State of the Shea, Pt. 50: Sacrifices (“Cheat Day”)
Housekeeping #1: Bon, Bon, St. Bon
So, five seasons into this series, St. Bonaventure has suddenly acquired the on-air nickname St. Bons. Or St. Bon. St. Bon makes more sense, but I thought I heard St. Bons. In any case, I thought it might be a one-time thing in “Yipee-Ki-Yay”... but in “Cheat Day,” with a different set of scriptwriters, we heard it again. So here at State of the #Shea I will follow suit– with St. Bons (or St. Bon, if a bunch of you say that’s what it is) replacing “St. B”...
And for consistency’s sake, I’ll change my own “St. B’vites” (doctors/staff of St. Bonaventure) to St. Bonavites. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Let’s move on…
Housekeeping #2: The State of the Shea is… STABLE
We knew not to expect much #Shea development in this episode (having taken a turn towards the better last week), so our expectations were relatively low. Aside from a few details–
The confirmation in the opening scene that Lea had returned to the apartment
Their lunchtime conversation (NOT in the St. Bons cafeteria, for Lea was fired at that point), where it was mentioned that Shaun’s residency ends in a year “and then he can go wherever he’d like” (hmm… foreshadowing for Season 6?)
The assuring handhold as they sat anxiously awaiting the start of events
Their brief appearance in the closing montage after Lea had been reinstated (it made me chuckle a little to think she’d actually had to pack up and vacate her office in the first place, but if Lim did it of course she would as well)
– #Shea was basically just treading water this week. So I will turn my attention next to…
Housekeeping #3: About that episode title…
For those who didn’t know, TGD 5X10 was originally titled “Sacrifice”-- which posed a problem, as TGD 1x10 was also titled “Sacrifice” (it’s the episode just before Shaun and Lea’s road trip; the one that ends with Shaun physically striking Glassman in the hospital lobby and running off). To avoid confusion, especially in future syndication/streaming situations, the title was changed to “Cheat Day”... presumably inspired by Salen’s declaration made in between firing/threatening Lim & Co., and ripping into a slice of pizza with an obnoxious amount of gusto. (a slice that wasn’t hers anyway, no matter how much she allegedly tipped the delivery person.)
I’d like to think the “Cheat Day” thing also extends to Salen herself, and the way she ran St. Bons as a bargain basement of clinical procedures for patients not smart enough to plan ahead while masquerading as caring and “client-focused.” As I live-tweeted during the show: Isn’t EVERY day a “Cheat Day” when it comes to Salen and hospital management?
But I get why TGD planned to call it “Sacrifice.” The word means giving up something for the sake of something (or someone) else, which is what the suddenly jobless St. Bonavites were doing (or were willing to do) to get EthiCure and Salen Morisson out of “their” hospital… none moreso than Shaun, who knew his situation was “exceptional” (Glassman’s words) but joined Team Lim anyway. It’s also, arguably, what Andrews did when he offered up his own file of misdoings as he implored Salen to “walk away” from St. Bonaventure.
I say “arguably” for two reasons…
Because part of his sacrifice was his personal relationship with Salen, and given the potential toxicity of the web she wove, can we REALLY call ending it a sacrifice? And
With the paperwork she signed in her final moments apparently giving Andrews the St. Bons presidency– something he gave up in S2 amidst the Dr. Han days (now THAT was a sacrifice!!)-- are actually talking about SALEN’S sacrifice?
I’ll answer that last one myself…NO. Deciding a place and the people within it aren’t worth your highly compensatable time is not the same thing as fighting for what you believe in at the risk of losing a piece of your massive business portfolio…or your hunky boyfriend… or your pristine reputation (do we KNOW if it was pristine, given what Lim was on the verge of proving? Do we care??)... OK, just a big fat slice of NO for anything putting Salen and “sacrifice” in the same sentence, please.
Was it a “sacrifice” to keep this showdown to one episode?
I resisted the temptation to say “showdown” (with quotation marks), as I know many viewers felt they were denied Salen’s proper comeuppance when all was said and done in “Cheat Day.” I, too, gauged the pace of the episode when it hit the first commercial break and thought Damn… Salen’s already fired three St. Bonavites and cut the legs off of their case against her with her “going public” threats… this is gonna be UGLY!
Except that we needed to see how the situation was coming between Park and Morgan, and how that would ultimately be resolved so that they could continue their relationship.
And why Jordan wasn’t fully committed to the cause.
And how Shaun came to the conclusion he MUST be fully committed to the cause.
And how Andrews bore witness to the metaphorical torching of St. Bons, and his own remaining integrity, until he could stand it no longer.
And the case of the liver cancer guy.***
*** No we didn’t need this particular Patient of the Week, in my opinion. Sure it gave Shaun something to do while he weighed his options, and a starting point for the argument in Andrews’ office that led to Park’s (temporary) resignation. But wasn’t there a way those things could have been looped into the other POTW (the surrogate struggling to find reasons to live), thereby creating more time for the episode’s headline event? ) Just felt like one of those episodes where the traditional format should take a back seat to the drama we cared about the most.
Is that why some of us felt a little cheated… we were all ready to see the official Salen vs. the St. Bonavites match, complete with Shaun’s presumably marvelous speech… had the popcorn popped and everything… whatever it took to wipe the condescending smug look off of Ms. Morrison’s face once and for all… But NooooOOOOOOOoooo! Andrews had to swoop in and be some kind of hero* before the hearing ever began.
Should it have been a two-part episode? When you consider the fact that there were supposed to be eight days taking place between the start of the episode and the hearing at the end of it… yet by the second act the hearing was happening in two days…it felt mighty compressed, and therefore there sure seems to be a good case for a two-parter. But as some viewers reminded– had the hearing actually taken place (in part two), all that dirty laundry referenced by Salen earlier in the episode would have come out. Next thing you know, everyone is out of a job. Which might’ve been a very interesting way to end a season from a cliffhanger standpoint, but EthiCure was apparently not intended as a full-season story arc. That’s why Andrews’ move was essential.
Still, I’m left to consider the ways it could have gone to feel less rushed and more satisfying. Maybe some time dedicated to a “mock hearing” (could’ve been at Lim’s house again) where we watched someone come in and pretend to be Salen (JORDAN, maybe? Since she was only there in solidarity for the most part? That could’ve been hilarious!)... heard Shaun’s speech… and then cried big fat tears for St. Bons’ doom, sensing their efforts were futile…
UNLESS…
Cue whatever extensions necessary on Andrews and Salen’s stuff for him to do his 11th hour save. Including an on-the-down-low meeting between Andrews and Glassman, which could’ve led additional credibility to the thought many of us had that both Glassman and Lim were more than a little aware of what Andrews was about to do before he did it.
As for Salen getting what she deserved with this alternate scenario? I’ll let you guys post some ideas in the comments… I’m tapped out at the moment!
Still, now I’m back to wanting a two-parter. But, the show had other plans… obviously… so what I’m going to do here is hone in on a handful of what I thought to be the most important relationship developments to take place in “Cheat Day.” Because despite the flaws mentioned here, “Cheat Day” had a LOT of great things to offer.
Here are the ones most noteworthy in my book:
Shaun and Glassman
Nice as it was to see Shaun ready to dig into a job hunt right at the top of the episode, it was equally satisfying to see him willing to walk his resignation back once Glassy pointed out the problem(s) with it. Some expressed surprise that Shaun didn’t balk at the suggestion that his ASD could be an additional hurdle, but as some others pointed out, Shaun seldom seems to dispute certain elements of his ASD when Glassman is the one bringing them up.
We didn’t see them together again until late in the episode at Glassy’s house (I had to chuckle when Shaun got the text to come over there; he wordlessly got it across that he wasn’t looking forward to “Dad” trying to talk him out of plans to join Team Lim.)
In some ways this conversation had a familiar feel, including the way Glassman said “What you’ve accomplished is remarkable,” followed immediately by “We can’t risk that.” (Italics are mine in both sentences.) I initially bristled at him saying this as it felt controlling, and more than a little ironic (Oh, NOW you’re worried about what might be at risk with Shaun?). But they weren’t discussing a medical case, they were discussing Shaun’s entire career… which wouldn’t be what it is without Glassman. Facts are facts.
That said, Shaun made a wonderful realization– maybe even moreso as he sat there, talking– that being a good doctor/great surgeon didn’t mean much if he had to lose his mentors/colleagues/friends under terrible circumstances such as these. So when he stuck to his guns and asserted “This is my decision… I’m an adult, Dr. Glassman,” he ended up making quite the convincing case– even if he was very uncomfortable doing it (the way he lost eye contact with Glassman during those lines was a dead giveaway).
To me, we saw Shaun begin to embrace his St. Bon “family” back in 5x2 “Piece of Cake,” when Salen dropped in on his cake-testing session uninvited and soon honed in on the discovery of Shaun’s ASD… to which Shaun responded by ignoring her questions, snatching the cake samples from his fellow doctors, and shutting the whole thing down. “I think the whole thing… was an indicator of how much he treasures (his friends and colleagues)… something he may never really verbalize,” I said at the time. (Um, Kelli, I think he’s now verbalized it… surprise! Please take note!
Of course for many of us, the best part of the scene came at the very end with Shaun’s long-awaited commentary on Glassy’s engagement party speech. We could knock it because it was too little, too late, and I suppose there’s justification in that. But like Shaun himself, TGD’s ability to surprise us shouldn’t be underestimated. I’d given up hope on Shaun saying anything about Glassman’s “toast” six or seven episodes ago– but for him to throw such blunt shade out of nowhere somehow felt right on time to me. (As did Glassman’s reaction, which looked like Oh, crap, you still remember that, huh… wish I did.)
But maybe, maybe, M A Y B E we should use “your speech at my engagement party was terrible” as a reminder that the storytelling on TGD is often non-linear in nature. So Glassman’s mea culpa or whatever we’re hoping for Re: Shaun’s “Expired” breakdown still has plenty of time to make an appearance. (Of course, Your Mileage May Vary as to whether or not it’s sufficient.)
Lim and Salen
It has been Lim vs. Salem from the start, has it not? Arguably it was also Lim vs. Glassman, but with him as a no-show most of the time, the vs. hardly seems to be earned. Lim showed up, fought the battles, swallowed her pride, took the heat… all while dealing with a suddenly departed boyfriend that turned into ammunition for Salen in the final acts. (Also interesting that this “abrupt exit” from earlier in the season became this kind of catalyst; I wonder what the original plan was for Lim and Mateo at this point in the season?
So when Salen came through the door and promptly showed Lim, Glassman and Lea the (unemployment) door mere minutes later… Lim was officially out of f***s to give. “You think that’s gonna stop us from going public?” she clapped back. No, Salen didn’t… but she wasn’t done showing her hand.
Neither was Lim, as it turned out. She didn’t need to create a “viral moment” at the pension fund meeting after all, but in channeling her EthiCure fury, Lim kept the freedom-fighter engine running through all necessary iterations to, eventually, reach its goal.
Shaun and Salen
One of the things that made Salen’s comeuppance at the end of “Cheat Day” a little anti-climatic for me was the fact that Shaun actually had the best “gotcha” moment with Salen in the opening minutes of the episode:
Focus on the medicine became his mantra as he started what looked to be eight days of work before the Salen takedown could happen.
So “focused” was he, in fact, that seeing Salen just as his shift started created a hilarious horror flick moment that immediately gave me Bates Motel vibes.
He was clearly rattled by this as their exchange began, but it didn’t take much of her blase-yet-patronizing nature to snap him into another gear and turn Glassman’s words (“I am on the poster…”) into the steady, strong, down-the-corridor dare we never knew we needed so badly from him.
Finally, Salen was stuck– mired in her own questionable choices, at long last, with nothing to do but watch Shaun march away with a delightfully satisfied “I have to go to work!” It turned out to be the only exchange between the two on this episode, and therefore, the final one. But even if there HAD been a full-blown showdown that sent Salen off in highly dramatic defeat, I’m hard-pressed to think of anyone from St. Bon feeling better about an outcome than Shaun.
Andrews and Salen
What was it between these two… love? Lust? Charm? Intrigue? Power? I posed this very question on Twitter this week, and out of four options, half the votes were for “It’s complicated.” The one thing most of us can agree on is that whatever fascination (or desire to stay on her good side) Andrews had with Salen early on began to wither since TGD returned from winter hiatus.
And while his “miracle clotting factors” patient Nelly spared him an awful tragedy in 5x9 “Yipee-Ki-Yay,” Andrews was notably shaken– both by the experience itself, and what Shaun had to say about it (and him). Meanwhile, Salen doled out dual rounds of together-we-can-rule-the-world-speak so cool and carefree– even after her mass firing at Lim’s house– Andrews couldn’t help but rapidly reconsider any remaining thoughts of sticking with her.
Park and Morgan
Maybe this was just me, but I felt like a lot of “Cheat Day” was devoted to getting these two up to speed with the rest of the storyline. We knew Park was Team Lim already, and that brown–noser Morgan was… not. Not at first, anyway.
But bringing back the case of the half-blind woman (who remained unaware, thanks to Morgan, that she could have had fully corrective surgery had EthiCure not been at the helm) was a far deeper move than I expected. Everything from the betrayal (Park read Morgan’s file without telling her?) to the disgust (“I didn’t realize ‘playing the game’ meant losing your moral compass”) to Park calling her out in front of Andrews (the look on Morgan’s face when she said Not fair was pitiful)...
…And yet they still got Morgan re-visiting with the half-blind patient, then telling Park she was going public with the case after all, THEN showing him the written acknowledgment she’d chosen to send the woman even after Salen folded… Whew! It was a lot. Not unwelcome, but, again, a two-parter would’ve been helpful here…
And now, for some highly HONORABLE MENTIONS…
Glassy and Lea
They’re finally working together where Shaun’s concerned (at the beginning)! They’re both at Lim’s house for the meeting! They both get FIRED at Lim’s house! They both, independently, come to support Shaun’s need to join Team Lim… and of course, they both get their jobs reinstated at the end (though Glassman had no one to make googly eyes at while he moved back into his office so we didn’t see it)...
But for all that, THIS was the best part to me… the look on Glassman’s face when Lea reassessed staying with Team Lim post-firing and said “I’m in” about two beats later. Dare I call that a Proud Papa moment? Because it sure felt that way to me.
Glassman and Salen
Speaking of LOOKS…! I wanted to point out to y’all that if Glassman’s face in his final chin-tuck glare at Salen looked familiar…
It’s because it’s almost the exact same hella-nasty look he shot at Lea, post-Shaun rejection, in the brewpub at the very beginning of “Hurt” (the S3 two-part finale) How times have changed!
(Including the quality of my screen captures from 2 years back… yikes!)
Jordan and Asher
I’m so very glad they had Asher pushing Jordan for a reason to resist the Resistance, so to speak. They could have left things where they were with Jordan in “Yipee-Ki-Yay,” where her reasons were more read-between-the-lines-ish (which made sense, given that Lim too is a woman of color who surely understood Jordan’s dilemma). But Asher, who was not present in ANY scenes the previous week, needed the dots connected for him… which Jordan, a black woman in a top-flight medical residency program, did beautifully. Her line “I’m not scared, I’m exhausted” was one for the ages, penned by black screenwriter Tracy Taylor (according to a Tweet from Jordan’s portrayer, Bria Samone Henderson).
Andrews and Lim
What a kettle of mixed emotions conveyed in those montage glances at the end! Were they saying…
“Thanks”/”You’re welcome”
“It shouldn’t have gone that far”/I’m sorry”/”You should be”
“Nice move, getting the presidency back”/”I earned it. Deal with it.”
“Where the F*** do we go from here?”/”Beats the hell out of me”
Because Salen’s departure may have lacked the firepower some of us dreamed of, but it did contain a very important parting shot on her part: “Well, good luck… because now this is all your problem.”
Say what we will about what she did to St. Bons, Salen was initially chosen by the Board to overtake the hospital’s finances because it was struggling. Big time. Now that she’s out, I can only assume the dire financial straits are back in. How will Andrews deal with it all, and how much of said dealings will be felt by the St. Bonavites? I hope at least some of that struggle is reflected in the back half of season 5… which gets started March 21.
