Reaction of St. Denis' cast to Matt's ex: 'I was extremely surprised'

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 1 (UPI) Monday's episode of St. Denis Medical, titled "I Left a Woman on the Table," offered viewers a deeper look into nurse Matts (Mekki Leeper) life before joining the hospital staff. The episode featured Jessica Lowe as Violet, Matt's ex-wife from his homestead days.

In a Zoom interview with UPI, Leeper expressed his surprise upon discovering that Matt had been married. While Matt previously mentioned leaving the homestead to pursue a medical career, marriage had never come up. Leeper said, "It was astonishing but enriching to have another layer of Matts unusual background revealed. It adds so much depth to our insular homestead world."

Showrunner Eric Ledgin shared that Violets character was initially meant to be just Matts ex-girlfriend. "Someone suggested, 'Why not make her his ex-wife?' and it instantly clicked," Ledgin explained. This idea inspired the central plot of the episode.

Throughout the series, Matt has often been awkward around his old crush, nurse Serena (Kahyun Kim). In contrast, his interactions with Violet were more fluid, including a farewell kiss when she left the hospital. Leeper commented, "Matt becomes comfortable as people clarify their relationship dynamics to him. Thats what he needs." Kim added humorously, "Watching Mekki kiss someone else was shocking, but it made for a fun dynamic on set."

Although Matt claims hes over Serena, Leeper hinted that the character might still harbor unresolved feelings. "He tries to stay professional and composed, but thats not exactly his natural mode," he noted. Ledgin remained deliberately ambiguous about Matt's emotions, saying, "Sometimes we say things we dont fully mean."

Serenas reaction to learning about Matts ex-wife introduced a new tension in their relationship. Kim explained, "Its exciting to play someone who feels desperate and seeks attention, which fits Serena well." Ledgin confirmed that the show will explore this evolving dynamic further in the second half of Season 2.

The episode also spotlighted surgeon Bruce (Josh Lawson) and his ex-girlfriend Brooke, played by Ariana Madix. Lawson described Bruce as "his own worst enemy," often sabotaging potential relationships. Ledgin praised Madixs performance, noting her chemistry with Lawson was "fantastic." The subplot concluded with Bruce forming a friendship with Chaplain Steve (Stephen Schneider), which Ledgin teased will become complicated later in the season.

Dance scenes continued to play a fun role in the show, with Bruce performing alongside Steve to the song "Baby" by Brandy. Lawson remarked on Ledgins apparent enthusiasm for dance sequences, and Ledgin explained his goal of "normalizing middle-aged men expressing themselves through dance on St. Denis Medical." David Alan Griers character, Dr. Ron, has yet to embrace this rhythm, but Ledgin remains optimistic that he will eventually join in.

Author: Sophia Brooks