Oh, look, two weeks in and ABC’s news division kicked TGD out of its slot to cover a major day in the U.S. election journey– or it would’ve been, if there were any question who both candidates were going to be… 

But I digress. With this and next week pushing the next new TGD to March 19 (a repeat of “Baby, Baby, Baby” is scheduled for next week… yes, already), it’s likely that the series finale will now land in early May. Believe it or not, I’m somewhat OK with this. Upset still that TGD is getting the bum’s rush off the ABC schedule, yes. But a little extra time to breathe and digest each of the offerings we have left? I’ll take that. (Says the consistently late-posting blogger…)

All that said, I DO intend to write a new post for next week… there’s plenty to talk about, and there may even be a survey involved (oooooh!) So stay tuned, watch this space, and all that good stuff. 

I will return to the “Skin” theme associated with this week’s episode title… but first, let’s go to my preferred title, which is more likely to apply when one’s skin is covered with feathers…

MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS

Thanks to a deal made by Glassman (much to Lim’s chagrin– more on that later), St. Bons has suddenly been entrusted with the care and nourishment of med-school students. This is quite a bit different than the newbie 1st-year residents to which we’ve grown accustomed, as they’re younger, even greener around the gills, and even more uncertain where their specific interests lie… well, at least in some cases. 

For TGD’s purposes, we are getting acquainted this season with two “ducklings” in particular:

The “Ducklings” may have been prominent in the episode, but the titular theme of “having some skin the game” to make life more interesting, or fun, or exciting, or what have you… let’s go around and see who had more “skin” involved than others.

As for Shaun… should the only “skin” we speak of be that which is rapidly expanding to accommodate his swelled head? Nah, let’s cut him a break and talk about three other of his “skin” investments instead:

3) His investment in his relationship with Glassman… which, after this episode, had most of us saying Thank goodness those two are on the mend but also had many of us saying Wait a minute… was that it? The whole journey-to-healing whatever they’re supposed to be in this season reached its destination by the end of EPISODE 2???

WHAT IF… the underlying purpose of Park’s storyline this week was to snare Glassman’s attention to his potential as a neurosurgeon going forward?

WHAT IF… Glassman takes Park under his wing, mentoring him specifically… which starts to draw time and energy away from Shaun/Lea/Steve?

And WHAT IF all that leads Shaun and Glassman back to a bigger conversation about why Glassman is in the torch-passing role in the first place?? And leaves Park wondering if Glassman truly sees something in him, or is he using him to get to Shaun… knowingly or otherwise?

It makes sense, yes? 

I hope I’m on the right track with this. I really do.

Ok, moving on to some #Parnick skin…

LASTLY… while we’re talking about Google-able terms like “pump and dump”... how many of you knew what a SIP AND SEE was?

Apparently it’s been a southern U.S. thing for a while, this opportunity for friends and family to come over, sip a beverage, and see the new baby. (And bring a gift if you haven’t done so previously, I imagine.) I think I preferred the pre-arrival baby showers in my own situation, but I can imagine that’s not always ideal. Or possible, in the case of adoptions like Eden.

Is she legally adopted yet? Or is there gonna be some unfathomable loophole creeping in by early April?

No, no, no. I think Park and Morgan should be preoccupied with Park’s neurosurgical future instead…

(But enough about my thoughts on “Skin in the Game.” What were yours? Drop a comment and let me know!)