Brilliant Minds season 2 has been intensifying the connection between Dr. Oliver Wolf (Zachary Quinto) and Dr. Josh Nichols (Teddy Sears), but with one swift and painful move, the show’s done the smartest thing possible to keep the relationship fresh. Throughout Brilliant Minds season 1, viewers watched as Wolf and Nichols built a connection while working together at Bronx General.
As Brilliant Minds season 1 got into the thick of Wolf and Nichols’ relationship, the pair got to know more about one another and their connection grew. While their styles couldn’t have been more different at the start of the series, Wolf learned about being methodical and precise from Nichols, while Nichols opened his heart to more emotional connections from Wolf.
Though the pair weren’t quick to get together, when they finally did share a kiss, it was clear that their chemistry was only going to grow hotter. Wolf and Nichols were drawn to each other, and as their relationship grew deeper, some Brilliant Minds viewers struggled to understand what the show was going to do after putting them together so quickly.
When Wolf skipped out on Nichols’ award gala during the Brilliant Minds season 1 finale, some were curious if it would only be a momentary lapse in their relationship, but as season 2 opened and saw that the pair had some serious distance between them, it was clear the show wasn’t lumping them together right away. Now, Brilliant Minds season 2 has made its smartest move yet.
Nichols Being Named Bronx General’s Chief Puts His Relationship With Wolf In The Back Seat
While the majority of Brilliant Minds season 1 saw Wolf struggling with his mother, Muriel Landon (Donna Murphy), as she presided over him at work as the chief medical officer of Bronx General, they dynamic between them was all somewhat more complicated than necessary. Muriel’s role in Wolf’s life was too much, especially once his father returned for a brief stint at the end of the season.
Muriel’s decision to resign from the role of chief was interesting, especially after Wolf’s father left the picture once again. Despite the fact that she was clearly capable of doing her job, Muriel’s decision to resign was a benefit to Carol Pierce (Tamberla Perry) and ultimately, likely made Wolf’s job easier in some personal ways, but more difficult in others.
During the final moments of Brilliant Minds season 2 episode 3, Wolf discovers that the new chief has been chosen and, in a surprising turn of events, it’s Nichols sitting behind his mother’s old desk. While Nichols had been ignoring Wolf after their kiss at the end of the last episode, the shock of seeing his complicated love interest becoming his boss was a shock for Wolf.
Nichols & Wolf Didn’t Have Enough To Complicate Their Relationship
Although Wolf and Nichols had a fascinating start to their relationship, the fact of the matter is that even with Wolf retreating and isolating Nichols at the end of the last season, the couple didn’t have enough to complicate their relationship from a narrative standpoint. Nichols and Wolf clearly both wanted to be together, even if they weren’t entirely trusting of one another.
Because they both came into the picture with romantic interest in one another, their conflict couldn’t be entirely internal, as it would’ve resolved far too quickly for the show to latch onto. Even if there were a few episodes of Nichols struggling to trust Wolf, he’d eventually get over it and move forward with their romance. Things would’ve moved far too quickly for the pair.
After kissing in the previous episode, Wolf was obviously hopeful that he’d be able to reignite what he shared with Nichols, especially as viewers saw him chasing after his love interest throughout the most recent episode. Unfortunately for the pair, sustaining a complicated and dynamic relationship on screen means intensifying the tension and allowing complicated circumstances to push the pair apart before pulling them together.
Creating The Conditions For A Tension-Filled Slow Burn Is Always The Right Move
While some viewers prefer on-screen couples who find their way to domestic bliss quickly and don’t suffer through a complicated relationship cycle, most are looking for a tension-filled slow burn. Building up the relationship slowly is typical of dramas, especially procedurals, where the character work isn’t always in the foreground of the show. Instead, viewers are met with slower interpersonal plots that offer more emotional payoff.
Though there are likely to be some viewers frustrated with the fact that Wolf and Nichols now have something keeping them apart, the fact that there’s a complication in their relationship that they’ll have to work their way through means the show is likely investing in figuring out how to put them together for the long haul. Nichols becoming the chief complicates things tremendously, making for great tension.
The intensity of Wolf and Nichols’ relationship is about to be ratcheted up significantly, which ultimately makes them a more interesting pair. Either the couple will have to figure out a complicated way through their conflict, or they’ll have to move away from each other and swallow their feelings until it’s impossible not to. For Brilliant Minds, complicating the relationship was the best possible move.
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- Release Date
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September 23, 2024
- Directors
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Lee Toland Krieger, David Katzenberg, Dawn Wilkinson, Harry Jierjian, Jordan Canning, Maggie Kiley, Sudz Sutherland, Charles Randolph-Wright, Deborah Kampmeier
