New Amsterdam Review: Harmony (Season 4 Episode 7)
An ambulance crash disrupts any fake semblance of peace our doctors have on New Amsterdam Season 4 Episode 7, “Harmony.”
It is meant to be an ironic title from the start, but the fast pace of many scenes on the episode is still a welcome surprise.
Max has Georgia on his mind from the moment he and Helen are talking about what Luna’s name for Helen should be on the street. So, it’s completely understandable why looking at the aftermath of the crash is the catalyst for Max’s flashbacks.
I love when the purpose of a flashback is to increase the emotional impact of the scene, and that is exactly what these flashbacks do.
If Max had decided to take things a bit more slowly with Helen because of the impact of the ambulance crash, I would approve. It turns out he is motivated to do the exact opposite, which strangely still works.
My biggest problem with the whole storyline is that “mommy” and “mum” are basically the same exact word. It’s frustrating because the fix is simple: add Helen’s name to whatever Luna calls Helen for now until Luna is old enough to decide for herself.
I know it seems pointless to write about but so does wasting our time with a whole storyline just for it to end with Luna calling Helen “mum.”
What New Amsterdam does most effectively on the episode is establish just how evil Dr. Veronica Fuentes is. She spends the whole episode exploiting people where they are most vulnerable.
Her blackmail is complex and sets everyone up for perfectly valid firings if they don’t act exactly as she wants them to.
There is no need to recount every domino she has set up to keep everyone in line, but her most impressive one is potentially pinning Helen against Max.
One second after setting up the perfect disaster of her dreams, she cuts funding of another program that means a lot to Helen. So, her logic there is questionable.
But by giving Helen money to potentially help save children’s lives Helen is now at Veronica’s mercy.
Helen is a smart woman but definitely agreed to be Veronica’s “friend” and take her side in the next debate far too quickly.
Based on the promo for Season 4 Episode 8, Veronica has strong-armed Helen into quietly watching all of her friends lose their jobs and it’s going to be horrendous for us to watch along with her.
I once thought that New Amsterdam was settling for cheap devices by adding Veronica as a “villain.”
New Amsterdam is capable of more maturity and better episodes than it has been producing this season and I do wish Dr. Fuentes would disappear.
But as time passes, we are learning there is nothing typical about her so we are right to be scared, at least for now.
Doctor’s Notes
- The final scene between Lynn and her men is actually quite compelling. This isn’t a typical love triangle and I’m here for it.
- I’m so sad that Lauren and Leyla’s relationship is going to crash and burn soon.
- Is there something even bigger than fear of damaging all patients and Chance keeping Iggy from practicing? I can’t decide.
- As bad as it is to incentivise ambulance drivers to “compete” with anyone, I have always wondered where Max gets the money to act on all of his whims.
—
What did you think of this episode of New Amsterdam? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Critic Rating:
User Rating:
New Amsterdam airs Tuesdays at 10/9c on NBC.
Follow us on Twitter and on 
Instagram!
Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!
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.