(This article contains spoilers)
Lies and revelations are changing the dynamics between the members of the team. If the case du jour is about the way we communicate and learn how to talk to each other, it reflects the changes among the team of doctors.
Adam (Liam Galway), a non-speaking autistic young man, is brought to the hospital as the sole witness of an accident. Communication is key to understanding what happened to Gloria (Patrice Goodman), a woman who fell on the subway’s tracks. As the team try to communicate with him, the witness suddenly becomes the main suspect, according to the police. Time is against the team to find out what really happened.
Facing The Truth
Season 2 of Brilliant Minds seems to focus on characters finding or discovering their truth. After losing his father a second time, Oliver (Zachary Quinto) rediscovers a relationship with Muriel (Donna Murphy), his mother, understanding that the lies of the past don’t define the truth of today. He and his mother have both been lied to, but it’s also something that brought them closer.
While Gloria is being treated, it’s up to the team to find a way to make Adam share his side of the story, one way or another. It’s Van’s turn to shine thanks to his sensitivity. His “skill”, though dramatized in the show, helps the communication and the first piece of the puzzle reveals itself.
Ericka (Ashleigh LaThrop) and Dana (Aury Krebs) are on their own hunt for the truth. They’re investigating who reported Carol (Tamberla Perry) to the board, something that happened in the previous season but that still has heavy consequences at the beginning of Season 2, shaping Carol’s entire storyline. After being suspended, she needs to prove herself, and now that she’s back, she needs to be cleaner than clean. On the other hand, Oliver, with all his antics sometimes going as far as taking drugs, has never been targeted. So what happened? Who reported Carol?
This debacle also raises one very important question in the show, a question that is also very true in our daily lives: why are women, and especially women of color, expected to be and do better? Oliver should have been in serious trouble in Season 1, right from the beginning, for crossing so many lines, but his identity still gave him privileges Carol didn’t benefit from. One mistake and she was ousted, forced to prove herself in front of the board to reinstate her position.
She also shows great maturity and wisdom by eventually not wanting to know who reported her. Ultimately, she did make a mistake, there’s no denying it, and the reporting system in place ensures that mistakes are not kept a secret, potentially risking lives.
So yes, Carol was in the wrong, but the double standards are unfair, and reflect the racism and misogyny in our society, even among people who think they’re not “like that.” And it’s good to see a show not shying away from it and clearly addressing it.
The unexpected happens when Dana reveals she was the one who reported Carol. Ericka, who seemed to be wanting to share her struggles, eventually retreats. The trust between the two young women won’t be the same after this.
Love Don’t Come Easy
Love is always at the center of the show, in all its forms, and with all its complexities. After a second episode showing Josh (Teddy Sears) clearly setting boundaries, he is now avoiding Oliver. We can’t blame him, but what looks a bit suspicious this time eventually reveals something that will definitely change their entire relationship, and the way they interact. After Muriel’s retirement, a new chief needs to be appointed. And to no surprise to people who enjoy drama, Josh is the one to take her place.
This will not only change the dynamic within the service, but also between the two men. And even Oliver’s love for Josh’s military side won’t help in this situation!
Dana and Katie’s (Mishel Prada) relationship slowly grows, showing how close they became. With Dana’s history, it could seem unfair of Katie to act so impulsively as to risk her life, but part of that is also learning to let go and not control the other. Dana also needs to learn to trust Katie. Bad things can happen anytime, and Katie also has the right to be herself, especially in her job where decisions sometimes need to be taken very fast to save a life.
And it’s good to see Dana understand Katie, even if she clearly won’t stop worrying!
Carol and Dr. Thorne (John Clarence Stewart) are also getting closer. Their friendship is refreshing, and I partly hope that it stays a friendship so it can highlight that men and women can indeed be friends. If it’s easy between Carol and Oliver, since there’s no romance possible, and clearly no attraction whatsoever, between Carol and Thorne, things are not set so clearly. They seem close enough to joke and support each other, but where could that lead? It’s still not something the show is really showing, but if it were to happen, it could be nice for Carol.
