Brilliant Minds Season 2 Episode 4 Review: Taking Control Leads to Falling Dominoes

Critic’s Rating: 4 / 5.0

4

Welcome to Dr. Josh Nichols’ Bronx Hospital.

He tried to take the reins, and we saw a different side of Dr. Nichols on Brilliant Minds Season 2 Episode 4.

We knew it would be challenging for him and Dr. Wolf to work together, given their relationship. However, Nichols took things to a new level when he warned Wolf and Carol not to screw things up with their new patient.

It complicated things because the Burnetts were massive hospital donors, and Arianna Burnett (Jane Krakowski) needed help in fighting her conservatorship, despite her family’s concerns.

This episode demonstrated why you can’t always assume things at first glance and need someone like Wolf to dig deeper.

However, it also highlighted the issue of only treating those who want care, as well as the dangers of not having help available.

I Was Appalled By How Much Nichols Wanted Wolf to Change

We never saw how Wolf reacted to Nichols’ promotion, but Wolf felt ganged up on in the first staff meeting.

While Nichols tried to exert his authority, Wolf, Carol, and Wolf argued, placing blame on Wolf for spending the most.

You had to love Wolf. He delivered one of his passionate speeches, stating that most patients would rather seek help from a chatbot for their symptoms than consult an actual doctor.

However, his patients achieved a 97% satisfaction score, which helped the hospital.

Carol looked so proud and admitted that’s why she recruited Wolf, leaving Nichols with his hands tied.

I had hoped we were getting another sexy elevator scene, but the doctors wouldn’t stop arguing. Nichols thought Wolf was contradictory, but he was passionate.

I understood why Nichols told him to tone down the field trips and unnecessary procedures, but I didn’t know why he was also told to keep his distance from his patients and interns.

That’s what makes Wolf who he is. And then Nichols sounded like a hypocrite when he sent Wolf and Carol on a house call, telling them not to screw up.

It felt like the power went to his head.

Arianna Burnett’s Case Demonstrated How a Misdiagnosis Affects a Family

Nichols thought the Burnett case would be cut and dry, but neuropsychology cases on Brilliant Minds rarely are.

Arianna Burkett’s husband thought she suffered from a terrible fall, and her dementia worsened, but Wolf and Carol insisted on taking her to the hospital for a full panel.

No one expected Arianna to reveal that she had fallen down the stairs on purpose as a call for help because she felt like a prisoner at home and believed she was being poisoned.

She was depressed, and her memory was affected. I’ve seen the memory test Carol performed. It’s challenging to repeat the same five words in order several times at different intervals.

While Arianna repeated them initially, she couldn’t later. However, after she tried to escape through a vent, she recited them perfectly again, giving Wolf an idea.

Wolf went old-school, freeing Arianna from the hospital and taking her to a casino. Arianna hated that her family acted like they no longer recognized her, and Wolf related to loved ones becoming like strangers.

 She thrived on excitement and thrills, and when her family eliminated her hobbies, she grew depressed and experienced memory loss mimicking dementia.

Wolf empathized with the Burnetts, as he knew it was challenging to love someone who wants to be free, but they lose themselves if you clip their wings.

He showed them the tests, highlighting how Arianna thrived on excitement, and he and Carol suggested that the family try some activities together, such as rock climbing or open-mike night.

Her case demonstrated that Bronx Hospital needed someone like Wolf to think outside the box, and no one should relinquish control or change for anyone else, even family.

Ericka Behaved Like Wolf, Putting Herself In Danger

Wolf has influenced all his cubs, but especially Ericka, who has routinely complained about giving their energy to their patients, but not to the homeless mental health patients, whom no one seems to care about.

She wants to save everyone, partly because Wolf is like that, and partly because she couldn’t save the woman in the elevator, and that traumatized her.

Ericka should not have approached Sam in the park, since she didn’t know what could have happened.

I don’t want to assume he was violent, but she knew nothing about him, and then he revealed he was schizophrenic.

Charlie can be obnoxious, but he followed orders by insisting that Sam make an official appointment, so I suspect Ericka signed off on that scan herself, which could have gotten her in more trouble.

Being in an enclosed space triggered Sam, and he grew agitated and violent. Ericka did not possess the skills to talk him down, and she could have been hurt if Thorne and the security guards hadn’t arrived.

Thorne was nicer than I had expected. He understood she had good intentions, but tried to explain there were safety codes in effect for a reason.

Even Wolf tried to explain that she couldn’t save everyone, and while he admired her work ethic, he cautioned her not to mirror his personality too much.

He had learned to toe the line to a certain extent.

Why Was Wolf in Hudson Oaks?

The series did not focus on Wolf in Hudson Oaks in Brilliant Minds Season 2 Episode 3. However, when we saw him interacting with patients this time, I suspect the Wolf theories were correct, and he was undercover.

Wolf employed some therapy skills that he had obviously learned from Carol, specifically reading a patient’s emotions.

It triggered Otto, the patient, during a game of poker, and he became so agitated that he knocked over a table and brought over several workers.

It appeared that Wolf caused that distraction so that he could call Nichols to alert him that Hudson Oaks had taken his cell phone and he needed help.

He only had a minute, because then they were on to him, and Nichols was left wondering why Wolf sounded as if he was in distress.

It seemed like Wolf, Nichols, and Carol were in a plan to put Wolf in there, but why? Was it to expose them because they take away patients’ control, and that’s been a common theme this season?

One thing was for sure. Charlie looked too gleeful that Wolf was in Hudson Oaks, and he finally got to run the neuro department.

Nichols seemed determined to rescue Wolf, but he also seemed suspicious of Charlie; he tried to conceal it so Charlie wouldn’t catch on.

Other Bronx General Bites

I hate how distant Ericka and Dana were with each other. While some of it may have been because Dana reported Carol, Ericka’s embarrassment about taking meds also affected their friendship.

Dana would understand and would want to help her friend. She would only be angry that Ericka had initially stolen some of her medication, but they could work through that. It would be organic conflict, at least.

Charlie had a split personality. He could be obnoxious with wanting to take over Wolf’s position, but he seemed to want Dana to come with him.

He appreciated her medical skills and her wit, but wanted her to rein in the humor at inappropriate times.

Like Wolf, Dana didn’t want to give up control, and I’m unsure whether Charlie genuinely wanted to help or if he wanted to tear apart the Wolf pack.

In a serious episode, I enjoyed seeing some lighter scenes as Carol contemplated dating again. It was hilarious that Josh set her up, but she was so bored on her date that she called Wolf.

I’m glad it didn’t work out because I see potential between her and Dr. Thorne. They sizzled when he slowly finished zipping up her dress.

Now we need to see them kiss and have him unzip it.

Over to you, Brilliant Minds Fanatics. What did you think of Dr. Nichols in charge? Why is Wolf in Hudson Oaks? Would you like a Carol and Thorne romance?

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