(S01E04) I was never a fan of the other shows like New Amsterdam. Highlander, Forever Knight and shows of that kind never really appealed to me. Which is why it's so puzzling that I enjoy this show. Case in point...since our dreams are a manifestation of the way our subconscious reacts to our life experiences, a dude who has been alive for over 400 years must have some pretty crazy-ass dreams. That's kind of cool to me.
When this show premiered, I wondered if there was ever going to be some real New York style crimes featured. I guess I have my answer.
I liked seeing that Amsterdam wasn't always a professional. It makes sense that he would have one of two jobs in the service industry and being a coachman is a good choice.
Honestly, I wasn't crazy about the flashbacks as a whole. It was pretty clear how they related to the case but aside from that, I wasn't impressed. I'm sure Amsterdam has seen plenty of horrible things in his long life and as traumatic as rape can be, I'm guessing he's seen much worse. Moreover, I don't need to see the mistakes he's made in the past that help him to be a better person in the present. In my opinion, it's a lazy way for the writers to show what a heroic character their lead is.
As I'm no historian, I really didn't see the duel coming and, for my money, there just aren't enough good duels on TV. Frankly, if I was immortal, I'd challenge people to a duel just about every day. It's a great way to get out of a parking ticket.
One thing I noticed about this episode was the diversity of the cast. Unlike a lot of shows that take place in New York (cough, Friends, cough), this show has a great mixture of different races and types of people. Beyond that, they are all featured in different walks of life; Hispanic detectives, black doctors, Indian fashion designers. Just like all the Law & Order shows, New Amsterdam clearly benefits from actually being shot and produced in New York (cough, CSI:NY, cough).
I need a little help from New York residents here, is it realistic that the local press would plaster a rape victims face all over the TV? Considering that the suspect had just been caught, the case is still open and the victim isn't a celebrity, I have a hard time believing that the local TV news would do something so heinous.
There's a lesson to be learned from the kiss between John & Dr. Sarah. That lesson is that even after you find out your dream girl is married, don't give up. Call me a cad (and then head back to the 1920's) but the hope for true love shouldn't be abandoned just because the girl is already spoken for especially when the girl is as stunning as Alexie Gilmore.
As I watched Amsterdam finesse the truth out of the victim's father, I started wondering if there will ever be a case that he can't solve?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-18-2008 @ 7:50AM
Jen said...
The kiss was too soon. Seriously, what's wrong with actually waiting for something? The anticipation of such an event makes the occurrence so much sweeter. For a kiss to happen in the fourth episode? *sigh*
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3-18-2008 @ 8:26AM
bruce said...
Okay huge problem with this episode. No multiple rape and murder suspect who has been identified by an eye witness (as being a cab driver with a specific license and at a lineup) and who not only ran from cops but fought with one and took her hostage threatening to cut her throat, then got in a fight with another cop and stabbed him, and then got in another fight (saying "I'll kill you!" at the lineup once identified) would EVER, EVER EVER EVER EVER, and I mean EVER in any county in any state in this Country, or any other country, be given bond. This thing with "there was a problem with the DNA evidence so we let him go and by the way here's the name and photo of the rape (and almost murder) victim who identified him" is so absolutely insane it's beyond fiction. I thought they were kidding, like it was some sort of plot to trick someone. But no, the writers really expected us to believe this guy was let loose.
Beyond that, I'm really surprised that Amsterdam has already hooked up with and had sex with the good pretty "the one" doctor. I figured the whole series would be about him trying to get her in bed, with it possibly happening in the series finale, and almost happening each season finale. But no, they're taking another route. Cool. Maybe she won't be the one, it's not like he really has any hard evidence it was *her* over anyone else. I still think it's going to be his partner. Delayed "one chest pain" reaction n stuff. Anyway, unless marriage is required, we should know soon enough whether she is "the one" for him.
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3-18-2008 @ 9:19AM
bruce said...
Also forgot to add that this guy had 2 prior sexual assaults on his record, and that fact alone would have precluded bond pretty much everywhere.
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3-18-2008 @ 9:54AM
Ric Kaysen said...
I live in the NY television market area, but I don't believe any TV market anywhere would put a rape victims face on screen.
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3-18-2008 @ 10:29AM
Steve said...
Is there ever a case a TV cop can't solve in a hour, unless its a 2 parter
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3-18-2008 @ 12:06PM
Jenny said...
I like the series, but as I have heard it is only going to be six episodes, maybe that is why they picked episode four to have the romantic climax happen...of course, that will probably have her with a big bullseye painted on her back for the last episode, so he realizes, she must not have been the ONE and if it gets renewed, he has to hunt again.
In any case, the problem that I had with the episode tonight was that I don't think I had ever heard of "honor killings" being part of Hindu culture. I had assumed the family was Hindu from the other daughter's mention of reincarnation and the proliferation of saris on their women. I know it's not enough to be sure, but I'd have put money on their not being a Muslim Indian family.
3-18-2008 @ 12:48PM
PurpleSlog said...
"I don't think I had ever heard of "honor killings" being part of Hindu culture."
It's not. It's a Muslim thing.
Network TV doesn't like to have Muslim villains though.
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3-18-2008 @ 12:50PM
T Cheema said...
I liked the episode, it was pretty decent. Plus they showed shots of Little India. Honor killings happen much more in Middle Eastern cultures than in Indian cultures. But it has nothing to do with religion it's mostly just a messed up view of what people would think in their society.
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3-18-2008 @ 1:23PM
mklopez said...
It just occurred to me that the reason they moved to fast in establishing the relation with the doctor is that she is NOT the "one".
He died the first time she walked by him. Wouldnt he had some other effects from getting so close to her now? I was almost expeting him to start bleeding from the nose during the sex scene.
There was plenty of other women on the heart attack subway scene. I even think there was one already trying to help him when was on the ground, when the doctor came in to check him.
Having him find out that she is not the "one" would make for a pretty good plot twist for a mid-season or season finale... unless, of course, i just ruined it.
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3-18-2008 @ 1:38PM
Tim said...
Honestly, the opening murder scene had a whole different feel than the one where the fashion designer was found. I kept thinking "oh, now Amsterdam is just leaping to conclusions... The two crimes were committed by two different people and he's steamrolling the taxi driver!"
I find the flashback portions interesting in how they relate to the current case, but more often the cases aren't as interesting as everything else going on.
His jumping in bed with the doctor so soon makes me believe that he's mistaken in thinking that she's the One. I believe from the beginning episode that his cop partner is the real One...
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3-18-2008 @ 2:06PM
Jennifer said...
Does the girl count as a celebrity if she's a fashion designer? That is kind of name-y.
I did think the John/Sara relationship cropped up WAY fast (already sleeping together? hm, when does the immortalitiy go away now?), but then I remembered that these days, you have to use your good plot points and get to them fast before cancellation happens. So I guess that's why they went there.
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3-18-2008 @ 2:10PM
Tele-Toby said...
Count me as one who thinks the Doc is not the One. Might be interesting to see what he does when he realizes that but is now deeply involved with the doctor and doesn't want to lose her.
In the moment of watching the show, I got caught up in what was happening and didn't think about the reality of how the news story was handled. But consideration of it after made me realize that it was unbelievable that the fashion designer would be treated that way.
It could be it wasn't a real news program but a TV gossip show like a TMZ production.....
Based on just some short preview I read online for the episode, I knew it would turn out to be a family member who killed her even before it aired. Didn't spoil the show for me though as I do enjoy the mix of his cases and memories of his past.
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3-18-2008 @ 4:16PM
David Marcoe said...
"I was never a fan of the other shows like New Amsterdam. Highlander, Forever Knight and shows of that kind never really appealed to me. Which is why it's so puzzling that I enjoy this show. Case in point...since our dreams are a manifestation of the way our subconscious reacts to our life experiences, a dude who has been alive for over 400 years must have some pretty crazy-ass dreams. That's kind of cool to me."
The difference between those shows and New Amsterdam is that John's life feels real. The fact that he's lived four hundred years has an effect on how he lives. With shows like Highlander or Forever Knight it was "I've lived a hell of a long time, so it means I'll be a cryptic and a loner, while living in an apartment with really bad lighting." With John, the way he acts around people has been shaped by his immense lifetime.
And while he's a man apart, he isn't a loner. He's had friends and family. He doesn't mind hanging around with people and knocking back a cold one. And he doesn't keep his secret buried in the deep reaches of his heart. He alludes to it and shares what he knows, even if he is a little oblique.
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3-18-2008 @ 5:56PM
Mark said...
In real life the duel would never have happened. Dueling was exclusively the province of the upper classes. A challenge from a servant would be regarded as ridiculous, with the servant probably given his walking papers and blacklisted.
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3-18-2008 @ 10:55PM
Karen said...
Thank you, Mark! That drove me CRAZY. That a gentleman would even accept a challenge from a servant is laughable. That the servant would have been allowed to stay that long in the dining room with company, without being hustled out by the butler and footmen, is nearly as laughable.
On the doctor getting bedded in episode 4...well, on one level, I as glad they didn't do the cliche of drawing the tension out forever. But I have to say that ending an episode about multiple violent rapes with a sex scene seemed really tasteless.
3-19-2008 @ 12:18AM
Norlinda said...
Zuleikha Robinson is only listed for 4 eps in IMDB. Looking forward to them explaining how she's absent in the next two eps.
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3-20-2008 @ 12:22AM
Ben Abba said...
I just found your article and found it quite interesting. I watched the first 3 episodes of New Amsterdam and enjoyed them. However, they did not create as much excitement for me as the "Highlander" or "The Man From Earth" movies. Still I expect that the story is still being developed and could become quite fascinating as the series plays out.
Now, a story about a real immortal would create more excitement.
If you are serious about this subject of immortality, then you will be quite interested in my research and findings on this very topic.
I have summarized what I have found on my main blog: www.Ben-Abba.com .
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