Day Five

Episode 5 of Five Days at Memorial starts with one word that will define this entire breathtaking chapter - desperate. It’s desperate inside the hospital. There’s a desperate lack of food and drink. Desperation outside. And those involved in the rescue operation are operating with a desperate lack of time. ..

With no boats or helicopters, the rescue operation has ground to a halt. Susan is livid while the staff are seriously debating “doing the humane thing” regarding their pets. Susan also points out the patients that can’t be rescued should similarly receive “the humane thing.” Susan is quick to point out this isn’t just a case of keeping these guys and gals safe but genuinely ending lives to stop suffering.

LifeCare loses several more patients as Memorial discuss this. Susan speaks to Diane and tells her they’re doing as much as they can and won’t be leaving anyone behind.

Mark rushes into Memorial Hospital to find his mother and other patients being loaded onto a boat. He is shocked to find that there is no IV and he carries them all the way across to the boat. Charles, the cowardly security guard, jumps on the boat to leave. ..

Diane decides to move her patients to the helipad, refusing to listen to Susan’s plan. Meanwhile, meds are distributed from the pharmacy for humanely putting down their pets. But the trouble is, all of this stems back to the issue of the patients themselves. More are dying and suffering, throwing both Anna and Susan’s moral compass askew.

The rescue boats are met with mixed emotions when they show up. Some people are elated to see them, as they hope that the boats can get people out quickly. Other people are despairing, as they know that it’s way too dangerous to be making these runs at night. It’s a mix of both emotions, and it’s something that the rescuers have to deal with every day.

Susan has a tight deadline to get everyone out of the hospital. She decides to do the best she can, promising that no living patient will be left behind.

Anna speaks to Dr. Cook, but word of their “humane” way of ending patient suffering reaches Bryant King too. As he deliberates what this means, the boats show up in their numbers at the hospital. Susan says goodbye to her mum, who is taken out while she stays behind.

Horace is evacuated with the other patients on two helicopters. Susan tells him that they have to leave and he agrees. They hug tightly and say their goodbyes.

It’s absolute heartbreak across the hospital as family members are torn away from their loved ones who can’t be moved, while Bryant watches from afar as Anna begins giving out injections. News of this reaches the staff at LifeCare, with conflicting feelings over whether this is the right thing or not. ..

Karen Wynn, a nurse who resigned herself to the situation, believes that the situation is hopeless. Others, like Karen Wynn, refuse to accept this lying down and do their best to move as many patients out as they can.

A team of doctors work together to save one patient in a hospital ward filled with others who are also in need of care. Unfortunately, the clock strikes 5pm and the coastguard leaves, leaving the patient to die. ..

As we enter the room, we see a man walking through it. He’s alone, and as he walks through the hospital, we fade to black. We know that this man will soon die.

The Episode Review

The nurses and doctors are risking their lives to save patients, and it’s clear that they are doing everything they can. It’s hard not to feel grateful for their bravery and the dedication they put into this job.

Episode 5 does a fantastic job depicting that struggle with the final 10 minutes or so juxtaposing the two extreme cases of emotion in the event of impossible odds. Some people face this head-on and fight back, desperate to try and find something positive to hang onto. For others – like Diane – they’ve almost given up, seeing the situation as bleak and hopeless.

Apple TV’s latest release, Five Days at Memorial, is another excellent production. The characterization is strong and the story has been told with care. If the rest of the season keeps up, we could be looking at one of the best Apple productions this year.