Leanne makes some huge strides in #1.14 when she confronts the man responsible for her families death. Leanne's pain is her albatross. It is something that she has dealt with every day since she lost her family. She has grown so much over the span of the season but in this episode...in this episode...it's a whole other level. It is beautiful and heartbreaking. It left me in tears when she explained to the man responsible that she "forgives them," which means that she is trying her hardest to heal and move forward. Not forget. But continue living. Knowing that they were important to her. She did not do it for the man responsible...she did it for herself. To set herself free from the shackles of her grief. Nothing is more beautiful than seeing these events unfold. Seeing her grow. Seeing her gain some closure. It is the least that she deserves.
4 Reviews
Leanne Reaches the Fifth Stage of Grief--Acceptance
lester_laurie12325 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers
An episode that will take your breath away, make you cry, and have you wanting more
sbeattyimdb-3006525 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers
In retrospect, it shouldn't have been a surprise to me that this is another two-part episode. While having nothing but this format would be annoying, I appreciate that Code Black is willing to give stories a chance to play out fully instead of going with TV conventions that say two-part episodes should only be once a year, or just used for premieres, finales, and hiatus breaks. As a result of this break with convention, the writers for Code Black don't have to sacrifice good story-telling because they are trying to fit everything into a 43-minute framework.
The episode starts with an opening scene that is sexy, funny, and intimate. I like how they use the flashback so we get glimpses of them the night before, but it's the whole morning afterglow thing that says it all. The best thing about that whole structure is Christa being the one to wake him up and then Neal starts talking about making breakfast.
Nevertheless, the tone of the episode takes a quick turn after this...and it appears this tone has only begun.
In the last episode, we learned that she was thinking about leaving her job completely, not just as the head of the Angels Memorial residency program, but as an E.R. doctor. Even still...it was just speculation. Or so we thought...
Others are left pondering who will replace her when she leaves. Code Black writers are very good at cutting to the chase. Even though this decision appears sudden, it doesn't feel like it's coming out of nowhere for the character. That's because the writers have been building to Leanne coming to this decision all season. We know about her tragic past and how she's thrown herself into her job in a way that isn't entirely healthy. There's also been some errors--major errors--that she's made. Those have made her question both her approach to emergency medicine and her ability to not let the loss of her entire family affect her judgment and objectivity.
The correspondence between Jesse and Leanne is nothing short of heartwrenching.
Jesse: You bought a lottery ticket called 'Mega Zombie?'
Leanne: "See, you don't know me at all..."
Jesse's reaction says it all. Leanne should know better...and she does.
Leanne: "Nothing lasts forever."
Jesse: "Some things do."
The two hug, and Jesse gives a little whimper... You don't need to use many words with actors like this. The way these two are able to convey the depth of their friendship without a word is pure acting poetry. It's the kind of scene that feels like they're on stage in front of you. Leanne knows that wasn't fair, and under the circumstances, it's hurtful for Jesse. Love is never having to say you're sorry...because the words aren't necessary.
Leanne waits for the CEO and Gina to discuss her departure from Angels. The CEO plays hardball, first by discounting Leanne's contribution to Angel Memorial's residency program. Yes, the E.R. residency program may be its crown jewel, but it's bigger than just that. More importantly, he's bigger than she is. In other words, Ed can railroad through whom he wants. Furthermore, the board is meeting the next day to decide who should replace her. Leanne's disgusted and walks out, while both Ed and Gina are looking smug.
The next time we see Leanne she's sitting in her car which is sitting in a highway diner's parking lot. It is so weird to see her not at the hospital. She runs into a quirky, good-natured teenager (who needs a ride "North" - to a state penitentiary. Leanne isn't sure where she's going - at least not consciously - but she agrees to buy the kid some pie.
The title "The Fifth Stage" comes from Leanne's storyline. It refers to The five stages of grief first described by Swiss psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross. The fifth stage is acceptance.
"Once in a while, you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right." – The Grateful Dead
For the love of "Bam," pie, and the Grateful Dead, Leanne ends up driving this teen to go see his father in jail, but really, that's where she was unknowingly heading all along.
The Grateful Dead quote is an excellent frame for what's going on for Leanne. This season, the journey we've been on with her has been about her having to confront the past and her tremendous loss. The one person she can really confront about it? The drunk driver who wiped out her family.
This scene is profound. We've seen how the loss of her family in that drunk driving accident has affected Leanne's entire life. Maybe she's going to an extreme in deciding to quit her job, but being that the job is so tied up with her past it's understandable. Maybe it was the kiss from Cole that woke her to the need to move on and opened her eyes to how much her judgment has been affected as a doctor - or maybe it's just time. There's no real timeline for how long a person is supposed to grieve a loss. The bottom line is Leanne wants to move on in her life and she can't do that if she's holding on to the hatred of the person that's killed her family. All the things that we've seen her go through, they have brought her to this place of acceptance. She now able to see the light.
The episode starts with an opening scene that is sexy, funny, and intimate. I like how they use the flashback so we get glimpses of them the night before, but it's the whole morning afterglow thing that says it all. The best thing about that whole structure is Christa being the one to wake him up and then Neal starts talking about making breakfast.
Nevertheless, the tone of the episode takes a quick turn after this...and it appears this tone has only begun.
In the last episode, we learned that she was thinking about leaving her job completely, not just as the head of the Angels Memorial residency program, but as an E.R. doctor. Even still...it was just speculation. Or so we thought...
Others are left pondering who will replace her when she leaves. Code Black writers are very good at cutting to the chase. Even though this decision appears sudden, it doesn't feel like it's coming out of nowhere for the character. That's because the writers have been building to Leanne coming to this decision all season. We know about her tragic past and how she's thrown herself into her job in a way that isn't entirely healthy. There's also been some errors--major errors--that she's made. Those have made her question both her approach to emergency medicine and her ability to not let the loss of her entire family affect her judgment and objectivity.
The correspondence between Jesse and Leanne is nothing short of heartwrenching.
Jesse: You bought a lottery ticket called 'Mega Zombie?'
Leanne: "See, you don't know me at all..."
Jesse's reaction says it all. Leanne should know better...and she does.
Leanne: "Nothing lasts forever."
Jesse: "Some things do."
The two hug, and Jesse gives a little whimper... You don't need to use many words with actors like this. The way these two are able to convey the depth of their friendship without a word is pure acting poetry. It's the kind of scene that feels like they're on stage in front of you. Leanne knows that wasn't fair, and under the circumstances, it's hurtful for Jesse. Love is never having to say you're sorry...because the words aren't necessary.
Leanne waits for the CEO and Gina to discuss her departure from Angels. The CEO plays hardball, first by discounting Leanne's contribution to Angel Memorial's residency program. Yes, the E.R. residency program may be its crown jewel, but it's bigger than just that. More importantly, he's bigger than she is. In other words, Ed can railroad through whom he wants. Furthermore, the board is meeting the next day to decide who should replace her. Leanne's disgusted and walks out, while both Ed and Gina are looking smug.
The next time we see Leanne she's sitting in her car which is sitting in a highway diner's parking lot. It is so weird to see her not at the hospital. She runs into a quirky, good-natured teenager (who needs a ride "North" - to a state penitentiary. Leanne isn't sure where she's going - at least not consciously - but she agrees to buy the kid some pie.
The title "The Fifth Stage" comes from Leanne's storyline. It refers to The five stages of grief first described by Swiss psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross. The fifth stage is acceptance.
"Once in a while, you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right." – The Grateful Dead
For the love of "Bam," pie, and the Grateful Dead, Leanne ends up driving this teen to go see his father in jail, but really, that's where she was unknowingly heading all along.
The Grateful Dead quote is an excellent frame for what's going on for Leanne. This season, the journey we've been on with her has been about her having to confront the past and her tremendous loss. The one person she can really confront about it? The drunk driver who wiped out her family.
This scene is profound. We've seen how the loss of her family in that drunk driving accident has affected Leanne's entire life. Maybe she's going to an extreme in deciding to quit her job, but being that the job is so tied up with her past it's understandable. Maybe it was the kiss from Cole that woke her to the need to move on and opened her eyes to how much her judgment has been affected as a doctor - or maybe it's just time. There's no real timeline for how long a person is supposed to grieve a loss. The bottom line is Leanne wants to move on in her life and she can't do that if she's holding on to the hatred of the person that's killed her family. All the things that we've seen her go through, they have brought her to this place of acceptance. She now able to see the light.
This one...this one made me cry...a lot.
jheignbaugh25 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Wow...that escalated quickly.
"The Fifth Stage" left me speechless and in tears. It was one of the most brilliant episodes of the series. As predicted, the title "The Fifth Stage" had a dual meaning - referring to both Leanne's grief--acceptance--and Malaya's stalker--escalation to violent behavior.
Meanwhile, the rest of the staff deals with various rumors flying around, and with the obligatory tough ethical issues.
Leanne's journey finally provided the payoff for the painfully drawn story of her family's death. The resolution was touching, and I appreciated that it acknowledged that there is no correct timeline for grief.
One particular line that brought me to tears was this one:
"I've let this...this place fill the vacuum that my family left behind. I never figured out who I am without them. I need to do that."
Of course, as Malaya pointed out, there are no secrets in a hospital, so word of her leaving quickly got around. The Armenian crime family's feud allowed Mike to show everyone, including himself, that he was qualified to take over for her.
Except that it didn't really explain why a hospital would choose someone with only a few years experience with someone with decades. Rollie's absence was felt again, and it didn't seem fair that he wasn't even there to promote himself for the job.
Setting Mike against Neal could have worked if it was dragged out a little longer since it would have meant Neal having to choose between a position he's coveted and his burgeoning romance with Christa. That kind of strife always makes for some good drama.
Of course, we all know that it's even odds that Neal is going to end up heading to the surgical department, at least part-time. Or maybe he'll have to step up into another role in the ER.
Malaya's stalker was not at all subtle, but somehow she missed it. I know that we have the benefit of omniscience, but Gordon was pretty obviously creepy, with his shifty eyes and manic attitude, not to mention the touching.
The ending was breathtaking, and, as I said, escalated so quickly. All in all, this episode was perfect. Between Leanne and her touching realization that she never took the time she needed to grieve the loss of her family, but also the events of the stabbing at Angels Memorial.
"The Fifth Stage" left me speechless and in tears. It was one of the most brilliant episodes of the series. As predicted, the title "The Fifth Stage" had a dual meaning - referring to both Leanne's grief--acceptance--and Malaya's stalker--escalation to violent behavior.
Meanwhile, the rest of the staff deals with various rumors flying around, and with the obligatory tough ethical issues.
Leanne's journey finally provided the payoff for the painfully drawn story of her family's death. The resolution was touching, and I appreciated that it acknowledged that there is no correct timeline for grief.
One particular line that brought me to tears was this one:
"I've let this...this place fill the vacuum that my family left behind. I never figured out who I am without them. I need to do that."
Of course, as Malaya pointed out, there are no secrets in a hospital, so word of her leaving quickly got around. The Armenian crime family's feud allowed Mike to show everyone, including himself, that he was qualified to take over for her.
Except that it didn't really explain why a hospital would choose someone with only a few years experience with someone with decades. Rollie's absence was felt again, and it didn't seem fair that he wasn't even there to promote himself for the job.
Setting Mike against Neal could have worked if it was dragged out a little longer since it would have meant Neal having to choose between a position he's coveted and his burgeoning romance with Christa. That kind of strife always makes for some good drama.
Of course, we all know that it's even odds that Neal is going to end up heading to the surgical department, at least part-time. Or maybe he'll have to step up into another role in the ER.
Malaya's stalker was not at all subtle, but somehow she missed it. I know that we have the benefit of omniscience, but Gordon was pretty obviously creepy, with his shifty eyes and manic attitude, not to mention the touching.
The ending was breathtaking, and, as I said, escalated so quickly. All in all, this episode was perfect. Between Leanne and her touching realization that she never took the time she needed to grieve the loss of her family, but also the events of the stabbing at Angels Memorial.
This episode covers new ground for a medical show
hellensteins25 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers
This episode was expertly written and executed. "The Fifth Stage" is one of those episodes you really need to watch more than once to get the nuances of. Not because it wasn't great to watch the first time, but there is so much packed in this episode it is unbelievable. With all that's happening in this episode, not only might you miss some things, but you might not notice just how tightly weaved together these stories are.
I do want to talk about what else happened in this episode...because...believe it or not...there is more to talk about.
Aside from the story with Leanne, this episode gives us something to think about in terms of mental illness. It starts when Christa and Neal get a patient named Logan who jumped from a four-story building. His wife, Lori is crying and upset but doesn't want him resuscitated. In the middle of the emergency they ignore her, but afterwards she presents to Christa, Neal, Jesse, and Gina that she has power of attorney. The kicker is the jumper is paranoid schizophrenic. Christa hates this. She passionately notes that with the proper medications the man can have a great life, then furiously asks Neal if he's okay with this. He's not, but "the rules" say there's nothing they can do.
The fact that Logan's wife Lori was willing to just let her paranoid schizophrenic husband die feels so wrong to Christa (and the rest of us watching) because the assumption is that Lori is doing so because she was tired of dealing with him. This isn't the case. Christa listens to Lori talk about witnessing Logan's descent into madness, and the fact that they did try medication. It's not Lori who gave up – it was Logan.
Christa fights for Logan, but with no hope.
Christa: Screw the rules. Am I the only one who thinks this is wrong? Jesse! Tell them what you're always telling us! We are not allowed to kill a guest in your house.
Jesse: This is different. This man doesn't want what we offer.
There is a moment of silence, where Gina is casting major attitude about Christa's outbursts. As far as she's concerned, there's nothing they can do - end of story. That's when Neal steps up to say that Christa has a point in that the situation doesn't feel right.
Gina: It's not about how it feels. It's how it is. We follow the wife's instructions.
And so they did.
The other patient that shows up is Malaya's weirdo guy from last week, Gordon Heshman. He's got a bad stomach ache, but he's "surprised" Malaya still remembers him. Malaya points out he'd just been there yesterday. Gordon says he had a friend that recently died from cancer - one he'd stayed with until the very end - so maybe he's just being paranoid. The cancer story naturally gains Malaya's sympathy and while she's examining Gordon she reveals having gone through a similar event as well. She decides there actually is something up with his stomach and tells him she's going to run some tests and get him something for the pain. Even though his being ill may be legitimate, something about his reactions to Malaya seem off.
Malaya comes back with Gordon's tests and tells him that, no, he doesn't have cancer. He is greatly relieved and holding on to Malaya's hands for way too long. She's uncomfortable, but doesn't freak out. She has found a couple of problems though: blood in his urine, and his blood isn't clotting properly, which does run a risk of internal bleeding. This freaks him out some, but Malaya reassures him that they're ahead of things and will run some more tests. In the meantime, she's getting him some vitamin K to help with the blood-clotting issue.
The next time Malaya sees Gordon is when he surprises her in the doctor's break room. That's a major boundary being crossed. Now everything he's doing and saying is coming off as strange - like psycho strange. Malaya is handling it pretty well, but then Gina comes in with her arrogant take-charge attitude. She sends Gordon packing with some sarcastic remarks. Once he's gone she warns Malaya that she needs to be careful. Gina can tell that Gordon "likes her." Gina then gives Malaya some almost sisterly advice.
Gina: Trust me on this, Malaya. As a woman, you have to be aware that the appearance of a situation matters just as much as the real.
Later, near the end of the episode, Gina goes to her locker to grab a snack out of her bag. She's just taken a bite when her pager goes off. As she's walking out, she surprised by Gordon - and he's wearing hospital scrubs. As usual, Gina's reaction is one of an annoyed authority. Gordon doesn't like it.
The ending of Code Black #1.14 is a brutal one. Christa runs to the locker room to try to pull herself together. What she finds does not help!
This is the most dramatic and story-heavy episode of Code Black yet! Aside from the life and death dramatics of mobsters and a killer it's filled with emotionally intense situations: falling in love, dealing with loss, the right to die, and dysfunction family dynamics. Most shows pick one or two of these heavy topics to deal with per episode. Then again, most shows aren't Code Black!
I do want to talk about what else happened in this episode...because...believe it or not...there is more to talk about.
Aside from the story with Leanne, this episode gives us something to think about in terms of mental illness. It starts when Christa and Neal get a patient named Logan who jumped from a four-story building. His wife, Lori is crying and upset but doesn't want him resuscitated. In the middle of the emergency they ignore her, but afterwards she presents to Christa, Neal, Jesse, and Gina that she has power of attorney. The kicker is the jumper is paranoid schizophrenic. Christa hates this. She passionately notes that with the proper medications the man can have a great life, then furiously asks Neal if he's okay with this. He's not, but "the rules" say there's nothing they can do.
The fact that Logan's wife Lori was willing to just let her paranoid schizophrenic husband die feels so wrong to Christa (and the rest of us watching) because the assumption is that Lori is doing so because she was tired of dealing with him. This isn't the case. Christa listens to Lori talk about witnessing Logan's descent into madness, and the fact that they did try medication. It's not Lori who gave up – it was Logan.
Christa fights for Logan, but with no hope.
Christa: Screw the rules. Am I the only one who thinks this is wrong? Jesse! Tell them what you're always telling us! We are not allowed to kill a guest in your house.
Jesse: This is different. This man doesn't want what we offer.
There is a moment of silence, where Gina is casting major attitude about Christa's outbursts. As far as she's concerned, there's nothing they can do - end of story. That's when Neal steps up to say that Christa has a point in that the situation doesn't feel right.
Gina: It's not about how it feels. It's how it is. We follow the wife's instructions.
And so they did.
The other patient that shows up is Malaya's weirdo guy from last week, Gordon Heshman. He's got a bad stomach ache, but he's "surprised" Malaya still remembers him. Malaya points out he'd just been there yesterday. Gordon says he had a friend that recently died from cancer - one he'd stayed with until the very end - so maybe he's just being paranoid. The cancer story naturally gains Malaya's sympathy and while she's examining Gordon she reveals having gone through a similar event as well. She decides there actually is something up with his stomach and tells him she's going to run some tests and get him something for the pain. Even though his being ill may be legitimate, something about his reactions to Malaya seem off.
Malaya comes back with Gordon's tests and tells him that, no, he doesn't have cancer. He is greatly relieved and holding on to Malaya's hands for way too long. She's uncomfortable, but doesn't freak out. She has found a couple of problems though: blood in his urine, and his blood isn't clotting properly, which does run a risk of internal bleeding. This freaks him out some, but Malaya reassures him that they're ahead of things and will run some more tests. In the meantime, she's getting him some vitamin K to help with the blood-clotting issue.
The next time Malaya sees Gordon is when he surprises her in the doctor's break room. That's a major boundary being crossed. Now everything he's doing and saying is coming off as strange - like psycho strange. Malaya is handling it pretty well, but then Gina comes in with her arrogant take-charge attitude. She sends Gordon packing with some sarcastic remarks. Once he's gone she warns Malaya that she needs to be careful. Gina can tell that Gordon "likes her." Gina then gives Malaya some almost sisterly advice.
Gina: Trust me on this, Malaya. As a woman, you have to be aware that the appearance of a situation matters just as much as the real.
Later, near the end of the episode, Gina goes to her locker to grab a snack out of her bag. She's just taken a bite when her pager goes off. As she's walking out, she surprised by Gordon - and he's wearing hospital scrubs. As usual, Gina's reaction is one of an annoyed authority. Gordon doesn't like it.
The ending of Code Black #1.14 is a brutal one. Christa runs to the locker room to try to pull herself together. What she finds does not help!
This is the most dramatic and story-heavy episode of Code Black yet! Aside from the life and death dramatics of mobsters and a killer it's filled with emotionally intense situations: falling in love, dealing with loss, the right to die, and dysfunction family dynamics. Most shows pick one or two of these heavy topics to deal with per episode. Then again, most shows aren't Code Black!
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