FOX Matt Czuchry and Bruce Greenwood in the "Burn it All Down" season finale episode of THE RESIDENT airing Tuesday, April 7 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.
The Resident was one of the many shows with a cut-short season, due to production shutdowns meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Resident season 3 finale airs on Tuesday, April 7 at 8/7c on FOX.
According to FOX’s Primetime schedule, the one-hour episode will be followed by a new episode of Empire, which begins at 9/8c.
FOX’s official synopsis for the episode, entitled “Burn It All Down,” reads “Just when Derek’s condition seems to be improving, a severe complication arises, causing Kit to fear that he may be the latest victim of Cain’s cover-up. When Cain’s former girlfriend is admitted to the hospital for surgery, the doctors finally get a glimpse into his personal life. Meanwhile, Conrad fills in Marshall on the emergency situation facing the hospital and Mina and The Raptor work on saving the heart of a salsa dancer.”
‘The Resident’ Season 3 Was Cut 3 Episodes Short Due to COVID-19
The season was originally supposed to have 23 episodes, so the finale that fans will get is not the finale that the writers and showrunners had originally planned. Production had not wrapped on season 3 when the national shutdown to reduce the spread of COVID-19 began in March; since filming is considered non-essential work, and violates the limitations on how many people can convene in one space (as well as recommendations to social isolate at home), the decision was made to halt production early for everyone’s safety.
This means that episode 20, when it was written and filmed, was not intended to be the last episode of the season. Fans of the show should anticipate that the episode will not feel like the kind of finale they’re used to, as the episode that is airing in place of the finale was meant to have 3 more episodes’ worth of storyline and development following it.
According to Deadline, The Resident wasn’t the only show impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. FOX’s Empire,Pose, Queen of the South, American Housewife, Grey’s Anatomy, and Genuis: Aretha are among the other Spring shows that had to end their seasons earlier than expected.
Fox Has Not Yet Renewed ‘The Resident’ for Season 4
Ending season 3 multiple episodes early, without having filmed the season’s concluding 3 episodes, is concerning for the future of the show’s characters and plot. At the time that production stopped early, Fox had not yet renewed season 4. This means that if the network ends up canceling the show, fans may not get closure with the series, especially if they do not go back and film season 3’s remaining 3 episodes when and if it becomes safe to do so.
The Resident‘s ratings for season 3 were down 21 percent from season 2, which could put the show in danger of being canceled. Concerned viewers should not expect an answer regarding the drama’s fate until there are clearer answers about the coronavirus pandemic and what it means for the television industry as a whole. Any financial hits that FOX takes as a result of COVID-19 could also factor into what they decide to do with The Resident, as well as their other shows.
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