Pure Genius – “Pilot” Review. Sometimes, A Cough is Just a Cough

Season 1, Episode 1

Air Date: Thursday, October 27, 2016, 10/9c on CBS

Rating: ★★★★★

“Are we all here to save James Bell?” – Walter Wallace

Tech titan James Bell (Augustus Prew)

Determined to revolutionize health care, James Bell (Augustus Prew), a young Silicon Valley tech billionaire, enlists the help of veteran surgeon Dr. Walter Wallace (Dermot Mulroney) to run Bunker Hill, a state-of-the-art hospital that practices an unorthodox approach to medicine. Bell’s team includes general practitioner Dr. Zoe Brockett (Odette Annabel), neurosurgeon Dr. Talaikha Channarayapatra (Reshma Shetty), former gangbanger Dr. Malik Verlaine (Aaron Jennings), and neurologist Dr. Scott Strauss (Ward Horton). Together, they make up the most brilliant minds in the medical field. As lives are saved at Bunker Hill, a secret about Bells’ own medical condition threatens everything they’ve worked for.

I admit, for a long time, the hypochondriac in me hated watching medical dramas. There’s nothing’s worse for a valetudinarian than watching a character’s small cough turn into a deadly medical condition. It is at that moment that people like me realize they also have a cough. It wasn’t until an entertainment magazine I subscribed to had a clever promotion where they inserted a DVD of a pilot of a new medical drama called House into the magazine weeks before it aired. After watching it, I was hooked.

It’s impossible not to compare Pure Genius to Fox Network’s House, which ran for eight seasons. Both feature a brilliant alpha personality thinker who assembles a team of the greatest medical minds to solve unusual cases. Each show has a protagonist with an aversion to red tape and authority. One of the biggest differences between the two series is Pure Genius’ use of technology. When House premiered in November 2004, both the iPhone and iPad were still years away from being released. Gone are the dry erase boards often utilized by House and his team; at Bunker Hill, entire walls become monitors and all the doctors carry handheld devices. It’s amazing how medical shows and medicine have evolved over the past 12 years.

An unlikely duo.

The contrast between Bell, the dreamer who utilizes gadgets and gizmos, and Wallace, the realist who believes the practice of medicine is a human endeavor, is very enjoyable to watch. It’s hard not to laugh at some socially awkward moments as Bell has a propensity to intrude on Wallace’s personal space. With 28-year-old Prew and 52-year-old Mulroney, the generational difference in ideology between the characters is evident, especially when Wallace discovers the real reason Bell built the hospital. There’s a yin-yang dynamic between Bell and Wallace that’s interesting to watch as the two learn from each other. I’m very curious to see where their business relationship takes them.

Created by Jason Katims, Pure Genius requires tissues while viewing as there is no shortage of heartwarming moments. Bell and his team of doctors thrive on finding medical resources to create miracles. While I can’t attest to the technology and medicine utilized in Pure Genius, from a visual and emotional aspect, the look and feel of the show is awe-inspiring to watch.

It’s always interesting to see familiar faces from other shows in a new series. Pure Genius has cast some great actresses with previous medical acting experience, including Annabel, who played Dr. Jessica Adams on House, and Shetty, who played physician’s assistant Divya Katdare on USA Network’s Royal Pains. As odd as it may sound, I really enjoyed seeing Shetty back in a role that involves helping patients even if it’s a different character.

Brilliant minds.

In a hospital full of patients with varying conditions, one of the things Pure Genius does well is set up several minor storylines without cramming too much into the “Pilot.” The writers also lay the groundwork for the doctors to have some interesting storylines of their own. I’m especially excited to learn more about Dr. Malik, who appears to be emotionally invested in one of the hospital’s test subjects.

What I love about Pure Genius is the sense of hope one gets while watching the series premiere. It’s hard not to feel inspired by the ‘don’t-tell-me-what- you-can’t-do-tell-me-what-you-can-do’ attitude that the show oozes with. Despite being an ensemble show, the premise hinges on Bell’s ability to sell the idea that he’s an eccentric billionaire running a hospital, and he masterfully pulls it off. Prew is mesmerizing as Bell and his character’s passion is infectious.

I often wonder what professionals think when a new show premieres with a subject matter in their field. Do lawyers enjoy legal dramas like Suits or Law and Order? What about doctors and medical dramas like Night Shift or Chicago Med? Are they overly critical, analyzing every detail or do they focus on the characters and storylines? Medical accuracy aside, Katims has created an interesting show with compelling characters that is definitely worth checking out.

Tune in to Pure Genius Thursday, October 27 at 10/9c, only on CBS.

Tweet me @Staffaroadtrip or leave a comment below to let me know what you think about Pure Genius – “Pilot.”

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Greg Staffa

I provide testosterone to the site. You won’t be reading about how nice a actress looks in a dress or how much of a hunk Matt Bomer is in my reviews. I describe colors using words like brown, not taupe. My twitter name is @staffaroadtrip because I love road trips and have done two different 48-state road trips since 2008. My favorite show is White Collar.