New Amsterdam Review: Boundaries (Season 1 Episode 4)

I’m happy that New Amsterdam Season 1 Episode 4, “Boundaries,” starts and ends with Max at home. As I mentioned in my review of New Amsterdam Season 1 Episode 3, I’m having a really hard time caring about Max.

A character who is “nice” and who works too hard just doesn’t appeal to me. His cancer adds intrigue, but I care the most about little things. He sleeps on the couch. He runs to work. He can also build things.

These are the details that I care about, at least along with the regular arc. So seeing Max’s home and getting more insight into his marriage (however small) is important to me and a great step forward for the show.

At the end of the episode, when Max finally takes a day off of work, I almost screamed with joy. He also realizes that by trying to help too much, he sometimes hurts his staff and makes things worse. It’s also making the show worse. I’m glad the writers are taking tiny steps away from this, but I’m not sure if it’s on purpose.

Max is also moving toward telling Georgia about his cancer. That confession is probably being saved for sweeps, but at least he’s about to start treatment. I do wish he would tell Georgia sooner — the delay is making the storyline boring. But with New Amsterdam so far, I have to take little victories if I’m going to make it through the season.

Tiana is a positive part of this episode.

I love how smart she is. She knows her mom and dad aren’t giving her answers. But at the same time, I think the fact that her parents can’t give her those answers is completely understandable.

It took some thinking for me to get there. At first, I was indignant and Tiana’s champion. “Give her answers! She’s asking!” But imagine telling a child who has no strong concept of death what it is. Imagine if it were your child and they were going to die. It’s almost unimaginable.

I was initially skeptical about the way Dr. Sharpe explains death to Tiana. Moving chairs across a room so she can hear her parents but not see them? Perhaps no one knows what death is, but it’s definitely not that.

But actually, when I stop to think about it, I also have no idea how I’d explain death better to a child. So, kudos to Dr. Sharpe, because I couldn’t have done that better. I need to learn when to be less harsh on the show, because I should’ve appreciated the scene more.

I don’t think New Amsterdam is doing a great job explaining the business of medicine. No medical drama is 100% realistic, but I’ve said it before: Max ties his problems up into a neat little bow too easily.

What this episode does do well is Iggy’s dilemma about his community garden being sponsored by a soda company. It’s the type of moral dilemma that can pop up during anyone’s work day.

Iggy decides not to take the money pretty quickly, which surprises me. I suppose it’s the most moral choice. But the hospitals need money to fund programs. I tend to think a compromise could’ve been reached. Soda companies sell more than just soda. The signage could’ve been for healthier drinks.

However, my argument is weak, and even I see that. Even though it’s a small storyline, that’s why I love it. I’m not sure who is right or who is wrong here. I’m not sure Iggy would’ve been totally wrong to take the money. But I don’t know. And that’s life. Every day we just do our best and live with the consequences.

New Amsterdam would do well to focus on small moments like this instead of trying to make Max especially seem perfect. His day off is just a start. Max and the show have a long way to go, but at least they are moving.

What did you think of this episode of New Amsterdam? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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New Amsterdam  airs Tuesday at 10/9c on NBC.

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