Brilliant Minds Season 2 Episode 12 “The Rider” Recap: Bulls, Booze, and Way Too Many Secrets
- Je-Ree
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Brilliant Minds Season 2 Episode 12, titled “The Rider,” opens on a surprisingly mellow note for Oliver. He meets his dad’s neighbor, the woman who waters his plants when he’s out of town and she casually offers him an edible while they chat about his father. Honestly? A chill vibe. Naturally, that calm doesn’t last long because we immediately cut to the case of the week: a bull rider named Benson who passes out at literally the worst possible moment, mid-ride. Because of course he does.
After the opening credits, we’re back at the hospital where Oliver wastes no time breaking hearts by confirming that both Jacob and Van have officially left. Ericka and Dana are understandably reeling, but Oliver chooses this moment to finally address the elephant in the room with Charlie. He tries to explain the tension between them and clear the air. Unfortunately, Ericka and Dana get pulled away for a code, leaving Oliver alone with a still-smug Charlie, who accuses him of giving away his leverage. Oliver insists again that he isn’t Charlie’s enemy. Charlie remains unconvinced. Progress is slow, folks.
"I am not your enemy!"
Elsewhere, Josh has taken it upon himself to set Carol up with a dating profile. Is this confirmation that Carol and Thorne are truly done? Because if Josh weren’t gay, I’d be fully on board with that pairing. Carol, meanwhile, has a patient named Betsy who’s facing eviction unless she can prove her cat is an emotional support animal. This storyline takes a turn later when Betsy gets arrested after fighting with her neighbors. Turns out she’s been hoarding cats and is now considered a health hazard. In a compassionate but firm move, Carol convinces Betsy to rehome the other cats while signing off on one as her emotional support animal so she can stay in her apartment. Carol stays quietly winning this season.
Back on the medical mystery front, Oliver meets Benson and his girlfriend, Grace-Ann. When Benson’s temperature suddenly plummets, he becomes hypothermic for no clear reason. Later, he reports feeling like bugs are crawling under his skin, which is never a good sign. Around the same time, Ericka tells Dana that she’s applying for the same grant Dana is, completely unaware that Dana already has a recommendation from Charlie. So Dana ends up helping Ericka practice for a grant she’s almost certainly going to get herself. Awkward, but refreshingly not malicious.
Later, while the team checks out the rodeo, Dana comes clean and tells Ericka the truth. And honestly? Thank you, writers. No unnecessary drama between the two of them. There might, however, be something brewing between Dana and Charlie, non romantic of course. They’ve grown closer, with Charlie calling Dana his mentee, a label she does not love. Still, they exchange advice and share vulnerable moments and it’s clear the show is actively trying to soften Charlie. Whether or not that works is another story.
The episode reveals that Benson is an alcoholic, which adds another layer to his condition. His mother was born with fetal alcohol syndrome and so was he. Benson now has wet brain due to his alcoholism. Wolfe discovers a potential surgical option, but it’s never been used to treat alcoholism before, and Josh refuses to approve it.
Carol later tells Oliver about a clinical trial that could help Benson, run by none other than Josh’s boyfriend. Benson and Grace-Ann meet with the doctor, but Grace-Ann is hesitant. She doesn’t want Benson to change. Benson, however, wants Grace-Ann to undergo the surgery too, pointing out that she’s also an alcoholic. And I mean… they are drinking hand sanitizer. He’s not wrong.
Dana and Ericka both interview for the grant, with Carol sitting on the board. Ericka does great, while Dana initially struggles until she opens up about her sister’s death. In doing so, Carol realizes Dana was the one who reported her earlier in the season. Carol confronts Josh and they decide not to tell Oliver, knowing he’d see it as a betrayal. More secrets, because this show truly thrives on them.
When it’s finally time for Benson’s surgery, Grace-Ann doesn’t show up. Brutal.
Dana ends up getting the grant and she and Ericka celebrate together with no resentment, no weird tension. Growth! Ericka also reveals she wants to find her birth mother, which feels like a storyline waiting in the wings.
Meanwhile, Josh hasn’t told his new boyfriend that he previously dated Oliver. In fact, he claims he barely knows him. Sir. This hospital is tiny. That secret is absolutely coming out.
Speaking of secrets, Oliver tells Charlie that his father was drinking long before Charlie’s mother died, meaning it wasn’t anyone’s fault. Oliver asks Charlie what he really wants. Charlie admits he originally wanted to get fired after the gala, but now… he wants to stay. I am exhausted by revenge plots on medical shows (looking at you Doc). Charlie needs to unclench and move on.
Finally, we learn Oliver’s dad’s neighbor doesn’t just water plants, she has sleep paralysis and Oliver's father has been helping her. Now, Oliver has arranged to become her doctor in exchange for information about his father, since she helped him write his book for decades.
Overall, “The Rider” is a solid, character-driven episode of Brilliant Minds. Nothing too wild, but plenty of emotional and narrative setup. I’d give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.
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