You all know I absolutely loved New Amsterdam’s first season and I am dying for season two already. But it’s time to breakdown the entire thing and see what they did right, what they did wrong, and what we can’t wait to see more of. So from shipping Sharpwin to the characters and the writing, let’s dive in!
The Good
The Writing
The writers behind New Amsterdam are a brilliant group because they were able to tackle different genders, issues, and so much more really well. You never felt like you had men writing terribly for female characters or people behind the scenes who didn’t really understand what one of these characters might be going through. I was impressed all year at the writing on this show.
The Acting
I already loved Ryan Eggold and Jocko Sims from their work on The Blacklist and The Last Ship, respectively but New Amsterdam has shown me more of their talent and that of so many others. Freema Agyeman is already known to fans of Doctor Who but I had only ever watched the Twelfth Doctor so she was brand new to me, and I completely loved her. Her work as Helen Sharpe and her interactions with Eggold’s Goodwin is exceptional.
Tyler Labine is also new to me but he has stolen my heart with the role of Iggy Frome just like Anupam Kher has done with Vijay Kapoor. Janet Montgomery shined as Dr. Bloom and played her character’s struggles so well. The entire cast of New Amsterdam has amazing chemistry with each other and each actor is doing an amazing job bringing their character to life.
The Characters
New Amsterdam might seem cheesy in the premise because this one doctor is going to change healthcare all by himself but it’s so much more than that. Every single character had a place and a way to move the story forward. Not only did they each have their own part to play but the show balanced them well where you never had too much of anything. That is a hard thing to do and something I frequently criticize about other shows because I always feel you can show everyone in some way.
The Hopefulness
Ok, this might go back to the cheesy again because New Amsterdam tends to end happily more often than not but that is part of its charm. I love Greys Anatomy along with so many of you but doesn’t the heartache get old? I love that this show is about hope in humanity and this world. That’s what we all really need right now, especially in the world we’re living in.
The Issues
New Amsterdam didn’t shy from the serious issues during its freshman season and I respect the hell out of this show for that. Did they always do an amazing job? No. Did it sometimes feel a little forced? Yes. But they tried and that counts. What makes this show stand apart from others is its focus on hot topics going on today is the way it remained unbiased. New Amsterdam didn’t pick a side when it brought up the tough stuff but it did shine a light on them while also showing that there are two sides to every situation.
The Bad
Georgia and Lack of Logic for Sharpwin
Some New Amsterdam fans aren’t going to like me very much for this but I cannot stand Georgia. Maybe some of that is to do with the show and the writing, I can’t know for sure but she is the only character I would like to see not come back for season two. In the beginning, she was a bitch who made Max suffer for who he was. Is Max flawed? Yes, but she was manipulative and generally unlikable. Later on, she became more supportive but the damage was done. The other huge issue for my lack of love for Georgia comes from her lack of chemistry with Max while he and Helen could heat the entire hospital. I don’t know if the showrunners knew Max and Helen would have so much chemistry when things started but it’s definitely a problem now. I want to be on team Georgia and wish for them to be a happy family once the baby is born because marriage is important but I’d rather they find a way to get rid of her character and make room for Helen. Sorry, not sorry.
Not Enough Ron Rifkin
Ron Rifkin played Dean Peter Fulton for a few episodes before the Board of New Amsterdam voted him out and removing him from my tv screen. Is a supporting character leaving really worth putting it in the bad column? That’s a great question and the answer is, yes. Dean Fulton was an important part of Max’s story because every time Fulton challenged Max, they both learned from the exchange. Whoever is in charge now is just fighting with Max and no one is going to win if that’s the way they keep things but with Dean Fulton, both of them benefited. Plus, Ron Rifkin is an amazing actor and we really deserve to see more of him whenever possible. So New Amsterdam writers, can we get rid of Max’s new boss and reinstate Dean Fulton? Pretty please.
The Face-paced Music That’s Too Loud
If you watch New Amsterdam, you know what I’m referring to and it hasn’t been as prominent in the second half of the season but it’s still there. In order to showcase Max’s quick pace and character, they play these drums to match his personality (or that’s what I think they’re doing) but it’s too loud. Sometimes the dialogue gets missed because that music theme is too overpowering. It doesn’t need to be done away with but it could be toned down a few notches.
What We Want To See More Of
Sharpwin
Assuming Helen survived the season finale, this is definitely something we want more of. The writers have set up Georgia’s exit perfectly if that happens, and then after time has passed, we can have Helen and Max. He’s going to need help with the baby and they are already so close. Also, they can’t kill Helen because if they do no one can save Max from his cancer!
Iggy Being Iggy
I know the investigation shook Iggy and made him doubt his therapy style but he was the best. Watching him all year connecting with his patients the way he did was magical and I don’t want to see that end. He needs to be fixed and go back to the way he was. I’m hoping the story will use his relationship with Kapoor to make this happen because the two are so great together.
This show has so much going for it that there’s barely a thing I would change. I’m looking forward to the next season!
What do you hope to see when New Amsterdam returns this Fall?
