Review of The Resident (TV series)

A recent addition to Netflix schedule is yet another hospital drama, which runs for 6 series and is set at Chastain Park Memorial Hospital, a fictional institute in Atlanta, Georgia.

In meddie.org we have reviewed a number of hospital documentaries and TV dramas. It is difficult for a drama to stand out from the rest but The Resident does offer some novel takes on life at a US hospital.

The titular Resident, Dr. Conrad Hawkins, initially comes across as a likeable maverick who is prone to bend the rules and challenge authority to secure better outcomes for his patients.

In the pilot episode, he takes charge of a Harvard-educated first year resident (intern). This is where the first ‘surprise’ is presented to viewers: the intern is of Asian origin – Dr. Devon Pravesh. This in itself should be perfectly normal given the number of Asian doctors both in the UK and US health systems, but I cannot think of any other US hospital TV drama with a leading Asian doctor protagonist.

This adds a touch of realism. Dr. Pravesh learns to cope with his new duties at the hospital in a baptism of fire, initially in awe of Dr. Hawkins but progressively establishing himself as a competent doctor.

Another novelty is the fact that the hospital’s chief of surgery, Dr. Randolph Bell, does not conform to the conventional image of a mature, benign doctor. Despite his seniority and celebrity status, he is in fact flawed. His reputation protects him from scrutiny but an ailment is affecting his surgical skills, endangering patients in the process. Rather than admit to this and lose face, he finds ways, including blackmail, to hide his shortcomings.

Dr. Hawkins and Dr. Bell clash on several occasions, with the former keen to avoid patients being operated on by Dr. Bell. However, they seem to find a way to compromise and work together despite the mutual distrust.

A feature of the US healthcare system that The Resident portrays in a number of episodes and is a recurring theme in all US hospital dramas, is the need for hospitals to put profit ahead of duty of care. Being able to afford care or having a gold-plated insurance policy is an obsession that makes a difference between life or death for US patients. In one episode, the hospital even employed a billing consultant to monitor and encourage hospital staff to upsell hospital services.

The series portrays well-meaning doctors and nurses who work against the backdrop of a for-profit healthcare system. The main protagonist comes across as eccentric and determined. The relationships between colleagues seem warm and credible. There is also constant tension between the faction of Dr. Bell and other senior staff and the more junior doctors.

I am not sure if the show will maintain viewers’ interest for the whole six seasons. One criticism I have is that the doctors’ personal lives are not developed enough. However, I am overall enjoying watching The Resident.