The Resident S05E01 review: Ransomware is no match for Chastain Memorial Park

Season 5 of the medical drama returns with some noteworthy absences, namely Shaunette Renee Wilson, Morris Chestnut and Emily VanCamp.

The Resident photo 1

Cast: Matt Czuchry, Emily VanVamp, Bruce Greenwood, Malcom-Jamal Warner, Manish Dayal, Jane Leeves

Story: Just when Chastain-Park appears to be out of the woods as far as its financial status goes, the hospital falls victim to ransomware, which disrupts vital functionalities, threatening the lives of several patients.

Review: What is it that makes medical dramas so appealing? Definitely not the medicine or the supposed drama surrounding the treatment of a patient. It’s the cast, most of them ridiculously good-looking and charming, and the relationship dynamics between characters – good, bad and ugly – that we all look forward.

The Resident, which began its fifth season run this week, after the fourth was cut short owing to the pandemic, has an eclectic cast on board, each with an enviable basket of work prior to this. Yet the show could never rise above mediocre, with rather tepid story-telling and icy romances.

What was most noteworthy about the season opener was the absence of Emily VanCamp as nurse Nicolette Nevin, who has been one of the primary pillars of the show since its start. While season 4 ended with Nic and Conrad (Czuchry) welcoming a baby girl, it turns out that Emily was expecting her first child with former Revenge co-star and husband Josh Bowman. Emily announced the birth of her little one in early September, which should explain her absence from the show now. Reports suggest that the actress is indeed leaving the show. While episode 1 explained her absence to a spa getaway, leaving Conrad in charge of baby Gigi for a couple of days, it remains to be seen how Nic will eventually be written off the show.

There was some medical drama surrounding a 14-year-old brave-heart, who got hit by a drunk driver while attempting to save a visually-challenged man. All this while the hospital was being held to ransom in a phishing attack, which, of course, they manage to thwart quite easily eventually.

Verdict: If you are looking for something to suspend disbelief, the 40-odd minutes of The Resident will pass muster.

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