New Amsterdam Review: Code Silver (Season 2 Episode 10)
Even when you remember that the prisoners on New Amsterdam Season 2 Episode 10, “Code Silver” have one mission — to kill the state’s witness, and therefore don’t want to massacre the entire hospital — the storyline is still anticlimactic.
Going into the hour, my expectations are something similar to the hospital shooting on the last two episodes of Grey’s Anatomy Season 6 with prisoners instead of an angry, grieving man. What I get is nothing like that, because like I said, these women have one goal. This is both good and bad.
It’s good because when it becomes clear that this episode isn’t the kind that would find a main character fighting for their lives and others injured, it’s a relief. We don’t need that on the show right now, and at it’s best, New Amsterdam doesn’t resort to melodrama like that unnecessarily.
It’s also disappointing because this episode lacks some intensity that would’ve been welcome.
When Jackie holds Max up, I don’t even hold my breath. In contrast, when Gary Clark holds up April Kepner on Grey’s Anatomy Season 6 Episode 24, “Death And All His Friends,” it’s breathtaking, earthshattering, and in this writer’s humble opinion, Sarah Drew was robbed of at least an Emmy nomination.
New Amsterdam fails to set that intense tone from the very beginning when Max’s destination in the first seconds of the episode ends up being Helen’s office instead of something to do with the lockdown.
To be frank, that sends a pretty clear message to viewers that they don’t have to worry.
New Amsterdam Season 2 Episode 9, “The Island,” sets up the situation. On this episode, we can dive into real danger pretty quickly, but the show doesn’t. It’s not the wrong decision necessarily. But New Amsterdam wants viewers to worry for some people’s lives, and I never do.
Despite wanting you to be scared, New Amsterdam also tells us out loud that we shouldn’t be when they say that the women’s goal is to injure the officer and get his gun, not to kill him.
It’s all fine and good to know that. But if we are supposed to hold our breath, if the earth is supposed to shatter, the less we know about their intentions, the better.
But since we do know the prisoners’ intentions, this review can focus on the parts of the episode that interested me the most. Spoiler alert, none of those stories feature the escaped inmates.
The episode takes just under seven minutes to establish that the hospital is under a code silver, and in the minutes before that, they set up all of the personal conflicts viewers should be worried about instead of fearing for anyone’s life.
Let’s start with Ella’s OCD.
It’s a personality disorder, so it should stay with the character for their tenure on a show. While OCD has been diagnosed in main characters who are doctors on other medical dramas, I actually trust New Amsterdam to weave her OCD into Ella’s future story well.
It also feels fresh (and that’s really all that matters) because Ella is pregnant. Plus, she’s a supporting character, so every new detail we learn about her is exciting. Ella’s OCD doesn’t feel like retcon the show is adding in to create drama where there is none.
Diedre Friel couldn’t tell me about Ella’s disorder when I talked to her, but I agree with her that the direction this character is taking is exciting and rich.
We can’t exactly say that we know for sure that her baby is alive as soon as Ella swears it’s dead. But, she does declare it rather soon after the scare of the prisoner (I think, there is no way to know for sure) getting into the closet (room?) with Ella and Vijay.
I haven’t studied psychology or had a panic attack in a very long time, but I appreciate Friel’s acting in the scene most specifically because she stutters and sniffles while crying, making Ella’s experience seem very real.
The goal of most acting is to make most experiences seem real. Isn’t it surprising how infrequently people stutter and sniffle while they cry on TV, though?
We also need to talk about how Vijay calms Ella down by making her picture her best life. It’s amazing. To be honest, it’s a great reminder to all of us that we should actively picture our best lives. Saying what we want out loud really is a step toward making our best lives happen.
In Ella’s case, she doesn’t want to go back to Idaho to live with her parents (I was never worried). She wants to live in a modest apartment in Manhattan with her baby and provide for them.
Vijay is her baby’s grandfather and capable of providing that home. He also proves on this episode that he’s capable of helping her cope with her OCD while she has to be off meds. So, why not?
Speak your best lives out loud, everyone. It may pay off.
The other storyline of note is Martin and Iggy’s therapy session with Dr. Tabatha Park.
It’s necessary that viewers see Martin and Iggy alone in a room for an extended period of time at this point in the series. Conveniently, they are with a therapist, too. But, she’s the facilitator to a lot of depth, so it’s fine.
It’s good to see the love and chemistry between them. Plus, I love the story of Barney the goat. It makes me wish the show would spend more time at home with the Frome family.
Tabatha is such a good therapist that it’s actually believable that a marriage that was probably on the edge of a cliff last episode is at least safe and going to survive now.
I love underdogs and growth stories, so Tabatha’s win is amazing. I mean, to rise from the ashes of “almost fired” to being saved by the code silver and literally reviving your boss’ marriage and your career at the same time? Brilliant.
It’s very, very unbelievable right now that Iggy has narcissistic personality disorder though.
True narcissists need a lot of attention that the profession of psychology doesn’t lend itself to. You also may not have to be vain to have it. However, I’m pretty sure narcissists would worry too much about their walk to work to give up their shoes so quickly. Half a sandwich, yes? Shoes, not so quicky without inner dialogue about themselves.
However, the disorder is complex. I’m sure you can be a good person and have it.
If I trust any show to tell stories of mental illness well and make me believe it, it’s New Amsterdam. I would just like to know more about the reasoning behind this, though.
Overall, this is a good episode. It’s just not the best that New Amsterdam is capable of. The bow they tie on everything is just a little bit too tight.
Doctor’s Notes
- The inmate stabbing Fran and Dr. Reynolds could’ve been more intense.
- Helen and Max passing through the tunnel is one of the few that are as intense as the show wants it to be.
- What happens to Suzanne? The text Helen and Max receive in the tunnels is just about something they need in OR seven.
- “You can be picky, it’s your best life,” is the best line of the episode.
- Dr. Duke shows great character growth, and his scenes with Dr. Reynolds are great examples of Duke growing as a doctor.
- I’m not worried about San Francisco. I like Evie, though. I wish she weren’t a character that is definitely going to disappear eventually.
- Zach is gone. We should have a party. Nothing about his character is necessary. Goodbye.
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.