New Amsterdam Review: Good Soldiers (Season 2 Episode 7)
To borrow a word from its title, New Amsterdam Season 2 Episode 7, “Good Soldiers” is a good hour of television, but not a great one.
If every episode of TV were spectacular, it would be hard to quality check them.
This one falls short mostly by focusing on characters we don’t know as a means to introduce retcon about a main character.
Vijay is a veteran Indian soldier. That’s a unique backstory to explore in the future, and it’s easy enough to believe even though we’ve had very little clues that this was coming.
But the show hasn’t previously introduced us to Nathan as Vijay’s patient. Instead, we basically meet him as a new member of Iggy’s PTSD group.
Patients putting on a play is a refreshing plot for an episode, but to have Vijay take over Nathan’s part in this small play because he suddenly wants to reveal that he has served in an army? That’s really convoluted.
It would’ve been more impactful to have Vijay treat a soldier and somehow be so affected by the experience that he reveals his history to Iggy. That reveal would be just as surprising.
Other arcs are good, too. But it’s hard to connect to the parts of the stories that the show wants us to.
For example, I’m less interested in the fact that Elizabeth is suing the hospital than I am in the speech that Peter Fulton gives Max saying that if he’s sleeping well at night he’s not being a good leader.
If this lawsuit is becoming a longer arc, he’s probably right, and watching Max, in particular, navigate that will be different.
But a patient suing the hospital is hardly new on medical dramas. Plus, we have no reason to meet this corrupt doctor who hurt Elizabeth. In fact, fans will be happy if we never do.
Floyd’s journey with Warren making him realize that he wants to invite his dad to his wedding is finally a personal plot for him that hopefully won’t be static.
Plus, the idea of watching Lauren struggle with responsibly taking pain meds is uncomfortable, even though it also feels like a little bit of a repeat.
Again, this is a good episode that is banking on its storylines evoking more emotion than they actually do.
Every network show has a few episodes per season that are just watchable. I just wish we got to see one of Max’s colleagues find Georgia’s bloodstain when they go to clean the apartment. There is always the next episode.
Doctor’s Notes
- I’ve talked to an actual P.T. with a doctorate who has said it’s really confusing to use your title, especially in medical settings as it’s not a medical degree so… why they are still calling the P.T. “doctor” baffles me.
- Iggy and Kapoor are hysterical, as always. But it’s this writer’s humble opinion that Mama Mia would’ve been a horrible choice.
- They mean it in a very literal way, but the show should be really careful having an abled actor say “crippled.”
- Vijay’s final scene acting the play is the best of the episode. But how does he have time to do that? He has patients!
- How can Iggy dedicate an entire day to one PTSD group?
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.