Ryan Eggold stars in this NBC TV medical drama as Dr. Max Goodwin, a maverick administrator who takes over the oldest and largest public hospital in the country and starts transforming the way it deals with patients. "How can I help?" is his mantra, and his unconventional approach collides with the hospital’s dean (Ron Rifkin) but inspires his staff to reimagine the way that they practice medicine. Inspired by the 2012 book Twelve Patients: Life and Death at Bellevue Hospital by Eric Manheimer, New Amsterdam is a surprisingly conventional medical drama (given its premise) that is a mix of soap opera and case-of-the-week diagnostic mystery. Our heroic leader is an idealistic doctor dedicated to helping everyone except himself as he fights his own battle with cancer. Janet Montgomery plays an Emergency Room physician struggling with substance abuse, Freema Agyeman is a celebrity oncologist who has lost touch with patient care, Anupam Kher is a neurological specialist trying to reconnect with an estranged son, and Tyler Labine is an eccentric psychologist. There are the usual battles with the hospital board, which wants to cut costs and increase billing, and Goodwin tries to win back his pregnant wife, who left him because he prioritized his work over his marriage. The cast is likable and the show is well-produced but it’s also awfully familiar. Compiling all 22 episodes from the 2018-19 debut season, extras include deleted scenes. A strong optional purchase. (S. Axmaker)
New Amsterdam: Season One
Universal, 6 discs, 945 min., not rated, DVD: $39.99 Volume 34, Issue 6
New Amsterdam: Season One
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