New Amsterdam 4×15 “Two Doors” taught us many things. It taught us that even the worst character can have a background story worth kind of knowing. (We know, it hurts saying that.) It taught us that pain can be transformative in good ways and bad. And we learned that Helen (Freema Agyeman) and Max (Ryan Eggold) like phone sex. Yes, phone sex. Don’t believe us because things didn’t get R-rated? Let’s talk about that.
Helen, Max, and Phone Sex
Helen and Max were caught multiple times this episode talking about their sexual escapades. Now, this doesn’t make them nymphomaniacs or that NBC is about to ramp up the rating of this show. It means that Helen and Max miss each other dearly and that they’re in a healthy relationship where they feel comfortable expressing their want for each other.
And that scene at the end was the culmination of everything they had been telling each other and their need to feel connected with one another. Long-distance relationships are hard enough, and when you throw sex into the mix, things get harder. So they pivoted and tried something different where they connected on a mental and physical level aka phone sex.
Before anyone groans, besides Helen and Max, about how this isn’t the Sharpwin show. We know. But we will continue to celebrate moments where a Black woman is not going through trauma porn as TV does to women of color time and time again as if that’s the only story to be told about then. Helen’s journey, her woes, and the pleasures that she finds in life are powerful and deserve to be talked about.
And guess what? Helen’s love life is part of Sharpwin. So we’re going to continue talking about her, the relationship she has with Max, her achievements, her sex life, and anything that we fancy because she deserves the spotlight. And Max, he is part of that journey with Helen. So, enjoy the ride, celebrate with us, and see yourself out if you don’t want to hear it anymore.
Sigh. Onto the rest of New Amsterdam 4×15.
Now Onto That Background Story
Never did we ever think we’d care about Veronica (Michelle Forbes). Seriously, we did not want an episode that focused on her and her backstory. But we got it anyway and it’s hard to ignore what she’s gone through and how it’s shaped her into the doctor and woman she is today. It doesn’t excuse anything she’s done on New Amsterdam before of during 4×15. But it helps to understand who is she, where she comes from, and why she thinks this specific way.
At one point, Dr. Fuentes thought like Max. We know, shocking. But it’s true. She saw the patient first and money second. She valued lives in a way that she doesn’t now. And she would do anything, even if she had to break the rules, to give her patients the best chance. Unfortunately, and it makes sense, Veronica was crushed by a system that values money, shares, and all that materialistic garbage that Dr. Fuentes spews out left and right.
And it makes you wonder, how many of us could be Dr. Fuentes? We all know the crushing weight of pressure. We understand how it changes us and molds our expectations, our way of living, or even how we think on a day-to-day basis. It also makes you think, how close is Max to that crushing weight? How close are his friends? And is he saving more than the hospital by asking them to come work for him at a shot of getting control of New Amsterdam in 4×15?
Ummm About That Dad and His Kid…
Iggy (Tyler Labine) just keeps on getting worse and worse on New Amsterdam and he’s reaching levels of ugghhh that we feel for Dr. Castries (Genevieve Angelson) and her magic healing. Seriously, what was he peddling in this episode and why would he give advice like that? He basically told the young man to give up and accept his father’s delusions as if nothing, because having a relationship with his father was more important than acknowledging his trauma or the actual pain he went through. And we call bullshit.
Maybe we’re a bit too close to this and projecting a bit here. But you know what, we don’t care? This writer has had a delusional parent like this. And it wasn’t until we tore ourselves away from their claws that we realized we were living a half-life to make them comfortable. And that isn’t fair on us or this young man. We shouldn’t have to hide and not be our truest selves because our parents believe grand delusions that define lives and destroy them.
And yes, it sucks not to have your parents around. It truly does. But some things are worth fighting for. Some things are worth planting yourself like a tree and saying, “No, you shall not pass. You shall not collect $200. And you shall not peddle garbage that calls into question the real trauma that we have gone through.” So, no Iggy. Your advice was subpar, destructive, and raised some major red flags with us that we unfortunately can not unsee at this very moment.
So, forget Iggy words in New Amsterdam 4×15, young man. Use your pain and realize that you deserve the freedom to live your truth. And no one, not even your own parent should get in the way of your healing from the trauma you have suffered or will carry with you for the rest of your life.
New Amsterdam airs Tuesdays on NBC.
