It’s undeniable that Joe and Jenny’s history and old friendship keeps their lives close. Even when Jenny got married and started a life with another man. Ordinary Joe Season 1 Episode 4, “Shooting Star,” takes a closer look at their relationship in every storyline and ignites a spark, further confirming that they are meant to be.

Despite Jenny’s marriage to separate men in the red and blue storylines, we’re hardly given a glimpse into those relationships. Rather, we’re provided additional scenes shining a spotlight on Jenny and Joe’s gravitational pull. The gentle hand touches between the two aren’t just friendly.

Through their sustained connection and even in their marital problems, the storytelling deepens their character’s evolutions. The green storyline provides a future in which they both suspend their dreams and stick together to raise their son together. However, later on, Jenny finally gets a second chance to pursue that lifelong goal, which she turns down again. But, Joe’s not going to let that happen, despite his envy.

Will the family move to Atlanta? If they do, this could very well save their relationship. No more halting their lives and aspirations to do the right thing. Because they’re slowly realizing the right thing is to support one another in anything the other wants. Plus, Chris is the most intuitive child and understands the sacrifices his parents made to take care of him.

Joe and Jenny on Ordinary Joe. Photo courtesy of NBC

Meanwhile, Jenny and Joe are working together to gain contact with their son Zeke. The emotional moment shared between the two once they finally saw him leaving school, was extremely powerful. The show does a great job providing windows into the intimate moments shared between characters. Again, mimicking This Is Us.

While Amy’s garnering attention and important press for her campaign, Joe’s slowly distancing himself. He’s already chosen Jenny over Amy once before and makes the same decision again. If his marriage to Amy isn’t in the dumps yet, it certainly will be soon.

It’ll be interesting to see where they take plan on taking this storyline. I really hope Jenny and Joe stay their distance from Zeke. But, it doesn’t seem like Joe wants that. Legally though, I’m not sure what he can do, and I wonder what that will mean for Jenny and Joe’s future.

We’re only four episodes in and this show already has me spiraling about the various ways my life could be different if I went left instead of right. Although, the show also forces us to reckon with how the choices we make have the power to impact others’ lives too.

Amy and Jenny on Ordinary Joe. Photo courtesy of NBC.

Finally, in the blue storyline, Bobby turns evil. There haven’t been any bad guys on the show so far, so it had to be done. Bobby’s questionable relationships with his staffers leave Jenny and Joe suspicious and onto another investigation together.

Jenny and Joe are basically partners in every parallel universe. They can’t be stopped. But Jenny’s fascination with Joe in this storyline seems to come out of a place of apprehension surrounding her secret.

I predict a bad reaction from Joe when he finds out Lucas is his son. Because in this show no secret goes left uncovered. And poor Amy, Joe’s already made up his mind and deleted hr number without letting her explain to him the situation between her and Bobby.

I would hate Bobby more if I didn’t like Jenny and Joe so much.

Amy, Eric, and Chris on Ordinary Joe. Photo courtesy of NBC

What are your thoughts on this episode? Were you surprised by the questions against Bobby? Do you think he had something to do with the death of the woman? Don’t forget to leave your comments down below1

Stray Musings:

• I love the commitment to making each storyline stick to the color. Jenny and her father’s all red wardrobe was a bold statement.
• “I want to take one of those selfies.”
• I’d love to know the decision-making process in naming Chris Zeke and Lucas in the other storylines. There has to be a significance behind those names. After all, Chris was named after Joe’s late father.
• The final shot of the shooting store flying through each universe was an incredible touch.

Rating:  3.5/5

Ordinary Joe Review – Jenny’s Birthday (1×03)

The 2021 Emmy’s returned in a limited capacity with an attendee count of around 500 compared to its typical several thousand, while also managing to keep its winners capped to the same rotating titles: The Crown, Mare of Easttown, and Ted Lasso.

It was a successfully smooth event with predictable winners, among some important victories for people of color. 

Opening the award show paying homage to Biz Markie, Cedric the Entertainer sang and rapped a remix of “Just A Friend” with cameras panning to guests in the audience who contributed their own lines and melodies.

Cedric the Entertainer, Host of the 73rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, scheduled to air on the CBS Television Network and Paramount+. Photo: Cliff Lipson/CBS ©2021 CBS Broadcasting,

The comedy category was easily dominated by Ted Lasso while dramas were split between The Crown and Mare of Easttown, with the former edging out the latter with nearly double the wins. 

Regardless of Cedric the Entertainer’s initial praise about the number of Black nominees, it felt like a shout into the void as many of the categories were still dominated by white actors, writers, and directors. 

But, Michaela Coel’s win for her brave and empowering drama, I May Destroy You, was a win that needed to happen, not only for the Black community but also for sexual assault survivors. 

“Write the tales that scare you, that make you feel uncertain that isn’t comfortable. I dare you. In a world that entices us to browse through the lives of others to help us better determine how we feel about ourselves and to in turn feel the need to be constantly visible, for visibility these days seems to somehow equate to success. Do not be afraid to disappear from it, from us, for a while and see what comes to you in the silence,” Coel said.

In another triumph of the night, Debbie Allen (Fame and Grey’s Anatomy) took home the Governor’s Award. Celebrated for her perseverance during her early career as a Black dancer discriminated against due to the color of her skin, it was a deliberate step forward made by The Academy. 

Interspersed throughout the evening was a handful of references and jokes about COVID and its impact on television. And in a seamless split, many of the British show nominees including Gillian Anderson and Olivia Colman accepted their awards in London in a separate Emmy’s party.

Later on, Leon Bridges performed a special tribute to those in the industry that passed away during the last year. Some of which include Larry King, Alex Trebek, and Michael K. Williams. 

THE QUEEN’S GAMBIT (L to R) ANYA TAYLOR as BETH HARMON in THE QUEEN’S GAMBIT. Cr. CHARLIE GRAY/NETFLIX © 2020

In a highly anticipated award for the final victor of the night for a limited series, it was awarded to Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit, in a surprising win over Mare of Easttown.

In a year where TV continued to shine, despite COVID’s impact on the world of entertainment, the 2021 Emmy Awards didn’t realistically honor the amount of amazing content that was put out. Instead, it relied on the crutches of the four or five repeated nominees: The Queen’s Gambit, The Crown, Mare of Easttown, Ted Lasso, and Wandavision.

The halls of Chastain will see quite a shift when The Resident returns for its fifth season.

Emily Van Camp, who plays the beloved nurse practitioner Nic Nevins, is scrubbing out after four seasons on the FOX medical drama.

While it isn’t unheard of for an actress to leave a show, the timing is unfortunate from a storytelling perspective considering Nic and Conrad Hawkins (Matt Czuchry) recently got married and welcomed a baby girl. 

In real life, Van Camp also welcomed a baby girl with husband Josh Bowman, so she obviously has to do what’s best for her and her family. We also have to assume that the struggles of working during a pandemic impacted her decision, as did her potentially expanded role in the Marvel universe.

Credit: FOX/ The Resident

But there’s absolutely no denying that it’s a huge bummer for fans of the series, many of whom only tune in because of their attachment to the couple affectionately dubbed #CoNic.

We’ve seen the couple go through their fair share of ups and downs, but the fact that the writers chose to introduce a baby means they likely thought she was coming back for the upcoming season and had more a happier storyline in the works. 

While I have ultimate faith in the writers, it’s understandable that fans are worried about how her departure will be addressed. 

Nic is a crucial part of the show; some might argue that she’s the glue that holds everything together. 

Her exit must be handled with the utmost care and respect in order to preserve the integrity of the character. 

Since her character is a dedicated wife and mother, it’s unproductive to mess with the relationship by introducing a cheating storyline or a new job since it isn’t believable. 

We know Nic would never prioritize anything over her new family, not even a new gig. Even suggesting that as an alternative dishonors the kindhearted character Van Camp has built.

The Resident/ FOX

So, this is where it gets concerning. 

All signs and breadcrumbs point to Nic not surviving the premiere.

There are a few indications that the writers are going to kill her off and pursue the “Conrad is a heartbroken and widowed single father to baby Gigi” storyline. 

The official season 5 poster pointed to tragedy as Conrad was seen alone in a defeated stance. His back was turned to the camera and the words “healing stars within” were written on top. 

We think this will hurt us more than heal us, but we're always in.

See you September 21 for the Season 5 premiere of #TheResident. pic.twitter.com/0gTp2EuCpo

— The Resident (@ResidentFOX) August 5, 2021

A follow-up trailer titled “Everything Will Change” opens with an ominous montage of CoNic’s happiest moments. It then shows Conrad standing alone in his daughter’s nursery before cops come to his door to deliver some news. Since it’s never a good sign when cops show up at your house in the middle of the night, many fans to theorized that Nic was involved in a tragic accident. 

The gossip Instagram account, Deuxmoi, seemingly confirmed that theory via an anonymous tip.

“I can 10,000 percent confirm she’s leaving The Resident early in the upcoming season, but her character will die in a car accident,” a source told the account, though, these can be hit or miss so take it with a grain of salt! 

Credit: Deumoix

It’s a frustrating approach considering Nic just survived a stabbing along with pregnancy complications last season, but it’s really the only way to handle it while keeping the character intact. 

It also presents plenty growth opportunities for Conrad’s character.

Much like the fans (and probably, the writers), he never anticipated that he’d be a single father, but life threw him a curveball and now he has to step up to raise his daughter, likely with the help of his friends at Chastain. 

And while we typically see the plight of working mothers, this would offer the series a chance to dig into the hardships of balancing a thriving career in the medical field while also being a present father. 

The only other option on the table is that the accident causes Nic to go into a lengthy coma, which would also leave the door open for any potential guest appearances from Van Camp should she so choose to be involved. 

The latter would allow for the character to come back, while also allowing the writers to explain her off-screen existence with a storyline about how she gave up her career to stay at home with Gigi in the aftermath of the accident. 

However, Elkoff seemingly confirmed that Conrad will be a single father to TV Line, noting:  “He’s really good at it. He’s just going to be the best dad you can imagine.” 

He also explained that the season will pick up with a nine-month time jump, which explains why Gigi is so big in the promos already.

FOX entertainment president Michael Thorn told Deadline that it will be an emotional departure. 

THE RESIDENT: L-R: Matt Czuchry and Emily VanCamp in the “Reverse Cinderella” episode of THE RESIDENT airing Tuesday, March 3 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2020 Fox Media LLC Cr: Guy D’Alema/FOX

“The audience is going to be surprised and emotionally engaged with how we handle Emily’s departure and the way that it affects all of the other characters,” he said. “And yes, we will be introducing some new characters as we go along, but I think it’s going to be another excellent season. Amy Holden Jones does an incredible job,” he added. 

While everyone involved with the series is staying mum on how Van Camp will be written off, they are convinced that fans won’t be disappointed by what they are calling a “potentially game-changing, development.”

In the wake of her exit (along with the exit of Shaunette Renee as Mina last season and Morris Chestnut as Barrett Cain), the series is also adding new cast members to fill the void and ensure the upcoming season has a robust ensemble. 

Miles Fowler will join the medical drama as Billie Sutton’s (Jessica Lucas) estranged son, Trevor. If you’ll recall, Billie opened up to bestie Nic about being raped at 13-years-old and giving up the baby for adoption. While she didn’t want to meet her son, he’s been reaching out hoping to get to know his birth mom. 

Regardless of how the series tackles this unexpected cast shake-up, be prepared for an emotional journey ahead.

The fifth season returns on Tuesday, September 21st at 8 pm ET/PT on Fox.

You can catch up on all of our The Resident reviews HERE! 

QUIZ: Which ‘The Resident’ Doctor Is Your Soulmate?