‘The Resident’ on Netflix: 8 Burning Questions That Will Never Be Answered
The Resident only ended up being six seasons, with the Fox medical drama canceled months after the finale in 2023. At least it not only provided closure for some storylines but closed on a happy not for pretty much all the characters, making for watching it on Netflix—where it is now all streaming—a pretty complete binge.
Dr. Conrad Hawkins (Matt Czuchry) and Dr. Billie Sutton (Jessica Lucas) said “I love you.” Dr. Randolph Bell (Bruce Greenwood) was set to enter Dr. Devon Pravesh’s (Manish Dayal) MS trial and was looking ahead to his next chapter: teaching and spending time with his wife, CEO Dr. Kit Voss (Jane Leeves). Devon proposed to Dr. Leela Devi (Anuja Joshi), now an attending. Dr. Ian Sullivan (Andrew McCarthy) told Kit about his addiction, and she gave him another chance. Padma (Aneesha Joshi) was going home with Dr. AJ Austin (Malcolm-Jamal Warner) and their twins. Dr. Cade Sullivan (Kaley Ronayne) and Dr. James Yamada (Ian Anthony Dale) weren’t too broken up about the ends of their relationships with Conrad and Billie.
But that doesn’t mean we don’t still have plenty of questions for what could have been a seventh season (and that we’re now reminded of with its availability on Netflix), so check those out below.
Would Bell have returned to work at Chastain?
Bell took a leave of absence and was preparing to enter Devon’s MS trial when we last saw him, but he told Ian he’d be back soon, and he was planning to continue teaching, as we’d seen with Leela. But would we have seen him back in the OR, or was him passing the torch (and later stethoscope) to Leela in the finale truly the end of that chapter of his career?
“He, over the course of six seasons, really transforms into a compassionate, caring, moral, upright doctor and a person that people can look up to. He would teach. He would be a mentor. And his relationship to Kit Voss is so spectacular and such a fan favorite, so we would make sure that still is alive,” showrunner Andrew Chapman told TV Insider of Bell’s arc potentially moving forward after the Season 6 finale.
Could Ian have managed the stress of his job without relapsing?
Ian had left Chastain rather than reveal his addiction to Kit, then explained to his sponsor that one of his triggers was his job. He was needed in the finale, however, to save Bell’s granddaughter Sammie. He later told Kit the truth, and she offered him a second chance — which he took. But in doing so, he put himself right back where he could be at risk of relapsing.
For some doctors with addictions, “they can continue to be functioning doctors who save lives and do great things while knowing that they have the propensity to be addicts,” the showrunner said. “It’s an important story to tell about redemption. It’s an important story to tell about addiction as a disease, not something to become a pariah about and not something to lose all of your well-earned career about, and so we would love to tell the continuing story of Ian Sullivan as a doctor who will struggle with that but who can overcome it.” The hope also was that McCarthy would have continued to be a series regular.
How would Conrad and Billie's relationship have been challenged?
It might have taken Conrad and Billie a while to get together — Season 6 started with him choosing Cade, not knowing the other doctor was an option — but once they did, it seemed like things were pretty easy, including the “I love you” exchange to end the finale. According to Chapman, that was partly in case, as it did, it turned out to be the wrap-up of the series as well. However, we can’t help but wonder how the medical drama would have challenged their relationship if it had continued. That’s what always happens to romances on TV shows.
Would Cade and James' relationship have lasted?
After their relationships with Conrad and Billie ended, Cade and James fell together — and we have to admit we were surprised to find it worked! That was not originally in the cards, and in fact, the original plan for James completely changed after Dale’s casting.
“We were thinking that he would be … not a bad guy exactly, but a womanizer, slick, somebody you might not like. But honestly, when Ian came in and played James, he was so sympathetic and so warm, and his open, honest sexual relationship with Cade was fantastic, and we just immediately saw the sparks, and we were like, ‘Oh my god, this guy’s fantastic. He’s the perfect, hot, sexy but also very emotional and vulnerable doctor,'” Chapman explained. The hope was for Dale to continue with the show, possibly upped to a series regular.
But that doesn’t mean that Cade and James’ relationship would have lasted, especially considering how stable the other main couples (Conrad and Billie, Kit and Bell, and Devon and Leela) on the show were.
Would Devon and Leela have gotten married in the premiere?
Devon proposed in the finale, and Leela said yes, and while according to the showrunner, they wanted to have their wedding in the Season 7 premiere, plans could have changed. That being said, The Resident had a history of weddings to kick off a new season (Conrad and Nic), so it would have been fitting — and a great way to celebrate if there had been more episodes.
What would the next new doctor have been like?
Noting that the medical drama brought in two male doctors in Season 6 — McCarthy’s Ian and Dale’s James — Chapman said, prior to the cancellation, they “need more female doctors” and would “love to bring in some women.” If that happened, how would she have gotten along with the rest of the staff? Would there have been another doctor to face a redemption arc? Could she have filled the “cowboy” spot Conrad used to inhabit?
What would the next problem for Chastain have been?
The hospital’s budget was slashed and things were looking bleak, until AJ made a deal with Governor Betz (Steven Culp): help him get a heart transplant in exchange for him saving the hospital (since he’d cut their funding). It worked, and Betz surprisingly followed through. But throughout the series, there was always a new problem for Chastain.
When looking ahead to a potential Season 7, “we have to think about what the state of the hospital is because that’s always been really important to us,” Chapman noted at the time of what ended up being the series finale. Whatever that may have been, it had to “reflect the state of the show.”
Could we have seen Cain again?
Morris Chestnut’s Dr. Barrett Cain was last seen at the end of Season 4, and there was even a tentative plan if they’d been able to bring back the neurosurgeon the following year. We could have “possibly” seen him in a seventh season, according to Chapman. And given the major time jump that took place since his exit, it could have been interesting to see how much Cain might have changed (or not) since we last saw him.
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R
We loved this show!! Please bring it back… it was something we looked forward to watching every week! There are so many poor TV shows on right now that aren’t worth watching & it’s so frustrating when you cancel the good shows!!
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G
I would love to see Mina come back and shake things up with AJ and seeing Billie dating Conrad and see if she approves,.
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G
Please bring this show back. Losing this and New Amsterdam would be too much to take. Love medical shows especially these two.
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B
I think New Amsterdam and The Resident are two of the best shows out. Keep them coming!!
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O
I can’t believe they have cancelled TheResident. One of my favorite shows!
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O
I’m very sad that this show isn’t being renewed. But I wasn’t too surprised….it seems all the good dramas fall victim to the same fate.
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O
I hope they bring it back for another season, because there's still a lot more story to tell. If they don't though, the season finale worked perfectly as a series finale too. Well done.
These are exciting storylines. And, it would be cool to see whether Cain has changed or not over the past five years. Morris Chestnut was so good in that role.
Now that Conrad and Billie are finally together, I'm looking forward to seeing what challenges they face. They're two very headstrong characters, who started out hating each other. Their development from that to reluctant friends, then genuine friends and finally a couple has been so enjoyable to watch. They've always had a pretty strong, natural chemistry. I'd like to see how Conrad and Billie handle conflict, now that they're in a relationship.
James and Cade's hookup didn't surprise me one bit. I knew that would happen. It works though, since they have more chemistry in just a few scenes than Conrad and Cade had in two seasons. Now that she's not lying about Ian's addiction anymore, a weight seems to have lifted off her shoulders. She has an actual personality. When she was dating Conrad, she was just sort of there. I didn't hate Cade, but I didn't like her either. She's pretty likable now, though.
If the show's renewed, I hope Ian Anthony Dale is promoted to a series regular for season seven. I've missed him, since Hawaii Five-0 ended. He'll always be Adam Noshimuri to me, but I really like James too.
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G
I want it to return because it was my Tuesday night go to show along with 911. I don’t understand why when they have an award winning show they just end it
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G
Me too! I was so heartbroken when she left. 😭
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O
Love the show. Hope they bring it back. Morris Chestnut would be icing on the cake
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P
What about Mina Okafor??
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B
I loved this show and I would love to see the stories go on. I would loved to see Morris Chestnut come back also. But most of all, I would love to see what happens between Billy and Conrad and then James and Kate, also if there would be a marriage between Devin and Leela, see how the twins grow, what kind of father would AJ have become, how Lela’s sister turned out, how the hospital was saved by the governor and would he had put more money into Chastain since they saved him, if Bell would come back and see what his future turns out, how GiGi and Sammie turn out, will GiGi become a nurse or doctor, what would Sammie be like older and her career would be, and I have so much to ask about. I hope FOX reconsiders and bring the Resident back or it gets picked up by another network. It always seems that FOX let’s all the good shows go. The Resident was one of the good shoes FOX had and I’m sorry there isn’t another show that can compare to The Resident. It’s not just about medical drama, it’s the show itself and the actors and the stories of the characters. It’s like looking at Greys Anatomy, they let the show keep running but all the actors are gone so why keep the show on, it was about those actors and the characters they played which is why people tuned in every week. Taking the resident and replacing it with another medical show is not going to cut it, it’s about that show, the characters, the actors and their stories.
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R
This is very sickening that there is not a season 7 or 8. This was my husband and I bonding time. We really enjoyed this show together. Like I was think Mina was coming back. Why give us hope when Chastain regained funding, recovery addict comes clean, Devon proposal, Conrad and Billie love, and Sammy being saved. Come on now give us seven and eight!
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B
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE BRING IT BACK IT IS ONE OF THEBESTS SHOWS ON TV ! !
Loved it soooooooo much ! ! SO GOOD ! !
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B
The producers need to realize there is much more to tell in this series. To stop now, is just wrong. Nina needs to come back to the show. They had a spell where it wasnt so interesting and turned it around. We deserve to see whats next for them all.
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O
Just finished bingeing this show. Bravo for it's excellence! AJ quickly became this fan's fave. Loved his growth and big heart. How did they find the twin baby boys that look just like him? They're adorable (too)! If there is a S7, hope they write more about Mina. IRL wouldn't she have been able to work at a private hospital, to avoid deportation? Also, thank you to all for the healing, happy endings.
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L
I love this show so much. Please bring it back.
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B
I'm so disappointed that The Resident got canceled. I was really looking forward to season 7. Fox always cancels the good shows. I'm done with Fox!!!
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R
Of course, they always cancel the good ones!
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G
Love this show. There are many stories which could be explored. Only negative...too much blood and guts.
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N
I really enjoyed The Resident and would love for it to return!!
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A
I think Netflix and fox are wan**** canceling resident it was so good got in into it cant just leve it at six episodes needs more course left it at stupid six can make more episodes why saying about the ratings the the stupid fox selling the Station the stupid Netflix should of taken over company stupid TV Station cant be bothered take it on
Bring it bloody back
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P
There needs to be more of The Resident and definitely more of Matt Czuary! Great and natural actor. Keep it up! Good luck to him!
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B
I loved them both. I had a hard time turning off the TV and going to bed with both.
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B
I would love to see another season with like 20 episodes and that would be enough to wrap things up but I would like to see more it was so good
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K
I miss it so much. Got very interested in watching it and it was getting very interesting. I hope that they bring it back because six months realistically is not enough to say for anything to get out there for people to notice it and you get on their feet before something goes bad. Anyway, you have my thumbs up
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G
All the great shows are cancelled. The Resident was very popular.
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G
Good show (except for Matt Czuchry's unintelligible mumblings!). Next!
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