New Amsterdam Review: Liftoff (Season 2 Episode 17)

None of us are shocked that Reynolds is alive at the end of New Amsterdam Season 2 Episode 17, “Liftoff,” right? 

The truly surprising part of his storyline is that his dangerous, lifesaving feat doesn’t change his mind about leaving New Amsterdam. 

Viewers never really fear for Floyd’s life throughout the episode, but we do expect him to stay. That’s the popular way to go with a storyline like this. It’s hard to keep an actor’s departure from fans and there’s been no prior tip that Jocko Sims is leaving the show — because he’s not. 

CinemaBlend reports New Amsterdam showrunner David Schulner as saying, “Reynolds is leaving New Amsterdam and not leaving the show.” That means the character can go down a few paths, with viewers either following him to San Francisco or a spinoff in the future. Either way, we’re going to have to wait to see where Floyd’s story goes. 

He needs to be needed, and Evie needs him in San Francisco more than he thinks his colleagues at New Amsterdam need him. But one gets the feeling throughout the whole episode that he’s open to being swayed. 

When Tebby explains that he fell down the elevator shaft because he tried to take “the most extreme selfie,” Reynolds understands the desire to be remembered.

As careless as some patients are, there is never a need to shame. But Reynolds plain empathizes with the kid, because he doesn’t feel as if he’ll be remembered by coworkers.

No matter where the viewers go with Reynolds in the future, his relationships with people in New York feel very unresolved. If he does come back, his return may be predictable, but the story won’t have to be manipulated much. 

It’s time to turn to the people who are definitely staying at the hospital because the issues explored on “Liftoff” are unique and have rarely been explored on TV before.

For example, a few years ago medical crowdfunding couldn’t be an episode topic because it barely existed. 

In 2020, I find myself more supportive of Max’s take on it than I expected. Crowdfunding is rampant these days for more than just medical expenses. But it’s also exploitative, especially when campaigns are needed to pay medical bills.

Just because someone needs to launch one, it doesn’t mean that they want to let the world know intimate details of their illness. It’s so sad that the cost of medical care in the U.S. forces people to take actions they are ashamed of. 

I’m not shaming anyone. Do what you have to do to get the care you need. 

But Max is right when he says that the campaign video that he’s in goes viral because his patient Allie is young and cute and bright and smiley. 

A family situation like The Huang’s just isn’t going to get as much attention.

First and foremost, because they are Asian and Zhen’s values are so traditional, he’d rather die than “beg” for money to live. But Zhen also can’t speak or do anything to make his very serious medical condition more palatable for Ellen and the American public.  

Of course, Max’s first solution is to just give money away. To be very clear, he even tells Karen it’s money the hospital doesn’t have yet. 

Perhaps “We Fund You” is ideal, but it’s just another way of saying “socialized medicine,” which we know all too well doesn’t exist in the U.S. right now. 

“Go Fund Them” is a very nice compromise to everything. It acknowledges that hospitals can’t just magically fix or get around our healthcare system while also eliminating the exploitive nature of some crowdfunding efforts. 

This writer is in no place to put down feel-good television right now. It must be said that it’s nice to see New Amsterdam land somewhere between a miraculous solution and a realistic one. Season 2 has been optimistic, but not delusional. 

Speaking of delusions, let’s talk about the idea that cancer is a “fight” to win or lose. 

I’ve never had cancer, but some of my loved ones have. I’m so grateful to New Amsterdam for explaining the feelings cancer patients have more clearly for me. 

I’ve told people I love to “fight” and “win” against cancer as if it’s a war and the right battle plan will win it. The reality of cancer is that patients are just scared and hoping their bodies are strong enough to withstand all efforts to rid it from their bodies. 

Jessye and the other teens do a great job explaining this.

Framing cancer as a fight is essentially inspiration porn. The “winners” against cancer bring smiles to all of the healthy people who know their stories simply because healthy people don’t have cancer. They can pat “winners” on the back and go about their days. The unspoken other side of that is that “losers” are shamed for being dead or having a recurrence.

It’s not exactly the same as inspiration porn in the disability community, but it’s similar enough to be wrong. 

It’s a lesson that only cancer patients really learn. But New Amsterdam is doing good work teaching it the best they can to viewers who are non-cancer patients. 

Doctor’s Notes 

• New Amsterdam‘s record casting disabled actors in disabled roles is still pristine. Mateo, the former pilot, is played by Danny J. Gomez.  
• Iggy and Lauren’s ghost story is mostly fluffy, but there is a good lesson in the end about the effects Iggy’s diet is having on him. 
• Lauren and Floyd can’t be over, over…right? 
• New Amsterdam does a flying simulation story involving someone with a disability well by doing the exact opposite of The Resident Season 3 Episode 11, “Free Fall” in every way. 
• Frankly, it still needs to be said that disabled lives can be complete as they are. 
• Dr. Sharpe is deputy and head of oncology again; the reinstatement was quick but not as unbelievable as similar stories on other shows.

 

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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