Code Black (TV Series) Sometimes It's a Zebra (2015) User Reviews

This is actually a pretty good episode if you can keep up!

[sbeattyimdb-30065 · 10/10 · 26 November 2017]

Whatever the writers did before sitting down to work on "Sometimes It's a Zebra" needs to become a ritual.

I don't think I'm too bold when I call Code Black #1.4 the best episode so far. It captured just the right mix of interesting medical cases, emotionally engaging patients, and compelling character developments amongst the doctors.

I laughed, I teared up, I watched an intubation with rapt interest.

And on top of all that, Cress Williams joined the cast! His character brings a lot to the floor: what I can only assume are top-notch surgical skills, an outsider perspective to the attendings, and some family drama with his estranged father, Rollie.

The writers really found the balance with the medical cases in this episode. While all the cases were skillfully handled, the humorous case of the orgasmic woman ranks high in my book. We need the awkward and funny cases like this one to keep from being one giant ball of emotion and dismay over the terrible things that happen to people.

The writers have made attempts at this in past episodes, like Code Black #1.2 with the old woman who swallowed the coins.

While that case allowed for some decent poop jokes from Taylor, the residents weren't that engaged. On the other hand, Joanie the orgasming woman was funny not just because of the titillating nature of her case but because of Angus and Mario's unease with it.

The fact that Jesse was the one that solved her problem was just the icing on the cake for me.

---

Joannie: Jesse! You are amazing. Thank you.

Jesse: You're welcome, Joannie. All the best!

Mario: Are you kidding me? What did you do?

Jesse: It's a gift, bro.

Mario: If I did that, I'd be kicked out of here.

Jesse: If you did what?

Mario: "Jesse, you are amazing."

---

And that case saved us from sinking into total despair over the fate of humanity when it was revealed that Tina's father was, in fact, her kidnapper. What could have been approached as a "ripped from the headlines" case was handled cleverly.

The slow shift from Tina to the Dennis as the villain of that story was great.

What I really liked was it forced us, and the characters to continuously change perspectives on what was going on with this "family." I hope Christa learned a lasting lesson about not making judgments and assumptions about patients. She was definitely displacing her own feelings about failing her son onto Tina at one point.

"You lost a child, Christa. That means that every child that comes through here is a version of that child. It's not gonna change. You need to learn how to deal with it." ~ Dr. Leanne Rorish

The new surgeon, Cole Guthrie, wasn't around for most of the episode, but the scenes he had were good. I can't decide if I'm more excited that the character will open up some different medical avenues for the show or that his presence means we'll see more of Guthrie Sr., who has been criminally underused so far.

Guthrie Jr. is a little bit hard to get a handle on just yet. He's clearly antagonistic towards his father and doesn't seem to have a lot of respect for Angels - begging the question of just why he applied for the job in the first place. Still, he doesn't seem like a total blockhead, or incompetent. I'm really eager to see where his character goes.

I'm also excited that his arrival, along with the fact that several of the nurses are recurring regulars with actual names, indicates a larger cast to come. Having the show only focus on six doctors just isn't very realistic; having a background cast is key to making the show more medical than soap.

If Code Black can keep up this level of writing and performing, it's safe to say this series will be the epitome of what every medical series should strive to be.

A solid episode

[hellensteins · 10/10 · 26 November 2017]

Code Black Season 1, Episode 4 is another solid hour of the CBS freshman series. One of the reveals in "Sometimes It's a Zebra" lets viewers know that this is a show that's not going to reveal all of it's secrets all at once! Really, how could it? These doctors have a heavy caseload all the time so they're not a lot of time for telling a character's life story. Even though not every case is a perfect 10 in this, every episode gives us enough pieces to make each one of these people interesting and pique more curiosity about who they are and where things are headed.

The episode's title comes from the phrase: "When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras." In medicine, it means when looking at the symptoms you should rule out the obvious before jumping to the exotic. Like, every headache is not a brain tumor - unless, of course, it is. In this episode, there are a few zebras prancing about - but the horses are as beautiful and they are worthy of attention as well - maybe even more so.

Chef, a happy drunk guy who'd cut his arm, is the highlight patient of this episode. Head nurse Jesse warned Mario that he needs to get the man out of the E.R. before he starts going into withdrawal because once he does they can't let him leave - because alcohol withdrawal "can be fatal for alcoholics."

It's was a little surprising to me that Mama's the one suggesting to kick out Chef. Even Mario notes that doing so means the man will just go and start drinking again. (Yes, Mario does show some concern.) Nevertheless, Mario tried to do what Mama said. It's hard because Chef really wants to sober up. His daughter is getting married the next day and he doesn't want to show up drunk. That's when Chef saw Dr. Rorish - who had just finished talking with Christa about the baby. He obviously knew the doctor because he called her "Leanne." This guy is a regular customer.

Leanne started checking Chef's eyes. Mario then parroted what Jesse told him about not having the space to keep him and added that Chef would just go out and get drunk again anyway. Leanne wasn't pleased.

Leanne: "Thanks for your opinion, Dr. Savetti, but we have no choice once alcohol withdrawal has begun."

Mario: "It hasn't."

Leanne: "Oh really?" Leanne had Christa come over and look at Chef's tongue. "Tell me what you see."

Christa: "Tongue fasciculations most likely from alcohol withdrawal."

Leanne gave Mario the "Daddy glare" and walked away. Mario whined at Christa as if she somehow made him look bad on purpose – which she didn't. All she did was answer the question. His thought that she'd done it deliberately is more in line with how he thinks about things. It's the first lesson of the night that Mario got about going it alone. It showed him just how not great it feels to be not supported by your colleagues – even though in truth that's not what actually happened.

Watching this all play out I wonder if we're supposed to think Jesse set Mario up for that scene. If Chef knew Leanne he likely knew Jesse as well, which means Jesse likely knew exactly how Leanne would respond to this situation. Jesse's bad advice to Mario makes me think Mama set this entire situation up to teach Mario a lesson or two.

Jesse: "Life lesson: when your daddy tells you to do something – just do it."

Mario is pulled off that case. Instead at various times, we see Jesse, Christa, and Leanne dealing with Chef as he goes through withdrawal. There are times where it's really bad, but Leanne and Christa handle it. "This is the best wedding gift you can give your daughter," Christa tells him. At the end of it all - the treating him in a broom closet, the sweats and the shakes - we learn that next day he's gone back to drinking. Why is this patient a zebra? Because Leanne knew that the man's daughter had died ten years prior - on her wedding day.

Leanne: "This is what is known as a 'grief ritual.' Trauma one was the last place he saw her alive. He's stuck in that moment and he tries to escape it - but he can't."

There's more to this story...Mama eluded to as much earlier. Maybe this man's daughter was in the car being driven by the drunk driver? Perhaps it's more that Leanne relates to the idea of a "grief ritual." Maybe alcohol was her friend for a time after the accident. I'm looking forward to learning more about the things that have Dr. Rorish the doctor we see now.

The best part of the episode was the heart-to-heart with Chef and Leanne.

Chef: Can I go see my daughter now?

Leanne: Chef, you can't just do it for your daughter. You've got to do it for you. You've got to believe you're worth it. Here's a prescription for Librium and a card for our addiction clinic. Now, you promise me that you will call that number before you take a drink.

Chef: I promise you, Leanne I'm not gonna blow it this time.

This story affects Mario. It's another opportunity to see that the guy does, in fact, have a heart. Just prior to the closing scene with Leanne he'd seen Angus and Malaya all going out together to grab breakfast after their shift. He looked sad, contrite, and lonely. There may be hope for him yet, but this was still a bit upsetting to see.