‘Brilliant Minds’ Boss Reveals What Would’ve Happened in Season 3
Spoiler Alert
What To Know
- Brilliant Minds ended its run on cliffhanger that set up a major event should the series have continued.
- Showrunner Michael Grassi also reveals what was next for the characters and if he thinks the series can be saved.
The end of the Brilliant Minds finale is just a beginning. The NBC medical drama, canceled after two seasons, goes out on a cliffhanger. TV Insider spoke with showrunner Michael Grassi about what would’ve happened next. Warning: Spoilers for the Brilliant Minds series finale ahead!
After treating Josh’s (Teddy Sears) father Duke (Ed Begley Jr.), who has Alzheimer’s, Oliver (Zachary Quinto) finds his ex-boyfriend waiting on his porch. After the grand gesture Oliver made by helping Duke, the doctors both say “I love you” and get back together, and the series ends with them on vacation with Oliver’s bestie Carol (Tamberla Perry). However, when the three head down for breakfast, they find the rest of the hotel guests unconscious and immediately get to work treating them.
Below, Michael Grassi shares what would’ve happened next in a third season and if he thinks the series can be saved. (Plus, read his breakdown of the series finale here.)
Now that Oliver and Josh are back together, what would’ve happened next? What does their future look like?
Michael Grassi: In my mind, if we were continuing to tell their story, I think we’d continue to show them in the workplace together and what that looks like and all the fun of them tackling cases together. And at the same time, what does it look like for Josh and Wolf navigating a relationship? What does it look like when they move in together? What does it look like if they’re maybe planning a wedding? What does it look like if they’re finally, maybe Josh is going to get something that he really wants such as a kid? What do those conversations look like?
I think in Season 3, it would’ve been navigating a lot of the realities of what it is to be in a relationship with Wolf. At the same time, we had a plan for Wolf to have a new fun secret in Season 3 with the Hudson Riders to continue some tension there. Not that he’s having any romance on the side, but he would’ve been potentially a secret doctor for the biker gang, which would’ve been very, very fun.
Pief Weyman/NBC
Carol and Thorne (John Clarence Stewart) both caught up in that investigation into their patient who apparently had his wife’s body in the trunk. Would that have become a major thing in Season 3?
Well, first of all, I love Jake Epstein, who came to play that guest role. He is such a talented actor, and I worked with him previously on Degrassi. I love Jake, and he came in to do this guest role, and the idea is that that would’ve been a serialized story going into Season 3 for sure.
My heart broke for Ericka (Ashleigh LaThrop). The look from Joan — she’s definitely her mom, right? She was just not ready for that confrontation and to talk about it?
Correct.
So, what would that journey have looked like for Ericka then?
It would’ve been deciding whether or not to continue to pursue that. And we had plans for her to come back and sort of see what a relationship could be between them. We definitely had a plan to continue telling that story in Season 3.
You talked about the trio solving medical mysteries at the end, continuing to see that. So would the Season 3 premiere have just picked up exactly where you left off with everyone in the hotel lobby and them figuring it out for the entire episode, or would that kind of just have been like, “Oh, by the way, this is what we did on our vacation”?
No, we would’ve totally picked up and had sort of a fun, remote vacation episode, like a worst-nightmare vacation where they have to figure out what’s wrong with all of these poor people at the hotel that are in grave medical danger, and maybe a few of the interns might’ve shown up to help support. Maybe they would’ve brought some patients back to Bronx General. We had a bit of an event, a two-parter plan for that.
What was the plan for Muriel going forward? Because she seemed relaxed when she was out of the hospital.
I love Donna Murphy. I’m a huge Donna Murphy fan, and I love Muriel and her relationship with Wolf. And even with Carol. Whenever she’s with any of our characters, I love … One of my favorite themes is Muriel and Charlie [Brian Altemus]. I even love Muriel when she’s getting Wolf out of Hudson Oaks. She’s just the best. And the plan would be to just have more Muriel wherever we can get her and to find a new role for her at the hospital that wouldn’t be chief because that’s Josh’s job, but something else where she could be a little bit more in the mix.
And I feel like then we would’ve gone more like Muriel and Josh stuff, which would’ve been good to see with Oliver and Josh back together.
Oh yeah. The mother-in-law dynamic would’ve been a blast for sure, for sure.
Because just thinking about her catching them on the elevator.
Yeah, that was the best.
So, what else would’ve happened in Season 3 and going forward?
I mean, Meredith, I gave you a lot.
Which dynamics were you interested in exploring more going forward? Any fun pairings that you wish you had been able to do more of?
Honestly, I love this cast so much. They’re incredible, and you pair them with each other, and they always find exciting stuff. I was excited to continue developing the characters and keep peeling back the layers of the onion and keep finding sort of challenging, fun medical mystery situations to put them in and seeing Wolf be Wolf is sort of the best part of the show and all of the big swings he takes, all the big medical swings and all the weird stuff he does to help patients, I think that was all the stuff that I was excited to continue doing.
And of course the thing I was most excited to do was continue to develop Wolf and Josh’s relationship because I love them together. I’ve talked about this with you so many times, but their chemistry is just off the charts.
And I would’ve loved to see more Carol and more Thorne. And I was hoping to unpack some of more of Carol’s personal life and get into her family more and other things, as well as all the interns who I adore. So, all of it is the answer really and just continuing the adventures of our amazing characters.
What are the chances that we see more Brilliant Minds at any point? Do you think it could be saved or revisited in the future?
I don’t know. Currently, we are canceled, but do I believe in miracles? I don’t know. Maybe? Hopefully. But I have no idea. Maybe, I don’t know, help me. Let’s get it picked up somewhere else. Let’s campaign.
I would love to see more. Did you ever have an eventual series finale in mind?
Yeah, there’s a specific case that I always had in mind, an Oliver Sacks case that I always wanted to do as the series finale, but I don’t really want to get into that, but definitely had a long-term plan for the show.
But at the same time, we did 33 episodes of a medical drama with a gay male lead about neurology and mental health on NBC. And Meredith, I see that as such a gift, and I will always see that as a gift. And I’m so grateful to Warner Bros. and to NBC and everyone who works on the show for making this possible. What we did is rare. We took a lot of risks; we took creative risks, we had weird cases, we get into patients’ brains, we experience what they’re experiencing. And I always go back to the fact that we were honoring Oliver Sacks every step of the way and the way he approached medicine.
I think what we did is so special, and we got to do it for 33 episodes, and I’m just so grateful for the time that we got to do it. And if by some miracle someone calls and they’re like, “Michael, everybody, we want more,” I would jump at that opportunity because I love this cast and these characters with all my heart.
Brilliant Minds, Streaming Now, Peacock
Conversation36 Comments
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M
NBC made a serious mistake not giving this fine show a chance and we are all poorer because of that. I'm devastated. 💔
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R
I think so too
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A
Loved Brilliant Minds! It’s a great show with many twist and turns! Very well written,interesting and intelligent program!!
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M
I love brilliant minds. Cant believe it's not going to be on any more. Started watching it from the start, with my mom. She would call and remind me it was going to be on. Today she told me about the ending of the show. We were and are so sad about it. It was a brilliant show. Please come back. Everyone on the show are great at what they do. Yall got the perfect cast for it.
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M
Please, don’t let the show die. I adore the entire cast. A show that is enlightening and has shown that a doctor who’s 1. Gay (yay) 2. Who’s human with problems. 3. Lastly. BRILLIANT! The others are just as interesting, even Charlie has won me over.
Please say us from brainless tv.
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L
I love Brilliant Minds! Since the beginning I have recorded every episode. Love all the characters. I can’t believe that this is the end. Very bad decision!
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K
Netflix,Hulu,logo,peacock,max hbo,prime. Video, please pick up show!!!!
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K
I love brilliant minds the characters seem to mesh so well and I think more stories can told so many medical cases and Zachery Quinto is Dr Oliver wolf all kinds of relationships out there and done with class the interns were great love their relationship side note:Dana was talking a little a bit too fast in these last episodes but love her
How can we campaign to bring it back????
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S
Sure would’ve liked to have known what happened at the resort.
My mom and I have been watching from the beginning. So dumb that its gone 😖
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P
I love watching Brilliant Minds weekly. Please bring it back with Season 3
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E
I hope Peacock or even HBO or HULU pick this show up. This show (for me) ranks up there with The Pitt as far as medical Dramas. One of my all time favs!! Like the Resident which ended as well all too early like the good doctor. Brilliant Mins should be brought back ASAP!!! The fact that there's a gay actor lead is a bonus but doesn't matter because the cast is totally amazing!! All star!! And maybe on the apps they can have more free rain too!! ;-)
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K
It took me a while to get into the show.. I was jumping around at first, and got confused. Finally, I decided to start from the beginning.. and I'm so glad I did! I love the stories and relationships of all the characters, especially Wolf and Josh. It was so believable and just drew you in. The scene with them and the fern in the final episode.. that was so rewarding!
All the while I watched the series I didn't even know that Oliver Wolf was based on Oliver Sachs until my son told me. I thought that the references to the Man Whose Wife Mistook Him For a Hat was just a nod to an amazing book.
I do hope that someone picks up the series, if no other reason than to finish the stories, and also because I'm dying to know what caused everyone in a hotel lobby to lose consciousness.
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T
I didn't appreciate the unfinished plotlines. For Godsake, if they couldn't have squeezed out a few more episodes to tie up loose ends, they could've at least extended the show to 90 minutes to hastily give faithful viewers some kind of a conclusion. I wanted to see the head of Hudson Oaks taken down and jailed and I wanted to know what the hell happened to those people in the hotel lobby. Leaving us on a permanent cliff hanger is outrageous.
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M
I believe they were completely blindsided by the cancelation.
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R
I love this series so much! I cannot believe it was cancelled! It doesn’t make any sense to me!
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R
I love brilliant minds! I want to see a season 3!!! For sure! I love Oliver and Josh together!! I want more!!!!
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A
This has been my favorite show that I have had in a long long time. I am so sad that it has been cancelled. From the cast to the story lines, to the absolutely awesome medical anomalies it is the BEST. Fight for it. It's sooooo worth it
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O
I love Brilliant Minds and I'm heartbroken they canceled this show. I pray it gets picked up by another network!
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B
I can see Netflix picking this up in the future! Maybe they will pick up on the hits!
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K
I also love Brilliant Minds! So disappointed that it wasn’t renewed. BIG mistake. I hope that “less than brilliant minds” are changed and they bring it back. Or someone else picks it up. Zachary Quinto…love him.
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A
Brilliant Minds was just that, brilliant story lines AND brilliant actors! I would love to see what happens next for each character on season 3. If not on NBC then on streaming or another network. Fingers crossed
👏👏👏
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W
I think an amazing show like Brilliant Minds should continue. I don't understand why shows that are so good aren't given the chance they deserve and terrible shows get renewed. Please reconsider and have season 3.
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W
absolutely love the series.. watched every single episode. I pray the powers that be give it another run!!!
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G
I absolutely loved Brilliant Minds. It’s refreshing to actually watch a show with content & so much more, not some stupid reality shows for people who can’t think for themselves & so fake!!!!
Please someone pick up this show!!!!!!
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T
My favorite network show! NBC
would be remiss to not renew
Brilliant Minds!
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M
LOVED LOVED this show! So disappointing if it is not to be renewed. Hopefully another network will pick it up.
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D
I cannot believe they canceled Brilliant Minds! If I wasn’t already sad about a great show being canceled, now you leave me hanging on the last episode!!! Someone needs to pick this series up. I’ll pay whatever streaming service to watch it!
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E
The excellent show with an excellent cast was cancelled for what reason exactly??? Someone out there.....pick it up!!!! There is a following for intelligent, innovative storylines with characters following their life's journey and struggling through all it entails. That finale only left me craving more. 🤞🤞
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E
A great show that has been pulled for what reason exactly??? The cliffhanger only leaves me wanting more. Someone out there...pick it up! The cast has a following who would definitely watch.
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I
Please save this great show!!
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H
The ending was such a cliff hanger! This is such a great show, it needs to come back! Someone start a petition!
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N
I can't believe the show was canceled. It was different than other medical shows focusing on the lives of the doctors but still giving us puzzling patient episodes. Who is polled about shows? No one asked me what I think. Please NBC reconsider!
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M
Another absolutely wonderful series cancelled way too soon. I wish more folks would fight to have someone pick it up, like we did for Lucifer.
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D
I am so disappointed to hear that NBC is currently not planning a Season 3. The show had amazing characters and each one had such depth. The story line with the twists and turns that took place, really touched on todays issues and how open we should be to helping each other. I hope that someone is smart enough to realize this series should be continued. There is so much entertainment to be offered from this story line and awareness that can help our society with struggles occurring today. HOPE TO SEE MORE BRILLIANT MINDS!
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S
WE NEED MORE! I really really hope another production company/streaming service picks this up. It’s so good. I’m devastated it’s cancelled.
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D
I want more. So sad to see this show cancelled after 2 seasons!!! It is a brilliant show!!
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