Two Weeks In The Life

neppie

I knew this series was a gem reading it was canceled before my knowing of its existence. "Red Band Society" joins the list of short lived, too good for television dramas with "A Year in the Life" and "My So-Called Life". One episode even contains a subtle tribute to the later, with Wilson Cruz reprising an aspect of his "Ricky" character, proffering advice in a women's restroom.

Perhaps its initial audience tuned in expecting a more traditional adult medical drama. None stuck around long enough to catch that the dialog and jokes were far from juvenile. Any families expecting a cute and corny feel good pick-me up would be turned off the by its seriousness and mature dialog: "More like 68. You do me and I'll owe you one".

The drama might have been designed to be short lived. The patients had life threatening illnesses and not all can be survivors. Had there been another season it would be a different cast of sick kids each year, with only doctors and nurses roles recurring. That's not the formula at all. Would another character enter a coma to be the wise and sarcastic narrator watching events play out?

The series went so far as to treat mental disease seriously and shun pity. A scene where a cancer patient crashes a homecoming dance turned pity party for an undeserving cheerleader queen (also a terminally ill patient), dissing her on stage (much to her delight), should have become a classic. Once I might have been upset that a clever, original show not fitting the mold was too unpopular to continue, while Kardashians and formula procedural dramas reign on for years. Now only count myself privileged for having seen it.

score 8/10

neppie 28 March 2015

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw3210053/