The Resident Season 5 Episode 23 review: Happy endings galore in season finale of medical drama

3/5

Story: Cade’s dad, Dr Ian Sullivan’s been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. But as horrifying as that sounds, it’s not the end of the road for him, just yet. It may be operable and he’s in good hands with Dr Bell. Meanwhile, a case in the ER goes south, when the best option for the patient is disregarded in favour of another treatment option.

Review: Let’s start with some good news – The Resident has been renewed for a sixth season. The announcement, though, came pretty late in the day, by which time, we are guessing, production on the Season 5 finale had already finished. Today’s episode, therefore, was about ensuring no loose threads were left behind. The showrunners, perhaps, didn’t want to leave audiences with a major cliff-hanger, with the show’s fate still up in the air.

That explains most of the happy notes on this season finale episode. Dr Bell’s momentary loss of vision was only an MS flare up and he’s been cleared to return to the operation theatre. Cade’s dad has pancreatic cancer, but as luck would have it, it’s operable and Dr Bell and Devi are able to scoop it right out. So, he’s on the mend and will, in all probability, be around next season as Chastain’s resident paediatric surgeon.

Padma has good news – she’s carrying not one, but two little AJs – the ultrasound images of which stir something in Devi. No, she’s not on board the possibility of motherhood yet, but she’s more receptive to the idea now and, hence, wants to make good with Devon before it is too late. Luckily for her, Devon’s also had a change of heart about putting a child that he hasn’t even had yet ahead of the woman he loves – a realization that struck him after the latest emergency in the ER.

The case in the ER was the bold move of the show; taking a stand in the ongoing debate about abortion in the US, what with the country’s Supreme Court likely to overturn an earlier judgement and severely curtail female reproductive rights. The Resident didn’t even tread gently on the subject, bringing into the ER a five-month pregnant woman in severe respiratory distress. Turns out, her heart is failing and the only way to save her would be to terminate the pregnancy. But since she’s incapacitated, it is up to her husband to decide the next course of action and he chooses the more complicated one, which could be fatal to his wife, only because it could give the baby a more fighting chance.

To ease the pressure on the patient’s heart, AJ and Devon put her on ECMO (bypass of the heart to allow it to rest and heal), which they hope will keep her alive for some more time and allow the foetus to grow. Putting her on ECMO, though, comes with a lot of other potentially dangerous effects and it strikes their patient soon enough – both mother and unborn child lost, rendering the older child now motherless. It was a pretty powerful statement, considering how things are unfolding in the USA.

With most of Chastain’s crop enjoying moments of happiness, how can Conrad be kept out of it? Well, Conrad has been mourning his wife Nic Nevin’s passing for many years now and is finally allowing his heart to seek new love. Cade, it seems is the candidate but she’s only seen him as a friend because she, like the rest of the world (except Conrad), thinks Billie is meant to be the one for him. Nic’s long-time friend has been holding a torch for Conrad, but been too afraid to show him what he means to her. Conrad, though, has made up his mind about one of them, who, as it turns out, were sitting together at the bar where Kit and Dr Bell had thrown their engagement party. And in that final shot of the season, we are still left wondering who Conrad will choose after all. My vote’s for Billie!

Verdict: Conrad has Nic’s blessings to move on in life, should something happen to her, which, of course, it did. But he’s been protecting himself and shied away from opening up his heart again. We now have a long wait ahead to know for who his heart beats now, but that’s okay, either which way (Cade or Billie), he is in safe hands and will be happy. A good episode to end the season, with nothing too shocking on the horizon.