Episode 5 of "Watson" opens in 2016 with Taryn Quintyne delivering a rousing valedictorian speech, her voice resonating with ambition and promise. Suddenly, her words are interrupted by an uncontrollable coughing fit, marking the beginning of a harrowing journey. This relentless march to medical appointments spans the years until 2024, where the stark reality of Taryn's condition is revealed: Sickle Cell Disease. The financial burden mounts as insurance fails to provide coverage, and her symptoms steadily deteriorate, each passing year painting a grimmer picture.
Meanwhile, within the lab, tension flickers as Lubbock confronts Ingrid about her sharp-tongued emails. Ingrid, the Lead Neurologist on the Spinal Signal Project, is eager to advance the trial but faces roadblocks from a recalcitrant Chairman who rejects her proposal to include younger participants. Enter Lubbock, who masterfully navigates the situation with her subtle yet assertive demeanor, earning Ingrid's admiration.
Elsewhere, the enigmatic "golden chest" turns out to be Dr. Hobie, a surgeon who has dared to experiment on himself, bestowing upon him a luminescent torso. Skeptical at first, the team dismisses Watson's revelation as some sort of trial until they receive a compelling photograph. Hobie, a surgeon of considerable talent, harbors ambitions to extend his glowing experiment to his genitals, a prospect that leaves the team astounded.
Soon, the team's attention shifts to Taryn's dire situation. Watson, brimming with confidence, vows to heal her, yet Mary Morstan has other priorities when she confronts him. She tasks Watson's team with uncovering the reason behind Taryn's worsening Sickle Cell Disease, treating her to the best of their abilities, and preparing her for a clinical trial that could alleviate her symptoms.
In a heartfelt conversation, Watson listens to Taryn, whose vision has blurred as her eyes hemorrhage internally. She recounts with dread how her attacks have grown increasingly severe throughout the year. Fortunately, Taryn has meticulously documented her treatment history and medical visits, a treasure trove of information that could prove invaluable.
Watson is unwavering in his determination to secure a cure for Taryn, despite the formidable cost of $3 million. He marshals his team into action, assigning Lubbock to comb through her diary and the twins to oversee a liquid chromatography test. As Taryn battles immense pain, Watson emerges as a driven crusader, resolved to restore her health, whatever the cost.
In the sterile confines of the lab, he confronted Shinwell, baring his intention to circumvent both Mary and the FDA. His sole ambition: to bring an immediate cure to Taryn. Surgery was a pivotal component of this unconventional approach, prompting Watson to recycle through an array of potential names who could execute such a delicate task. Lo and behold, Hobie emerged as a viable candidate.
This proposed remedy involved the correction of the very mutation that had sparked Taryn's Sickle Cell disease in the first place—a stark departure from existing treatments on the market. Inevitably, it threatened to ruffle quite a few feathers within the medical community. Moreover, it was an uncharted territory, devoid of approval. Watson's career hung by a thread.
The team was enveloped in an air of caution, torn between loyalty and the potential ramifications of exposing Watson. They feared that such a revelation could devastatingly derail their own careers, unleashing a wave of repercussions too massive to contemplate. Yet, Watson stood steadfast in his conviction, believing he had done the honorable thing for his patient, especially considering the moral quandary of an accessible cure being denied to Taryn.
After extensive deliberation, they opted to place their trust in their team captain. The surgery was cleverly disguised as a mole removal, and Watson dismissed Mary's probing questions with nonchalance. Unfortunately, Taryn's condition worsened post-procedure, prompting another hospital visit. Ingrid suggested using anti-clotting medication to conceal their tracks, but Watson categorically rejected the idea, insisting they delve deeper into the cause of her embolism.
When Mary finally uncovered the truth, she confronted Watson head-on, armed with knowledge of Taryn's cure and vials of blood as incriminating evidence. Watson, however, deftly deflected her accusations, brushing aside any mention of clandestine procedures and emphasizing the imperative to prioritize their patient's well-being. The enigma was solved when it was revealed that Taryn was pregnant, providing a plausible explanation for her embolism.
That night, Ingrid painstakingly compiles a detailed timeline of the base repair editing process, her pen dancing across the paper with meticulous precision. Meanwhile, Adam graces his AA meeting, where he is feted for reaching a significant milestone—five years of sobriety. As the episode draws to a close, Mary makes a poignant decision, resolutely discarding the blood samples, a symbolic gesture of letting go.
