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MoonCobra74
Reviews
Code Black: Hero Complex (2016)
"You Are the Grace That Follows."
Anybody else need a drink?
With two heavy story lines on Code Black's S2 | E6 "Hero Complex," things got pretty dark. It was like a double whammy of making me feel like utter crap. As depressing as the cases were, they were handled with respect and dignity. The writers truly deserve respect for that.
Malaya's patient, Joy, suffered an all too common fate on her college campus. Of course, the all too obvious "twist" of her alleged savior actually being the attacker plummeted my spirits. Ignoring the ripped from the headlines (with a twist) aspect, the story was good on a lot of levels. Malaya's past experience with Gordon Heshman was worked in without feeling trite or heavy-handed. The care given the examination made my heart ache. There's a whole lot of rape on TV. But even Law and Order: SVU hasn't had as detailed a depiction of what a sexual assault exam entails that I can recall. I got the shivers when they focused on the speculum. Joy's face during the exam choked me up. It was heartbreaking to hear her talk about how she blamed herself and how she assumed everybody else would, too. But as devastating as it was to watch even a fictional person go through that, I have to applaud the writers for Malaya's response and their contribution against victim blaming.
Because campus sexual assault apparently isn't dark enough, we were treated to the ever-so-lighthearted topic of physician-assisted suicide as the cherry on top of this sadness sundae. California's End of Life Option Act went into effect in June 2016, so Code Black wasted no time jumping on the issue. I greatly admire the respect with which the writers treated Whitney's decision. That said, this plot didn't come off as well as the first.
Whitney was charming and sympathetic. Her position was sad, but it's easy to see her point of view. But what, exactly, was Campbell's investment? He's never fought against DNR's before, and if his objection was truly that a doctor's job is to save patients, that would have been a problem for him. He doesn't seem to have a personal connection to the issue of PAS. Ethan's willingness to assist was influenced by his mother's ALS, but I actually find it more reasonable that a personal connection would compel you against the notion. Alas, nothing was revealed about Will.
The bright spot of the hour was definitely Mike's recovery. Things were a little scary for a minute, and he's not out of the woods yet, but the whole family seems to be on the mend.
Really great episode. 10/10.
The Night Shift: Burned (2016)
Spot on!
This was an excellent episode. The Night Shift has gone from strength to strength with each episode - I just keeps getting better and better. This was by far the best season finale yet. There are so many things left unaddressed and you cannot help but worry about the fate of each character. A lot went down in 42 minutes. They were intense, emotional, and bittersweet.
Okay, so amid the wildfire, Jordan and Scott did some emergency surgery on the lady firefighter, lest she loses her leg. Along the way, Jordan learned that Mac, the firefighter who was with them, 1) had a crush on his colleague and 2) had about two months to live, due to a stage-IV GBM (glioblastoma multiforme). As such, on their way out, Mac put his life on the line to ensure the others' safety. After the smoke proverbially cleared, Jordan gave Scott the bad news, that it was Annie who stole the drugs from the hospital. And at hour's end, Scott confronted Annie and ordered yet escorted her to rehab.
Meanwhile, at the Turkey-Syria border, T.C. got himself arrested by the border guards and hammered out a deal: the wayward Cipro shipment in trade for Syd fixing the hip dysplasia of one guard's young son. Thing is, Syd had been getting her ass kicked by typhus symptoms, so she fainted midway through the surgery. T.C. got her well enough to talk him through the rest of the procedure, for which the appreciative border guard turned over the Cipro stash. Later, T.C. and Syd were set to go their separate ways — her, back home to her daughter, while he had his eye on an even dicier war zone — when incoming missiles blew their camp up, leaving both of them bloodied and unconscious.
Back home, Dr. Julian Cummings arrived to have his bean counters kick San Antonio Memorial's tires before he forked over $50 million for the place. In the meantime, he and Paul immediately clashed over patient treatment, with Dad making a financially stingy but dangerous call. Afterward, Paul — with nudging from Topher — had a heart-to-heart with his dad about their relationship. Impressed by Paul's confidence, Julian offered his son a plum surgical consultant gig, just as the deal to buy SAM went through. Alas, Topher's "concierge medicine for the poor" management style doesn't fit Julian's vision, so he got the hook. When Paul realized this, he told his dad, "If Topher goes, I go" — and Paul, in fact, did resign. As did almost everyone else from their E.R. shift (save for Shannon, who can't afford to move back home). But Paul totally understands her position. Why? Because "I love you," he shares — a sentiment that she in turn echoed.
Meanwhile, Drew and Rick dealt with a custody scare after Brianna's father showed up to lay claim to the daughter he allegedly didn't know existed. And yet a bit of dirt-digging revealed that this homophobic ex-con did, in fact, know about Brianna and waived his rights years ago. He was just making trouble to (unsuccessfully) extort a payday from the guys. In the end, Drew and Rick took Brianna home — after a stop for ice cream, that is. So, T.C. and/or Syd may be dead. Pretty much the entire ER staff has no home. And with no loan from disowned-by-his-dad Paul, Kenny is about to get his butt kicked by the grunts he owes money to.
This was an absolutely excellent episode. I have so many questions in regards to the fourth season and I am sure season four is going to rock! - Cheers!
Still Star-Crossed (2017)
Shameful plot less ho hum trash.
Still Star-Crossed, the show, dresses up the idea wonderfully but renders it all rather lifeless by trying to out-drama itself at every turn in a decidedly Shondaland morass of overworked histrionics. Oddly, this manages, at points, to come full circle and become interesting again by offering up near-cornball drama in situations that actually require all the drama you would think you could muster.
This show takes itself just a little too seriously to be the fizzy fun fans have come to expect from a Shondaland production. It sure looks good, though: There are horses, there are castles, there are laced- up bodices, prince's balls, clanging sword fights, potions, and secret passageways.
. . . But . . . Unfortunately, there's also leaden dialogue and predictable plot twists. Rosaline and Benvolio have a "meet aggressive," so of course they're perfect for each other and will soon be sharing stolen kisses behind satin draperies. Lord and Lady Capulet telegraph rich arrogance and the Montagues humble righteousness, so soon the former will get their comeuppance, while the latter will get their due. Ho hum, blah blah blah, there's just no spark in anything, nothing that makes the viewer go "ooh!" or "Oh no, she didn't!" Like so many Shakespeare high school plays, it all winds up being something you think you should watch, and want to enjoy - but might not.
I predict it will not last longer than its already ordered 10 episodes. Its ratings are in the toilet. ABC is taking their sweet time in finally canceling this garbage.