The Midlife

All of the images I liked of The Resident are copyright protected. So here is a rando hospital bed.

I must confess, every time I have thought about writing something light and uplifting lately, it has been a struggle. Anyone with eyes and half of a heart may find it hard to set some happiness boundaries. Guilty as charged. I have found some rare comfort in watching all six seasons of The Resident (currently on Netflix and Hulu).

I’ll preface this by sharing that I am the daughter of a late doctor and a former CNA, in addition to the sister of a long-time nurse. Because I get queasy at the sight of real blood, I could never fulfill my father’s dream of me following into his stressed-out footsteps. (Sorry, Dad.) But…. the lovely mystique and intrigue of working in a hospital has never left me. I often fantasize about the unique opportunity of getting the chance to do a Take Your Sister to Work Day and follow my sister around all day; I have fantasized about the prospect of wearing scrubs. Therefore, sitcoms and dramas set in a hospital have delighted me for years. I’m talking Quincy (only a few will fully understand), St. Elsewhere, Scrubs, Grey’s Anatomy, and now…The Resident. The Resident may be my favorite.

The series centers around Chastain Park Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia and its resident doctors (or rookie newcomers). Led by a top-notch cast (with additions as the seasons progress), the star of the show is Matt Czuchry (pronounced zoo-kree), whom you may recognize most notably from Gilmore Girls. (Here, he is less entitled and more of a revered military vet with layers and layers of depth.). His character is so handsome, charming, and smart, the fact that he squinty-smiles with his eyes only makes him more appealing to watch. However, unlike the tons of characters on shows such as Grey’s, there are fewer characters to follow and all of them are likable. I found myself caring about each one of them, even the “bad guys.” Side note: Not since The Cosby Show (which people don’t talk about much anymore) has Malcolm Jamal-Warner caught my eye; he’s truly a gifted actor.

Like other medical dramas, there’s blood and guts, but somehow I can stomach (haha) the scenes with no problem; however, there were a few times even I had to look away. There’s romance, mystery, corruption, and greed. And the way the series covers topics (such as Covid, opioid abuse, suicide, cancer, and immigration) is so well crafted and never heavy-handed or hokey.

I didn’t want the show to end and was sad after the final episode.

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