New Amsterdam Review: Happy Place (Season 1 Episode 19)
Literally no one is happy at the beginning of New Amsterdam Season 1 Episode 19, “Happy Place,” and it’s so… well, sad.
Let’s face it. Some patients on medical shows are worth more of our emotional energy than others. The only person who really knows a character’s fate is the writer of the episode. Honestly, sometimes they don’t even know.
A smart TV watcher protects their heart. But all of these storylines tugged at a separate one of my heartstrings — even Gemma’s. I like the idea of the character, but I haven’t always liked the way her individual episode arcs play out.
We’ll get to Gemma later, because is there really any other place to start besides Margot and Tori?
The last scene of the episode — Margot waking up to silence — is so powerful. On a technical level, it’s also a beautiful writing and directing choice to put that scene, written like that, in the space it’s in.
My mind always has a lot going on inside of it. My TV is on a lot, honestly. And watching that moment of silence, hearing it? Yes — hearing the silence is a little bit of peace for me.
I understand Margot’s decision to get her cochlear implants removed completely at that moment. The scene gives me peace for a different reason than waking up deaf gives Margot peace. But I still feel it.
New Amsterdam takes a strong stance on disability culture here, and as a disabled person, I feel qualified enough to say it’s the right one.
The issue isn’t really “should Margot want to hear or not?” It’s more about who has the agency to determine quality of life for anyone else. Margot’s life got worse when she got the implants. She is allowed to choose happiness and deafness.
That brings us to Gemma. The scene between her and Iggy is so unexpected. Viewers go into the house with Iggy and her caseworker like, “Uh oh, what’s the issue now?”
In the end, it’s not really a big issue at all. The fact that Iggy reminds Gemma of her past is completely understandable — especially because she’s a teenager.
It’s also important that he tells her she was never broken. But as long as there is no medical, professional reason for him to see her… it’s time for us all to leave Gemma in her happy place.
As for Marie…. sometimes I’m ambivalent about a character’s death. But even though there are classic TV hints that she is going to die — like the fact that at one point everyone is so sure she’s going to pull through, and no, they are not taking up a funeral collection, it’s a collection for her rehab — I’m sad she’s dead.
Even though it’s a tragic accident, in a way Marie’s death saves Mr. Hargrove’s life. Police officers save lives every day, and Marie dies on the job, doing just that.
Angelo’s journey from “big bad mean cop who might kill someone in the name of vengeance” to “compassionate cop who learns how to do the right thing” is less interesting than Mr. Hargrove’s responsibility to take the money and fix the issue that caused Marie’s death.
He wants to apologize all episode, and this is the only way he can. Marie was a stand-up person. Something tells me she would’ve given him that money if it really turned out to be rehab money.
When someone dies, honoring them is all you can do — and it really is enough.
Doctor’s Notes:
- I don’t want Max to die. But if you read these reviews, you know I’m going to applaud every step the show takes to make his cancer struggle seem more realistic. The feeding tube is a hard step for me too, though.
- If I haven’t said it before, this show does a great job of balancing doctors’ personal stories with the patient ones.
- I miss Georgia — she’s going to have the baby in the finale, isn’t she?
- I 100% support Max and Helen as just friends and colleagues as opposed to doctor/patient. Especially after this episode, it feels so right.
- Lauren Ridloff, the actress who plays Margot, is deaf, which makes me want to cry with happiness, because authentic casting is important.
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.
One thought on “New Amsterdam Review: Happy Place (Season 1 Episode 19)”
The portrayal of the VA’s treatment (the show’s pejorative inaccurate portrayal) of the Agent Orange Army Ranger makes my blood boil. As an Agent Orange “survivor” myself who has had years of care by the VA, this episode provided a barrel full of misinformation starting with leaving out what the vet was receiving for compensation and would be receiving post surgery and treatment. There’s not enough room on this blog for detailing the actual way he would have been treated. The episodes rendition shows another vet “left out in the cold.” If it was based on reality I would have expected a post episode account.
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