New Amsterdam Review: Anthropocene (Season 1 Episode 6)
I have to confess that something about this show isn’t quite clicking for me the way I wish it would. I’ve made guesses about why, but I still can’t quite put my finger on it.
Shortcomings aside, week after week they give voices to the voiceless, whether it’s a homeless white woman or an innocent black child. New Amsterdam Season 1 Episode 6, “Anthropocene”is no exception.
I’ll stick around just for that. But I think it’s slowly finding it’s footing.
First and foremost, the episode dealt with the fact that black lives not only matter…black men should also be believed.
Is the story realistic? Probably not. I can’t say for sure what drugs do and do not enter a prison like Rikers on the regular. Nor can I say that white people never experience consequences for their crimes against black people.
I can say that police officers get acquitted often, for reasons I don’t always agree with.
While I’m glad that this story is different, that there is concrete evidence against Officer Jeffries and we are told she’ll face consequences, that ending feels unfair.
I don’t need it to mimic real life exactly. But nothing happens that fast, even if the situation is as simple as presenting the warden with proof that Jeffries uses ketamine on patients. The payoff of this storyline would’ve been so much better if it happened over just one more episode, if not more.
On a slightly happier note, we get to meet some of Iggy’s family on this episode, but the storyline absolutely broke my heart.
Poor Samira is so excited to see her grandparents who, for the record, probably did not enjoy the feminist message and diverse casting in of “Waitress” since they can’t accept their gay son and his Muslim kids.
“Is something wrong with our family?”
she asks her dad, trying to understand why her grandparents aren’t coming to the benefit.
“No, no. God no. There’s not a thing wrong with our family,”
her dad answers.
Later, he says something really important for anyone to remember, especially lately.
“…I’m gonna stop feeling sorry for my self. I’m going to stop feeling sad for me and you and I’m going to feel sad for grandma and grandpa because they are choosing to miss out on all of us.”
You are never to blame for the hate you receive. Every reminder of that is worth taking in.
Back on the medical floors of New Amsterdam doctors Kapoor and Sharpe are attempting to cure the father/son duo of the mysterious ancient disease they picked up while traveling.
While I could do without the really predictable, cheesy emotional storyline, the medical lesson behind it gave me chills. Sharpe and Kapoor are good doctors, and the fact that new technology hinders them from correctly diagnosing an old strain of something is downright scary.
This might rarely happen, but it’s frightening when you really start to think about how much faith we put in doctors to diagnose and cure us.
I never have and never will take his “slow and steady” method for granted. He’s quickly proving to be the most layered character in my eyes and the funniest. I’m so happy Ella is still around. I ship it. Whatever it is.
As far as Max and Georgia, I guess in the middle of a dance floor after you’ve raised millions of dollars is as good a time as any to confess your cancer diagnosis to your wife. Sweeps are beginning, after all.
And there is quite the theatrical quality to it all. The “hold on to me tight” as the camera pans away and all we hear are Georgia’s sobs.
It’s about time, but I can’t say the show let it all drag for too long.
Bloom and Reynold’s relationship is another story. I have suffered the worst consequences from shipping a couple too long and too hard. I won’t do it to myself again.
But even from the outside looking in, I fear their relationship trajectory is too predictable. There will probably be a big payoff sometime near the end of the season. But is it really a pay off at all if the characters act like children to avoid each other in the meantime and we could see the end of the arc coming from the pilot episode?
What did you think of this episode of New Amsterdam? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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New Amsterdam airs Tuesdays at 10/9c on NBC.
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Esme Mazzeo
Esme Mazzeo is a lifestyle and entertainment journalist from Long Island. When she's not writing for work, she's writing for fun, or searching for something to satisfy her sweet tooth. She thinks rainy days are the best kind of days. Certified night owl.