Admit it; we’ll be reeling from that season finale for a long time.
If there’s one word worth using to describe Doc Season 1 Episode 10, it’s “exhilarating.”
From the action-packed medical angle to the high emotions at every conceivable turn, Doc left it all on the floor with that season finale.
Doc’s Season Finale Delivers the Best the Series Has to Offer
It’s a relief that we know the series will return with a full sophomore season because there is far too much worth unpacking for all of these characters, not just Amy.
Doc knew they’d leave us clamoring for more after that season finale, and now the idea of waiting until Fall for the series’ return feels unbearable.
We’ve repeatedly discussed how this is a different type of medical drama. It’s not traditional in the least, making it compelling and unique in its own right. It’s more about the doctors and their personal lives than the medicine.
However, Doc’s season finale handled the balance well by delivering its most exciting medical storyline thus far.
This massive train incident allowed us to see what Westside is like amid a catastrophe, and the chaos and turmoil were thrilling.
Gina Finally Gets Her Proper Due with Exciting But Difficult Case
TJ was a particular standout. Doc doesn’t subscribe to the hierarchical approach many medical dramas adopt. It didn’t matter that TJ was an intern when all hell broke loose because he had experience as a combat medic, which made him an invaluable leader during everything.
Similarly, it was a stretch that everyone was essentially waiting with bated breath for Sonya to bring that young boy back from the dead, but it was rewarding when it happened.
I loved that even when people were at odds with each other or not in the best headspace with tensions brewing, they could set that aside to save lives.
However, Gina (Amirah Vann) was the person most impacted by this emergency event. Amirah Vann is magic when she has the content, and her grief, pain, and guilt are palpable throughout the hour.
It was difficult for her to learn that her patient was the one who caused the train crash because he was suicidal. But worse yet, she had to deal with insensitive law enforcement officers who had no sympathy for Flores or his mental health issues (or even Gina).
On the one hand, Flores deserved compassion, and more sensitivity needed to be shown when acknowledging his mental health struggles. However, cops were rightfully upset about all the victims who paid the price for another man’s death by suicide.
People like Flores who are in pain don’t think about the pain they could cause others when their thought process is that the world and those around them would be better off.
But death by suicide has ripple effects that can hurt those around, and there’s no getting around that either. Even if he didn’t cause the train to derail, there is still the pain and trauma others carry from witnessing it.
Gina and Michael’s Familial Dynamic is Compelling And Necessary
Ironically, someone else will carry a similar pain Flores had in the first place, as he couldn’t get through the guilt of accidentally killing a child. Essentially, Gina was right in noting that there’s nowhere to put that pain and grief; it just moves.
One of my favorite scenes of the hour was Gina with Michael in the office. We know they’re like family to each other, but this hour wonderfully captures that.
When so many of the show’s characters are defined by their connection to Amy and little else, it’s fascinating to see other dynamics emerge.
For a bit, I wondered about reciprocity regarding Gina. She’s always a supportive friend or therapist to other characters, but we don’t see the reverse. I loved that Michael was there to extend some of the same love and support she gives to everyone around her.
Gina expressed how she’ll carry her own guilt now, even though she knows it’s not her fault. And she’s right; we can consciously know something, but it won’t change how we feel, and sometimes, you need the space to feel your feelings no matter what.
Doc Sets Up Overdue and Intriguing Aspect of Gina and Amy’s Friendship
And while Michael remains a polarizing figure to many viewers, he’s a good friend, and it’s evident that he cares. But I wonder how much those two have been through together because Amy spent so many years shutting out everyone around her.
The tension between Gina and Amy coming to a head in the finale is overdue, and I look forward to the series delving into this more next season.
While I’m not particularly a Nora fan, and her sentiments about Amy feel too skewed, she’s not entirely wrong about how everything tends to be about Amy.
We’ve seen Amy and Gina’s friendship displayed throughout this time, but it’s also always been Amy-centered. Gina helped Amy through her accident and the amnesia. She’s been there when Amy confided in her about Katie, Michael, or Jake.
Through flashbacks, we see Gina helping Amy through her grief after Daniel’s loss and mediating and diffusing situations when things grow more tense between Amy and Michael.
Gina has poured so much into her best friend, but Amy, bless her heart, has had a lot going on and doesn’t extend that same courtesy to Gina.
Amy Gets Justice in Thrilling Richard Takedown
As difficult as it was to see these two friends hit this bump in the road, I appreciated Gina acknowledging this and expressing her frustration with Amy. Because at some point, Amy’s memory issues can’t excuse everything.
Of course, it’s a relief that Amy got her revenge, and she won’t have someone like Richard around to weaponize those memory issues.
Amy speaking to Mrs. Dixon after Katie’s great pep talk was a great moment and the confirmation she needed. Dixon wouldn’t have taken that drug at all because of his low blood pressure, and his widow knew as much.
The confrontation was everything! It was so satisfying to see Amy cut Richard down a bit and call him out on his actions. And the worst part was that she genuinely sympathized with that man in the past and present.
Even at her “worst,” Amy would’ve helped him out, but he was too caught up in his ego and other bullcrap to believe any of it. Seeing him taking his plaque off the door and walking out was satisfying. Good riddance!
And lest anyone think Amy was done, she let the board guy have it, too. It was mystifying that he would even come at Amy when Richard did what he did.
Is “Cold” Amy Making a Return? Amy Remains the Most Compelling Character Onscreen
But if that entire situation didn’t showcase anything, it’s that glimmers of the other Amy have returned.
I’ve never been more fascinated with this messy, flawed, complex woman than I am now. I’m eager to learn more about Amy and her background in Doc’s sophomore season.
On the surface, it would seem like Amy’s coldness was a direct result of her son’s loss, but as we learn more about her, it seems like a coping mechanism that extends beyond that one event.
When she’s challenged or struggling in any way, she reverts to this coldness.
The Dixon situation, kiss with Michael, Nora’s confrontation, and TJ issue all led to that cold, distant version of Amy returning as she shut down. She returned to that unapproachable and rude version of herself with Sonya, even when the other woman tried to help and support her.
And Katie didn’t hesitate to call her out on doing the same thing she did when Daniel died, slipping and pulling away.
This version of Amy, the one we heard about but have only really seen in flashbacks thus far, is returning in some capacity, and I find this profoundly captivating.
Amy’s Retreat to Old Ways May Deeply Impact Jake, Too
She’s been trying to please people, make amends, and overcompensate, which was bound to take a toll on her. It’s exhausting, and now it feels like Amy is giving up on trying to appease and falling back into her habits.
She’s in a very “take me as I am” place, which is equal parts liberating and worrisome.
It’s interesting to see how this may affect her relationship with Jake.
The finale may have been the first time Jake experienced what others have when it comes to Amy—how when she’s under pressure or has too many emotions to deal with, she shuts down and pushes people she cares about away.
She avoided him for most of the hour, not ready to discuss sharing a kiss with her ex-husband, and once that confrontation with Nora happened, we really saw the light leave Amy.
I am curious how Jake will react to this version of the woman he loves. For so long, he’s been an Amy apologist. In his eyes, she’s always been perfect, even when others had experienced a side of her that suggested otherwise — and he’s always been willing to excuse some of her flaws.
But this time, she’s hurting him directly.
Jake’s Heartbroken Moment HURTS, But It Also May Reveal More About the Character
My heart broke for Jake as Amy dodged him at every turn. But the final scene of him seeing her with Michael was gutwrenching. However, and this will likely upset some people, I welcome this development.
This will lead to seeing who and what Jake is outside of Amy. The entire season, Doc has defined his character by his love for her and little else, and even in this finale, it was disheartening to see.
As Amy mostly avoided him, he spent a great deal of time pining after her and searching every room for her. One of the most disheartening moments was how he couldn’t even enjoy an evening with his colleagues because he fixated on her. Maybe I’m the only one that finds that alarming.
There’s still a lot to unpack there. Maybe after Jake’s divorce, he poured his all into Amy to a potentially unhealthy degree. Perhaps he needs to take a beat. Jake jumped all-in with Amy’s pre-amnesia and then did it again, even though she didn’t remember being in a relationship with him.
There are a lot of intense emotions, and they must be overwhelming for Amy at this stage in her life as she tries to adjust to things. But there’s the added pressure of carrying so many people’s feelings, including Jake’s, while all this is happening.
Amy/Jake Inevitable Setback Sets Up Necessary Jake Character Development
I feel terrible for Jake, especially because of his past with infidelity. Personally, cheating arcs usually drive me insane, and I hate them.
However, the other side is that he may have jumped back in with Amy too soon. It wasn’t that long ago when she told him she still had feelings for her ex-husband.
Amy has far too many matters in her life to control and figure out before she engages in romantic relationships with anyone, especially intense people she has a history with and who knew her before. And Jake may have gotten into a relationship too soon after his divorce.
Amy and Jake are a solid enough pairing, but it was always too soon for them to be together again and last.
As for Sonya. She was the worst. The issue with her character is that she allows everything to be colored by her feelings for Amy. Had she not had a tense exchange with Amy, she likely wouldn’t have been so eager to tell Jake about the Nora incident.
It wasn’t her place to tell Jake anything, especially when she didn’t know the full extent of what had happened. I don’t know how she thought he’d receive anything from her when she’d made her opinion known for so long and had ulterior motives.
Michael’s Dysfunctional Approach with Nora Spells More Trouble Than Ever
Sonya can be such an insufferable and nasty character. Her actions have backfired and jeopardized her friendship with Jake, but it’s her own damn fault.
Without Jake’s underbaked friendship with Sonya and his hurt from Amy, I’m wondering where the poor guy will stand. Is it wrong that I’m potentially intrigued by the prospect of the level-headed, seemingly perfect Jake “crashing out” a bit?
Jake hasn’t had the space to be messy, flawed, overly emotional, human, or anything, whereas the other characters have, so this may be the catalyst.
Meanwhile, Michael’s lack of self-control with Amy was as messy as his avoidance of his wife. He and Amy have that avoidant quality in common.
Michael’s delay in talking to Nora wasn’t even surprising, but goodness, it was low. He didn’t seem particularly remorseful about what happened. Instead of going home to talk to Nora, he stayed in his office and waited for Amy to come to him so they could continue their forbidden situation.
We knew there would always be unfinished business between these two, but it’s still shocking that things are playing out as they are.
The Polarizing Love Triangle Sets Up an Intense Second Season
I can only imagine the outrage caused by this cliffhanger and how many people will lose their minds or be deeply in their feelings until the series returns.
Leave it to Doc to end the story on the messiest note possible! But I’m impressed as someone who lives for the mess and drama within this series. Well played, Doc. Well played!
Over to you, Doc Fanatics. I know you have so much to say, and I’m eager to read your reactions and thoughts in the comments. Don’t let me down!
Also, stay tuned, as we’ll have an exclusive interview with Jon Ecker tomorrow!
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