The Resident offers the best character development for Dr. Bell

When it comes to character development, it’s hard to deny that the writing for Dr. Bell on The Resident has been some of the best.

When The Resident first started, there’s no way any of us liked Dr. Bell. While he looked picture perfect on the outside, we quickly got to know there were major issues. He was hiding a hand tremor and his focus was on the money and not the patients.

Granted, a private hospital has to be concerned about money. It’s a flaw in the health care system. However, most hospitals will also want to help patients at the same time. Instead, Bell worked with Lane to get the CEO of the hospital fired so he could get that job. He continued to be the bad guy up until he learned the truth about Lane.

This was a turning point for Bell’s character. However, that’s not when the writers made him likable. It took a while for that to happen.

Other characters had to trust and like him first. As they started to see him change, we were able to settle into caring about the guy. We’re close to finishing The Resident Season 4 and now he’s a character we’ve come to cheer for and support.

In fact, when Jake Wong refused to let Bell back into his life because of the past, many of us screamed at the TV screen for someone to tell Jake how much Bell had changed in recent years. Fortunately, Kit was there to do that.

No forced change for Bell on The Resident

One of the great things about this character development is that it has never felt forced. We’re not made to like the character because of one big action. Sure, he did the big action, but he’s had to slowly redeem himself.

That’s where The Resident writers are authentic. Just like with how hospitals have to think about the money, Bell’s character development to someone we could like needed to take time. We needed to see that Bell wanted to go better each episode; that his one big act wasn’t the only thing he was good for.

Part of it helped that we got to know what Bell was like as a resident. It turns out that he was a lot like Conrad, giving us a view of Bell we never thought possible.

We have continued to see him grow, especially now that the hospital has gone from private to public. He’s put his focus on saving patients and helping residents. In fact, in the most recent episode, Bell agreed to take on Leela after AJ shouted at her in the OR and showed his skills as a mentor.

When writers want to give characters decent redemption arcs, they need to turn to The Resident to see how it’s done.

What have you thought of Bell’s slow redemption arc on The Resident? What would you like to see should the show be renewed? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

The Resident airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on FOX. Catch up the following day on Hulu.