Reviewer Rating: 4.6/5.0
4.6
It’s a cliffhanger, and hopefully the showrunners have confidence that NBC will renew it for another season, because this can’t be the ending.
Before that, let’s discuss what happened in Brilliant Minds Season 1 Episode 12 and how the apartment collapsed, changing the lives of many characters.
This is the most exciting and high-stakes case yet, and it proves the importance of thinking fast and having people you can trust.
Josh and Oliver rush to save an injured woman
The weeks of waiting after the cliffhanger of Brilliant Minds Season 1, Episode 11 have been torture. While we doubt they’ll save Erica, there will be other victims as the apartment collapses.
The accident left us on the edge of our seats. A woman named Jenna was trapped under the rubble with an open compression fracture.
When the paramedics call Josh, I love that Oliver insists on accompanying him to the scene of the accident. I’m sure he did this partly to find Erica, but partly because he didn’t want Josh to leave his site during this trauma.
Jenna is similar to Oliver in that she refused to have surgery until she got Stuart, her emotional support dog.
He’s also dependent on his circle, so he understands that, but he also realizes the need to reduce the pressure on her brain so she can survive.
Teddy Sears joked that Josh and Oliver teamed up to help a sick woman, which could very well be the case. Using their different perspectives helps, but they need Josh’s clinical skills to save her.
Erica’s world falls apart
Erica (Ashley Lathrop) shines here. When Gene collapses while trying to rescue her and his granddaughter Celia, she is terrified but forced to make use of her medical training.
She initially thought he was having a stroke, but later realized he suffered from pulsatile tinnitus, which causes him to hear sounds in sync with his heartbeat.
I’m not sure how she stayed calm under the pressure, but Erica managed to restrict the blood flow to Gene’s arms and redirect it to his brain, waking him up and allowing them some respite.
Poor Erica. The three struggled to escape, and the rescue team was able to get her and Jean out before the building and elevator collapsed.
I suspect Celia knew this was going to happen and she wanted Erica to be there to help her grandfather. However, this sacrifice is painful, and Erica is devastated to learn that Gene has lost his beloved granddaughter.
She wished she were dead.
It’s vital to let those who tear down your walls
This wall emphasizes the importance of having a close friend or life partner in times of need. Initially, I thought I cried the hardest during Brilliant Minds Season 1 Episode 7, but this episode was even better.
When Erica is in danger, the other interns have to cope without her. Van almost lost it, partly because Erica became his anchor and got mad at him.
I love the way Jacob tells Van to rely on him, partly because they are friends and partly because he doesn’t want Erica to be angry with them.
Jacob: I will be your anchor. If the going gets tough. If things get hectic, just lean on me. I’m going to save it all for you, for us, for Erica, because, frankly, if we don’t hold down the fort, she’s going to kick both of our asses.
Nothing makes me cry more than Erica and Dana’s bond. Dana was sure her friend would become a hero, but she was scared when she couldn’t reach her.
After everything that happened, the only person Erica wanted was Dana. She held on tight and wouldn’t let go, and it broke my heart.
Dana knew how much Erica needed her and postponed her date with Katie to take care of her. She always had a hard time delivering tragic news, but she told Gene that his granddaughter died when Erica couldn’t face him.
It may seem like a simple act, but sometimes, when a friend loses everything, it’s important to give them a place to rest.
Oliver also realizes how important certain people are to him. Early in the season, the intern was more of a hassle than he endured.
But when he hears that Erica is in danger, he will do whatever it takes to save her.
Oliver: When I took this job, the last thing I wanted to deal with was an intern. Carroll conveniently omitted this part of the job description. But now I can’t imagine going to work without you.
Erica: Did you see that? Tell you You’ll want me around.
Oliver’s personal life also changed. As he runs outside to find someone for Jenna, he realizes he almost lost Josh. He had lost so many people and losing another person terrified him.
Seeing their acknowledgment and the simple affection of holding hands and hugging each other over dinner at home shows how far they have come.
We love that they lean on each other and become stronger.
Oliver’s world begins to close in
Oliver was used to solving cases in hospitals and was overwhelmed by the crowds in the collapsed building. He didn’t recognize any of the faces and was afraid he’d almost left Josh in there.
He can’t find Erica and feels helpless to save the survivors. It brought back some uncomfortable memories of his father having bipolar disorder and trying to visit him in the hospital.
His father walked past him. I doubt he experienced this, but maybe Noah and Oliver had similar facial blindness.
When Oliver’s life finally worked out, it almost seemed cruel to bring Noah back. Even Muriel said this at the beginning of Bright Minds season 1, episode 13.
Oliver changed patients’ lives. He is dating a neurosurgeon. Why is Noah Wolfe back now?
Noah’s return makes Oliver no longer trust everyone
We should probably be suspicious when Mandy Patinkin is only credited as a doctor, which usually indicates a more important role.
Noah Wolfe (Patinkin) sees his son in action at the scene of the accident, but Oliver has no idea who is talking to him.
Oliver seemed happy with Josh, who admitted that he was in love with him, something he had never experienced before.
However, you know what they say. You can never be happy for long before the world crumbles around you.
It all ends when Noah appears before Oliver to defend him. Oliver did not know his father and believed he died several years ago.
When Muriel and Carol arrived, Noah kept stacking things and things got worse. Poor Oliver feels betrayed by everyone he knows.
For the first time I understood what Muriel had done. Her husband suffered from mental illness and left his son in the woods suffering from hallucinations. Like any mother, she worries about Oliver’s safety.
Should she tell her son that Noah is still alive? Absolutely? But she tried to prevent Noah from disappearing, but she didn’t expect him to come back. She made her choice out of love and I wasn’t sure about him.
Although Noah suffered from bipolar disorder, he chose to abandon his son and stayed away for nearly 30 years. Understandably, Oliver no longer knows who or what to believe.
It’s heartbreaking to watch him move away from Josh because they’ve come so far. However, Oliver questions everything in his life and doesn’t believe Josh knows him anymore.
They are a strong couple and hopefully they will make a comeback if the show comes back. However, I think Oliver has a longer road ahead of him in forgiving his parents, especially Noah.
Oliver tells Van and Jacob that relationships are built on truth; children look up to their parents and count on them to give honest answers.
Oliver was lied to many times. Can he believe everything his father tells him? While it should be a blessing to have someone back, it’s understandable that Oliver is confused.
Erica’s post-traumatic stress disorder makes her nervous
Initially, Erica seemed to have recovered. She and Dana joked around as usual, but as they approached the elevator again, Erica felt a slight wave of panic. She had never stepped on it since it collapsed and killed Celia.
The interns gathered around Erica at work. She didn’t react when Van and Jacob entered the elevator, but when Dana did, she freaked out.
Fan: So, what does this mean?
Dana: That means I’m her favorite.
Unfortunately, the closeness between the friends declined when Dana became depressed and suggested that Erica take some medication for PTSD.
Things took a turn for the worse when Erica expressed that she didn’t want to be on crutches, and Dana thought Erica was implying that she was weak from the anti-anxiety medication she was taking. Dana had been uncomfortable with her anxiety, and she felt judged as a result.
Although Erica eventually gets into the elevator and claims it’s because of the meditation, we later see her secretly taking pills. Erica is not as honest and put together as she claims to be.
There’s no shame in needing help, and I wouldn’t want to see her develop an addiction, although it would make for a compelling storyline.
Other ramblings around the Bronx Hospital
Betsy’s case was frustrating, but also eye-opening. If the accident hadn’t sent her to the hospital, the loneliness might have killed her. I was relieved that she had some caring neighbors and Carol reached out to me.
Oliver teaches Pastor Thomas the importance of telling the truth to loved ones. While she thought keeping her cancer from the congregation was protecting them, he reminded her that they might want to support her.
The ending doesn’t focus much on Carol. She tried to move on until Muriel received a complaint about an ethical conflict of interest. Carol had been helping Muriel, so she was upset that Muriel put her on leave without protecting her.
We love Van in dad mode. He also learned the importance of being honest and regulating his emotions in front of his son, which was a challenge with Mirror Touch.
The interns remain the heart of the series. While we love triangles, we also love how they become more like a family.
I wish they explored Dana and Katie’s relationship sooner. They encourage each other to take risks and open their hearts. Hopefully there will be a season 2 and we’ll see more.
Stay tuned for our exclusive interviews with EP Michael Grassi and EP and Director DeMane Davis.
You can enjoy all of Brilliant Minds on Peacock.
Watch “Ingenuity” online
