Ep 10. Pain in the Aspirin

Dr. John Becker is back in the second season of his self-titled show, and he's just as gruff and curmudgeonly as ever. In episode 10, titled "Pain in the Aspirin," Becker finds himself struggling with a peculiar case: a patient who claims to be suffering from chronic pain that only seems to be alleviated by aspirin.

As is often the case with Becker, the patient's symptoms are more than just physical. The patient, a middle-aged man named Walt (played by veteran character actor Chris Mulkey), is going through a rough time in his personal life. His wife has recently left him, he's struggling to keep his job, and he's feeling like he's hit rock bottom. To make matters worse, he's been having severe headaches that refuse to go away, no matter what he does.

When Becker first meets Walt, he's skeptical of the man's claims about aspirin being the only thing that helps. He runs a battery of tests and tries prescribing different medications, but nothing seems to work. Walt is getting frustrated and impatient, and Becker is starting to feel like he's hit a dead end.

But then something strange happens. When Becker stops trying so hard to diagnose and treat Walt's physical symptoms, he starts to learn more about the man's emotional and psychological struggles. He learns about Walt's failed marriage, his fear of losing his job, and his feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Becker starts to realize that the root of Walt's physical pain may be his emotional pain—something that aspirin, or any other medication, is unlikely to fix. He starts to recommend therapy and support groups, and tries to help Walt work through his feelings of hopelessness and despair.

It's not an easy process, and there are setbacks along the way. But over the course of the episode, Becker and Walt start to build a rapport—a grudging respect and understanding that borders on friendship. And in the end, Becker manages to help Walt not just with his physical pain, but with his emotional pain as well.

"Pain in the Aspirin" is a classic episode of Becker—funny, insightful, and touching all at once. It's a reminder that sometimes, the most important part of being a doctor isn't about diagnosing and treating physical symptoms—it's about connecting with patients on a deeper, more human level. And it's also a reminder that even the most difficult and cantankerous people can have a heart of gold, if you're willing to look for it.