This week’s “St. Denis Medical” shifts its focus from the usual chaotic hospital setting to the slightly less chaotic personal lives of its staff. Well, maybe not less chaotic, just chaotic in different ways. While the show usually finds its humor in absurd medical cases and the under-resourced nature of the Oregon hospital, “You Gotta Have a Plan” turns its lens on the personal quandaries of two key characters: Joyce and Bruce.
First up, we have Joyce, who’s apparently been doing some thinking about the inevitable. She approaches Alex with a request that’s both morbid and hilarious: to be the executor of her will. Now, if you know anything about Alex and her organizational skills (or lack thereof), this is a recipe for disaster, which, let’s face it, is precisely what makes it so entertaining. Expect awkward conversations, misplaced documents, and maybe even a few tears, but mostly laughs, as Alex attempts to understand the weighty responsibility Joyce has bestowed upon her.
Meanwhile, Bruce gets a curveball from a DNA test. Will he discover a long-lost relative? A surprising medical condition? Or perhaps he’s not who he thinks he is? The possibilities are endless, and knowing this show, the outcome will probably be the most outlandish one imaginable. Let’s just hope he doesn’t need a medical professional to help him process the news. Ironically, he’s surrounded by them.
While all this personal drama unfolds, Matt and Serena find themselves embroiled in a different kind of chaos when they become mediators in a family feud. Because nothing says a relaxing day at the hospital like arguing relatives. The clashing personalities and heightened emotions provide a welcome distraction from the usual medical emergencies, and offer a different flavor of comedy to the show’s tried-and-true formula.
“You Gotta Have a Plan” airs Tuesday, January 28, at 8:00 PM on NBC.