Succinct, Slightly Derisive Doogie Howser Episode Summaries: Season 2

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2x1 Doogenstein

Doogie reconsiders his calling after a patient dies unexpectedly despite perfect care including Doogie leaving his birthday party to give him emergency treatment.
Minicritique: The episode is framed with a series of interviews with a child psychologist who's doing a long-term study on prodigies, which prompts some amusing exchanges (Doogie describes his sexual development simply as "bitchin'") and would probably work if the episode didn't also have another, less successful narrative quirk: occasional cuts to Doogie's recurring dream where he is Dr. Frankenstein creating the monster of himself, which doesn't have much going for it except that NPH and Max Casella seem to be having fun filming it.
Gayest Moments:

2x2 Guess Who's Coming to Doogie's

Doogie gets the man who once held him hostage in a convenience store a job as an orderly.
Minicritique: While it's always cringeworthy when DHMD attacks issues of race, I was happy to find everyone in the conflict sympathetic: Ray's hurt pride and disappointment when the big job he was so excited to get turns out to be suspiciously like servitude, as well as the seasoned hospital staff's exasperation with Ray's attitude. How lucky for them they had a Random Black Doctor on the scene to give him a credible This Is Not About Race talking-to.

2x3 Ask Dr. Doogie

Doogie becomes a superstar after starring in a series of staid anti-sex PSAs.
Most Cringeworthy Moment: It's a tough call, but I'm going to have to say it's Ray and Vinnie's rap.

2x4 C'est La Vinnie

Vinnie delivers his French teacher's baby in an elevator in which they are trapped.
Minicritique: Really? Really?
Gayest Moments:
  • Vinnie reads out loud in French class (in French): "I'm crazy about you. You are so handsome that I don't trust myself alone with you. I dream of your strong masculine arms. I love you, Doogie Howser." (It turns out that he stole it from Wanda, of course, but when the teacher questions him, he defends himself, "Dr. Howser is a very charismatic young man.")
  • Doogie yells at Vinnie for not having ambition, and Vinnie asks, "You're breaking up with me, is that what you're saying?" Later, when they make up, Vinnie throws his arms around Doogie's neck and says "Let's never break up again!"

    2x5 Car Wars

    The necessity of convincing a retarded man to have an operation while in a dispute with his father about buying a classic car convinces Doogie that being micromanaged by a benign overlord is actually awesome.

    2x6 Doogie Sings the Blues

    Vinnie and Ray sneak a homeless man claiming to be a blues legend out to play a gig the night before Doogie assists on an operation that may destroy his hearing. EVERYTHING WORKS OUT FINE
    Gayest Aspect: Blind Otis Clemens and his friend are awfully devoted to each other.

    2x7 Academia Nuts

    Vinnie drops out of high school; Doogie is pressured to make up an illness for a rich hypochrondriac.
    Minicritique: While I think the "kid drops out thinking work will be better" plot is certainly a reasonable one for a character with low grades and no interest in school, it would make more sense for the kid getting the job first and then decide to drop out to pursue it (see Boy Meets World, the "Eric's Internship" and "Shawn's Photography Job" storylines). It doesn't seem believable that Vinnie would manage to get a really pretty reasonable job within a day of deciding to drop out.
              As for the Doogie plot, it's stupid.
    Gayest Moments:

    2x8 Revenge of the Teenage Dead

    A child genius decides to put off med school after Doogie explains to him about kissing with tongue.

    2x9 Nautilus for Naught

    Doogie is so threatened when Wanda goes to dinner with a handsome prospective art student/male model that he exercises.
    Minicritique: If Wanda is supposed to be a high school senior who's seriously considering art school, maybe they should make her prop drawings a little more realistic, balanced, and harmonious, and a little less Learn to Draw Captain Marvel.
    Gayest Moments:

    2x10 Don't Let the Turkeys Get You Down

    Doogie's grandfather acts up at Thanksgiving because he thinks his daughter married the wrong man, but then he changes his mind for some reason.
    Milestones: Without question the worst Doogie Howser episode of all time.
    Minicritique: Oh, you want me to qualify that? Okay, how's this for rookie scriptwriting mistakes: (1) Holiday episode (2) based around guest characters who (3) bring up backstory as if it happened yesterday for (4) no discernable reason. Doogie's grandfather just starts picking on his father for being too old for Doogie's mother even though he has had 20 years, including the birth of a child, whom (we know because Doogie knows him) he has visited several times, to get over it. How is this just coming up now? And it's not like it comes up every time they visit. Doogie actually asks his mother what's going on, and she gives the way-back backstory, but offers no explanation as to why it's suddenly important now because... there is no explanation. Seriously, writers, if you're not going to put a present-day catalyst, at least have Doogie know about the problem! Why wouldn't he? You even have Vinnie there who could more believably be the one to ask about it, being an outsider who's maybe spending his first Thanksgiving with the Howsers instead of his own family because... hey, why is that, anyway?

    2x11 Oh Very Young

    Curly and Dr. Canfield dance flirtily around each other, and end up the episode dating, although it doesn't really seem to come up again.

    2x12 TV or Not TV

    Vinnie poses as an orderly in order to ingratiate himself with a hospitalized television exec.
    Gayest Moments:

    2x13 A Woman Too Far

    Doogie dates a student nurse behind Wanda's back, and helps a two-timer schedule visits from his various wives.

    2x14 Presumed Guilty

    Doogie hides Vinnie's guilt in a car accident from his father, and the seriousness of a college ball player's injuries from his coach and parents.
    Fun Facts: Curly's real name is Mary Margaret.

    2x15 To Live and Die in Brentwood

    Wanda's mother is killed in a car crash.
    Grudging Praise: Decent characterization and acting as Wanda is numb and angry and confused and Doogie tries to put everything right, and can't.

    2x16 Air Doogie

    Doogie fakes an injury to get out of a hospital basketball game.

    2x17 A Life in Progress

    Vinnie has a crush on a man with AIDS.
    Pointedly Nongay Moments: Charming AIDS-suffering painter Jeff Moore is never ascribed a sexuality in the episode. During a scene in which Doogie tries to convince the board to support Jeff, a board member comes out as an AIDS patient, explaining that he got it from a blood transfusion before they were checking the supply, and repeatedly mentioning his wife.
    Gayest Moments:
    Vinnie Lines Which Made Me Legitimately Laugh (an unprecedented THREE!):

    2x18 My Two Dads

    Doogie is jealous when Vinnie invites himself along on the Howser father-son weekend.
    Gayest Moment: Vinnie spoons Dr. Howser.

    2x19 Nobody Expects the Spanish Inquisition

    Doogie makes fun of his grandpa.

    2x20 Fatal Distraction

    Wanda, feeling too emotionally numb to date, breaks up with Doogie, so Doogie dates a student nurse. Interminable Bogey impressions.
    Query: After Doogie gets home late from the date, Vinnie makes predictions about their next date based on (we find out) a message Michele left on Doogie's answering machine. WHEN DID SHE MAKE THAT CALL?

    2x21 The Doctor, The Wife, Her Son, and The Job

    The Drs Howser finally allow Mrs Howser to return to the work force, which Vinnie dismisses as "so 70s."
    Gayest Doogie Quote: "It's like I'm in the roadshow for Guys and Dolls!"

    2x22 Planet of the Dateless

    Dr McGuire becomes a doctor without a border; Doogie gives up his date to give him a final night of pleasure.
    Gayest Moment: Doogie and McGuire's sweet farewell.
    Oh, Hey: At the Big Dance (why is Eastman always having a Big Dance?), we see that Curly and Dr Canfield are still together.

    2x23 Doogie's Wager

    Doogie questions the existence of God.
    Coolest Guest Star: DHMD enjoys its second DS9 guest star: René Auberjunois in a choice dual role as Vinnie's priest and Doogie's Einstein poster.

    2x24 A Kiss Ain't Just A Kiss

    Commiserating about Vinnie's shortcomings, Janine and Doogie share an awkward kiss.
    Highlights: Janine's hasty speech about how unattractive she finds Doogie.
    Gayest Moments:

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