It’s Ron’s first day back at work on St. Denis Medical Season 3 Episode 2, “Is That A Dinosaur?” and as predicted, people (Joyce) are treating him like glass. I guess it’s not surprising, considering heart issues and cardiac surgeries are no joke. Ron is ready to work, and all he wants is to be treated the same as before. But at St. Denis, the workdays, especially in the Emergency Room, are far from normal.
MORE: Read our review for St. Denis Medical Season 3 Episode 1, ‘He Ain’t Noah Wyle’
“The Ronitor”
When Joyce gave Ron a TOMO ring and asked Keith to monitor his heart rate to ensure he wasn’t under any high stress that could lead to a cardiac episode, he didn’t push back. That surprised me. Ron doesn’t like being micromanaged. I assume he agreed because Gayle from HR said they needed to keep an eye on him, which is kinda weird, but whatever. I also knew that Joyce and Keith would go overboard with their monitoring.
Initially, Ron’s first day is a little slow. That was until he realized it was done on purpose. He learned from Serena that Joyce specifically told her to assign him the easy cases. This upsets him. Ron isn’t looking to be babied. And I understand that. If Ron weren’t ready to get back into the full swing of things, he would have said so. I think Joyce underestimates his capabilities, which is strange. Considering the two are friends. They’ve known each other for years.
Then again, that may be why Joyce did that. Because he is her friend, maybe this is just her way of looking out for him in the best way she knows how. That’s why I feel we needed a moment to see her and Ron talk, where she expressed her concern for him. We’ve seen Alex have moments like this. They should have done this with Joyce too.
Ron is fully aware that he’s undergone a major cardiac procedure. He knows he needs to take care of himself. He also knows he needs to take care of his patients. His first day back tests his medical skills and his patience. Because Ron’s gonna Ron, he told Serena to give him the hard patients. So, she did. And ummm, it was a wild one. Literally.
When Lucas (Ben Seaword) comes into St. Denis with a snapping turtle attached to his arm, it presents one of the most challenging moments for Ron. He’s tasked with figuring out how to get the turtle off without costing the patient his arm. Naturally, Ron is stressed. And of course, Keith was right there shouting out any abnormalities he saw on the “Ronitor.”
We’re In The Red
Joyce’s decision to check on Ron when his numbers became a concern only made things worse. Ron had the situation totally under control and had managed to get the turtle safely off Lucas. But in a moment of fear caused by Joyce’s yelling, the turtle re-latched to Lucas. Only this time it was right onto his neck near the carotid artery. This was too much for Ron, and his “Ronitor” went into the red. And he lost it. Rightfully so.
As I said, Ron did not want anyone to baby him on his return. He’s a skilled physician who knows his job. When he snapped at Joyce and Keith, I was glad. Joyce made a delicate situation far more dangerous. Ron understands that his job is highly stressful. As he said, they work an “in the red kind of job.” He also knows he doesn’t need anyone to micromanage him or his health. I figured he would return the TOMO ring to Joyce, and I can’t say I blame him.
It was hard enough for him to come back; it was even harder to be treated as if things had changed. Ron is still the same doctor he has always been. Having a heart procedure didn’t change his skills. Joyce finally realized that once she saw him take charge of what could have been a horrible situation for a patient.
Serious medical emergencies don’t often happen on this show because it is a comedy, but when they do, it shows that St. Denis Medical can do both. It delivers tense television moments while also maintaining the comedy. The sequence with Ron and Serena working to save Lucas was a reminder, and it’s a great way to showcase how well these characters work together in times of crisis. I think this was also a great episode to, in some ways, reintroduce Ron and his skills as a physician because in Season 2 I didn’t feel like we got to see enough of what he could do.
Other Thoughts About ‘Is That A Dinosaur?’
- Where’s the follow-up from Ron learning what he said about Joyce in St. Denis Medical Episode 3×01?
- Val taking a personal day at work on her workday is wild.
- Alex, you’re a nurse; you should know nurses keep track of everything. Of course, Val documented every single one of your “I owe you ones.”
- Joyce didn’t question Val just chillin at the nurses’ station having snacks? Not my administrator. Val would’ve been back on the floor or told to clock out and go home.
- Also, Alex, you’re a Charge Nurse. Take Charge!
- Watching Matt and Bruce foam in and out made me happy. Too many medical shows neglect to show that the medical staff does this. It’s like one of the main infection control things we’re taught. It was nice to see.
- Bruce, you and Brooke don’t have to have inside jokes like Matt and Serena. Every couple is different, dude. Also, you can’t force it. You either have them, or you don’t.
- And apparently when Brooke does make a joke, sir, you can’t even take it. Boy bye!
- The nurses are eating at the nurses’ station: grrrrrr noooo. That is an infection control no-no.
- “What they go through is no different from slavery.” Excuse me? Also, Doreen and Ron’s side-eye. I felt that.
- Dang, Doreen, what’s your beef with Serena, and when did this start? Where have I been?
- I’m glad to see we didn’t forget about Matt’s paycheck drama and that it got resolved.
- Why is Val freaking out about Shelly, and why does she have “Toxic” as her ringtone? This relationship seems literally toxic, and I haven’t even seen Shelly. Makes me wonder if we will meet her this season.
- “I know I’m in the red. We’re always in the red because this is an ‘in-the-red’ kind of job.” I felt that crash out.
St. Denis Medical airs Monday Nights at 8/7c on NBC.
