New Amsterdam Review: We’re In This Together (Season 4 Episode 2)
The ICU may be crowded and Max and Helen may be causing gossip to stir in the halls, but somehow New Amsterdam Season 4 Episode 2, “We’re In This Together,” still manages to be very boring.
The patients are forgettable, Iggy is insufferable, and while I love the fact that Dr. Wilder is being prominently featured, it’s a waste of valuable screentime to have her running around the hospital rejecting job offers.
The New Amsterdam I once knew would go beyond just having a deaf character on the show and would have her at least treating patients by now.
There’s no need to center her storylines around her deafness, that’s not what I’m asking for. Let’s see her working.
The moral of the story here is to never trust an episode of TV that asks about a couple’s ship name (I’m serious). But a couple of storylines do work.
Dr. Shinwari’s struggle with the newfound privilege is fascinating to watch because it’s easily relatable from all sides.
Lauren is just trying to be a good girlfriend, and why shouldn’t she be? She is right that sleep and quality equipment make doctors better. She’s also right that any other resident would take advantage of the resources she’s offering.
But from Leya’s perspective, it’s definitely easy to see how this new access to nice things must be overwhelming. When we met her last season, she was sleeping in her car.
Since she is not used to having much, taking can’t be easy for her. A person’s journey can and should be attached to their pride. Struggle has been a part of her story for a very long time; it’s going to be so rewarding to watch her grow.
But her peers are not wrong for calling her out. Leyla is not responsible, but it’s still a fact that they are not receiving the same quality of education as the person who is sleeping with their boss.
Lauren also got Leyla her residency spot in a dishonest way. So, as talented as Dr. Shinwari is, she’s eventually going to unearth the fact that her placement is based on a lie and then dinnertime won’t be fun for these lovebirds.
Dr. Reynolds and Dr. Malvo are also making New Amsterdam bearable lately as I try to figure out what they’re doing with each other.
Open relationships are perfectly fine, but they aren’t very open about it. Lynn says Floyd can have dates and romance and everything else that comes with a relationship — but they are still hiding. It’s confusing to watch.
Yet, their chemistry is palpable and magnetic. New Amsterdam used to be good because it did not center too heavily on ships. But I’m not mad about Reynolds and Malvo scenes.
Our doctors really do need to focus on medicine more than making out in the future. This is a New York City public hospital. We are not in Seattle.
Doctor’s Notes
- I just can’t care about Helen and Max. Not sorry.
- They won’t make it to London. If they do, it won’t last long.
- Gladys’ speech to Iggy after all of his students walk out on him is the best scene on the episode.
- I’ll keep saying it: Iggy not treating patients is such a waste.
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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.
2 comments
Great review. I liked that they’re veering away from medicine a bit because I felt they took on too much last season but they need to find some balance.
Leyla and Lauren happened really quickly but I’m actually liking their storyline this season. They’re cute together and I like that Bloom gets to be happy after all they’ve put her through. Leyla is a really interesting character and while I could have done without it, I’m really intrigued to see where the bribe plot goes.
But I too, don’t really give a damn about Max and Helen. I’ve always hated the emotional affair he was having with Helen when Georgia was pregnant and that’s soured them in my eyes. I also think their coupling is too little too late in a way? Last season there was almost no romance and very few conversations of depth between them and now they’re not only together but moving continents? Hm. Helen feels a lot like a love interest rather than an independent main character and I wish the premiere took place over the course of a few weeks where the audience got to see them adjust to their relationship and talk out all the huge things; eg, Luna, who was Max’s whole storyline last season but now, suddenly, we’re meant to believe her grandparents would just be okay with her leaving the country lol. All shows drop plots when convenient, but this show does it to the extreme and the writing oscillates between all or nothing so often, it’s hard to get invested in certain areas. Like Floyd for instance. I see the chemistry but I don’t really get the point because they contradict themselves in every episode. Iggy too, needs to be better utilized but I’m glad to see he’s still got Gladys. I’m enjoying my the show but I really hope the rest of the season is less Greys Anantony 2.0.
Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion that is the beauty of free speech and an open forum. I happen to think painting Healthcare professionals as if their entire life is medicine is a highly unrealistic concept because they actually get married and have children also. While I Agee that seeing them work as professionals in excellence together was great. But if you know anything about life in a real hospital you do see a lot of hooking up. Heck this is where they spend most of their time. I like that they portray Helen as strong and successful. At least she is not a nurse sniffing out a doctor to marry and sleep her way around until she lands one. Max was emotionally bonded with another woman and that will be one for him to work out along with Helen and her issues. It is a good show.
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