Watson Season 2 Episode 6 Recap: ‘Buying Time’ Watson’s Fight for Casey’s Life and Control of the Holmes Clinic

“Buying Time” delivers one of the most ambitious episodes of Watson to date, blending medical mystery, biotech intrigue, and family drama in a tense hour that reshapes the season’s trajectory. With a split-story structure, high-stakes diagnoses, and a shocking final reveal involving Mycroft, this episode keeps viewers guessing from start to finish.

Medical Diagnosis Mystery and Challenges

There’s an unusual beginning with two stories running simultaneously.  One needs immediate medical attention, another does not. The episode starts with a new format of storytelling. It is interesting and keeps the viewer engaged trying to figure out what’s happening.

Casey Zink comes to the ER in serious pain. He’s returned for the same reason again. The volunteer, Ria, takes Casey to the Holmes Clinic for the help he needs, and hopefully with little or no cost to Casey. Sasha and Ingrid come with a wheelchair. Ingrid tells Casey his symptoms suggest elevated neurological intracranial pressure, and will take him for an MRI. Casey slows them down and states he can’t afford the cost. Sasha puts his worries at ease by stating the costs will be covered by an operating grant. Sasha and Ingrid take Casey for testing, and he tells them his background story. He played college baseball until he injured his labrum. He already had five MRIs. 

Joseph Bell is at his home reviewing his vitals and is very satisfied with the numbers showing he’s in extremely great shape. He and his assistant head to the Holmes’ Clinic for a meeting with Watson. He is overly concerned with aging, and tells Watson he’s a great candidate for changing the whole aging concept for the world. He thinks of aging as a disease. He’s there to recruit Watson for his company, to become their official genetics consultant for Anti-Aging Generation, a movement Joseph is trying to start. Joseph tempts Watson with an offer of unlimited funding, if he signs on with him.  Watson turns him down.

Outside Watson’s office, Shinwell tries to get to know Joseph’s assistant, Ranger. He’s curious about his background.  Their conversation is cut short when Joseph’s ready to leave.

Watson meets with Casey and explains that the MRI revealed a large growth in his spinal cord called an ependymoma. It’s a tumor, and surgery is needed. Casey’s not believing this. He says he was healthy and fine two months ago. Mary interrupts them and asks to see John. She says they need to do a care breakdown and as it stands they won’t be able to pay for Casey’s care. The Holmes Clinic operating grant is no longer operational, and Casey’s care is denied. Suddenly, Casey cries out he can’t see. Sasha and Ingrid examine Casey, and during all the chaos Mary tells John his patient has to pay for his care. Casey freaks out, and John tells her he will pay for all the necessary care. 

Watson and Mycroft Reach an Impasse and Watson Makes a New Deal

Later, an angry Watson calls Mycroft Holmes asking for answers. He tells him to stop messing with his clinic's funding.  Mycroft corrects him stating the funds come directly from the Holmes family, and he’s the only living family member. He gives Watson an option to regain funding. All he has to do is sign over his research to Mycroft’s tech company.  Watson refuses. Mycroft is unyielding and hangs up.  Watson explores another possible solution, and goes to see Joseph to clarify his offer for unlimited funding. Watson makes him an offer, and agrees to work for him for one month. 

This is a total change from the show’s previous set pattern. Interesting new premise. 

Holmes Clinic’s New Beginning

Watson tells his staff he found alternative ways to treat their patients. Funding is now supported by Joseph Bell and his company, and Mycroft no longer has control. Ingrid teases him and he’s not amused at the "Sugar Daddy” reference. The term concierge services comes up, and he makes it clear they aren’t required to provide concierge services to Joseph Bell.  He’ll take care of that task.  Adam eagerly volunteers to assist. He fangirls over Joseph, but is really interested in Joseph’s longevity study. 

The race is on for John Watson and his select group of diagnostic savants, the Fellows. Their challenge is to find a way to save Casey, a 23-year-old athlete. Watson’s initial diagnosis of his symptoms rendered a cancer diagnosis due to an inoperable tumor.  This medical mystery captures Watson’s immediate attention as he assures Casey his care is covered. Further detailed research shows this diagnosis is questionable. The real challenge is saving Casey’s life under extreme time constraints. Just another day at the office for the team. Task assignments are given, and they work to find out how Casey’s cancer occurred.

Meanwhile, Watson begins his new job with Joseph, as Adam tags along.  Adam is awestruck. Joseph asks John to ‘read’ him.  John’s skills at diagnosing a person with one look is still amazing. Joseph doesn’t like all the diagnosis, and makes corrective suggestions. Other things irritate John, and that includes the commercialization of medicine.  He also has to deal with having his work and face posted all over social media.  Ranger takes their photo with the company’s merch and posts it. 

Personal Relationship Problems

Stephens and Sasha’s relationship has a hiccup. They discuss Ingrid’s personal diagnosis of his personality disorder, and her suggested care. Sasha’s not sure about it, and asks Stephens to get a second opinion. Stephens gives a half-hearted reply, but is interrupted by an unusual finding in the sample they are analyzing.  Sasha later asks Ingrid to help Stephens get a second opinion on his depression diagnosis. Ingrid does and uncovers something more at the core of his depression. Stephens refuses therapy and finds another path that helps him. 

A Bizarre Discovery

Stephens sees something unusual in the tumor biopsy. The analysis reveals something truly unheard of. Evidence that genetic sequencing was engineered. A cancer impervious to existing treatment questions emerge. They question Casey for more background information as to what could have led to this, and find some clues. That gives Casey more to panic over. 

Shinwell offers some suggestions as Watson and the Fab Fellows brainstorm. A field trip is needed to retrieve more records on Casey’s privately funded studies. Medical investigation continues as Watson’s called away by Mycroft. 

The group meets with Mary and summarizes their findings. They devise a plan of action for their next steps.  It involves a social media post to anger Joseph and get his attention. 

What does the field trip reveal? 

What caused Casey’s illness?  

Is Mycroft jealous of Watson?  

What is the inner sanctum and what do they find? 

What’s a poison apple? 

How do they kill a cancer that’s unkillable? 

What’s an sIRNA?`

What a Twist and Surprise Ending

What a twist the research provides. Casey and Joseph have never met, until something they share brings them  together. Watson does some serious bargaining that involves life or death options. The split screen effect is used to show the comparison of Casey and Joseph’s health conditions and treatment. It’s unique and sad to see the changes that occur for these two patients, one was self-inflicted, one intentionally and one not. 

The split screen was a bit confusing at first but I liked how it worked at the end. It was also interesting to see more genome editing science. One good outcome in the Watson-Joseph collaboration was Shinwell made a new friend, Ranger. One bad outcome is Mycroft paying Watson a surprise visit. Watson tries to throw him out, and Mycroft finally reveals his company is cratering. He needs something to save it, and believes his brother’s incomplete research caused it. Mycroft asks Watson if his brother’s alive and where is he? What a way to end this episode.  

I give this episode 4.7 Stars out of 5.

What did you think?

Change Image

• Loved it
• Hated it
• So/So