Saving Hope (2012 TV Series Review)
- Feb 8
- 5 min read
The Saving Hope TV series is a unique supernatural medical drama that carved out a distinct niche in the television landscape during its five-season run. Set in the fictional Hope Zion Hospital in Toronto, the series explores the intersection of medical science and the metaphysical world. By focusing on the lives of doctors who navigate both physical ailments and spiritual mysteries, the show provides a poignant look at human resilience and the power of faith. Starring Erica Durance and Michael Shanks, it remains a significant entry in Canadian television history.
Series Profile
• Creators: Malcolm MacRury and Morwyn Brebner
• First Release Date: June 7, 2012
• Number of Seasons: 5
• Rating: 49 out of 100 on Metacritic
• Country of Origin: Canada
• Original Release Network: CTV (Canada) and NBC (USA, Season 1)
• Distribution: Entertainment One, Bell Media, and Lionsgate Canada
• Original Release Network (re-broadcast): Ion Television
Synopsis and Plot
The narrative of the Saving Hope TV series begins with a tragic turning point for Dr. Alexandra "Alex" Reid, the Chief Surgical Resident at Hope Zion Hospital. While on their way to their wedding, Alex and her fiancé, Dr. Charles "Charlie" Harris—the hospital’s Chief of Surgery—are involved in a devastating car accident. The crash leaves Charlie in a deep coma, but while his body remains in a hospital bed, his spirit begins to "walk" the halls of the facility.
Throughout the first season, the show follows Alex as she manages high-stakes medical cases while desperately hoping for Charlie's recovery. Simultaneously, Charlie’s spirit interacts with the souls of other patients who are deceased or in comatose states. Although Charlie eventually wakes up at the end of the first season, his life is forever changed. In subsequent seasons, he retains the supernatural ability to see and communicate with spirits, creating a dual reality where he must balance his duties as a surgeon with his role as a medium for the lingering dead.
Critics' Response and Accolades
The Saving Hope TV series received a mixed reception from professional critics, holding a Metacritic score of 49 based on 15 reviews. Verne Gay of Newsday offered a positive perspective, describing the show as a "sober, intelligent, placidly paced drama" that felt reliably Canadian. Similarly, Lori Rackl of the Chicago Sun-Times noted that the series featured "fun, clever and emotion-stirring moments," though she critiqued it for occasionally leaning into "cheesy montages".
Other reviewers were more critical of the show’s attempt to blend genres. David Wiegand of the San Francisco Chronicle called it a "lukewarm stew of ideas" borrowed from other medical and paranormal programs, suggesting the sentimentality felt unearned. Alan Sepinwall of HitFix found the "spirit walk" concept to be an interesting solution for standard procedural storytelling but ultimately felt the execution was "tired". Despite these mixed critical reviews, the show maintained a strong enough audience to complete a full five-season arc.
Cast and Characters
• Erica Durance: Dr. Alexandra "Alex" Reid
• Michael Shanks: Dr. Charles "Charlie" Harris
• Daniel Gillies: Dr. Joel Goran
• Husein Madhavji: Dr. Shahir Hamza
• Julia Taylor Ross: Dr. Maggie Lin
• Kristopher Turner: Dr. Gavin Murphy
• Wendy Crewson: Dr. Dana Kinney
• Benjamin Ayres: Dr. Zach Miller
• Glenda Braganza: Dr. Melanda Tolliver
• Salvatore Antonio: Victor Reis
• K. C. Collins: Dr. Tom Reycraft
• Joseph Pierre: Jackson Wade
• Michelle Nolden: Dr. Dawn Bell
• Stacey Farber: Dr. Sydney Katz
• Kim Shaw: Dr. Cassie Williams
Main Characters Description
• Dr. Alex Reid: The resilient protagonist and Chief Surgical Resident whose life revolves around her patients and her love for Charlie.
• Dr. Charlie Harris: An orthopedic surgeon and Chief of Surgery who survives a coma only to find he can communicate with spirits.
• Dr. Joel Goran: A talented orthopedic surgeon and Alex’s former lover, whose arrival complicates her emotional life.
• Dr. Shahir Hamza: The highly skilled Chief of Neurosurgery who possesses a brilliant mind but struggles with social interactions due to Asperger syndrome.
• Dr. Maggie Lin: A surgical resident who rotates through departments like General Surgery and OB-GYN while navigating her personal growth.
Production
The Saving Hope TV series was conceived by Malcolm MacRury and Morwyn Brebner, who drew inspiration from a 2005 newspaper series in The Globe and Mail also titled "Saving Hope". The production sought to blend the romantic medical drama of shows like Grey's Anatomy with paranormal elements found in series like Ghost Whisperer. Principal photography for the pilot took place in Toronto, Ontario, in 2011, and the series was eventually picked up by CTV in Canada and NBC in the United States.
Seasons
• Season 1: 13 episodes. Released June 7, 2012. Covers the aftermath of Charlie's accident and his time in a coma.
• Season 2: 18 episodes. Released June 25, 2013. Explores Charlie's life after waking up and his burgeoning supernatural abilities.
• Season 3: 18 episodes. Released September 22, 2014. Focuses on deepening hospital relationships and complex medical-spiritual cases.
• Season 4: 18 episodes. Released September 24, 2015. Introduces new residents and staff members to the Hope Zion team.
• Season 5: 18 episodes. Released March 12, 2017. Serves as the final season, bringing the narrative of Alex and Charlie to a conclusion.
Spin-offs and Adaptations
Based on the sources, there are no direct television spin-offs or adaptations of the Saving Hope TV series. It is important to note that a 2013 book titled Saving Hope exists, but it focuses on Bahraini culture and is entirely unrelated to the medical drama.
Ratings and Review
The ratings for the Saving Hope TV series were notably disparate between Canada and the United States. In Canada, the show was a major success, with its premiere recording the highest summer figures for 2012 at 1.52 million viewers. Conversely, the American debut on NBC was described as "lackluster," attracting only 3.1 million viewers. Due to these low numbers, NBC pulled the final two episodes of the first season from its broadcast schedule, eventually leading to the series finding a new U.S. home on Ion Television.
🔖 Key Takeaways
🗝️ Genre Blend: The series successfully merged the supernatural medical drama genre with traditional soap opera elements.
🗝️ Leading Stars: Erica Durance and Michael Shanks anchored the show with their portrayals of Alex Reid and Charlie Harris.
🗝️ Canadian Identity: Set and filmed in Toronto, the show became one of CTV's most popular original dramas.
🗝️ Metaphysical Hook: The "spirit walk" premise allowed the show to explore life-and-death questions beyond the operating table.
🗝️ Longevity: Despite mixed reviews and a rocky start in the U.S., the show completed 85 episodes over five years.
Keywords: Saving Hope TV series
Saving Hope TV series
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