“Best Laid Plans” was an emotional episode, sprinkled with hints of Jessie throughout. The episode was fast paced and intense. The episode was inspired and emotional. It was, all in all, a great hour of television.
Mina and Nic were volunteering in a free remote rural clinic, up in the mountains, helping the population of the medical dead zone. A lot of people come through the doors and right before closing up shop, two sisters come in for a check-up. It was easy to see the similitude between the sisters and the Nevin sisters, and Nic could see it also. Soon after they arrived, Bianca realized she had forgotten the batteries for the machine that was making her heart pump. The team must find a way to acquire some, and fast. The closest hospital, Chastain, is three hours away, and the battery will not last that long.
The editing, the music, the dialogue and the acting all made that scene dramatic. There were no questions to be asked, it was a life or death situation. They don’t have time to loose; they need to try something. The five of them get in the medical and transport and rush to meet the ambulance half-way. This begs the question of who you would want by your side if you only had one hour to live. Who would you speak to? What would you say?
The sister’s dynamics hit a sensitive cord with Nic, as she thought of her sister. She can be seen, teary eyed, several times in the van. When they realise they will not get the batteries in time, Bianca asks to die on her own terms, once more reminding Nic of Jessie’s death. At least, with Bianca, they can let her leave the way she wants to, holding her sister’s hand. The décor was beautiful, you could feel at peace just watching it. At last, when the pump stopped, and she slowly dies as if falling asleep, Bianca heart starts pumping on its own. She opens her eyes very undead. Surprise Motherf***er.
At some points in the series, Austin and Mina’s relationship seems to be moving forward, other times, it doesn’t. Several times during this week’s episode, it seemed like Austin was ready to open up, but Mina cut him off every time. She has a lot on her plate already. Then, when the moment seemed right and Austin tells her how she would be the one he would spend his last hour with, how he would have things to tell her, Mina makes it a point to tell him how she does not want their relationship status to change, how it is perfect just the way it is. It was a touching and emotional scene for the Raptor.
“The heart can adapt.” -Austin
When Austin sees Mina with Adaku, he texted Andrea, thus saving her from her face to face with Cain. I really enjoy Andrea’s character, and love how she does not take crap from Cain. If he can’t be with Mina, I believe Andrea is a great fit for Austin. I just hope they don’t destroy her character in order to make Austin and Mina happen. Mark my words, Austin’s relationship with Andrea will make Mina open her eyes.
Conrad does not go to the rural clinic with the gals. He was called to a search and rescue on a river bank, but he ends up spending his day doing a different kind of search and rescue. While picking up Kyle, who’s car had been impounded, a patient calls him to make sure he will take care of his wife. Worried, Conrad takes Kyle to his patient’s house to check in on him. He crashes into the room just in time to stop Archer from taking the pills and committing suicide by overdose.
Conrad does not go to the rural clinic with the gals. He was called to a search and rescue on a river bank, but he ends up spending his day doing a different kind of search and rescue. While picking up Kyle, who’s car had been impounded, a patient calls him to make sure he will take care of his wife. Worried, Conrad takes Kyle to his patient’s house to check in on him. He crashes into the room just in time to stop Archer from taking the pills and committing suicide by overdose. Archer has MS and is drowning medical debt, he believes the only way to take care of his wife is to die, leaving her enough money in life insurance to take care of everything. As Conrad goes to meet up with the ambulance, the man get out his gun, and when Kyle goes to stop him, he accidentally shoots himself in the stomach.
“I asked around. No one has ever accused me of being nice.” - Bell
Archer is rushed to Chastain, but Conrad can’t come into the hospital to help, so Devon and Bell take over. Bell is the one to operate on the patient. Upon learning of the patients financial troubles, he decides that will not charge the surgery as to not add more stress. Ffor that Conrad is extremely grateful. Bell is really becoming one of the good guys. He brought Jessica, who is not assigned to any operating room upon her return to work, onto his service. He is encouraging and positive. He helps her when her memory fails and is extremely supportive.
This episode really brought to light how much Kyle is struggling. We’ve seen enough snippets in his life to understand he is not coping with Jessie’s death very well, but this episode stressed this out even more. Right from the beginning, he does not seem to be at his best, thhings are not going well for him, but they seem quite minor. As the episode progresses and he understands what Archer is feeling, we can see he is worse off than anyone thought. He is able to explain the thoughts behind the suicide attempt to Archer’s wife, he explains it too well. I am not sure Nic will be able to take it if her father kills himself. The ending was very dark, as the audience is left wondering how Kyle is doing.
I give it a 7.5/10.
