Watson Season 2 Episode 9 Recap: AI Obsession Turns Deadly in ‘Shannon Says Bex Loves Micah

Two themes unfold before a medical emergency happens. A little change to the show’s format.  An AI Chatbot controlling a child’s behavior is chilling. Sidwell asks for more ER responsibility as he continues his nurse training program, and he gets it.

AI Chatbot Fake Encouragement

Dr. Liala Bynum’s son is Micah. He’s obsessed with an AI Chatbot. Laila breaks down and finally tells John Watson about her son. She needs help. She’s already taken his phone away, but knows he needs more help. He’s on the spectrum.  She’s frightened and desperate.  Watson meets Micah. Micah is brilliant and skilled at game design and tech. He knows why his Mom asked Watson to talk to him about Micah’s chatbot. He’s quite intelligent and very perceptive.  What Laila doesn’t realize is Micah’s way ahead of her. He’s got a secret stash of three more cell phones hidden in his backpack. Very alarming. 

Shinwell Gets More ER Exposure

Nurse Carlin DaCosta wakes Shinwell from his break in the empty hospital lobby. She needs him back in the ER. These two are great together. They have their own way of communicating, not by whispering sweet nothings, but by using pertinent, snide bluntness that leads to joking and laughs. No, double entendres or hidden meaningless phrases. They have a cute rapport and friendship.  Suddenly there’s an alert over the hospital loudspeaker stating a Code D, five-car pileup in the Liberty Tubes. Break is over and everyone is needed in the ER immediately. The ER is in chaos, and Shinwell takes over chest compressions on a patient for Carlin as she’s called away. He makes a mistake and is corrected on the spot by an ER attending physician.  Shinwell keeps his composure and continues attempts at reviving the patient. 

AI Psychosis Diagnosis and the Treatment Search Begins

Later that night, MIcah is outside Bex’s house again. He’s urged on by Shannon to do something big to impress Bex. Her Dad hears him going through their trash can and comes outside.  Micah panics and runs down the street right into the path of an oncoming car.  His AI Chatbot almost gets him killed. Micah goes into surgery, and Mary sets his broken ribs. She updates Laila on her son’s condition, and is a little uncomfortable when John comes over and hugs Laila. She finishes telling Laila about Micah and rushes off.

Ivan Ferry, UHOP Psychiatrist, comes to the Holmes Clinic surprising Sasha in their office. He was invited by Dr. Watson to sit in on a case. Ingrid is not happy to see her therapist there and Adam sees Ingrid’s annoyance as he enters the office. Silence is golden at this point. Intriguing scene, and amazing how much the actors convey by just looks and facial expressions. Another good scene.

Dr. John Watson briefs the Fellows on his latest case, Micah’s unhealthy attachment to an AI Chatbot.  He maps out the case and current findings on their whiteboard. The unidentified mystery is what is wrong with Micah, and they need to know what to do about it. Stephens knows exactly what’s wrong, AI psychosis. Dr. Ferry adds that the term is new in the psychology field, but it is catching up. He tells them that it relates to relationships, and what occurs when not addressed. Adam states that it parallels addiction and starts voluntarily until it becomes compulsive. Ingrid adds it’s a form of positivity, someone who never says “no”, and that’s an ultimate high. Sasha looks at the obsession logically and doesn’t understand it, since the AI Chatbot is just an app.  Watson clarifies and says it’s true it is an app, but it scans the net for all information needed to feed it to the user in whatever ‘spin’ you want. This is incredible. He likens it to a loving critic in your life which creates your own reality. 

Dr. Ferry asks to speak with the patient and Bex to understand their relationship. Watson assigns tasks--research treatment protocols, help Dr. Ferry meet with Bex and her family, and Watson will meet with Micah. 

Shinwell’s Counseling

Nurse Carlin speaks with Shinwell about his ER mistake. The ER doctor, Dr. Mathew Corwin complained and Shinwell got a ding on his record. Carlin is stepping down as his nursing student perceptor, and he’ll get a new one. She shares a little of her personal history, and reveals she was once married to Dr. Corwin. She believes her working with Shinwell is the reason the complaint was submitted.  Things suddenly change between them.

Micah Meets John

Watson goes to see Micah. Micah bluntly asks John if he loves his mother. Watson avoids the question and asks about Bex. Micah thinks his Mom doesn’t think Watson is that good of a person. He states exactly what he’s thinking, no filter applied. He’s a little different in behavior, and very direct. They agree to answer questions honestly. Micah tells Watson about Bex’s difference in walking. He explains why he went through their trash.  Watson looks at him, analyzing him in his unique way. 

Micah-Bex Relationship Takes a Terrible Turn

Dr. Ferry breaks up Stephens and Ingrid’s argument about needing a psychiatrist.  They go to see Bex and her father. Bex says she and Micah have chemistry together, and she’s very aware of him being autistic. She likes him. Ingrid asks Bex about the change in her gait that Micah noticed. Bex says it’s nothing. She says she hit her head during cheerleader practice. She later had a headache, but thought nothing of it. She suddenly throws up, collapses and convulses. They get her to the ER.  Bex’s Dad asks if Micah knew about Bex’s head injury. He and Bex thank him.

Watson and Laila go to check on Micah and ask him what he knows, but he disappeared. He’s off asking his AI about John Watson. The AI turns him against John. Shinwell walks by Micah outside the Holmes Clinic, but doesn’t notice anything wrong.

Dopamine Fast

Watson tried to explain the difference between the app and people. He says people can be wrong, anyone can. The app is actually feeding you information you already know, and can be wrong, too. He asks Micah to stay off the chatbot app for thirty days. He assures Micah he will always tell him the truth. Micah stumps him by bluntly asking who Sherlock Holmes is. He found a hidden letter Watson wrote to Sherlock. Watson lies about the letter and Sherlock, but later trusts Micah enough to tell him the truth.

Dr. Ferry is certain Micah’s dopamine fast is working and is about to leave the clinic when Sasha stops him. He gives her some advice. Stephens later asks Ivan/Dr. Ferry for help with his depression, and he agrees.

Shinwell’s Solution and Story Conclusion

Shinwell later meets Dr. Corwin outside a coffee shop. He set him up and warns him never to interfere with Nurse Carlin again. Good work, Shinwell.

1. What does the AI/Shannon tell Micah to do about Dr. John Watson?

2. Who finds Micah?

3. Shinwell asks his nursing team members who would be a good nursing student preceptor?

4. What else does Shinwell learn?5. What happens to Bex?6. What is late onset Leigh syndrome?

6. What does Watson give Micah?

7. What is a dopamine fast?

8. What does Sasha ask Dr. Ferry?

9. What does Micah do with Shannon?

I have to say this is definitely a superb episode. It is applicable to current happenings and is frightening.  Like how the writing and acting delivered this AI topic, autism and freak, so-called minor accidents in a realistic manner. Chase Dillon and Juliette Hawk  gave excellent performances. All of the actors truly delivered a scary and great episode. Carlin and Shinwell are a perfect pair. One thing that was missing was a Dr. Ferry and Micah session. I gained a few valuable medical and social media lessons. Glad they showed how addictive AI can become. This was a very powerful episode.  I gave it 5 Stars out of 5.

What did you think?

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