New Amsterdam Character Review: Lauren Bloom

*For the foreseeable future, some Character Review posts may not be published every Thursday as they have in the past.

*Warning: This post contains spoilers about the characters from the television series New Amsterdam. Read at your own risk if you have not watched the show.

There is something to be said about a well written, human character. They leap off the page and speak to us as if they were right in front of us, as flesh and blood human beings, instead of fictional creations.

Addiction and mental health issues weigh heavily on the lives of millions around the world. It is easy to pretend that these issues don’t exist. But the reality is that until one is able to see that they need help, they will never begin to move on.

On New Amsterdam, Lauren Bloom (Janet Montgomery) is the head of the Emergency Department. Smart and efficient, she has the ability to manage a very busy staff while ensuring that the patients are looked after. But underneath her professional abilities, Lauren is facing the two-headed demon of addiction to Adderall and the unhealed emotional wounds from a traumatic childhood.

She is forced into rehab when her colleague and friend, Helen Sharpe (Freema Agyeman) notices that something is off with Lauren. Rehab forces her to confront her troubled past and deal with the addiction that has hindered her ability to emotionally recover. But life is not all sunshine and roses when Lauren returns to work.

After bringing Georgia Goodwin’s (Lisa O’Hare) daughter in the world, Lauren has a different recovery ahead of her when she survives a car wreck. Well aware of how easily she can slide back into addiction, she turns to Helen and Zach Ligon (JJ Feild), her physical therapist, and sometimes hookup partner for support.

In the end, Lauren is able to put her past behind her, but not without some serious soul searching and hard work.

To sum it up: There are two ways to deal with problems. The first is to pretend that nothing is wrong. The second is to admit that you need help. Though it is infinitely harder to admit that you need help, the payoff is worth the risk. In admitting that she has a problem, Lauren shows that she has the strength and courage to move beyond the demons that have plagued her for far too long.

That is why she is a memorable character.

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Throwback Thursday: Hot Tub Time Machine (2010)

Mistakes are part of life. When they happen, we may wish for a time machine so we can go back in time and prevent such mistakes. But what would happen if a time machine really existed?

In the 2010 movie, Hot Tub Time Machine, Adam (John Cusack) is throwing himself a pity party. As are two of his friends. In an effort to revive their spirits, Adam, his friends, and his nephew go on a trip to a dilapidated ski resort that was a party spot in the ’80s. After drinking one too many alcoholic beverages, and sitting in the hot tub, all four men are transported back to 1986. Their goal is to undo their mistakes and ensure that Adam’s nephew comes into existence. But that is obviously easier said than done.

It’s one of those movies that could easily turn into a raunchy boys road trip comedy. But there is something to be said about an opportunity to change one’s future and preventing mistakes that could forever change the course of your life.

Do I recommend it? I am leaning toward yes.