New Amsterdam (2018 TV Series Review)
- Jan 27
- 5 min read
The New Amsterdam TV series premiered on NBC in 2018, introducing audiences to a revolutionary kind of medical director. Centered on the charismatic Dr. Max Goodwin, the show brought a fresh perspective to the NBC medical drama genre by focusing on systemic reform and the human stories behind the bureaucracy. Inspired by real-life history and the memoirs of Dr. Eric Manheimer, the series explored the limits and triumphs of public healthcare in New York City. Over its five-season run, the show balanced high-stakes medical procedures with deeply personal character arcs, making "How can I help?" a rallying cry for fans worldwide.
Series Profile
• Director Name: Peter Horton (Pilot)
• First Release Date: September 25, 2018
• Number of Seasons: 5
• Rating: 34% approval on Rotten Tomatoes; 47/100 on Metacritic
• Country of Origin: United States
• Original Release Network: NBC
• Distribution: NBCUniversal Television and Streaming
• Plot: A medical director reforms the nation's oldest public hospital by removing bureaucracy to provide exceptional care.
• Critics Response: Mixed or average, with some critics praising Ryan Eggold’s performance while others found the show predictable.
• Accolades: The series was a viewership success, particularly in its early seasons, ranking as the 21st most-watched show in the 2018–19 season.
• Original Release Network: NBC
Synopsis
The New Amsterdam TV series centers on New Amsterdam Medical Center, a fictionalization of Bellevue, the oldest public hospital in the United States. The story begins with Dr. Max Goodwin assuming the role of Medical Director. Max is determined to breathe new life into an understaffed and underfunded institution that treats everyone from the President to Rikers Island prisoners. By tearing up bureaucracy and asking "How can I help?", he empowers a team of passionate doctors who must simultaneously deal with their own health crises, addictions, and complex relationships both inside and outside the hospital walls.
Cast and Characters
The New Amsterdam TV series featured a diverse and talented ensemble cast including:
• Ryan Eggold as Dr. Maximus "Max" Goodwin
• Janet Montgomery as Dr. Lauren Bloom
• Freema Agyeman as Dr. Helen Sharpe
• Jocko Sims as Dr. Floyd Reynolds
• Anupam Kher as Dr. Vijay Kapoor
• Tyler Labine as Dr. Ignatius "Iggy" Frome
• Sandra Mae Frank as Dr. Elizabeth Wilder
Main Characters Description
• Dr. Max Goodwin: The brilliant and charming Medical Director who disrupts hospital bureaucracy to prioritize patient care while battling his own throat cancer.
• Dr. Lauren Bloom: The Head of the Emergency Department who faces personal struggles with drug addiction and later goes to rehab to heal herself.
• Dr. Helen Sharpe: The former Head of Oncology and the hospital’s public face who eventually transfers to the NHS in London.
• Dr. Floyd Reynolds: The Head of the Cardiovascular Surgery Division who briefly leaves the hospital but returns to assist during the global pandemic.
• Dr. Iggy Frome: The Head of Psychiatry who treats his patients with profound respect while navigating professional boundaries and his own personal orientation.
• Dr. Vijay Kapoor: The former Head of Neurology who provided a thoughtful approach to medicine before his untimely and shocking death.
• Dr. Elizabeth Wilder: A brilliant deaf surgeon who joins as the Head of Oncology, providing fresh leadership and boosting hospital morale.
Production
The series was created by David Schulner and inspired by the book Twelve Patients: Life and Death at Bellevue Hospital by Eric Manheimer, a former medical director at Bellevue. Production companies included Mount Moriah, Pico Creek Productions, and Universal Television. To maintain authenticity, filming took place at real New York City area hospitals, including Bellevue Hospital Center, Metropolitan Hospital Center, and Kings County Hospital Center. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the production notably donated its supply of personal protective equipment to the New York State Department of Health.
Seasons
• Season 1: 22 episodes | "Pilot" | September 25, 2018 | 2018–2019 | Max arrives at the hospital, fires entire departments to focus on care, and begins his cancer treatment.
• Season 2: 18 episodes | "Your Turn" | September 24, 2019 | 2019–2020 | The staff navigates the aftermath of a major ambulance crash and the loss of Max's wife, Georgia.
• Season 3: 14 episodes | "The New Normal" | March 2, 2021 | 2020–2021 | A shortened season focused on the hospital's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the staff's safety.
• Season 4: 22 episodes | "More Joy" | September 21, 2021 | 2021–2022 | Max and Helen explore their romantic relationship while the hospital faces new leadership under Dr. Veronica Fuentes.
• Season 5: 13 episodes | "TBD" | September 20, 2022 | 2022–2023 | The final season wraps up the doctors' personal and professional journeys, ending with a glimpse of an adult Luna Goodwin.
Spin-offs and Adaptations
The influence of the New Amsterdam TV series has led to both international versions and potential sequels:
• Turkish Adaptation: A remake titled Hayat Bugün ("Life Today") premiered in Turkey in 2022.
• New Amsterdam: Tomorrow: As of March 2024, NBC is reportedly pursuing a sequel series focused on Max’s daughter, Luna Goodwin, as an adult medical director.
Ratings and Review
The NBC medical drama received a mixed critical reception but strong early viewership. Rotten Tomatoes noted the show felt familiar to genre devotees, while the Los Angeles Times praised the actors for making the "baldly manipulative" and "corny" plot points compelling. Ryan Eggold was a standout for many, though some critics felt his character's "irritating" drive for change sometimes overshadowed the strong supporting cast. Despite declining ratings by its fifth season, the show maintained a loyal following and transitioned from Amazon Video to Sky Witness in the United Kingdom due to its popularity.
🔖 Key Takeaways
🗝️ Real-World Roots: The show is deeply tied to the history of Bellevue Hospital and the real experiences of Dr. Eric Manheimer.
🗝️ Character Evolution: The cast portrays characters dealing with realistic issues like cancer, addiction, and the toll of a global pandemic.
🗝️ Systemic Focus: Unlike many medical dramas, this NBC medical drama prioritized the reform of the public health system as a central narrative arc.
🗝️ Future Potential: The legacy of Dr. Max Goodwin may continue through the announced sequel series, New Amsterdam: Tomorrow.
🌐 External sources
Keywords: New Amsterdam TV series
New Amsterdam TV series
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