New Amsterdam Review: More Joy (Season 4 Episode 1)
The hospital is on fire on New Amsterdam Season 4 Episode 1, “More Joy,” and we don’t mean that in the sexy way.
Literal fire tears through some wings of New Amsterdam, but rather than being a high stakes, emotional plotline this is one of the most contrived stories New Amsterdam has ever told.
It is not completely unbelievable that a disgruntled widower and employee of the hospital would bitterly seek revenge after his wife’s death. This is a medical drama, we need to buy into extreme situations to an extent.
I just always set a high bar for New Amsterdam and expect it to be cleared based on past stories.
Instead of adding humanity to the story by making it a case study of Lyle, it’s a glossy mystery of who set the fires. That is a lot of wasted time.
There is also the fact that people are barely hurt during these fires. While that’s a good thing in real life, we are watching a fictional TV show — it’s New Amsterdam‘s job to make sure we are invested in the plot.
Most of the time spent showing us flashbacks of Max and Helen’s night together could have been spent on flashbacks of Lyle during his wife’s COVID battle. Who cares if that takes away the mystery? It adds purpose.
I don’t feel the chemistry between Max and Helen that some people do, but no matter what the flashbacks are a waste of time.
It’s so divisive and predictable to put London between them, too.
Helen’s allowed to live where she wants to live. But having her insist that she must move to London right now after they’ve had this long, drawn-out journey to be together is ridiculous.
Helen’s yearning to be in London while she is building a life with Max could have lasted a whole season and made so much more sense.
It’s like New Amsterdam is an immature version of itself, relying on surface-level romance plots instead of the impactful stories that touch on important issues like it’s capable of.
Lynn and Floyd’s love triangle dilemma has so much more potential if one of them is hurt worse in the fires. It would be a way to show us how deep their feelings for each other go. All of the wasted minutes are such a shame.
New Amsterdam does get Dr. Bloom and Dr. Shinwari’s awkward situation right.
It’s a big step for Lauren to announce to her residents that Leyla is her girlfriend, but she definitely doesn’t think about how hard she’s making Leyla’s life when she does that.
I just can’t help but think there is a more exciting way to make the same point.
New Amsterdam‘s season premiere is woefully boring and it’s capable of so much more.
I’ve been kind with my rating because just like Max needs time to realize what more joy in his life means, maybe New Amsterdam needs time to get back on its feet.
Doctor’s Notes
- I have not mentioned Max moving to London because I don’t believe it’s going to last long if it happens at all.
- Iggy not having patients is so boring.
- I think Ella is gone forever and this just is not okay with me.
- Yay for deaf doctors working at New Amsterdam. I think she’s going to come back.
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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: More Joy (Season 4 Episode 1)”
To the writer of this article your interpretation was way off, and so is your critique maybe you start season 1 and really do a realistic assessment because you are obviously looking at the wrong show. Because your judgment on this is not accurate
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