Brilliant Minds season 1, episode 7 recap and review: "The Man from Grozny"

Brilliant Minds just delivered one of its most powerful and bittersweet episodes yet. Here’s a look at everything that happened in Brilliant Minds season 1, episode 7.

Caution: this post contains SPOILERS from Brilliant Minds season 1, episode 7.

As soon as Dr. Wolf grew an attachment to John Doe, we knew that there would be some sort of hope for him. Wolf would do everything he could to help this patient, but he never expected the outcome to be the way it happened in this episode.

John Doe, who is actually called Roman, was able to get the chip that would allow him to communicate with the doctors. We got a beautiful look at Alex Ozerov-Meyer talking to each of the characters rather than just having it all done from reading a computer screen. This added a human layer to the episode that many other shows could have forgotten all about, and I think it made the ending even more bittersweet.

Roman’s backstory explored in Brilliant Minds season 1, episode 7

The show gave us answers as to how this man, who only speaks Russian, was in the country at the time of his stroke. It turned out that he was from Chechnya, and he had to flee the country for his own safety. Roman is gay, and it’s illegal to be gay in Chechnya. He and his boyfriend, Alex, made it to the States.

The original plan was for Alex to head to the States first since he could speak English. However, things became too dangerous for Roman, so they both moved across. Roman was involved in an accident, which led to his stroke. Alex had no idea where he was for the longest time, because nobody took the time to actually get to know their John Doe patient.

Wolf was the first to care, and that is something Roman was grateful for. Roman could always hear and see what was going on, and he would see the whole world pass by him. Then Wolf wanted to make Roman his patient and actually help him. The interns followed along with that and cared for him, and it meant that he was comfortable sharing his story with them.

Dana was able to find Alex, allowing the two of them to reconnect after months apart. There was a touching moment when Alex made it clear that he wanted to get Roman home. He would be there for the love of his life, caring for him in every way possible. After everything they had been through for their love, this was a small sacrifice for Alex.

Roman makes a heartbreaking decision for everyone

It’s great that Alex wants to do all this, but is anyone actually listening to what Roman wants? Has anyone thought to ask? That’s what gets me throughout Brilliant Minds. They want to learn about Roman and they want to give him the voice, but nobody outright asks Roman what he wants.

It’s Roman who has to bring it up. He makes it clear that he doesn’t want to live in this body anymore. This isn’t the life he wanted, and now that he has a voice, he wants to use it. He chooses to die. It isn’t medically assisted dying, which is illegal in New York. It would just mean removing the equipment that is keeping him alive. Without the breathing tub, Roman’s lungs will shut down as they’re too weak after the multiple infections that he’s been through.

Wolf doesn’t want to give up. I understand as a man who wants to help people, but Josh has such a brilliant moment when the two discuss what to do. Josh points out that a good doctor is someone who listens to their patients. That sometimes means doing things that they wouldn’t want to do, and in this case, it’s allowing Roman to choose the way he lives (or doesn’t live) his life. He gets to choose to die. What’s the point in giving someone a voice if we’re just going to ignore it?

The only request that Roman has is that he doesn’t die in a hospital. Wolf finds a way to honor Roman, even though he doesn’t agree with this. He allows Roman to die peacefully in his home, which gives us the first time that the interns and Josh have seen this house. Alex is there as well, and it is sad, but it is also beautiful as well. Everyone is there experiencing what choice really is about. This is bodily autonomy, and everyone should get that.

Ericka is honest with Van about her feelings

Thanks to Van’s mirror-touch synesthesia, he’s able to feel emotions coming from Ericka. She has feelings for someone, and Van mistakenly thinks that they are for him. He’s ready to share how he feels about her, which are the same feelings.

That’s when he gets a blow, and fortunately, it’s before he shares his own feelings. Ericka’s feelings are for Jacob and not for Van. She doesn’t want anyone to find out. I think it’s clear that Jacob has some feelings for Ericka, but is he the right guy for her?

This is sure to set up some sort of love triangle. I just hope Van doesn’t lash out after this, because he has been a great guy up to this point.

Wolf finally acts on his feelings in Brilliant Minds

My favorite part has to be the ending. Roman pointed out to Wolf that Josh likes him. Now Wolf needs to take a chance.

There is the lesson of taking a chance while you can. Roman learned the hard way that we’re not guaranteed tomorrow. If he can share one bit of wisdom with others, it’s to stop waiting.

We learn that he told Wolf a fantasy that he had when he came to New York. He would see Alex across a busy street and he would rush over and kiss him. It is one of those big romantic gestures, and while Roman didn’t get the chance to do it, Wolf is able to do it for him.

He sees Josh across the street. He rushes over to kiss him, and there’s this beautiful mixture of confusion, happiness, and shock on Josh’s face while it happens. I am so here for this relationship to blossom into something. Josh has shown that he has so much respect for Wolf and the way he works, and Wolf has also shown the same toward Josh. They have an excellent working relationship already, so can they match that personally?

Trouble at the hospital after Roman’s decision

Of course, things couldn’t end in a completely happy way. Dr. Gadson originally wanted to pull Pierce onto his board, but then he learned about Roman’s death. He made it clear that this was why he didn’t want to work with Wolf.

Look, if Wolf had done something erratic or gone against rules, then I could understand Gadson’s anger. However, Wolf was listening to the patient, and that’s something that should have happened. I understand that Gadson is seeing this as messing up his results, and it’s why I hate stats such as “deaths within 30 days” or “5-year life expectancy.” There are so many factors that go into this. If a patient chooses to die within those 30 days, why should he have to hang on? Why should he have to suffer for the sake of results. There should be a way to separate those results and actually be honest about them.

I think this is going to come back to haunt Wolf and Pierce in the future, especially since Wolf’s own mother things that he gave up on his patient. Some people shouldn’t be doctors, and I think we’re seeing that with Gadson and Wolf’s mother.

Brilliant Minds airs Mondays at 10/9c on NBC. Catch up the following day on Peacock.

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