In this episode, Brilliant Minds delivers an emotional and intense chapter, beginning with the familiar format of Oliver’s voiceover narration, blending flashbacks from the present with moments from the past. We see Oliver taking a swim in the river, reflecting on a pivotal moment from when he was 18 at the beach. It’s nice to see the show aging up Oliver in these flashbacks, providing more depth to his backstory.
At the hospital, the chemistry between Oliver and Josh is undeniable, with both of them sharing meaningful glances and smiles—something Carol, ever observant, notices as well. Speaking of Carol, let’s dive into her arc this episode, which honestly left me feeling frustrated.
We see Carol in a therapy session with a patient, and I was hopeful that the show might focus more on her, as she’s been somewhat sidelined in recent episodes.
However, it turns out her patient is none other than her husband’s mistress. As the backstory unfolds, instead of confronting this woman who’s violated her trust, Carol listens to the mistress’s tearful pleas and agrees to continue treating her. The dynamics here didn’t sit well with me, particularly the optics of a Black woman treating her white husband’s mistress. The power imbalance, compounded by the clear mental health issues of the mistress, makes it feel uncomfortable and wrong for Carol to keep working with her. I really hope this storyline wraps up soon, as it’s become a bit too tangled and unsettling.
Meanwhile, the relationship between Josh and Oliver is a bright spot in this episode. Their interactions feel authentic and full of chemistry, from stolen moments of intimacy to passionate makeout sessions that would make Grey's Anatomy jealous. Things take a turn, however, when Oliver’s mother, Muriel, catches them in an elevator, and later pulls Josh aside for a protective "mama bear" talk, warning him not to hurt her son. This prompts Josh to break things off, and we learn through flashbacks that Muriel had a similar reaction when she caught Oliver with an exchange student at 18. She sent the exchange student back home, fearing for Oliver’s safety and future.
In one of the most raw and emotional scenes of the episode, Oliver confronts Muriel about her actions and attitudes. Their conversation reveals the deep-seated homophobia that Muriel harbored, fueled by her fear of AIDS and a desire to shield her son from what she considered dangerous. What Oliver needed, however, was love and acceptance, not shame. The scene is heartbreaking, as it shows the complexity of being gay in the '90s and the strain it placed on family dynamics.
This leads to a turning point where Oliver opens up to Josh, telling him he wants to take their relationship to a more serious, committed level. Josh agrees, and they move forward with a renewed sense of mutual respect and understanding. Honestly, I’m rooting for them—what’s their ship name? They have such great chemistry.
On the medical side, the case of the week focuses on an 80-year-old woman, June, who has developed hypersexuality due to a condition known as "Cupid's disease." Meanwhile, Erika, who hasn’t had sex in three years, decides to take control of her own desires and surprisingly sleeps with Van, despite her lingering feelings for Jacob. It’s clear that this decision won’t lead to a happy ending, and it adds another layer of complexity to the already emotionally charged episode.
Overall, this was a deeply emotional and impactful episode that explored complex family dynamics, the struggle for acceptance, and the challenges of navigating relationships in a time of societal stigma. The show continues to do an excellent job of blending personal stories with poignant social issues.
What did you think?
Loved it
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So/So
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