We live in a society where most people stigmatize mental breakdowns, and some places still want to throw patients on meds and be done with it.
Brilliant Minds Season 2 Episode 2 highlighted the importance of approaching a problem from a different perspective and meeting patients at their level to find a solution.
The hour gave us a taste of what’s to come this season, as Dr. Thorne and Charlie’s methods differ significantly from Dr. Wolf’s and his interns.
There were many emotional beats as the team treated Lauren, and Wolf realized some similarities to his own life.
Meeting Patients at Their Level
“The Contestant” opens with Lauren, a woman who appears to be on a reality TV series. She talked to a guy who can identify any dog breed.
They seemed to hit it off until he asked her about kids, and she freaked out, wanting out of the room.
She insists she quit, threw something through the window, and passed out. Unfortunately, Dr. Thorne admitted her into the hospital, and he’d rather medicate her and send her along, but Dr. Wolf and his team also saw her.
This episode included some of the best cinematography effects as Lauren insisted she was still on a reality TV show. Everything she saw was tinted purple, and you could see the hidden cameras.
She grew more agitated as she thought no one believed her. Since they had dealt with mental health issues in their own lives, Dr. Wolf and Dana showed the most sensitivity as they played along.
Dana wasn’t in a rush to load Lauren up on meds because she’d seen contestants mistreated on actual reality shows, and didn’t want to subject her to that.
Granted, Wolf and his interns approach cases differently, but I disliked how the other doctors ridiculed them. Using history like “The Truman Syndrome” was spot on and took time.
I also despised how Charlie referred to Lauren as “crazy” and wanted to flirt with her to get her to agree to testing and medication. That’s derogatory and made me wonder how he passed any of that medical sensitivity training.
When Lauren escaped and the guards grabbed her and put her in that solitary room, it mirrored what happened to Oliver at Hudson Oaks.
It’s why this case triggered him and why I think he was so determined to help Lauren. I also wondered about Dana. She looked horrified that they did that to Lauren. How will she react when it happens to Wolf?
The Power of Choice In Your Own Care
Lauren didn’t want to burden her younger sinister, Harper. She felt embarrassed, and her sister had a family and didn’t need to care for her as well.
That was the position that Dr. Amelia Fredericks tried to take advantage of with both sisters when she arrived in the present.
It’s very suspicious how she magically appeared, and I suspect that Charlie is her mole. How else would she know to push in-house psychiatric care at that time?
Lauren grew even more depressed because her psychotic break was due to an IVF surgery gone wrong, but she feared becoming pregnant and being a single mom with mental health issues.
Dr. Fredericks fed into those fears, saying she’d be with other people like her, and her sister had too much to do.
Only Wolf could tell how unsure Lauren was and found the perfect person for a second opinion – a newly reinstated Carol.
It’s easy to forget that many people break down, and they don’t often talk about it, as Carol revealed how she had PTSD and is now a successful psychiatrist and single mom.
She wanted Lauren to dream still big and realize that outpatient options were possible with a loving support system.
This is why Brilliant Minds works so well when Wolf and Carol team up to help patients. They lead with their heart.
Who Filed the Suit Against Carol?
While I don’t understand the point of suing Carol, Tamberla Perry gave an emotional plea as she explained her case.
No, Carol shouldn’t have continued to treat her husband’s mistress. However, as she told the board, it isn’t as easy as it looks to stay objective.
She grew to care about her patients, whether they battled addiction or personality disorders and depression like Alison.
Alison wasn’t comfortable discussing her issues with another psychiatrist, and Carol wouldn’t risk Alison’s life.
Like Wolf, Carol cared passionately about her patients. She was a lifeline to them.
The board was torn, and a surprise testimony swayed them.
If Alison testified on Carol’s behalf, who filed the suit? Does someone still have it out for her?
Bonus – The scenes of Nichols prepping Carol and later celebrating her victory with her were the cutest. We need more of their friendship.
Muriel Proves She’s the Superior Parent
Muriel has made many mistakes with her son, but she was the parent who stayed. Wolf initially blocked that out because he had a hero worship of his father.
However, he has since realized that his mother endured a great deal and now appreciates her more.
I was relieved that Wolf let his guard down slightly to share Noah’s letter with her and taunt that Carol would call the fact that his dad left a note growth. Only his mom would understand that.
While I’m sure Muriel needs a break, I suspect she ultimately retired because she knew how much her son was suffering. She wanted to be there for him as a mother and wanted Carol to assist him at the hospital.
She’s seen how the two of them thrive together, and she made the best decision for the hospital and her son.
Hopefully, we’ll still see Muriel in scenes with Wolf as he continues to heal. I’ve come to love their mother-son bond.
Wolf Wants to Forget His Father Again, Which Hurts Him in More Ways Than One
Wolf reacted bitterly to Noah’s abrupt departure. While I don’t blame him, since this was the second time his father abandoned him, he needs to allow himself to grieve this loss.
I understand that he thought both he and his mom would finally be able to return to their normal lives, but they can’t forget the last six weeks.
It’s telling that Wolf wasn’t the one who told Nichols about his dad. He wasn’t even going to tell him.
He wanted to go back in time and pick up when they were happy. While it hurts our hearts that Nichols pulled away from that kiss, he deserves to know that Wolf is ready to move on.
They both care about each other deeply, but Wolf’s entire life has been upended, and he needs to allow himself to feel those emotions; otherwise, he will break, and he won’t be able to help others, let alone himself.
I suspect that’s what happened at the end, and that’s why he signed himself into Hudson Oaks, but we’ll learn more as the season progresses.
Over to you, Brilliant Minds Fanatics. Did you appreciate how Dr. Wolf and Dana related to Lauren? What did you think of Muriel’s decision? What were your first impressions of Dr. Fredericks?
Let us know in the comments.
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If you enjoyed our Brilliant Minds coverage and want to see more discussions about character-centric shows, yours truly covers Will Trent. We also cover medical shows like DOC, Best Medicine, and more. Interested in more analytical and passionate pieces? Check out our editorials and op-eds.
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