We all are affected by words. Words shape you, change you, and give you purpose. Words can make you feel strong or weak. Words can make you feel better about yourself or worse. They can cause you to fight and they can cause you to give up. Sometimes words save us.
Max has always used his words and ideas to try and improve the world around him. He wants to make the world a better place, he wants to save people and I think for the first time I realize that Max is trying to do that, he’s trying to fight, because he is trying to atone for the fact that he wasn’t able to save the one person he loved more than himself (pre-Luna), Georgia.
Like all episodes of New Amsterdam, this episode moved us to our core. We were able to see the doctors of New Amsterdam in a new way; finding their purpose, their words and their fights.
THE FIGHT FOR LUNA
I am Team Sharpwin until I die, but I have to admit that I missed Georgia this episode. I missed the fact that she would have fought her parents.
Luna is absolutely adorable and New Amsterdam knew how to hit us all right in the feels by opening with her smiling, laughing, and being happy. Max is a father that makes sure that his daughter knows that she is loved, even when he’s busy as fuck.
I do not like Georgia’s parents, but it takes the opening scene for me to realize that they blame Max for Georgia’s passing. They keep reiterating that Max is unfit and then they go for the jugular. They are both deadset on pointing out the fact that Max has made some questionable choices, but they also twist everything to make it seem as though he never thinks about Luna or puts her first. Yes, he sent her away (global pandemic with New York being the epicenter and him being a doctor) but he did that to protect her from being sick. He did that to make sure that he could save lives so that it was safe for her. And they think that it’s the wrong thing to do? PLEASE. Max spent several days in a recovery room after running into a room full of poison, but like he did that in order to save lives.
And it was at this moment that I realized that he is atoning for not being able to save Georgia. They were harsh when they told him that he brought his child into a plague in order to make himself feel like a father. Ummm, you be quiet Grandma. Max tells the people in the room that all he does is think of Luna, every second of every day. But he knows that she’s not safe until everyone is safe.
As we see the pain in his eyes, Luna’s Grandfather puts his on the table. He reminds Max that Luna already has a mother that she will never remember and if Max died, then all Luna would have is his voice memos – the sound of a dead stranger, knowing that he never put her first. Well, damn – that’s not true, and in all honesty, if that’s how they would shape it to her, they are unfit grandparents. And as if they hadn’t beat him down enough, he tells Max that Georgia died in his care, knowing that she never came first.
We get it grandparents, you miss your daughter. And that is understandable. But breaking the man that your daughter loved, that’s not going to get your anywhere. And frankly, your daughter would be ashamed of you.
IGGY’S NOT FEELING WELL
Iggy admitting that he is sick is a step for him, because that man never knows how to put himself first. He doesn’t know how to realize that he deserves happiness. I have to admit that I am saddened he’s sick, but I see such growth in him, staying in bed.
Martin is caring and loving and takes care of things for Iggy so that he can stay home and sleep. The people that need him will still be there tomorrow, but today, the only thing that matters is Iggy.
However, as we all know nothing is that simple. Iggy wakes up from a nap, reaching out for water, and he thinks that it is Martin giving him the glass of water. But it is Chance, and you can see by the look on Iggy’s face that he is scared. Hell, I was automatically scared for him. Chance has lost his fucking mind and violating a restraining order and showing up at the home of the person who placed it is not okay.
Chance claims that he was worried about Iggy, he went to the hospital to talk to him, but when he found out he was sick, he got scared and came over. He feels that the restraining order was pretty harsh. Iggy reminds him he’s violating it.
Chance wants Iggy to help him. He destroys Iggy’s phone, accuses Iggy of lying and saying that he wants him to get better, but says that isn’t what Iggy ever wanted.
Oh Chance, I can guarantee you that Iggy wants you to get better. But he had to set boundaries for the safety of himself and his family. And I am glad he did because Chance admits that he set the fire that killed his family. His father would hurt him and everyone watched it happen. No one did anything to help him.
So should he feel bad? Yes. Yes, when you kill someone you should, Chance. Iggy tries to understand him and make him feel less alone. And how does he do that? He tells Chance that he understands because he killed someone too.
He makes up a story and to be honest, I sat there and believed the words he was telling Chance. But all I could think about was that I wanted someone to save Iggy and also how good of a therapist he was that he was using his words to make Chance feel empowered.
And he gains Chance’s trust. He doesn’t tell Martin that Chance is there, but uses code words to tell him he needs help.
Sometimes I have felt that Iggy and Martin don’t know each other or how to communicate but when I see that Martin catches on, that Chance leaves willingly and the police get him and no one is hurt, I am so thankful that I was wrong. And then when Iggy breaks down in Martin’s arms, I broke. Iggy has always been a complicated character, but his growth is absolutely beautiful. Iggy’s character growth throughout the seasons of New Amsterdam has been one of this shows strengths.
I can’t wait to see in the next season how Iggy continues to grow and what he does with the knowledge that it’s okay to put himself first. It doesn’t make him a bad therapist. It makes him a better one.
FLOYD FINALLY FEELS INTERESTING
One of the most underutilized characters in this show is Floyd. He came back for a reason and his storyline has been choppy, more about him being lost than ever being found. Floyd has always been steeped in tradition with what he wants for his career and family, but somehow that want to always fight for himself was lost.
And it felt good to see some effort on the shows part to circle back to who Floyd is.
He opens up to Bloom about how he’s falling for a coworker who is in an open marriage. Floyd admits that he likes her, that he wants to be with her, but his ideals haven’t changed. Floyd is like please tell me how to end it and Bloom is like this sounds familiar because this is what he did with us. She’s like you like to think of yourself as this man that walks the path, but you keep ending up on the cliffs. Maybe you wanna jump.
PLEASE JUMP FLOYD!
One highlight was seeing the friendship between Bloom and Floyd. We’ve never seen their romantic side, though we know it existed. Their friendship is definitely more important.
It takes a complicated case with a patient he’s had since she was a baby for him to find focus. The thought of loosing someone that he cares about, seeing her parents suffering, and not knowing how to help her makes his attitude readjust.
I feel like Floyd needed to remember his passion in order to find himself. He’s made choices based on what he thinks he should do, versus what he wants to do over the past year. When he finds a way to save the little girl, he remembers the surgeon that he is. He remembers the person that he is.
I am glad that Floyd made the decision that he did with his married co-worker. I do feel like the show needs to utilize this character more in every episode. Let’s write him a better storyline. Please?
GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER
Meena has not been my favorite character, but I realized why. Because sometimes I think that she’s just really fucking mean to Helen. But when I am wrong, I can say I am wrong. Because this episode reminded me that Helen hasn’t been trying as hard as she thinks she has with her niece.
Just because she brought her to New York, doesn’t mean she’s done everything for her.
Meena being there has sparked something in Helen. She realizes that she needs to come to terms with her past and let things go, because the only thing that matters is Meena.
Helen is shocked when Meena says that she wants to go to college and she doesn’t think that she will stay in New York or even in the country. She doesn’t want a letter from Helen, she doesn’t want her to talk to people.
Helen does want to help her, though. She is friends with the Dean of Undergraduate Admissions at Columbia, and sets Meena up to meet her. Meena runs out and when Helen chases after her and tries to talk to her, she’s hit with the Harsh truth, she doesn’t know her niece and hasn’t taken the time to get to know her.
Meena is hurting and feels isolated. She’s been taken out of the country that she knew, the friends that she knew are thousands of miles away. She has lost her family and Helen doesn’t make it easy to know her.
It takes until the end of the episode for Meena and Helen to find the start of a common ground. But when Helen lets down her walls and starts to let her niece in, her fight to be a better person for herself and her family is an absolutely amazing experience.
They both are broken when it comes to family and I am hoping that they find the joy and balance in each other to know that they are not alone.
“US” WILL NEVER BE A MORE BEAUTIFUL WORD
Here’s what you need to know about Max’s case in this episode – there was a bunch of vaccines that were about to expire and he was searching for a place to use them, but they expired before he could. But the important thing about Max’s challenge wasn’t that – it was that it led him to having to realize what is important.
I will forever love a Sharpwin moment, because these two belong together. The last episode left our mouths on the floor. But this episode, somehow it meant just as much in one word.
Helen’s always been the only person that can truly get through to Max. And when she goes outside to talk with Max and gives him advice, I know that she’s doing what she needs to do, she’s fighting for what she needs to fight for.
She’s getting through to Max. She reminds him of what to fight for and his daughter is the most important thing. He reminds her that there is no greater love than his love for Luna. She reminds him that everything is a fight.
Meena. Luna. US.
THAT’S RIGHT SHE SAID “US” and my Sharpwin heart screamed out YES! Max and Helen know that their feelings for each other are there, but they also know that it may not be the right time at that moment. They need time. They have to get through everything. They have to get to a place where they can find the strength that they need to in each other, but most of all themselves.
US is endgame. It’s a beautiful sentiment. It’s a motivator for Max. It’s a reminder that he deserves to be happy. But also that he deserves to be a Dad. Helen has fought for him and Luna, and she needs him to fight – hopefully so one day they can all be together.
We believe in the power of Sharpwin. They are a relationship based in friendship and strength. I can’t wait for them to continue to grow. Slow burn – I am okay with that. Cause I know in the end, there will be fireworks.
BLOOM AND HONESTY
Bloom isn’t always my favorite character, but I will say this for her – she advocates like no other for her staff and patients. I have always loved the friendship between her and Casey and I do love that the show is giving Casey more air time.
I just find this storyline funny. Russian spy? Well, I mean, whatever. Weirder things have happened in NYC. But what’s important here is that Bloom is reminded that she needs to be honest in relationships in order for them to grow.
And she needs a reminder of that.
I would have loved to have seen more of Bloom’s continued work on herself in recovery, because I think it’s an important story to tell. So giving her a storyline where she is healing and being honest is of the utmost importance.
And when she goes home and lays it all out on the table for her girlfriend and doesn’t hold back, I have to admit I am thankful. She has allowed herself to be open to love, to loving someone, and allowing them in to be a part of her recovery.
Bloom deserves more. She deserve stability. She deserves peace.
And hopefully she continues to get more of that.
ONE LATE NIGHT KNOCK
Sometimes people can knock you down and you’ll find that you become the person that they say you are. You’ll find that you become so caught up in one persons judgement that you forget that other people don’t get to define you.
You get to define yourself.
And for Max, Helen was that reminder. So when he shows up at his in-laws door and lays it all out for them, I wanted to cheer, but I also cried. Because for me – I saw that Max was forgiving himself a little bit and remembering the reasons that he deserves love and the reasons Georgia loved him in the first place.
When he shows up at the Grandparents house, he had thought about calling, but what needs to be said in person. Max says he isn’t perfect, but he will be better everyday. And Georgia got that. She understood that. And he wants to honor Georgia.
He remembers who he is. The father that he is. The love that he has for his daughter. If they want to go to court, he will. And when they loose he will make sure that hey never sees Luna again, but he doesn’t want that to happen.
Georgia knew that Max would never stop fighting for his daughter and he’s there to take her home.
And that my friends, was Max allowing himself some grace and growth. It was the most beautiful moment in his fight.
New Amsterdam airs Tuesdays on NBC.
