The story begins with Dr. Sam Griffith (Sophia Bush) chasing cardiac patient, Mr. David Ferguson (David Huband) who is trying to evade surgery. She tries to convince him to return to surgery by praising her father, Dr. Rob “Griff” Griffith (Jason Isaacs). She opens her shirt to expose a cardiac surgical scar on her chest. Her mind was on Crystal Lake. His is on an Alaskan cruise with his wife. Legally, she cannot guarantee he will survive the surgery.

Sam returns to surgery, where the other doctors are washing their hands. Dr. Lex Trulie (Skye P. Marshall) knew Sam could do it. Dr. Caleb Tucker (Michael Stahl-David) wager $20 that Ferguson will celebrate his new heart valves with a blooming onion and beer. Dr. Isan M. Shah (Omar Maskati) asks if a mechanic cares how you drive your vehicle after repairs. Trulie calls Dr. Joey Costa (Davi Santos) superficial when he says give me some “fake boobies.” Griff walks in as Sam says they are a team that needs strength. He insults each of the doctors and questions if they are capable of being adults and proving their value. He reminds Sam, her status and knowledge are above the Medical Residents.

Sam explains the procedure to the Medical residents. She is confused when Griff opts to utilize the internal thoracic artery, instead of the usual saphenous vein. Ferguson is a diabetic, putting him at risk of infection. He argues, the procedure could prevent him from coming back for another surgery. A sternal wound complication could be his life in jeopardy. Griffin describes himself as a “capable surgeon” and nonchalantly shrugs off her concerns.

Tucker joins Sam in the elevator and waits until the door is shut to kiss her. Instead, she discusses Griffin’s disrespect for her, even though she is second in command. He says Griffin doesn’t respect anyone. She may accept a position with a hospital in Cleveland. He temporarily tries to discourage her from taking the position, but immediately says it is her decision. She will not stay if Griffin does not show her respect.

As Sam chases Griffin up a flight of stairs, she suggests he tell Ferguson’s wife about the changes in the surgical procedure. He chuckles and says she can say you are welcome. When she starts to tell him about the Cleveland job, she is interrupted by a page about a motor vehicle accident. A man (Samy Osman) tries to get Griffin to look at his wife who has a laceration on her forehead. They attend to a female (Darla Biccum) with chest pain, lying on the floor facedown. The lady has been treated with nitroglycerin.

A strange man facing the wall periodically watches the commotion. The angry husband continues to badger Griffin for not assessing his wife. He admits to being a bad doctor and suggests finding another one. The strange man shoots Griffin in the back. Security guards take the man down while Sam stares in horror.

The show jumps ahead six months, with Sam providing a short narration of her promotion to intern chief. Sam meets with her Chief Medical Officer (mother), Vivian Katz (Wendy Crewson) who gives her encouragement. She believes Griffin would be proud of her. Sam disagrees.

Sam discusses her speech with Trulie who describes it as boring and perfect. Nurse Donna Williams (Marium Carvell) greets Sam, “Great day.” Sam doles out the patients to the residents, leaving the hernia patient for Tucker who is late once again. She shows her appreciation to medical residents for being there the last six months.

Malcolm A. Kingsley (Edwin Hodge) joins Sam in the elevators while she practices her speech. He describes her speed as “beautiful.” She refers to the attendees as “boring rich donors,” without realizing Malcolm’s family operates the Kingsley Family Foundation. As they get off the elevator, Vivian alerts her of Griffin’s condition. He wakes up from a 6-month coma and immediately wants to return to work.

Sam visits her father in the hospital. They discuss his condition with him. She explains her dress is for the reception. He makes a joke about his hospital gown. Vivian spent more time with Griffin in the hospital than their entire marriage, probably because he never spoke.

As Sam plays the piano, Kingsley quietly slips in the door. As a child, she believed playing the piano would improve her operating skills. The piano has been everywhere with her. She apologizes for calling rich donors boring. They deny their fathers had anything to do with their jobs. He asks about her father and offers to listen if she wants to talk.

Griffin participates in physical therapy exercises. He asks how he can get back to work. His condition must be monitored carefully. She says the department is Sam’s and it could take months before he is ready to return to surgery.

Sam agrees to supervise Griffin who must respect her authority. Vivian says he must undergo a substantial evaluation and a peer review.

Sam diagnoses Julio Vargas (Carlos Albornoz) with a heart murmur. He recently underwent a dental procedure. She is concerned about endocarditis and orders antibiotics. He refuses to talk about his swollen lips.

Griffin peeps around the door of Sam’s office before entering. Vivian says he doesn’t have medical clearance. She threatens him with a malpractice lawsuit if he tries to treat a patient in the operating room. He refers to Vivian’s husband’s eyebrows as mustaches. Insulted, she immediately turns and walks away.

Sam and the interns discuss Vargas’ condition. Shah diagnosis him as having endocarditis caused by a dental procedure. His tooth was knocked out, which his wife says he deserved. Shah says the persistent fever could be an abscess not impacted by the antibiotic and suggests a CT scan. Griffin enters the discussion. He believes Vargas may have lupus. He isn’t happy that his conventional whiteboard has been replaced by a digital version.

Trulie checks in on Sam in the laboratory. Her father gambled her tuition money away. The lab results validate Griffin’s lupus theory. Sam orders Vargas, immunosuppressant drugs. Vargas’s inflammatory markers have decreased throughout his body. Tucker contributes Vargas’ swollen lip to herpes. Griffin agrees.

At a restaurant, the medical residents are discussing Sam and Griffin. Tucker blames Sam for her situation with Griffin because she took it. He says Griffin is the better doctor of the two. Shah describes Sam as a good person and doctor.

Kingsley visits Sam in the laboratory. He wanted to invite her to dinner, but rumors have it, she only rarely leaves the hospital. The lab would be the only way to get some alone time with her. Vivian’s office is next to his. A code blue alert is issued over the intercom at the same time she receives a page that Vargas has stopped breathing.

Sam, Griffin, and the interns discuss Vargas’ condition. Griffin suggests a transesophageal echo because it is low risk. They vote on it, and all agree with Griffin. Thuli tries to reason with Sam who is angry a vote is necessary to decide on a medical procedure. She believes they are missing something. Thuli says Griffin was right and her emotions are clouding her judgment. She is disappointed, her best friend doesn’t have her back.

Sam didn’t order the ultrasound to look at Vargas’ heart valves, but his failing ventricle. Sam pleads with Vargas’ wife, Daisy (Yarine Pernia) to tell her what contributed to his swollen lip. He had an affair during a trip to Rio de Janeiro. Brazil reported a dramatic increase in a parasitic infection caused by Trypanosoma cruzi “T cruzi.” The parasite is also known as the “kissing bug.” They want to order tests, but Griffin believes it is too late. He works with her because she needs him. She disagrees, he needs her.

Sam discusses Griffin with Vivian who believes the shooting changed him. She visits Thuli to apologize with a bottle of wine. Thuli and Griffin have been seeing each other since before the shooting. In shock, Sam orders Griffin to find another proctor before walking out.

Sam pleads with Vivian to encourage Sam to continue proctoring him. He can make her better and stronger. She suggests he be Sam’s father. He refuses to see how his job affected Sam. Vivian strips his badge and walks away. Sam speaks to the medical residents about Vargas. They agree to not give up. Tucker hopes Sam will not give up on him. They receive a message about a failed heart transplant. The heart is being transported by helicopter to the hospital for Vargas. When the heart arrives, Sam discovers it is too small for Vargas. She refuses to trash it and calls in Griffin to assist. She wants him to talk her through a heterotopic transplant. They watch in astonishment as the transplant heart beats. Sam speaks with Daisy about Vargas’ condition.

Griffin tries to congratulate Sam. Her tremendous potential is why he drives her so hard. She says he has not been there for her in a long time. She agrees to continue proctoring him as a doctor. She dismisses him as the episode comes to an end.

Good Sam Review

Initially, I questioned why only a 5-episode TV series for CBS, a national television network. I got my answer within the first 15 minutes of the episode. The setting, a hospital in Oakville, Ontario, provides little of the outside world. The scenes are similar with minimal detail. By the halfway point, it was becoming obvious, the scenes would be repetitive from here on out. I do not expect nothing to change on this end.

The camera work and editing are decent. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the dialogue, which is a mixture of complexity and cringeworthy. The medical terminology is over-the-top. When viewers are forced to keep their medical dictionary on-hand during a show, it becomes unwatchable.

Some members of acting crew, excluding Jason Isaacs, are not convincing. In fact, they sound as if they are reading their lines. Whether it is a lack of confidence or experience or trying too hard or too little, it definitely shows.

The episode deserves a 5.

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