Warning: This review contains spoilers for The Studio episode 6The Studio’s sixth episode, “The Pediatric Oncologist,” gives us a glimpse into Matt’s personal life and leans beautifully into the excruciating cringe humor. Rebecca Hall guest stars as Matt’s new girlfriend, a doctor who treats children with cancer. She invites him to a charity gala full of fellow pediatric oncologists, and he quickly finds that they don’t believe his work as a movie mogul is as important or as high-stakes as their work saving children’s lives. Most people would agree that blockbuster entertainment isn’t as vital as medicine, but Matt can’t let it go.
Writer Alex Gregory cooks up the perfect professional problem for Matt to face on the day of this gala. Continental Studios is working on a Johnny Knoxville movie called Duhpocalypse!, about zombies who spread their infection through bloody diarrhea. This premise serves to prove both sides of the argument. From the doctors’ perspective, it’s another classic example of mindless Hollywood slop. But from Matt’s perspective, it’s a dark satire of COVID-era medical disinformation (a subject that ties in with the episode’s juxtaposition of the film industry and the medical industry).
“The Pediatric Oncologist” contrasts the ridiculous problems of Matt’s work life with the very real problems of his girlfriend’s work life. As they enter the charity gala, they’re both on the phone, simultaneously having very different conversations. Matt is speaking to Maya, talking about whether to cut a closeup of diarrhea splattering Josh Hutcherson’s face from the Duhpocalypse! trailer, while his girlfriend is talking to the parents of a young cancer patient, discussing various options for their child’s treatment. This scene perfectly sums up the point that the episode is making: Matt’s job is trivial compared to that of an oncologist.
Seth Rogen Is Doing His Best Acting Work Ever In The Studio
You Really Believe Matt Thinks His Work Is As Important As Curing Cancer
Seth Rogen’s turn as an embattled studio head might be the best acting work he’s ever done, and “The Pediatric Oncologist” continues to exemplify that. He nails the delivery of every cringe-inducing rant about the importance of cinema, and he captures the perfect glint of sadistic joy when Matt decides to outbid the doctors for a golfing vacation as a transparent show of one-upmanship. The ideological tug-of-war between entertaining movies and life-saving medicine isn’t just a joke; Rogen’s commitment to the bit convinces you that Matt genuinely believes that what he does is as important as what they do.
The Studio releases new episodes on Apple TV+ every Wednesday.
Once again, it’s disappointing the rest of the main cast often gets sidelined. Catherine O’Hara’s Patty is missed more and more every week she’s not in the show, and Bryan Cranston’s eccentric CEO hasn’t been seen since the very first episode. Quinn, Sal, and Maya all appear very briefly here before the episode shifts its focus to the gala. The Studio has a great ensemble cast, but it rarely utilizes their on-screen chemistry. Still, Rogen does a terrific job in the spotlight this week.
The Studio Episode 6 Has An Interesting Discussion At Its Core
Sure, Movies Aren’t As Important As Medicine, But They Still Have An Important Function
It’s framed through Curb Your Enthusiasm-style cringe comedy, but there’s an interesting discussion at the heart of “The Pediatric Oncologist.” Obviously, producing a movie about pooping zombies isn’t as important as treating a child with cancer. But Matt makes a strong point that fun, escapist movies can help people get through hard times. And despite the dismissive attitude of the doctors at his table, he’s right that all movies are technically art; The Emoji Movie is as much a work of art as The Godfather. But the vehicle for this discussion is hilarious dialogue pitting Matt against everyone else in the room.
The image of Matt being rolled through a parade of tuxedo-clad doctors by a pair of paramedics is both the perfect visual punchline for the episode and the perfect final insult in Matt’s losing battle of wits against the pediatric oncology community.
As with almost all the previous episodes, The Studio’s sixth installment builds to a great punchline. After spending the whole episode downplaying the need for doctors and medicine, Matt suddenly finds himself in desperate need of both when he falls over and breaks his finger. The image of Matt being rolled through a parade of tuxedo-clad doctors by a pair of paramedics is both the perfect visual punchline for the episode and the perfect final insult in Matt’s losing battle of wits against the pediatric oncology community.
