‘Brilliant Minds’ Recap: ‘Pilot’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

BRILLIANT MINDS -- "Pilot" Episode 101 -- Pictured: Zachary Quinto as Dr. Oliver Wolf -- (Photo by: Rafy/NBC)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Series Premiere of ‘Brilliant Minds’.
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We live an interesting time, when it comes to society’s worldview on how we heal. Simply because, in this moment, healing is seen as a very personal journey, and understandably so. After all, we’ve come to understand that a great deal of self-work and self-care goes into healing, and that does require us to dig deep and dedicate ourselves to healing our body and our mind, because we are the only one who can get it done. Yet, while it is good that we are starting to understand the work that goes into getting better, it has brought forth a unique side effect. In that, it has isolated so many as they heal and left them wondering if they can make it forward.
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Because those not working to get better, just leave people be on their journey and that… isn’t healthy.
Simply because… there’s a lot to be said about having a support network while we heal. After all, it really does lift our spirits when someone listens to us as we work through our mental health issues. Not to mention, just having someone tell us, ‘You can do it,’ when we’re healing the body goes a long way as well. But we have indeed lost that as time has gone on, and that makes healing a little tough. Thankfully though, the world seems to be recognizing this mistake and that is why we are seeing people try to support one another more, and that is why it should come as no surprise that there is a brand-new television series on the airwaves that speaks to the importance of having a community around us while we work to heal, in any capacity.

A feat that Brilliant Minds on NBC accomplishes, by introducing us to Dr. Oliver Wolf. A brilliant mind that finds himself going through a tough time in ‘Pilot’. For he is a firm believer in catering to the core needs of a patient to help them properly heal, by any means necessary. A belief that gets him fired and leaves him listless. That is until an old friend named Dr. Carol Pierce asks him to join her at her woefully understaffed hospital. To inspire hope in her ailing patients, and well, one particular case inspires him to return to service. Wherein a mother who underwent major surgery to fix her epilepsy related seizures, no longer recognizes her sons. In fact, she sees them as imposters, yet at the same time… knows she loves them through and through. Prompting Dr. Wolf to dig into her life and dig into her illness to find a way to help her brain re-learn how to love the sons she does adore.

Which of course, injects the medical stuff we enjoy from these types of dramas, and brings about a happy ending since Dr. Wolf comes to understand how use sound to help her heal and love her family again. But what matters more here, is what happens in between the technical moments. Because that is where we see… community and support take place and learn how that inspires us to heal and inspires us to move forward during a difficult time. Because that mother is terrified, and isolated and alone, and she truly feels as though no one hears her, believes her or cares. But Wolf shows her otherwise. He takes her case seriously, he finds the cause and reminds her every day that she is in his care that he will find a way forward, and her life will improve, that does give her peace and that does give her joy, and it reminds us deeply of what support can do.

Which makes for a beautiful and inspiring series premiere. One that informs us that this medical series will be less about the norms and old tropes, and more about what it means to lift each other up in times of trouble, and… how that helps heroes along. For Dr. Wolf also suffers from face blindness and has his own demons to quell beyond that. But helping others gives him his own strength and helps him overcome his own doubts and that really does make for a lovely story. One that you walk away from with good vibes in your soul. Simply because this medical drama serves as the anthesis to the zeitgeist of healing. By reminding us that we are all in this together and that a little kindness, and a little care toward others, can truly accomplish wonders, and it will be fascinating to see what other beautiful moments await us as season one of this show continues along. Until next time.

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