less on the cheese please

kebi_md

Instinctively not a big fan of "hospital-based" drama series because I work in the hospital myself, as a doctor. My whole idea of relaxing at home is certainly not watching another hospital environment. That being said, I still get curious about these medical drama series, so I tune in once in a while to see if it's worth recommending or not. I do not expect fictional plots and characters to portray real-life scenarios. People should be warned that whatever happens in a TV show is not necessarily true, or remotely close to reality. With a tiny speck of hope, I still wished that hospital dramas did justice to real life scenarios.

I tried watching one episode of the red band society while putting my "doctor-spectacles" aside, pretending to be a non-medical person. I failed after 10 minutes. While the plot tried to convince the audience that life in the hospital can be really cool, I couldn't help but notice something terribly missing and shallow about the story. (again, while keeping that "I-dont- work-in-a-children's-hospital" state of mind). I found it difficult to connect with the characters in the story. Even with the doctor. Im impressed with portrayal of the nurse's character Octavia. Great acting. Overall, everyone seemed kind of 2-dimensional and lonely. They come into the hospital to form new bonds, as if they all came in empty handed without existing family support. They probably do, just not emphasized yet-which hopefully they will soon). When patients do come to the hospital, either for long or short periods, it is usually the time when families and loved ones converge and form stronger bonds to support each other in this vulnerable moment. Wish they had emphasized on individual stories, strengths and moral support before they all jump right in to newly-found belongingness and brotherhood. I hope they try to de-romanticize the plot a little bit more in order to attract more sympathizing viewers.

Now doctor-spectacles back on. I have never seen chronically-comatosed patient not intubated; a cancer patient on chemotherapy with no hair on the scalp, yet with bushy eyebrows; a lonely surgeon who rarely hangs out with his own colleagues.. The show could probably do better.

score 2/10

kebi_md 2 October 2014

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw3097255/