Five Days at Memorial (2022 TV Series Review)
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
The intersection of human endurance and systemic failure is rarely as starkly portrayed as in the narrative of Memorial Medical Center during Hurricane Katrina. The 2022 Apple TV+ limited series, based on the non-fiction book by Sheri Fink, chronicles five days in August 2005 that would change medical ethics and emergency preparedness forever. As the floodwaters rose and the power failed, the staff at Memorial were forced into a series of deadly choices that led to a national controversy and a complex legal investigation into the deaths of 45 patients.
Series Profile
• Director Name: John Ridley
• First Release Date: August 12, 2022 (Note: Outside of the sources; the sources mention the production year is 2022)
• Number of Season: 1
• Rating: TV-MA (Note: This information is not in the provided sources and should be verified independently)
• Country of Origin: United States
• Original Release Network: Apple TV+
• Distribution: Apple TV+
• Original Release Network: Apple TV+
Synopsis and Plot
The plot is meticulously structured into two primary phases that mirror the structure of the source material: the immediate crisis and the subsequent legal fallout.
Deadly Choices (The Storm): The first half of the series focuses on the five days between August 29 and September 2, 2005. When Hurricane Katrina struck, the hospital’s backup generators failed, resulting in a total loss of power, air conditioning, and functioning sewer systems. Thousands of staff, patients, and local evacuees were trapped in rising floodwaters. In this state of isolation, medical staff implemented an unconventional triage system where ambulatory patients were evacuated first, and those with "do not resuscitate" (DNR) orders were placed at the very end of the list. As conditions became unbearable, it was alleged that some medical staff chose to hasten the deaths of critically ill patients using lethal injections of morphine.
Reckoning (The Investigation): The second phase of the narrative shifts to the multi-year investigation into the 45 bodies recovered from the hospital. Investigators identified 23 patients with high concentrations of morphine and other drugs in their tissues. This led to a focused investigation into the actions of Dr. Anna Pou and two intensive care nurses, Cheri Landry and Lori Budo. They were initially charged with second-degree murder, sparking a national debate on the ethics of medical care during disasters and the fairness of prosecuting healthcare workers who were abandoned by the system.
Critics’ Response and Accolades
The response to the narrative—both the book and its subsequent adaptation—has been overwhelmingly positive, though it remains a subject of intense debate. Critics have described the reporting as "masterly" and characterized by "shimmering intelligence".
While some reviewers, such as Julia M. Klein of The Boston Globe, found the expanded narrative occasionally "overly long and detailed," others praised it as social reporting of the first rank. The source material was highly decorated, winning several prestigious awards:
• 2014 National Book Critics Circle Award for non-fiction.
• 2013 Los Angeles Times Book Prize in the Current Interest category.
• 2014 Ridenhour Book Prize.
• PEN/John Kenneth Galbraith Award (2015).
• Shortlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction.
The narrative is frequently lauded for its nuanced and balanced approach, refusing to provide easy answers to the ethical dilemmas it presents.
Cast and Characters
The series features a high-profile ensemble cast that brings the real-life figures of the Memorial crisis to the screen:
• Vera Farmiga – Dr. Anna Pou
• Adepero Oduye – Karen Wynn
• Cornelius Smith Jr. – Dr. Bryant King
• Julie Ann Emery – Diane Robichaux
• Cherry Jones – Susan Mulderick
• Molly Hager – Virginia Rider
• Michael Gaston – Arthur "Butch" Schafer
Main Characters Description
• Dr. Anna Pou: A head physician at Memorial who became the central figure in the investigation regarding the deaths of patients during the evacuation.
• Susan Mulderick: The hospital’s incident commander who faced the impossible task of managing the facility as its infrastructure collapsed.
• Karen Wynn: A nurse manager at the hospital who was a key participant in the events and the subsequent triage decisions.
• Dr. Bryant King: An internist at the hospital who provided a critical perspective on the medical staff's decisions during the five days.
• Arthur "Butch" Schafer: An assistant attorney general who spearheaded the legal investigation into the potential euthanasia of patients.
Production
The production of the series was a significant undertaking for Apple TV+, with John Ridley and Carlton Cuse serving as showrunners, writers, and executive producers. Ridley, an Academy Award winner, also directed the limited series. Interestingly, the project underwent a major transition during development; it was originally planned to be the third season of the FX anthology series American Crime Story before being scrapped and ultimately landing at Apple. The series was produced by ABC Signature.
Seasons
• Season List: Season 1 (Limited Series)
• Number of Episodes: 8 (Note: This specific episode count is not in the provided sources and should be verified; however, the sources confirm it is a "limited series").
• Release Date: August 12, 2022 (Note: Outside of the sources; sources note 2022).
• Years in Air: 2022.
• Description: The season provides a definitive look at the five days of the hurricane crisis, followed by the multi-year investigation into the medical staff's conduct.
Spin-offs and Adaptations
The television series is an adaptation of Sheri Fink’s 2013 book, which itself was an expansion of her Pulitzer Prize-winning article "The Deadly Choices at Memorial," published in The New York Times Magazine in 2009. Fink’s research for the book involved over 500 interviews with staff, families, and officials, as well as the review of emails, diary entries, and hospital floor plans. While there are no direct spin-off series, the project remains the primary cinematic adaptation of Fink’s exhaustive reporting.
Ratings and Review
The reception of the series and the story it tells is often centered on its "ambiguous morality". Critics have noted that the story "provokes more debate than it answers," particularly regarding how society should judge medical professionals working in "war zone" conditions. The series is praised for its fair and sympathetic approach to the participants, even while it details the harrowing reality of the euthanasia allegations. It serves as a stark critique of the failure of government standards for emergency preparedness and the inadequate response of hospital infrastructure to natural disasters.
🔖 Key Takeaways
🗝️ Historical Accuracy: The series is based on two years of research and 140 interviews originally conducted for a Pulitzer Prize-winning article.
🗝️ Ethical Dilemma: The core of the story is the controversial triage system and the alleged euthanasia of patients who were deemed unlikely to survive evacuation.
🗝️ Legal Outcome: Despite the initial second-degree murder charges, a grand jury ultimately declined to indict Dr. Anna Pou in 2007.
🗝️ Production Pedigree: The series was brought to life by acclaimed creators John Ridley and Carlton Cuse after a long development history.
🗝️ Systemic Critique: The narrative highlights a significant lack of change in hospital protocols and government emergency standards following the tragedy.
Keywords: Five Days at Memorial
Five Days at Memorial
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