Critic’s Rating: 4.4 / 5.0
4.4
It’s always fun when a series can meld the holidays into an episode without it being overly cheesy.
Brilliant Minds Season 2 Episode 6 highlighted the fun of Halloween with haunted asylums and scary clowns, but balanced it with the doctors facing their worst fears.
Additionally, Wolf, Charlie, and Dana dealt with a patient who died and came back to life. He almost seemed like a vampire and needed a constant stream of someone’s blood to survive.
“The Doctor’s Graveyard” explored the doctors’ losses and examined how far people will go to maintain their quality of life.
A Patient Rises From the Dead, and Almost Resembles a Vampire
You could tell it was Halloween on Brilliant Minds. The paramedics brought in a man who had almost died in an ice bath.
Jacob tried to warm him up with towels, but they were about to call it a day. Just as Dr. Wolf walked in, he woke up ghostly pale.
It seemed like he had risen from the dead and was in perfect health, yet something caused him to pass out in the tub.
Cyrus treated his body like a temple, never putting sugar in it and getting 25,000 steps a day. It was impressive, yet alarming.
He needed extra blood to survive, making him seem like a vampire. He hired his assistant for that reason, making it more concerning when they both fainted at nearly the same time.
Cyrus’s Case and Relationship with Thomas Symbolized the Quality of Life
Most people strive to live a long and happy life, but you must do it the correct way. I want to be like our neighbors, who were still gardening, baking bread, and tending their own yard in their 80s. They loved life, and it showed.
While eating healthy and taking supplements is undoubtedly part of a healthy regimen, it shouldn’t be so strict that you don’t have any fun.
Cyrus followed such a strict regimen, partly because he was afraid of his cancer returning, and partly because this lifestyle gave him purpose.
While it still would have been unhealthy, it would have been one thing if he had been only abusing his own body.
But Cyrus kept taking blood from his assistant, Thomas, and while Thomas initially seemed happy to serve, after he fainted, he began having second thoughts.
If his sole purpose was to be a blood bank, when would he get to live? Charlie asked him some hard questions, and when Cyrus ordered Thomas around again, he quit.
I loved that he chose to experience warm cookies, finding love, and walks on the beach.
It seemed like this case paralleled Dr. Wolf’s former case because he wanted to give that woman a longer quality of life, but she still died only a few months later.
As doctors, they can only do so much. They can provide options and kindness, but it’s ultimately the patient’s decision.
“A Doctor’s Graveyard” Examined Many Doctors’ Fears and Losses
Every doctor has fears and regrets. Some were funny, like Carol’s fear of clowns. I don’t like them either, even while my husband loves classic horror movies like It.
She was so terrified of the patient dressed like a clown that she brought Van with her the next time, stating he knew how to calm people.
Little did he know she was the one he needed to keep calm. It was hilarious watching the two of them, since they don’t often interact.
Dr. Nichols’ curse still affected almost everything he did, especially his fear of operating again.
He dove into the administrative side of things, only to get sued by the parents of a patient from last season.
Sarah Kim’s parents, from Brilliant Minds Season 1 Episode 6, sued Bronx General because they shelled out money, and their daughter wasn’t even pregnant.
I loved the throwback and how Wolf and his interns were so proud of bringing the witches’ coven closer together through their pseudocyesis.
Nichols will eventually come around to Wolf’s methods, and he prayed for his own miracle: that Jorge Torres would wake up.
Wolf was haunted by a patient he couldn’t save, but it was a patient from his residency, who died on Halloween.
The bad part was that he kept seeing her right before Dana and Charlie would update him, leading them to think he was losing it.
Brilliant Minds Season 2 Episode 6 Was For the Jericka Fans, and I’m Thrilled
Brilliant Minds Season 2 Episode 6 finally threw some content towards Jacob and Ericka (Jericka) fans. I’m delighted!
These two understand each other, and Ericka gave Jacob many pep talks during Brilliant Minds Season 1. I appreciated that he was the one to pick her up this time.
While part of “The Doctor’s Graveyard” was more lighthearted, even the haunted asylum scenes symbolized Ericka’s fear of enclosed spaces. The first time, Jacob appeared to rescue and calm her down.
However, after being trapped in an elevator again — this time with Sam — Ericka finally opened up about her problems.
I admire Ericka’s persistence in getting Sam help, but I wish she had also talked to Carol about a referral for herself.
I also felt for Jacob. He now knows Ericka’s secret, including that she took some of Dana’s pills. That put him in a tight spot between two of his closest friends, but I liked the messy drama.
While there was still attraction between them, the close friendship and trust shone through as Jacob comforted Ericka. We need more of them.
What Was Charlie’s Real Agenda with Wolf?
Charlie seemed like the definition of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. He wants to run the neuro department, so he’s been working overtime to charm the other doctors and the interns.
It looked like he had almost won over the interns, except for Ericka, at the team bonding exercise at the haunted asylum. I loved their bickering and bantering, and I probably would have enjoyed it more if I had thought Charlie was being sincere.
He actually appeared helpful in this case, encouraging Thomas to think for himself and live his life to the fullest. It was like he imitated a Dr. Wolf speech.
I suspect Charlie has been watching Dr. Wolf closely so he can take over the department. We still don’t have a concrete answer as to why.
When Charlie saw the same ghost that Wolf did, I suspect that the woman was related to him. Perhaps he wanted revenge on Wolf, so he applied to work at Bronx General to work under him, learn more about him, and take his shot.
Does Wolf know that Charlie planned everything by the time he visits him in Hudson Oaks? We only saw a few seconds, but Charlie was hiding something.
Over to you, Brilliant Mind Fanatics. Did you enjoy this Halloween special? What do you think Charlie is up to?
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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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