In
2.19 – The Q Word we start out as our Rookies are unwinding with the rest of their class just before their final 30 day push. Everyone is sharing stories and we get to meet some of the other friends of our beloved trio: Chris Rios, Jackson’s “rival” for the top of the class, and Erin Cole who looks up to John for guidance and advice.
The camaraderie and familiarity is ever present even among these new arrivals to our cast (earning the show’s casting director another pat on the back, for knowing that leaning on the ensemble moments is what really makes this show), and makes it easy to believe all these people did in fact go through the grind together. This offers a light intro to the bleak storyline that will span across the next three hours of the show, and in hindsight all that levity in those first few minutes of the episode should have raised major red flags for everyone.