Star Tamberla Perry Admits She Initially "Had A Lot Of Issues" With Carol's Storyline In Brilliant Minds Season 1, Episode 11

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for the fall finale of Brilliant Minds.

The fall finale of NBC's Brilliant Minds aired December 9, putting Dr. Carol Pierce front and center. "The Other Woman" provides deeper insight into her early days as a mother and sees Carol come to terms with Morris' affair after she helps save Alison's life. Although the couple initially tried finding a way around their issues, Carol decides she wants a divorce. The doctor leaves her husband, telling Morris, "I love you, but I can't forgive you."

The show has been leading up to their split, but Brilliant Minds ensured fans wouldn't go into the holidays without a final shocker. Ericka steps into the elevator of her apartment building right before it partially collapses. Fans will have to wait until the new year to find out the intern's fate, as "The Doctor Whose World Collapsed," doesn't air until Monday, January 6 at 10 p.m. ET. The medical drama stars Zachary Quinto (Star Trek), Tamberla Perry, Ashleigh LaThrop, Alex MacNicoll, Aury Krebs, Spence Moore II, Teddy Sears, and Donna Murphy.

Related Brilliant Minds Episode 9's Case Is Based On Real-Life: Oliver Sacks' True Story Explained Brilliant Minds episode 9 is based on the real-life Oliver Sacks case study of a colorblind painter, but the show takes a few creative liberties.

ScreenRant interviews Perry about her initial issues with Brilliant Minds' fall finale, Carol's major life decision, and what could be next for Dr. Pierce in a hopeful season 2.

Perry Discussed Carol And Alison's Interactions With The Brilliant Minds Writers

"They were so open and willing to have conversations with me about what was happening with my character and this woman."

ScreenRant: The fall finale was major for Carol. What were your thoughts when you read the script?

Tamberla Perry: I read one 111, and I had a lot of issues with it. I had a lot of issues. Thank God our writers and our creators and showrunner are so collaborative, and they listen to me. Not listen or do what I say, but they were so open and willing to have conversations with me about what was happening with my character and this woman. Otherwise, it would've been, not impossible, but extraordinarily difficult. When I read it, I said, "There's no way. There's no way I'm helping this woman get through this. There's no way." If she dies, that's really sad, but at least she's not going to tell anybody on me. [Laughs] The first part, the postpartum depression, completely relatable. I have two children. You kind of don't realize you're in postpartum until you're out of it. I don't know if you have children or not, but postpartum is very real. It's very real, and it's one of those things that kind of sneak up on you, and you don't know what's happening. You really don't know what's happening. You think it's hormones. You think it's exhaustion. You think it's so many things, but the fact of the matter is you are a bit depressed. Reading this episode brought up a lot of memories in terms of being a new mother. And then the part about the dynamic between Alison and I—I wanted to kill her [laughs]. She showed up to my kid's school in the previous episode. She threatened me. She threatened my career, but then because I took this oath, I had to go save this woman. So that was very hard. It was very, very hard. It was good. It was good juicy television, but it was very hard knowing that this is the woman who, now we know, slept with my husband more than once, and that he was in love with her. For however long, he was in love with this woman. We know these things now, and now I have to fast-forward and give this woman some kind of therapy. So it was tough.

Carol Understands Alison Isn't The Only One To Blame In Brilliant Minds

"Morris allowed this to happen. And once she understands that, that is a thing that helps her move on."

After everything, where would you say she stands with Alison? Is she holding onto any resentment, or is she ready to move on from it?

Tamberla Perry: I think it's a combination. We're not one thing. We're multidimensional people, and I think that it's both. I think she moves on, and I think she does hold resentment, but I also think a big part of this is Morris. It's not all Alison. Morris allowed this to happen. And once she understands that, that is a thing that helps her move on. It wasn't just this woman. Yeah, this woman came in and told me some things that really hurt, but she didn't do this alone.

There's a really interesting scene where Carol tells Maya that the cheating isn't just Morris' fault. Was that a way not to vilify him in front of their daughter, or does she believe it?

Tamberla Perry: I think, again, a combination. In a previous episode, I talk about how wonderful of a father Morris is and how wonderful of a husband he was, so the last thing she wants to do is vilify him to Maya. But at the same time, she wants to believe it. One of the things I say to Oliver is "Did I do something wrong? Maybe there's something I could have done wrong." And I think that's something that, in real life, we always question, "What part did I play in that?" And I think as a therapist, for sure, that's the thing that we tell people. Let's talk about what role we may have played in that, so I think that it's a combination.

Perry Hopes Viewers Are Happy For Carol After Her Decision In The Brilliant Minds Fall Finale

"I think that's the moment everybody's been waiting for, where we don't feel sorry for you anymore because you've overcome."

Morris telling Carol, "It could have been anyone," seemed to drive that final nail into the coffin. Why do you think that was what did it?

Tamberla Perry: The fact that it could have been anyone, which means that nobody's special. And that's a problem.

How do you feel about her decision to end the relationship?

Tamberla Perry: There was something he could have said at some point to mend this, and he just didn't get it right. What that is, I don't know. I think she was waiting for it. He could have started off with the truth, and he didn't. And that's strike number one. It's absolutely the right decision, and that's Tamberla. It's very hard for me to get past certain things. I'm going to remember it. And if I'm remembering it, there's a huge likelihood that I'm not going to get past it. That's also where therapy comes in, helping you move on from things. Maybe Carol needs to have some therapy herself in order to move on from some things. But I think in that moment that you saw, she has decided that this is what's best for her mental state. I think that moment where she makes the decision is a win. We don't feel sorry for her at that point. Everybody's rooting for Carol. And when she finally says, "I'm not going to do this anymore," I think that's the moment everybody's been waiting for, where we don't feel sorry for you anymore because you've overcome. She wants you to be happy. She doesn't want you to feel sorry for her. She's like, "I'm good." I do believe that when she says it, she's at peace. She knows that this dude is about to be in her life for the rest of her life because they have kids together, but she's at peace making that decision.

What is this next chapter of Carol's life going to look like?

Tamberla Perry: That is a good question. We shall see what is next. Maybe there's a new love that comes in. Maybe not this season, maybe next season, but I think she has to get her bearings. She has to see what life looks like without her husband, so we'll see.

About NBC's Medical Drama Brilliant Minds

Michael Grassi serves as creator, writer, and executive producer

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Inspired by the extraordinary life and work of world-famous author and physician Oliver Sacks, “Brilliant Minds” follows a revolutionary, larger-than-life neurologist and his team of interns as they explore the last great frontier – the human mind – while grappling with their own relationships and mental health.

Check out our other interviews with the Brilliant Minds cast:

Brilliant Minds returns to NBC on Monday, January 6 at 10 p.m. ET.