Mia Nina

The first 5 minutes choked me up, what a fantastic tribute, and those last few minutes with Reynolds were just wonderful. Seeing him slowly coming into frame and answering that phone call was amazing, I have to say. In fact, ever since the beginning of the show Reynolds has always felt and looked like a real doctor to me. He's the one who sells the show to me as far as the medical drama is concerned. When he's around I believe those are real patients and real cases. Everything in between was so so (I especially disliked the airline investigation; felt completely unrealistic and the "bad guys" cartoonish), but those first five minutes and the last two were A+. Casey is a treasure of a character and I hope he gets more lines/scenes as the show progresses.

YES. Apparently Helen has no life outside the hospital. I felt so heartbroken for her that she had to "confess" such a thing to Max. She shouldn't have to, IMO. Her character has been greatly sacrificed not only to set up a potential relationship with Max, but professionally too. She's been arrested, demoted, and she's still the one running around making sure things are fine in NA, not to mention her being the almost invisible hand that keeps Max together. Max/Helen is compelling, just not the fact that Helen's character suddenly only exists in relation to Max while he takes her for granted. It makes me like Max a lot less.

True. It was unsettling. Again, I get the show needed to push the Reynolds-is-leaving plot, but Bloom's actions and demeanor were disturbing.

I think it depends. Younger patients with DNRs create more conflict, especially when they're in car accidents, for example, and are not actually terminally ill. In those cases a doctor's instinct (not to mention the family's outcry) is to provide every life saving measure available to them. Of course, if a patient verbally expresses the desire to overrule their own DNR doctors must discard it and proceed accordingly. In New Amsterdam's case, the patient was already unconscious and couldn't be asked which is the purpose of the document, to instruct the physician on the patients wishes. My father never signed a DNR but when he fell ill the doctor gave the order herself, which she calmly explained to me. He passed that same day. A few months ago I was called to draft a DNR for a client. She's an older lady, very sick, but of sound mind. I talked to her doctor who simply told me that they needed the legally binding DNR in place in order to respect her wishes. While the hospital actually had a document drafted and ready to go for her to sign, it would only cover her temporary stay and would be useless once she was discharged. I hesitated because, like Dr. Bloom, all I could think about was her children, grandchildren, etc. However, she was very clear that those were her wishes. I talked to her about possible emergency scenarios and she consistently decided to go with the DNR. In her case her doctors were willing to acquiesce once the papers were signed. In Bloom's case the patient's expressed desire to meet her grandchild could have probably been interpreted as an implied repeal. While not exactly an expressed overruling, an argument could be made on Bloom's behalf. Her treatment of Reynolds was inexcusable, however. I know the show needed to give Reynolds a reason to accept the offer, but boy, after what Max did to him last year, it was pretty cruel that Bloom of all people told him he didn't belong. Heartbreaking.

I found the conflict around the DNR compelling because I've been on both sides of the argument. However, a legally binding DNR was in place which means Bloom had no business resuscitating the patient. Except for Sharpe's demotion, New Amsterdam has dealt very little with the consequences of constantly and openly 'breaking the rules', including criminal prosecution, civil lawsuits, and massive fines and penalties. Hospitals and doctors are rigid for a reason. Even when a patient dies, their families could still sue in certain circumstances, but moving on... Floyd has done questionable things too, so Bloom was wrong to say he never bends the rules. In trying to justify her clearly erroneous actions she hurt someone who was there for her when she really needed it. Poor Floyd. Not to mention how losing a surgeon like Floyd would be such a blow to the hospital, especially when he's a trusted colleague and proven professional. I'm interested to see where this goes and if Floyd really does leave NA. ETA: Insulting someone by pointing out he follows protocol and mostly plays by the rules is quite childish and immature, especially when the conversation is between two doctors who are tasked with caring for patients. It was very strange, to the say the least. Sharpe was wearing an almost identical outfit in S1 when she dealt with Tiana's questions about death.

Merlyn was my favorite character in S1.

I only started watching Arrow during S3 and it took me a while to warm up to the show. This episode was the turning point that kept me watching. That shot of Felicity walking to her car only to find a bleeding Oliver in the backseat was such a fantastic moment. Of all the ways the show could have written Felicity finally finding out Oliver/Diggle's secret, they found the very best one IMO. Diggle and Felicity's banter was top notch as well. Excellent.

Yes, and New Amsterdam needed the money. It could have been a great way to supply funds, help her own patient, and make Max/Helen's less profitable ideas workable. I guess it's still a possibility that Bloom could still be a source of funds down the line, but it was a good opportunity to ground the hospitals programs for some time.

This. Obviously narrative shortcuts are essential to move things along, but every case is condensed into oblivion. There is no downside (I think) to seeing cases develop over a number of episodes. While they do a fantastic job casting patients and people for us to care about, a sympathetic patient is no substitute for actual emotional investment. But, perhaps that's all the show is aiming for, that "feel good", "warm blanket" vibe with the occasional proverbial wrench thrown in conveniently before hiatus.

Ah, Martha Jones. So many similarities between her and Sharpe.

I don't expect NA to be highly serialized but there is absolutely nothing going on. Max suffering in silence is not a story arc. Evie and Reynolds need to figure something out or break up already. Sharpe was out of character yet again. They've turned her into Max without showing how the transition began and what exactly is motivating Helen. Running the entire hospital is not new to her since she did it last season and she's supposed to be a "celebrity" doctor who ran a very important department for years. She was the boss until a few weeks ago. Plus that last scene came off as if she was simply enjoying the power trip which gives her and Max's compassion a weird sinister spin. I know the show is already exploring that angle with Iggy, but at the rate this is going all the main doctors should be joining him soon. Oh and again, while it's great that Max and Helen want to help every single patient with the most amazing solution their ideas have to be somewhat grounded in reality. The complete disregard for practical concerns is worrying since budgeting is quite a serious issue and should not be brushed aside simply because it's Brantley's job to bring it up. Not to mention the fact that the show appears to be walking back a lesson Max learned last season when Reynolds' cop patient died even when Reynolds did everything right. Not every situation can be "fixed". I like this show despite its faults, but it's getting harder to enjoy it. IMO it needs an arc, consistency, and more Casey.

I agree. Very disjointed first half altogether. Unsurprisingly, Sharpe's potentially career-ending choices have resulted in a potentially career-ending demotion/reprimand. Whether it sticks or not, Sharpe did risk her medical license a few times during this first half so it would be interesting to know why, especially considering she has been very vocal about rediscovering her love of medicine. Like others have pointed out, Sharpe is a celebrity doctor that rakes in the money, so who knows why the Board was so entirely severe. Brantley did mention that Sharpe was arrested in a heroin den but they showed her being arrested in the hospital, which isn't great either, but still. The actress who plays Brantley is really good, though. In their last scene, before she announces the Board's decision she actively avoids eye contact with Sharpe. I thought that was such a nice touch and very realistic. The scenes inside Rikers felt a bit phony. It's unbelievable that they would get to walk around, set up elsewhere, be escorted to solitary at a moment's notice, then be escorted out only to go back once Max figured what was going on with the patient, Iggy providing group then individual therapy, etc. The inmates' plan was elaborate yet relied on so many fortuitous happenings that I'm choosing to ignore it altogether. The over the top cliffhanger gimmick continues. Ligon is so isolated from everyone else that to me it feels like Bloom is living her own version of Fight Club with this character. I can't wait for whatever is going on with them to be over. I really like Bloom but not this storyline.

Heee, right. Her behavior at least appears to be indicative of a deeper issue. Oh yes, news of any doctor getting arrested in the hospital would definitely make waves, especially one considered a celebrity. It was bizarre. Exactly. Helen's big speech to Panthaki before their trip to Philadelphia made it sound as if she hardly took any chances after the death of her fiancee. Now she's going to illegal drug sites and getting arrested in front of her colleagues. We'll see.

It would appear as if Helen is crying for help. She's the only one who hasn't been shown dealing with the aftermath of the crash. There was that very brief conversation with Max where he asked about her fertility treatment after the accident and she confided in him that it didn't take. In another episode she tells Max something like she needs a confidence boost or something to that effect after he asks to cancel the tv interview she set up to expose the hip implant company. Helen is featured a lot but we know very little about her, especially what's motivating her this season. Her scenes with Bloom are all about Bloom's issues, same with Max. She's mostly used to prop other characters. In short, Helen gets arrested and Castro of all people is the one to show up with Brantley in tow. (Helen has been easy prey so far for seemingly evil Castro.) When Max needed help Helen spent her own money and after he rejected her gift everyone showed up at his door to help. When Helen gets arrested she gets Castro and Brantley. This better be leading somewhere, otherwise why do this to her character? In the span of 8 episodes Helen has endangered her career plenty for other people's benefit. She caved and gave Castro half her department for Max, she then took on a company that could've buried her career and personal life in one fell swoop; in this one she risked everything by visiting an illegal safe site while wearing her white coat for one patient. At the moment her job at NA, her reputation, and her career are at risk. I had already forgotten about Helen handing over a suicide cocktail to a patient and then walking out. This has to be leading somewhere. Bloom and Reynolds were ace in this one. Iggy obviously needs help. Like Helen, he's in the middle of an identity crisis of some sort. That S1 magic is mostly gone.

Yes, exactly! I agree that it's time. What I find troubling about the way Helen has been written after the Pilot is the fact that there is no reason for her extreme devotion to Max. Max treats her like crap and I can't stand it. Why can't she stand up for herself? Why is she spending so much of her time and money on him? Giving away half her department to secure his treatment? It's such a disservice to the character. Exactly, friendship is a two way street. Her scene with Bloom was great except the ending made it seem as if Bloom chose her PT as her sponsor instead of Helen. I'll have to check on that. I don't know why they can't write a case developing over several episodes. Not to mention how fun it would be to have the ED doctors deal with minor injuries once in a while, like a broken nose, wrist, arms, perhaps an allergic reaction, etc. Not every case has to be catastrophic. Floyd's voicemail was cringeworthy IMO.