New Amsterdam Review: What The Heart Wants (Season 2 Episode 8)

New Amsterdam Season 2 Episode 8, “What The Heart Wants,” deserves all of the stars I can physically give it and then 100 more. 

There are elements of it we can nitpick about. In my review of New Amsterdam Season 2 Episode 5, “The Kármán Line,” I mention that the show could consider centric episodes because of Iggy’s storyline with Juliette. That holds true and a centric episode could work for any arc on this episode. 

It would’ve been interesting to watch any one of these journeys in more depth, perhaps with an extra twist thrown in, or as a bottle episode where we follow Shana on the streets before she makes it to New Amsterdam. 

Or, there’s always the option of following Lauren on surgery day, taking a deeper look at Ella’s life juxtaposed with Kapoor’s before the decision reveal, or spending an entire episode with Max, Gabriella, and Georgia. 

Fans probably would have liked all of these episodes or a few more I can think up. 

What’s amazing about “What The Heart Wants” is that even though there are other ways to tell all of the stories within it, none of the stories actually need more depth. It’s just something I want. 

We spend just enough time with every character, which is somewhat surprising. 

If shows choose to tell grief stories (oftentimes they skip them altogether and New Amsterdam does skip the immediate aftermath of Georgia’s death), the climax sees the grieving character in an unspeakable amount of ugly pain.

Of course Max is in pain, but his journey with Georgia throughout the whole season so far has been beautiful; heartbreaking, but beautiful. 

It takes Max’s drive to help others and a little bit of a push from Iggy for Max to realize that he needs to move forward and say goodbye to Georgia.

I think Max’s confession to Gabriella that he talks to Georgia out loud because it’s what he has to do to get through the day and that he doesn’t care what anyone thinks about it makes it easier to trust that Max is on the road to healing. 

It’s always easier to trust that someone is OK when they assure you they know you may think they’re acting weird. 

There is a risk to this story. A lesser show may have made Gabriella’s story closer to Georgia’s or killed Gabriella instead of Sophie. 

The whole situation is just similar enough to trigger Max and be believable at the same time. Anything different could’ve spiraled Max into a whole different direction. 

There is less Ella on the episode than expected. Based on promo photos, it seems a scene was cut. More Ella is always good as she’s such a unique addition to the hospital. 

I thought I’d want to see more of her thought process, but the way the episode structures the story is just fine. 

Ella’s pregnancy and baby will only add to the show. But no matter the choice she made, the important aspect of the story to showcase is the fact that she has a choice. 

Helen also has choices when it comes to treating Shana. To be clear, I’m uncertain if supervised injection sites are up and running in the U.S., but they may be coming. 

The one on New Amsterdam seems like a hidden underground situation right now which is why Dr. Sharpe gets arrested. But the program, while definitely not ideal, seems like something medical professionals should be supervising, not punished for visiting. 

It’s a bigger risk than fans could’ve conceived because now Sharpe’s career is at risk, but Helen’s behavior isn’t what’s unexpected.

I’m unconvinced that Valentina’s intentions calling Karen are as innocent as she claims. Couldn’t she just have called Max? But that’s a story that will be easier to just watch unfold than to speculate on. 

Between Sharpe’s career potentially being at risk and Iggy’s marriage on the verge of immediate collapse, fans should be really grateful the show can masterfully balance tone. 

It’s not a finale or a mid-season finale, the stories are very much in progress. But New Amsterdam should be commended for creating beautiful TV on the way to those bigger cliffhangers. This is TV with a purpose beyond just entertaining or ratings. 

Doctor’s Notes 

• Ella’s having a baby! Kapoor’s going to be a grandfather! Yay! 
• As good as Helen’s story is, HOW can she spend the whole day with one patient? 
• Ditto Max with Gabriella tbh, but it’s worth it to let it slide here. 
• Peter Lugar is a spectacular steakhouse and I’ll always have a memory of eating there for particular reasons. So, it’s really fun to hear it mentioned on TV.
• However, it’s so upscale it’s hard to believe they allow take-out. I’m serious. 
• I wonder what kind of steak Janet was eating in the scene — if it’s actually steak.
• On a different note, gosh it’s good to see Bloom and Reynolds together and all of the genuine emotion in the air. 
• Someone please explain to me how it would be possible for Iggy to fill out adoption paperwork without Martin knowing unless he forged a signature. Did I miss him forging it? 
• Dr. Duke’s story is a little bit slow overall. But he learns a really important lesson on this episode. It’s been done on TV, but on New Amsterdam it’s entertaining because their show isn’t overcrowded with interns.  

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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