New Amsterdam is one of the breakout hits of the year, and it was for good reason.
The tear-jerker medical drama quickly gained a devoted fanbase and appealed to many with its impressive cast, compelling storytelling, and refreshing feel-good quality.
Related: 25 Reasons We Love New Amsterdam (And Why You Should Too!)
The first season was an emotional rollercoaster ride, and the cliffhanger finale has left fans in a state of shock and impatiently waiting for the series to return.
It’s going to be a long break until Fall. However, now is a time to review some of the things that worked all season, and some of the things that need improvement.
Check out the slideshow below and hit the comments with all the things you enjoyed about the first season and what you feel the series needs to improve upon.
If you need a good cry, or you want to relive the series again, you can watch New Amsterdam online here via TV Fanatic!
Ryan Eggold’s Performance – Obviously Works
It’s redundant pointing it out, but it needs to be said all of the time. Ryan Eggold slays this role, and he has more than pulled off leading a series of his own. The entire cast is magnificent, of course, but Eggold as the lead is one of the things that attracted people to the series, and he’s also a reason people came back time and again.
From the moments where Max was the eager go-getter with boundless energy, to the heartfelt, raw and vulnerable moments, to the outbursts and anger, to the devastating scenes where Max’s cancer was sucking the life out of him, Eggold was incredible and showed such range.
The Season Finale’s Cliffhanger- Didn’t Work
The season finale was intense, and the episode was pretty decent, but the cliffhanger was a gut-punch. Up until then, New Amsterdam had stood apart from other popular medical series, but the over the top car crashes killing one of their own in a most dramatic fashion was something ripped out of, well, the playbook of the other two popular medical series I may or may not review.
The cliffhanger of “who died” is too much. Now that it’s confirmed a key character is dead, it’s uncomfortable to know the frontrunners are women. If Helen is dead, it’ll be a blow to the series they wouldn’t bounce back from, and if Bloom is killed after returning with an interesting arc about addiction, it would be terrible, but if they kill off Georgia, it’s cruel and cliche. It’s a cliffhanger which left much of the fandom unsettled.
Iggy’s Entire Arc – Worked
It’s no secret Iggy Frome is a fan-favorite. Tyler Labine is the best in this role, and Iggy is such a scene-stealer. He also had one of the best arcs from the beginning of the season until the end. He has proven to be an effective psychiatrist, and he had the most engaging cases.
He also had some strong attachments to his patients, which led to a frustrating arc that had him reevaluating how he interacted with the people he treated. It caused him to reflect in an intriguing way. Iggy was perfect all season.
Max’s Cancer Battle – Needs Work
Fortunately, the series improved on this by the season’s end, but for the majority of the season, it was easy to forget Max was battling cancer at all. He was running himself ragged but had more energy than one would expect. The effects of it didn’t start hitting him and showing until the back-half of the season.
By then, it was as if the series accelerated everything to give us the full effect of it and rip our hearts out. It’s such a signifcant aspect of the series and his characterization, and it could’ve been handled better.
Bloom’s Addiction Arc – Worked
Not only was it a way to accommodate the actress’ maternity leave, but it was a realistic, timely look at doctor burnout and the way in which people in certain stressful fields can be high-functioning addicts. It was an ongoing arc which was thoroughly explored and had room to breathe, and Montgomery gave incredible performances throughout. As a result, it would be a shame if she met a tragic end after she overcame this beast.
Floyd and Evie’s Relationship – Didn’t Work
The finale had Floyd proposing to Evie against his family’s wishes, but what if his family was on to something about his relationship with Evie? From the beginning, it always felt like the pair was on borrowed time because of Floyd’s unresolved feelings for Lauren. Even if Lauren wasn’t a factor, Evie’s incredible, but it often feels like Floyd is caught up in the idea of what things are supposed to be rather than appreciating her as a person. Their compatibility is unconvincing.
Never-ending Tear Fest – Works
It’s easy for a series to come across emotionally manipulative in its attempts to squeeze tears out of viewers with every installment. The crazy thing about New Amsterdam is even though we’re almost guaranteed at least one scene where we range from getting misty-eyed, choked-up, or downright ugly-crying it doesn’t feel emotionally manipulative at all. It’s part of loving this series, and it knows how to walk the line without going overboard. It’s heartbreaking, heartwarming, and feel-good.
Georgia’s Arc and Development – Needs Work
It’s in no way a reflection on Lisa O’Hare, who is perfectly lovely, nor is this about silly ‘shipping matters. Georgia had some shining moments; she was a great asset during New Amsterdam Season 1 Episode 6. The scene where she found out about Max’s cancer was gutwrenching and one of the best, and we learned more about the Goodwins and she had some incredible moments during New Amsterdam Season 1 Episode 10.
Unfortunately, she was absent (due to O’Hare’s maternity leave) for most of the season, and she lacked substance. It’s hard to incorporate those beyond the hospital, but it feels like we don’t know her. Assuming she’s alive, there has to be a way to flesh her character out better and utilize her better.
Engaging Cases and Patients – Works
I cannot think of a single case on the series that wasn’t engaging. If there were, then it’s less than a handful. The series excels at making each case and patient special. The series has a way of making one-off characters who often only appear for a single episode fleshed out, well-developed, and worth investing in, and it’s in a way other shows cannot pull off with their actual main characters. The characters are rich, and the cases are moving, memorable, and leave a lasting impact long after the hour is done.
Helen and Panthanki – Didn’t Work
Helen and Panthanki were an adorable couple, and Freema and Sendhil had great chemistry. However, their relationship took unusual turns, and the followthrough was odd. It often felt as though we were missing out on chunks of their relationship that mattered. Panthaki didn’t tell her about his kids for a significant amount of time, and it was something that was strange and should’ve required more consequence or a reaction, but it never came.
We never saw if Helen met them or grasped how serious they were, which made Akash considering fathering her future kids weird. Then he had fertility issues too, and suddenly he became put off by her relationship with Max and bailed when she had a damn good reason to help her dying friend, and it all became bizarre.
Showcasing Secondary Characters More – Needs Work
C’mon, I can’t be the only one who positively adores Dora, Nurse Gladys, Agnes, and Casey, just to name a few, right? They have distinctive personalities and add something extra to the series when they appear, and it would be nice if they had more screentime or development. Wouldn’t you love to know more about them?
Found Family Concept – Works
The ‘Dam Fam, are like a family, and it’s incredible how Max was able to come into the hospital and turn things around so quickly. They’re all devoted to one another and willing to go to bat for each other. If the show wasn’t heartwarming enough, throwing in a classic “found family” trope made it all the better. Hopefully, the familial vibe will continue next season.
Kapoor and Rohan’s Relationship Left Unresolved – Didn’t Work
It was easy to get invested in Kapoor’s heartbreak over his fraught relationship with his son. We rooted for them to make up with one another and rejoiced when it seemed as though they did. However, somehow they were involved in an odd love triangle type of situation (or at least it seemed that way, maybe??), and the Kapoor men fell out again.
Ella played peacemaker for a bit, but we never got any concrete conclusion or closure with Kapoor and Rohan’s relationship and where they stand now, which was unsatisfying.
Max and Helen’s Complex Relationship – Works
As controversial as it may be to some fans, the series should be applauded for exploring the confusing feelings between the pair. It’s messy and realistic and not some black and white reductive thing some people would like it to be. There are ways a relationship can be explored without it leading to something controversial like an affair, and the series succeeded in exploring it without alienating the audience or making Max and Helen OOC.
The relationship between Max and Helen is without a shadow of a doubt one of the best parts of the series. They have amazing chemistry, work well together, and balance each other out. They are an appealing dynamic, and hopefully, it’s not one that’s over.
Female Friendship – Needs Work
The series has a handful of great bonds and dynamics, and some of them are stronger than others. However, Helen and Lauren are (or were) the main female characters, but they didn’t get the chance to interact often, and when they did, it was mostly tension between them due to Lauren’s addiction.
The moments between the two women, or Helen and Georgia, are far and few between but treasured when they happen. The series could use a strong female friendship/dynamic to compete with the likes of Kapiggy or Sharpwin.
Kapiggy Bromance – Works
The relationship between Kapoor and Iggy was one of the highlights of the season. The pair is an unexpected one, but their relationship is solid and fruitful for both of them. It took a while for Kapoor to open up to anyone, but he confided a lot in Iggy, and Iggy was able to provide advice and comfort to Kapoor often, and vice versa.
Kapoor’s Angsty Storylines – Mostly Works (But OMG, Let Him Be Happy!)
Kapoor is like the Eeyore of the series sometimes. He’s so wonderful and sweet, but he always ends up so sad, and he’s one of the people responsible for taking fans on an emotional rollercoaster. He’s a character of whom we invest a lot in, and right now, I think we can collectively agree we want Kapoor to find a modicum of happiness for a while. He freaking deserves it!
Max and Fulton Relationship – Worked
Initially, it seemed as if Fulton would be the hardass who would stand in the way of Max doing what he does best to turn New Amsterdam around, but it turned out Fulton wanted to make sure Max did make a difference. The moment he realized the extent of Max’s effect on the hospital and the staff, he was on board and in full support of Max. The bond between the two was a highlight, and it sucked to see Fulton go.
Soundtrack – Works
New Amsterdam goes on the list of series with the best soundtracks. Their playlist and song choices fit every occasion, and in such a fantastic way it has to be noted. They know how to get the intended effect from a simple song choice over a particular scene, and you know it’s good when you recall a specific scene by the song playing at the time.
Overall Season – Worked!
New Amsterdam was one of the breakout hits of the season and for good reason. It has strong writing, an exceptional cast, and compelling storylines. It’s a consistent series and consistently good, and it quickly separated itself from the pack and made a name for itself.
From the emotional cases to the informative storytelling and more positive spin on grim medical dramas, the series gained momentum and earned its devoted fanbase. It needs a few tweaks, but overall, the season was solid for its breakout season, and we hope for more of the same next season.
