Spoiler warning: This absolutely contains spoilers for the Doc Season 3 premiere, “Wherefore Art Thou.”
Before Season 3 of Doc even premiered, I already had thoughts. Actually, I had a whole lot of thoughts. Most importantly, I had my eye on Dr. Ben Grant.
In my preseason piece, “DOC Season 3 Hasn’t Even Started and I Already Have Thoughts,” I said I didn’t believe Ben was coming back to Westside just to be another doctor walking around the hospital. I thought there was a very good chance he was being set up as the main antagonist of the season.
One episode in? Yeah. I’m feeling pretty damn good about that prediction, because Ben Grant did not come back for nothing.
I Knew There Was Something Up With Ben Grant
FOX went into the premiere teasing that Ben was returning to Westside with a “secret plan to reshape the Surgical Department.” That alone was enough for me to side-eye him.
But then we got that flashback.
Amy and Ben had clearly been involved with each other somehow during those missing years, which we already suspected was going to complicate things enough. Except now there’s more. Ben was trying to get ahold of Amy because they needed to talk about what they did and the trouble it apparently caused.
Excuse me?
What did you two do?
Because that changes everything. This isn’t just some man from Amy’s forgotten romantic past wandering back into her life. There is something that happened between them — professionally, personally or probably both — and Ben remembers all of it.
Amy doesn’t.
That gives him one hell of an advantage.
And if you read my preseason thoughts, you already know where I stand: I still think Ben could be the main antagonist this season. Honestly, after that ending, I think that theory got stronger.
FOX’s official Doc page confirms Ben’s return is tied to major changes at Westside, and the description for Episode 2 already has Amy dealing with a flood of emotional memories while going head-to-head with him.
So no, I do not trust this man. Not yet.
Amy’s Memories Are Coming Back — Fast
This may actually be the storyline I’m most interested in this season.
Amy’s memories are coming back more frequently now, and eventually she is not going to be able to hide what’s happening. Susan is right. There are only so many times Amy can suddenly recognize something she shouldn’t recognize, know something she supposedly doesn’t remember or react to a piece of her old life before somebody starts putting it together.
And honestly, I understand why there’s concern about her brain healing faster and what that could mean, but I also think this could ultimately be good for Amy. Scary? Absolutely. Messy? Definitely. Probably painful as hell? Yep. But maybe good.
Amy has spent two seasons trying to understand the woman she became during those eight missing years. Now she may actually start remembering her.
The interesting part is going to be what happens when those memories don’t match the person Amy wants to believe she was, especially now that Ben is standing right there holding pieces of a story she doesn’t have yet.
Sonya Maitra, Girl, What Are You Doing?
Can we talk about Dr. Maitra for a second? Because girl.
You spent all that time learning from Amy while complaining about the way Amy taught you, and now you’re turning around and doing the same thing to the interns? Meanwhile Amy has apparently decided she’s going to be the nice one.
They basically flip-flopped.
I understand Amy wanting to give the interns some room. It’s their first day. They’re nervous. Everybody has to learn. But I also think Amy is being a little too understanding.
They’re interns, yes. They’re also doctors. They did not wander in off the street that morning and suddenly get handed a white coat. There are basic things they should already know.
And not knowing the difference between a crash cart and a supply cart? Come on.
I’ve worked in the medical field. One of the first things you’re shown when you’re on a hospital floor is where your emergency equipment is. You should probably know which cart you’re running toward when somebody is crashing.
I’m just saying.
These Interns Are Going to Be Trouble Somehow
We didn’t see enough of the new interns in the premiere for me to really form strong opinions about each of them yet, but I’m already calling it: something is coming.
Maybe it’s competition between them. Maybe one of them makes a serious mistake. Maybe somebody gets way too confident. Maybe one of them clashes with Amy or Sonya.
I don’t know exactly what it is yet, but they didn’t bring in an entire group of new doctors for everyone to peacefully learn lessons together every week.
This is Doc. Something is going sideways, and honestly, I’m looking forward to seeing what it is.
Now Explain to Me Why Amy and Jake Are Broken Up
Actually, no. Don’t explain it.
FIX IT.
What in the actual hell are we doing here?
Amy and Jake are perfect together. If there is one person who has consistently had Amy’s back while she’s rebuilt her entire life, tried to understand who she used to be and figured out who she wants to be now, it’s Jake.
And Amy has his back too.
They work.
So naturally television looked at a functioning couple and apparently said, “Absolutely not. We can’t have that.”
STOP.
There is already enough happening this season. Ben is back. Amy is remembering more. There’s some mysterious thing Amy and Ben did in the past that may have gotten them into serious trouble. Amy and Sonya are trying to lead these interns. Jake and TJ are adjusting to new roles at Westside.
We have plot.
WE HAVE PLENTY OF PLOT.
We do not need to break Amy and Jake up just to create another problem.
Can we please have one season where two people love each other, deal with all the crazy shit happening around them and just stay together while they do it?
I promise television writers: couples are still interesting when they’re happy.
This Season Could Get Really Good
The Season 3 premiere didn’t answer many of my Ben Grant questions. It gave me about 47 more.
What did Amy and Ben do? How serious was it? Did their relationship have anything to do with it? Why is Ben really back? How much does he know? How much is Amy going to remember? And what happens when those memories finally catch up with the version of Amy we’ve been watching for the last two seasons?
That’s the story I want.
FOX already says Episode 2 will have Amy dealing with a flood of emotional memories while going head-to-head with Ben, so whatever this is, they are not wasting time getting into it.
The new interns should also be fun, Amy and Sonya’s completely reversed teaching styles could get very interesting, and Amy remembering pieces of her old life while Ben stands there knowing the rest?
Yeah. I’m in.
And I’m absolutely going to be watching to see whether my preseason Ben Grant prediction keeps holding up.
But Doc, I am asking nicely right now:
Put Amy and Jake back together and stop playing with me.
Related: DOC Season 3 Hasn’t Even Started and I Already Have Thoughts
Official series info: FOX — Doc
