwww.
- I hope at some point we get to meet Ron’s son. We often hear about his family, but we don’t see them.
- The choice to have Matt rocking his Clark Kent glasses in the same episode he dressed up as a superhero was on brand. Even if it was one he made up.
- I feel like everyone is using one of those walking pads now. I want one too.
- Again, Serena and CHAPLIN STEVE??? GIRL! NO!
St. Denis Medical airs Tuesday Nights at 8/7c on NBC.
