“Coping mechanism: […] we need them to deal with traumas both physical and emotional.” Tonight’s episode of Sensible Minds places the viewers within the thoughts of former Marine, Steve Hill, who’s seeing the ghosts of these he as soon as served with. There’s additionally been improvement within the case of John Doe.
-In final week’s episode, John Doe confirmed some extra indicators of life (which was nice as a result of he would’ve been despatched off to a different facility in any other case) and Dr. Wolf and his workforce attempt to construct on that. It seems John Doe is affected by “Locked-In Syndrome” (principally he’s paralyzed with whole-body sensory loss as a consequence of harm within the mind stem) which is the results of a stroke he greater than seemingly had. They’ve observed that he’s been attempting to speak, however it’s primarily together with his eyes. When Carol stops by needing Oliver’s assist, he leaves it as much as the workforce to discover a method to get John Doe to speak.
“Chapter Five: The Haunted Marine” – BRILLIANT MINDS – Pictured: Ashleigh LaThrop as Ericka Kinney, Spence Moore II as Dr. Jacob Nash, Aury Krebs as Dr. Dana Dang, Alex Ozerov-Meyer as John Doe. Photograph: Rafy/NBC © 2024 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Dana is the comedian aid that could be very a lot wanted given the subject material of this present. When Dr. Wolf asks Van his opinion on John Doe, hinting at his mirror contact synesthesia, Dana picks up on it and later asks him about it. As soon as Van got here clear, he requested that she not say something since he’s nonetheless attempting to determine what it means himself, she swore she wouldn’t inform him “you can’t spell Dana without NDA”.
Dana and Van work with John Doe, attempting to get him to speak with a “Yes” and “No” board, however it doesn’t appear to be a real connection. Right here’s the humorous factor (and it’s attention-grabbing that nobody considered this beforehand), a hospital customer, Mrs. Petrov walks by his room (I consider she was talking Russian), and John Doe’s eyes go insane Dana and Van rapidly understand that John Doe hasn’t been responding as a result of they weren’t talking his language. It seems like issues are wanting up for John Doe, however will there be a lot improvement past this level?
“Chapter Five: The Haunted Marine” – BRILLIANT MINDS – Pictured: Jaden Myles Waldman as Younger Wolf, Grey Powell as Noah Wolf. Photograph: Pief Weyman/NBC © 2024 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Steve Hill, a veteran Marine, is coping with extreme nervousness, despair, and coping with intrusive ideas, which Carol explains to Oliver. This isn’t in any respect out of the peculiar for veterans apart from Steve’s case, he’s seeing ghosts of these he served with who handed away. The VA has tried to assist him, prescribing remedy to deal with his…points, however they didn’t work (everyone seems to be all the time so fast to prescribe remedy – the whole lot can’t be mounted with a bandaid). When Steve began performing erratically, he was dishonorably discharged, dropping all of his navy advantages. Nonetheless seeing “ghosts”, Steve goes to Bronx Medical in hopes of discovering the assistance he desperately wants.
Steve’s paranoia hits near dwelling with Oliver, when flashbacks reveal that his father suffered from this as nicely. If left untreated, there’s no telling how far the thoughts could possibly be misplaced. Oliver asks Steve just a few questions and he learns that somebody he served with lately handed away and this could possibly be what’s triggering Steve’s paranoia. He tells Oliver that he believes the navy put a chip in his thoughts to regulate him and that’s why he’s seeing issues. An MRI disproves the existence of mentioned chip, however Oliver tells Jacob and Ericka to play into his paranoia (simply to ensure he stays protected).
“Chapter Five: The Haunted Marine” – BRILLIANT MINDS – Pictured: Joshua Echebiri as Steve Hill, Theo Vandergraaf as Aiden (Ghost). Photograph: Pief Weyman/NBC © 2024 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
We will all agree one thing is happening with Steve, so when Carol and Oliver dig just a little deeper into Steve’s navy previous. May it have been some type of damage they missed? Seems, he was by no means on the frontlines and by no means battled and that’s as a lot as they’re allowed to study (confidentiality). Dr. Josh Nichols has a navy background and provides some perception. He confirms that Steve and his unit by no means noticed fight, nevertheless, greater than half his unit is now lifeless (some by unintended overdose and others by suicide).
-One other have a look at Steve’s MRI scans present that it’s attainable he’s affected by CTE (persistent traumatic encephalopathy – mind dysfunction brought on by repeated head damage), however a analysis like that is extra frequent in athletes, so how is that this attainable? Josh brings Oliver to a taking pictures vary; he believes Steve’s gun coaching could possibly be the trigger. As Oliver shoots the gun he’s all of a sudden overwhelmed with the sensation of shock waves all through his physique. Now, somebody who experiences the identical with a a lot bigger gun, a number of instances a day for months (as Josh factors out) might clarify why Steve (and his unit) are the way in which they’re. Solely means to make sure is to examine Aiden’s mind.
“Chapter Five: The Haunted Marine” – BRILLIANT MINDS – Pictured: Tamberla Perry as Dr. Carol Pierce. Photograph: Pief Weyman/NBC © 2024 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Carol and Oliver persuade Aiden’s dad and mom to allow them to exhume Aiden’s physique to check his mind. As soon as examined, the outcomes present definitive indicators of CTE. Oliver explains the outcomes to Steve; I can’t assist however love what Steve mentioned after discovering out what’s been occurring with him. He tells Oliver that he tried to persuade himself that it should’ve been a chip inserted by the navy inflicting his habits as a result of a substitute for that may’ve been troublesome to deal with. It was his coping mechanism; the delusion was extra manageable than the reality. Steve says it was like he was “handed […] a life sentence” which might probably be true, nevertheless, now that there’s a analysis, he might work in direction of managing it. Oliver speaks to a panel on the VA and pleads Steve’s case. He makes use of this rubber band technique to indicate how repeated abuse causes little tears till ultimately it snaps – which is what was taking place with Steve’s mind. Fortunately, this was sufficient to get Steve’s advantages reinstated.
Utilizing Steve’s “planted chip” concept, Oliver talks to Josh about the potential of planting a chip into John Doe’s thoughts. This might enable him to speak because it was confirmed that he’s nonetheless very a lot in there however Josh is hesitant. The tech Oliver is referencing continues to be experimental– is it value a shot?
What’d you consider tonight’s new episode of Sensible Minds? Share your ideas under or join with me on X/Twitter @chenfordhugs.
