‘Brilliant Minds’ Recap: ‘The Disembodied Woman’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

BRILLIANT MINDS -- "The Disembodied Woman" Episode 102 -- Pictured: (l-r) Zachary Quinto as Dr. Oliver Wolf, Nedra Marie Taylor as Jessie Williams -- (Photo by: Rafy/NBC)

​Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Two of ‘Brilliant Minds’. To revisit the Series Premiere, click here.
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One particular ending that comes forth often in medical shows that feature a brilliant doctor that solves mysteries of the body… is the delightfully happy one. For these shows firmly believe the doctor must triumph and must find out what’s wrong in the nick of time to save the patient. So that they can live, our hero doctor can find fulfillment and so the audience enjoys what is in essence, perfect escapist television. Because we know deep down that sometimes people suffer without answers or spend years trying to find them because of insurance issues, and uncaring doctors and other mitigating factors. So, it brings us comfort to see a medical world where answers happen, and people are always properly healed. 

Which is why this week’s episode of Brilliant Minds on NBC is of note. For ‘The Disembodied Woman’ offered up some of the harsh realities of the medical world that these stories normally avoid. Such as how so many are quick to ignore the possibility that strange and sudden symptoms and odd behavior might be more than dark times. Since Dana and Ericka came to discover that a college student who saw dragons wasn’t just having long-term symptoms from a bad dose of hallucinogens. He had a major issue with his brain, something that could have killed him. But because they cared and were tasked with finding more answers to his case… he was saved. Which, at first seems to be a standard happy ending, but he was merely the secondary case present in this tale. One designed to reinforce the importance of really caring.

Because while the team was exploring his health, Dr. Wolf was dealing with quite the unique case. In that, a former WNBA superstar named, Jessie Williams, was suddenly afraid of surgery. For she believed that something bad would happen. Because a vivid dream was haunting her day and night and had her feeling as though she was losing touch with reality and her own body, and that would lead to trouble on the table. But despite running every test known to man, there were no surprises or physical maladies. In fact, outside of her retiring from the league, she had nothing to report or offer when it came to life changes or anything that might cause her body harm. Leaving the good doctor perplexed, and gravely worried. Because eventually, she began to lose control of her faculties and eventually, began to lose hold of her life. 

Which prompted Wolf to think beyond the manuals and the tests and simply think upon simple solutions. Which brought him back to his past, and his early days of learning medicine. Because the fundamentals were all that could come to mind here, and he realized through his reflections of the basics… that perhaps talking to a former player as a coach and tasking her with fighting back as a player or someone learning a new skillset might help, and it did. For it gave her something to fight toward, it gave her control. Which also sounds akin to a happy ending, but it was more bittersweet than anything else. Because there was no answer for her ailment, and she had a long road ahead when it came to healing. But she was alive, and she was moving, because of the fact that a doctor deeply cared for her and her well-being, and her future. 

All of which gave rise to a powerful story. One that truly did remind us of the hard truth that medicine doesn’t always give us all the answers to our ailments because of how unique our bodies and minds are, and that so many are forgotten because there are no easy answers. But a little care and a little understanding can go a long way in helping those folks regardless. Because everyone deserves that, and it was lovely to see kindness play out and to learn more about Wolf’s past and relationship with his mother. In fact, there’s clearly so much more to explore there, since Muriel inferred her little Mugwump might need more help in being the best doctor he can be, and that it might relate to why she considers this job his last chance, and that will make the wait for next week’s episode all the more difficult. Because this series continues to deliver incredible explorations on how we lift one another up and support one another in ways we don’t normally think of, and we absolutely all want more of that. Until next time.

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