This article contains spoilers for St. Denis Medical Season 3 Episode 1.
The medical series on everyone’s lips may be The Pitt, but NBC’s St. Denis Medical deserves just as much attention. Set in an underfunded, understaffed hospital in Oregon where an ensemble of doctors and nurses do their best to treat a revolving door of patients while maintaining their sanity, the mockumentary returns for its third season Monday night with ‘He Ain’t Noah Wyle.’ The premiere reunites David Alan Grier with his In Living Color co-star Damon Wayans, who plays Dr Highland, a charming but pompous doctor filling in for Ron (Grier) while he recovers from the triple bypass heart surgery he underwent in the Season 2 finale.
Grier and Wayans share little screen time, letting the episode make effective use of Alex (Allison Tolman), whose desperation to win Highland’s approval drives much of the cringe comedy. Alex believes Highland fancies himself as the Noah Wyle of the St. Denis ER department, hence the episode title, though Val (Kaliko Kauahi) believes Alex treats him rudely. Even Serena (Kahyun Kim) imitates the displeased expression Alex wears whenever he’s around, suggesting that Val may have a point.
Alex’s many attempts to make a better impression of herself only make matters worse. An innocent question about whether the doctor prefers chips or onion rings ends with him volunteering her to collect lunch orders for the entire staff, despite her nursing duties. Tolman captures Alex’s people-pleasing tendencies well, especially when Alex mistakes their shared irritation regarding Joyce’s (Wendi McLendon-Covey) constant messaging for an opportunity to build a friendlier working relationship. It seems her plan worked, until Highland takes her complaints straight to Joyce, leaving Alex to deal with the consequences.
Although it’s not the first time, there is something amusing about watching Alex abandon her better judgement in pursuit of Highland’s approval, especially when her initial assessment that he’s phoney proves correct. Nevertheless, St. Denis Medical has become overly reliant on her people-pleasing tendencies whenever the series places Alex at the centre of an episode’s A or B-plot. The storyline may be entertaining, but it would be nice to see the writers give Alex some character development rather than repeatedly return to the same traits for laughs, particularly when Tolman has shown she can do much more with the character.
Meanwhile, Joyce sets her sights on winning Best Hospital Administrator in Oregon. McLendon-Covey continues to deliver one of television’s most underrated performances, providing some of the episode’s biggest laughs as Joyce pressures everyone to download an app and sign up for a free trial to vote for her, seemingly unaware of how little those around her care about the award. When Alex accidentally reveals that the staff regularly complain about her behind her back to save face during the fallout from Highland’s report, Joyce calls a meeting to confront them.
The resulting exchange is a highlight, particularly as Brandon (Dan Leahy) unleashes his grievances about everything from Joyce’s beige wardrobe to her questionable lipstick choices and supposed friendship with Queen Latifah. McLendon-Covey makes Joyce’s quick shift from outrage to acceptance hilarious, especially when she discovers everyone voted for her despite their complaints. While she ultimately loses the award, her defeat suggests St. Denis Medical has plenty more stories to tell before Joyce finally gets her win.
After a will-they-won’t-they build-up, Matt (Mekki Leeper) and Serena finally got together last season. Things are going well between them, which, in sitcom terms, means trouble lies ahead. Both want to take things slowly and avoid putting too much pressure on their relationship, though Matt may be doing so to match Serena’s pace. Leeper excels as the earnest Matt, especially when he tells the camera he’s never been on a trampoline before but imagines the experience feels like being with Serena. It’s early days, but the two feel like April and Andy in Parks and Recreation – the younger couple who get together early on in a sitcom but ultimately come out stronger on the other side by the show’s end. Leeper and Kim have an enjoyable dynamic, and their contrasting personalities should give the writers plenty to work with now that the slowburn tension has ended.
Their relationship faces an early test when Serena tells Brandon that Matt isn’t her boyfriend because labels add pressure, only to grow jealous when she discovers that Holly (Alexandra Ford) has been spending time with Matt at church outside work. Matt innocently makes matters worse when he reveals that he also goes to brunch with Holly and her parents afterwards. He does so again later when he reveals that Holly voted Joyce on both their behalf because his phone can only make outgoing calls.
While we don’t see Serena work through her jealousy, we do see her tell Matt he is her boyfriend to end his Sunday outings with Holly. The resolution is rushed, especially after the episode spends so much time establishing Serena’s discomfort. Still, Matt seems delighted by her possessiveness, while Holly’s reaction suggests Serena may have had reason to worry when she scratches Serena’s car after witnessing the happy couple together.
Elsewhere, Ron tries to prolong his recovery after learning he could be away from work for up to 20 weeks. Bruce (Josh Lawson) does little to reassure him that this is the right idea when he reveals that Highland has become a big presence at the hospital. Ron initially has no interest in seeing his colleagues, nor does he remember what he said about Joyce after surgery, but the prospect of someone taking his place eventually draws him back.
His visit only makes matters worse. Not only has someone turned his desk into storage for urine samples, but Highland mistakes him for a patient and speaks to him condescendingly. Grier and Wayans slip effortlessly back into their comedic rhythm, bouncing off one another as though no time has passed since their In Living Color days. It’s a shame they don’t spend more time together on screen, especially since their interaction leads Ron to tell Bruce he might not return, prompting Alex to confront him.
Their conversation provides the premiere with a surprisingly touching moment. Alex acknowledges Ron’s stubbornness and inconsiderate behaviour, but insists that these are precisely the qualities she needs from him to thrive under his watch. Much like their heart-to-heart in the Season 2 finale, Tolman and Grier bring warmth to the exchange, reinforcing the father-daughter dynamic Alex and Ron share that could become one of the show’s most favourable relationships.
‘He Ain’t Noah Wyle’ is a strong return for St. Denis Medical, making good use of its ensemble while briefly welcoming Wayans into the mix. Although the premiere falls back on some familiar character traits and sitcom misunderstandings, the ensemble keeps things entertaining. There’s still room for the writers to develop these characters further, but the series remains one of the more enjoyable – and underrated – workplace comedies on television.
