New Amsterdam Review: As Long As It Takes (Season 1 Episode 9)

I have wondered if I’m the right person to review this series at times. I have been frustrated with the show for not living up to its potential. But the past few episodes — and especially New Amsterdam Season 1 Episode 9, “As Long As It Takes” — make me so happy I stuck with it. 

There is so much to discuss, I probably won’t get to it all. So let me start with my favorite scene. 

If you have read any of my reviews, you know I’m a stickler for the “show, don’t tell” rule. I also love small details, because they make characters seem more human. So, what if a scene breaks one rule but masters the other? Of course I let them slide.

Max’s scene with Sara, where she tells him she remembers him and taught him how to skip stones, is my favorite scene of the series so far. It makes sense that she would tell him the details, since he doesn’t even remember meeting her. There is no way to “show” viewers this.  

There are just so many details in her story — the timing of the funeral being a week after her transplant, the dock in Cold Spring, teaching Max how to skip stones. Viewers do get enough detail to picture it all themselves, so I have to throw my rule out the window here. 

I don’t think it’s realistic that Sara would get to the funeral a week after a heart transplant. But that’s OK, because the connection between Max and Sara is so beautiful.

I love the story, but New Amsterdam still has a tendency to tie things up in a bow that’s a little too pretty. Sara lives, but the story would be more powerful if she had died. 

Think about it. If Sara dies, Max would lose Luna again (specifically, her heart.) So, when he’s on the Cold Spring dock with Georgia scattering her ashes, perhaps he feels like he has nothing to live for in that moment and collapses. 

Viewers also have an emotional connection to Sara. Her death would impact us too, making a strong piece of art even stronger. But why dwell on little things? 

I predicted a cliffhanger like this in previous reviews. But I didn’t expect to care so much. The fact that I care has a lot to do with how well this episode is executed. 

Something I didn’t predict is getting a lesson on trolling from New Amsterdam. But we get one, whether we want it or not, and so does Iggy. 

Shay is a kid, and attention on the internet is addictive. But calling someone transphobic because of medical advice is infuriating. 

Iggy makes a wonderful point about people acting differently on the internet because of what we think our followers expect of us. As I use Twitter for work often, I’m guilty of that, although I’d never purposefully send trolls after someone. I have to ease up on Shay a little bit for at least teaching me a lesson. (I still think he is very selfish.)

Someone who isn’t selfish at all on this episode is Vijay.

I love the growth we’ve seen in him since the first episode of the series. From making phone calls to his son, to the meeting that didn’t go very well, to the (erm, I’ll just say it) slight stalking of him at his restaurant, to the AA meeting to Vijay asking his friend Ella for advice about helping him — it’s all been great.

This arc follows my golden “show, don’t tell” rule. But it helps Vijay develop more than one relationship.

Have I mentioned how much I love Ella yet? Oh, just in my review for every episode she’s in? Sorry, not sorry. I think it’s genius to have a quirky barista serve as a supporting character in a medical drama.

But as a love interest? It blows my mind in the best way. 

I love that we have seen Vijay’s feelings for Ella grow. Are they at the level of love yet? Probably not. Will they ever get there? I don’t know yet. But let me tell you. Vet bills are no joke. $2,000 may be low-balling the actual price of cancer surgery for a dog in New York. 

Still, that’s a lot of money. I’m proud of Vijay for telling Ella he cares about her. But let’s be clear — he must really care. I’m happy Gierdy the dog gets to live. But I’m even happier that I predict more Vijella scenes in New Amsterdam‘s future. 

I’m also proud of Lauren for talking to Evie about Floyd. She’s not being honest, but she’s such a mess I don’t think she even knows that yet. Women need to have more honest conversations with other women about men.  And I’m going to leave that there for now, because Lauren is just a mess.

Here’s to Max living, more important mental health storylines with Iggy, Helen finding a “sperm donor,” and Vijay and Ella falling in love over extra dry cappuccinos in the second half of the season.  

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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