Centuries after the Salem Witch trials, this moment in history continues to be endlessly fascinating and timely.
The television series, Salem, was on the air between 2014 and 2017. The program starred Janet Montgomery and Shane West. Set in Salem, Massachusetts, the show takes a supernatural slant on the infamous 17th-century witch trials.
I tried watching a few minutes of the first episode. Despite the interesting premise, it was not appealing enough to continue watching. Obviously, there was enough of a fanbase to keep it on the air for three years. But I am not among them.
*For the foreseeable future, some Character Review posts may not be published every Thursday as they have in the past.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 seriesNew 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.
It was not so long ago that women had to choose between career and marriage. There was no such thing as being able to have both. Though times have thankfully changed, the pressure to hold down a job and maintain a marriage/romantic relationship can be overwhelming.
On New Amsterdam, Evie Garrison (Margot Bingham) is introduced to Floyd Reynolds (Jocko Sims) by Lauren Bloom (Janet Montgomery). It looks like this relationship is headed for the long haul, but there is one hitch. Evie takes a job in California, while Floyd stays in New York. They try to make their long distance relationship work, but it becomes clear that a choice must be made. In the end, Floyd joins Evie in California, finding the work/life balance that many of us wish we could have.
*Note: There would normally be a video here, but I can’t find one.
To sum it up: The things we want in life take work. Evie and Floyd are willing to do the work to make their relationship and marriage last. But that means making a sacrifice. That sacrifice is moving away from New York. The audience remembers Evie because she is ready, willing, and able to keep her marriage to Floyd afloat while having a satisfying career.
*For the foreseeable future, some Character Review posts may not be published every Thursday as they have in the past.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 seriesNew 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.
If we lived in an ideal world, we would all live to see old age, surrounded by those who love us. But we don’t live in an ideal world. Life is short, regardless of whether we live into our golden years or die before our time. On New Amsterdam, Georgia Goodwin (Lisa O’Hare) appears to be on track to live a long and healthy life. She is a dancer who is taking time off from work to prepare for the birth of her first child. Georgia and her husband, Max, (Ryan Eggold) are eager to meet their daughter.
But that eagerness is diminished. Between Max’s new job as New Amsterdam’s new Medical Director and his cancer diagnosis, Georgia is concerned about her husband. When they finally hash it out, Georgia stands by her man, even if her concerns are not quite alleviated.
Things get hairy towards of the end of her pregnancy. Her placenta ruptures. She begins to bleed out and loses consciousness. Lauren Bloom (Janet Montgomery) is in the area. Called to help by Max who is unable to choose between saving Georgia’s life or saving their baby, Lauren makes the choice for him. She does an emergency C-section, bringing Max and Georgia’s daughter safely in the world.
Sadly, Georgia does not live to meet her child. The ambulance they are riding in crashes on the way to the hospital. She dies in the hospital, leaving her husband emotionally broken and forced to raise their daughter alone.
To sum it up: We know that we should make the most of our time on this planet while we can. But sometimes, we caught up in the business of our days and forget that life is precious. Georgia’s unexpected death, for both the characters and the audience was heartbreaking. If nothing else, it is a reminder that instead of taking life for granted, we should be taking advantage of the opportunities while we can.
*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 seriesNew 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.
*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 seriesNew 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.
Life, if nothing else, is a series of choices. While we may not be fully aware of the outcomes of our choices until they come to pass, the choices will forever play a part in the paths we take. On New Amsterdam, Floyd Reynolds (Jocko Sims) is the head of Cardiovascular Surgery at the fictional New Amsterdam hospital in New York City.
Like all of us, Floyd has made many choices. Some have ended well, some have not. When we meet him, he has been newly promoted to his new position. He is also still in the will they or won’t they stage with his ex-girlfriend and colleague, Lauren Bloom (Janet Montgomery). While still unsure about his relationship with Lauren, he starts to develop feelings for another colleague, Evie Garrison (Margot Bingham). Ironically, it was Lauren who set them up in the first place.
If this was not enough, Floyd is unsure if he should stay at this hospital while his boss, Max Goodwin (Ryan Eggold) has a meltdown. Though he chooses to stay at the hospital, the decision is not an easy one. Eventually, he does leave New Amsterdam. Evie, who he is now engaged to, has gotten a job at a hospital in California. In spite of the fact that his mother dislikes her and knowing that he is leaving his professional family behind, Floyd follows Evie to California.
To sum it up: Floyd is an interesting character because of the choices he makes. He chooses to be in a relationship with Lauren and then with Evie, knowing full well that he may not receive the approval he is searching for . He chooses to go to a new job and a new life in California, not knowing what lies ahead for him.
Writergurlny 