Season 1, Episode 1
Air Date: September 25, 2018, 10/9c on NBC
Rating:
“How can I help?” — Dr. Max Goodwin
Dr. Eric Manheimer
By way of background, NBC’s new series New Amsterdam is not to be confused with the short-lived Fox series of the same name. This new show was created by David Schulner and is inspired by the memoir of Dr. Eric Manheimer, “Twelve Patients: Life and Death at Bellevue Hospital.” Manheimer, the former medical director at New York’s Bellevue Hospital serves as producer. The “Pilot” was also written by Schulner and directed by Kate Dennis.
Created by the founding fathers in 1766, New Amsterdam Hospital still provides care to those in need. Located in New York City, it’s the site of countless medical firsts, including the first C-section in the world’s first maternity ward. Despite being a beacon of medical innovation, the hospital has struggled to find a long term medical director. Given it has gone through five directors in as many years, Dr. Max Goodwin (Ryan Eggold) hopes to break the cycle. Will Goodwin fit the bill or fall to the wayside like his predecessors?
Dr. Max Goodwin (Ryan Eggold)
It’s easy for a person to project their emotions for a character onto the actor who plays them. For me, a perfect example is Eggold’s portrayal of Tom Keene in The Blacklist. As much as I love the show, I never cared for Keen. It had nothing to do with Eggold as an actor; I simply couldn’t stand the character. Each time Keen appeared on screen, I found myself tuning out. This feeling escalated when Eggold became the lead in the short-lived spin-off series, The Blacklist: Redemption. So, upon learning of Eggold’s casting in New Amsterdam, I wondered if my displeasure would carry over. Thankfully, Dr. Max Goodwin isn’t Tom Keen.
Eggold gives an outstanding performance, winning me over within the first four minutes of the “Pilot.” There’s a quirkiness to Goodwin’s mannerisms, like the way he tilts his head when talking that usually would annoy me. Instead, Eggold pulls off the character so masterfully, I find myself mesmerized every time Goodwin appears on the screen. While this doesn’t change my attitude about Eggold’s character on The Blacklist, any doubts I had about him in New Amsterdam quickly faded; I can’t imagine a more perfect casting.
Dr. Iggy Frome (Tyler Labine) and Jemma (Lizzy DeClement)
If Goodwin is the heart of New Amsterdam, Dr. Iggy Frome (Tyler Labine) is the soul of the show. Having screened the first two episodes, I’m blown away by Labine’s performance and can’t wait for audiences to meet him. Frome is the type of television character who could easily inspire countless numbers of people to become child psychiatrists. The relationship between Frome and his patient Jemma (Lizzy DeClement) during the series premiere is as heartbreaking as it is beautiful. DeClement’s portrayal of Jemma is so raw and humanizing, I was reduced to tears. What could have been a simplistic storyline is given room to grow and the end result is something truly memorable.
Rounding out the cast is Jocko Sims as Dr. Floyd Pearson, Janet Montgomery as Dr. Laura Bloom, Freema Agyeman as Dr. Hana Sharpe, and Anupam Kher as Dr. Anil Kapoor. While Drs. Goodwin and Frome have some of the more memorable scenes, the other doctors are each given their moment to shine with introductions that never feel rushed or glossed over. By the end of the “Pilot,” I found myself completely invested in each of these characters.
Dr. Iggy Frome (Tyler Labine), Dr. Lauren Bloom (Janet Montgomery), Dora Williams (Zabryna Guevera), Dr. Vijay Kapoor (Anupam Kher)
My only gripe about the series is the storyline involving Dr. Goodwin’s wife Georgia (Lisa O’Hare) and some of the unexpected complications involving marriage and health, part of which is spoiled in the series trailer. At times, it feels like their drama was added simply because internal drama was needed. Like a patient spending hours in a waiting room, the Goodwins’ storyline is left lingering with the writers occasionally checking in on them as more of a courtesy without giving any sense of where things are going.
Medical shows are a dime a dozen on television. What sets New Amsterdam apart is instead of an excessive amount of medical jargon spewed out by actors, the series focuses on the patients and how their issues impact the doctors and thus, the audience. This is what makes New Amsterdam so special, with a box of tissues being a requirement. While some might roll their eyes at some of the hospital politics, not to mention possible violations of HIPPA regulations, the overall message is inspiring and makes New Amsterdam worth checking out. I will say the second episode, “Rituals,” is even better than the series premiere and I can’t wait to see where the series goes.
Tweet me @staffaroadtrip or leave a comment below to let me know what you think about the New Amsterdam “Pilot.”
For more on the show, go to https://www.nbc.com/new-amsterdam
Follow New Amsterdam on Twitter.
Like New Amsterdam on Facebook.
Photos © 2018 NBC Universal, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Greg Staffa
Latest posts by Greg Staffa (Posts)
- The Staffa Corner Podcast, Ep. 34 – Exploring LGBTQ Representation and Authenticity in Acting with Devin Kawaoka - October 31, 2024
- The Staffa Corner Podcast, Ep. 33 – Actor Douglas Vermeeren’s Journey Through Cinema - October 27, 2024
- Shrinking – Spoiler Free Season 2 Review - October 15, 2024
- The Staffa Corner Podcast, Ep. 32 – NCIS: Origins Actor Julian Black Antelope: Redefining Indigenous Representation - October 15, 2024