The Resident Season 1 Episode 11 Review: And the Nurses Get Screwed
Jasmine Blu
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For now, evil has prevailed.
On The Resident Season 1 Episode 11, the devious doctoral version of Bonnie and Clyde schemed their way to the top of Chastain Memorial's world.
Unfortunately, the hour lived up to its title because our favorite nurse practitioner got screwed, and not in a fun way.
There are so many emotions swirling around after that hour. One of those emotions is awe. I'm not afraid to say that I am in complete awe of HunterBell and their ability to come out on top despite being the most despicable individuals the series has to offer.
Seriously, I detest them -- truly despise them -- Lane in particular, but beneath that burning hate for this devious killer, I can't help but be in awe of this woman. Again, it needs to be said that Melina Kanakeredes is so damn good at playing bad. It's hard to make sense of it.
When she proposed that she and Bell should take down Claire, it didn't seem as if it would happen this soon. When planning a coup, you would think it would take some time and finesse, right?
That wasn't the case here. Claire never stood a chance. It was as if they took her down for sheer fun without ever having to exert themselves or flex their skills.
Claire handed them that, and midway through the installment it was like watching an unknowing lamb wander right to the slaughter. Poor, painfully aloof Claire. Stepping back from what led us to this point, Bell and Lane took her down masterfully.
I have to give credit where credit is due. I was thoroughly impressed.
Claire practically handed her job to Bell because she was playing checkers while everyone else was playing chess. It's astounding how out of touch she was with the goings on at that hospital, and what truly sucks about this whole ordeal is that in a way, she proved Lane right.
If you don't open your eyes to the truth soon hold on tight because this entire hospital will come crashing down on all of us.
Conrad [to Claire]
The hospital would be better off if their CEO had comprehensive knowledge about medicine. At the very least, she should have had someone who could walk her through things before she made certain decisions. Based on the way she treated Mina, she would have selectively listened to half of what anyone said anyway.
Related: The Resident Season 1 Episode 10 Review: Haunted
Claire wasn't the ideal person to be CEO, but she was better than her successor. It's funny how losing what has felt like a relatively insignificant character could have such a drastic effect on the rest of the plot.
Claire was a middle road character. Without her, the scales have tipped in favor of the darkness, and it can take down so many of our favorites.
The issue is that HunterBell has cemented their partnership with sex. If it were surface level working together, it would be easier to flip Bell, but they're banging each other, and Bell is drunk on power that Lane has helped him gain. He's not turning on her any time soon.
This power move has shifted the dynamic of the entire hospital, and with Bell and Hunter working together, it's screwed up for everyone.
As awful as I feel for Claire, I'm annoyed with her too. Casting aside her lack of awareness, she used the wrong thing to come at Bell to take him down.
What was the point of dragging Mina in to question her about the fire that started in the OR if she wasn't going to listen to her? Mina specifically told her that the fire wasn't an error on Bell's part but rather something that would have happened to anyone.
Honestly, props to Mina for that. You know what I love about Mina? Well, everything, to be frank, but you know what I loved about her in this installment? I loved the fact that she sticks to the facts and the truth.
She knows that Bell is a disaster who shouldn't be in an OR, but she's not going to point the finger at him for something that wasn't his fault. Claire thought Mina was covering for Bell, but Mina was only honest.
Related: The Resident Season 1 Episode 9 Review: Lost Love
Mina told Claire precisely what the other doctor stated later on in that meeting/coup, but for some dumb reason, Claire didn't listen. She also spent the majority of the hour letting Bell know that she was suspicious of him. Claire, what the actual fudge, woman?! Bless her wee heart.
Mina: It was an accident.
Claire: It sounds like you're covering up for him.
Mina: I'm telling you how the fire was started.
She opened the door and walked right into her own overthrowing, and she never once saw it coming even when everyone else did. I laughed when Lane of all people accused her of focusing on money and not patient safety. That's rich!
What's troublesome, however, is how Claire used Mina to gain information and promised to not mention to anyone that it was her, but she may as well have. If you add what Claire was saying and what Bell took away after his conversation with Mina, our badass surgical intern may be on Bell's radar.
Related: The Resident Season 1 Episode 8 Review: Family Affair
I hate the thought of that because the last thing Mina wanted was to be caught up in this messy web of foolishness, and as terrible as Bell is, the weird mentorship vibe between him and Mina is pretty incredible.
Of course, Conrad and Nic were holding on to Claire being their one shot at saving Nic's job and reputation and taking on Lane. Claire was on the cusp of being an ally, but with her gone, they're stuck with Bell.
The contentious relationship between Bell and Conrad alone would have made Nic a casualty, but everything else going on didn't help matters at all. Nic didn't stand a chance by the end of the hour. It was heartbreaking to watch.
It never crossed my mind that Nic wouldn't realize right off the bat that Lane was the one who killed Lily. I would have concluded that the second they uttered the words "potassium overdose." This whole time Nic was assuming that the cause of death would be related to Lily's chemo treatments.
It's still mystifying that Lily's family who the series confirmed hasn't been anywhere around this girl in the two years she's been in and out of the hospital now want to come filing a lawsuit. It's awful enough what happened to Lily, but that tidbit keeps grinding my gears.
Nic is so passionate about her job and so good at it too. Her speech to the risk management board about nurses moved me. There is no way she's going to be able to exit those doors and let this go. My only fear is that there is no end to her fighting to expose the truth. She may do it to her detriment.
While the hour was balanced and had a few medical cases, it felt like they took a backseat because the hospital politics and strategic moves happening were superior.
Additional Notes:
- Devon and Nic working together are impressive, and it goes to show you that nearly any combination of characters works.
- I was expecting an issue with Olivia Tan. Something that is far too common, and I've witnessed personally, is that women and plus-sized individuals get dismissed when they seek help at a hospital. The assumption is women, in general, are exaggerating, and when it comes to heavier ones, some medical professionals dismiss unrelated concerns, no matter how valid, because of their weight.
- There's an ominous vibe to Oliva being referred to Lane, right?
- CoNic are officially back on then? 'Shippers are probably thrilled.
- Devon rocked his ER shift! I loved Irving and the nurse placing bets. He's a natural, and I love him so much!
- Conrad's patient making that viral video was the best.
- Alexis spilling all the tea to Conrad may have been the MVP of the episode.
- I have to admit, Lane's credentials are super impressive. If she weren't, you know, the absolute worst, she would deserve to have her face plastered all over the hospital. Damn, girl.
Over to you Resident Fanatics, Bell is the freaking CEO now, what do you think about that?! On a scale of 1-10, how much do you hate Lane?! Hit the comments; I know you will!
If you need to catch up or simply relive the series all over again, you can watch The Resident online right here via TV Fanatic!
Jasmine Blu is a senior staff writer for TV Fanatic. She is an insomniac who spends late nights and early mornings binge-watching way too many shows and binge-drinking way too much tea. Her eclectic taste makes her an unpredictable viewer with an appreciation for complex characters, diverse representation, dynamic duos, compelling stories, and guilty pleasures. You'll definitely find her obsessively live-tweeting, waxing poetic, and chatting up fellow Fanatics and readers. Follow her on X.
