Talk about a wannabe Grey’s Anatomy.
Of course that’s not a bad thing. I was thoroughly entertained by the New Amsterdam pilot from start to finish. There’s nothing particularly new here – this is yet another medical show that tries to blend medical and personal drama to varying degrees of success, but at least it’s not boring.
As the medical director at the center of the story, Ryan Eggold is actually kind of terrific as Dr. Max Goodwin. He’s charismatic and likeable, and he plays off the rest of the cast quite well. It also helps that he enters the story in a position of power, unlike say Meredith Grey who started Anatomy as a lowly intern. Now that’s a breath of fresh air.
The rest of the cast is also well rounded. After stealing all her scenes on This Is Us, Janet Montgomery is an absolute delight as Dr. Laura Bloom. Also extremely memorable is prominent Indian actor Anupam Kher as Dr. Vijay Kapoor. Yup, this is a diverse show with a colorful array of characters. Why is it that only medical shows seem to embrace diversity? Hmm…
From a medical standpoint, there’s nothing you haven’t seen before. However, the show wisely zips around from one plot point to another, driving the momentum and ensuring our investment right until the very end. Also, there’s a tearjerking scene thrown in for good measure (thank you Shonda Rhimes).
Conclusion
It’s not groundbreaking by any means, but New Amsterdam gets enough right to make it a worthwhile watch if you’re a fan of medical series.