Brilliant Minds season 1, episode 9 recap and review: "The Colorblind Painter"

What happens when you lose the one thing you’re passionate about? That’s something that we take a look at in Brilliant Minds season 1, episode 9.

Caution: this post contains SPOILERS from Brilliant Minds season 1, episode 9.

Titled “The Colorblind Painter,” we knew immediately what the case was going to involve this episode. Wolf and his interns had a patient who had lost the ability to see color. This wasn’t just any patient. Gabriel is an amazing artist, and without being able to see color, he can’t paint. Yet, he has an art exhibition coming up.

Wolf is intrigued. Why can Gabriel no longer see color? He had an accident a few months ago, and that was the time he lost the ability to see color. So, Wolf knows that it has something to do with that.

Loss of love and passion in Brilliant Minds season 1, episode 9

I don’t think Wolf actually gets to the bottom of this case. He realizes that it’s nothing to do with the eyes, and the elements of the brain that should help with seeing color are still working. This is something psychological, and Wolf figures that out as he learns that Gabriel’s wife died in the car accident that he was in.

This is more than just the loss of color. It’s the loss of his wife. Gabriel explains that he can no longer remember what his wife looked like.

We get a connection to Wolf’s mental state after the time Tom was asked to leave by Wolf’s mom. Wolf started on his journey of psychedelics. It was the only way that he could see his dad again. Those moments when he could talk to his dad, even though it was all in his head, gave him a passion for life again. He could share the highs and lows with someone who he felt cared.

So, Wolf decided to give Gabriel some psychedelics. Sure, they’re not exactly legal in the State of New York, but I don’t quite think Gabriel cared all that much when he got the chance to see his wife in full color again. It was something he hadn’t had since the car accident, and there was a small sense of hope. However, it only helped if he took the psychedelics.

There was nothing that the doctors could do, and so Gabriel went home defeated.

Wolf will always do what he can to help patients

That didn’t stop Wolf from trying, though. He paid a visit to Gabriel again hoping that there was a chance to find some way to help Gabriel get his groove back. When he realized he may have left his wallet at the store, Gabriel looked out of his window. Sure enough, the wallet was on the counter.

Wolf was shocked. How could Gabriel see so far away? So, with another test, Wolf managed to put it all together.

Gabriel may not be able to see color, but he can see grey in many more shades—much more than the 50, I guess. This is a breakthrough. It explains why a lot of items end up looking like a blur. They are on the same wavelength of light, so the colors of grey blend together. Now this is something Wolf can help with. He gets special glasses made to allow Gabriel to see the different wavelengths better.

And it works. Gabriel just has to adjust to his new way of living, and he certainly does that with his new artwork.

Brilliant Minds continues to show that we just need people to care. We need doctors who are willing to see past the medicine and look at the person. Wolf has been able to help people because he sees them in a different way, and that helps Gabriel. By Gabriel learning that Wolf sees people in a different way—in fact, seeing the world in a different way—Gabriel is able to see that there is another way of living.

Nichols brings Wolf into the 21st century

We didn’t get any Wolf/Nichols moments in Brilliant Minds season 1, episode 9, but that’s okay; we did get something about the couple. They want to talk with each other. They want to share about their days. And this is so darn cute. Isn’t new love cute?

This is a great foundation for a relationship. Wolf has kept so much of himself to himself, but this episode allows him to open up to someone. He wants to share things with Nichols, and he even wants to hear about Nichols’s day at the conference.

However, Wolf doesn’t have a cellphone. Well, Nichols brings Wolf into the 21st century by sending him one. And having Gabriel show Wolf how to answer the call is just one of the most adorable things going.

Pierce does the right thing in Brilliant Minds

We also get more about Pierce’s marriage in this episode. Her patient from last week—you know, the affair partner—turns up demanding to see Pierce. Ericka and Dana attempt to deescalate the situation, and they do a great job of it. Pierce had no right in shouting at them, but this was a sign for Pierce that she needs to stop treating this woman.

Wolf gets through to Pierce that this is a huge conflict of interest. Pierce has to refer this patient onto someone else.

Things are going to get worse for Pierce before they get better, though. This woman is unhinged, and she is sure to put lives on the line. Pierce walking out to finding her car completely vandalized is a major warning sign, and she needs to be completely open about this. HIPPA protects medical information, but Pierce will be allowed to share a name and a reason why she suspects this woman with the police. Hell, she could even just say that it’s the woman her husband had an affair with and leave it at that! HIPPA doesn’t protect against police prosecution—that’s what a lawyer is for.

Van’s secret is out, but it’s not the one you’d expect

The episode picked up with Van and Ericka in bed together. They both want to keep this a secret. Ericka especially wants to avoid people finding out. The problem is that gossip spreads fast, and we know Dana and Jacob like their gossip.

Jacob spends the whole episode trying to figure out who the special woman in Van’s life is. Van keeps Ericka a secret the whole time, although it does seem to backfire a little. Seeing the pressure that Van is under, Ericka decides that they should call it off. This is probably the right thing to do, anyway. Ericka wants to be with Jacob. What’s she’s going with Van isn’t fair to him.

Well, it turns out that the phone call wasn’t to a woman at all. It was to his six-year-old son.

Say what? Van has a son? There is a lot more to this story, and we’re ready for it! I haven’t seen any clues about this in the show so far, so I’m not sure if I like the reveal or not. I am intrigued to find out why Van and the mother of his child didn’t work out, though.

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

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