Miami Medical (2010)

Our Rating: 4 out of 5

Rated: TV14

Reviewer: Charity Bishop

Some shows never really get a chance to shine. Such is the case with Miami Medical, the short-lived, well-written, and beautifully-acted CBS series that takes place in the trauma ward.

Once again, a promotion to the head of the surgery ward in Miami Trauma has gone to someone else. But Dr. Eva (Lana Parilla) is not bitter about it... more like curious as to her new boss. Dr. Proctor (Jeremy Northam) is mysterious and eccentric. He likes to spend abnormal amounts of time on the roof, courting death -- or so it would seem -- and is tight-lipped about his reasons for abandoning his practice higher up on the East Coast. The enigma of Proctor preoccupies his coworkers, peaking the interest of Dr. Chris (Mike Vogel) -- when he is not making attempts to convince Eva to go out with him. This potential (but not very likely) courtship is observed with amusement by the latest medical doctor to join the ward -- Serena (Elisabeth Harnois), whose youth and petite height generally make people ask if she's old enough to have finished medical school yet.

Day in and day out, there is no end of situations to be dealt with, difficult decisions to make, and the reality that they cannot always save everyone -- but they can do their best. From hurricanes and unusual gusts of freak winds to diving accidents and crocodile attacks, this team proves that friendship, perseverance, and good old fashioned hard work (with maybe a few odd moments on the side) creates a bond stronger than glue. The audience too becomes fascinated with their stories as they unfold, for the writers give us momentary glimpses into the lives and pasts of these individuals. We meet parents and learn medical secrets, become frustrated by in-laws and share in sorrows. Midway through the season, one of the characters is even near-fatally wounded, leaving us with our hearts pounding. But that's not all the series has to offer -- it never fails to bring about reconciliation, honesty, truth, and fights the good fight. Families are brought together. Problems are solved, some of them intense, complicated issues that require immense amounts of patience and work. I frequently found myself blinking back moisture from my eyes, because the show has heart to it. It is about more than dating and frightening situations -- it is about the people brought into the ward, and their problems and issues... and in their own way, how the doctors help with more than blood clots and head injuries.

This really does have a terrific cast. Northam is marvelous as the odd head of surgery, but newcomer Elisabeth Harnois does her best to steal scenes right out from underneath him. It also doesn't rush anything... relationships build over time and no one is really very immortal, at least on screen, which is a nice departure from the norm. The most audiences have to worry about in that department is a handful of conversations indirectly referencing bed partners. It's implied Serena may be "dirty texting" her new boyfriend -- with whom she shares a strictly internet relationship. Banter floats about as to whether or not Proctor is involved with one of the female surgeons. Eva gets drunk one night and wakes up the next morning naked in Proctor's bed -- in the next episode, we learn that she was too drunk to drive home and he didn't know her address, so he took her to his apartment and crashed on the couch. Infrequent mild language intrudes, but the more problematic area for Christian families may be the gore. It's not as prolific and graphic as many mainstream shows, but there are countless instances of severed limbs, gaping wounds, and painful-looking medical disorders (including one instance when a man has been impaled by an iron rod! -- it is sticking all the way through him, above one shoulder and protruding out beneath his other arm). Elsewhere, severed hands and feet are re-attached. We see them in surgery on a regular basis. Though we see the results of many accidents, we never see the impact.

I am not much of a medical drama fan. In fact, this is the first one I have ever watched more than a couple of episodes of. I'm sorry that it was never given more of a chance to shine, because it avoids bed-hopping and genuinely wants to express a message of solidarity among its characters, as well as give people a cause to root for. It's different from most series in that it's about life, rather than focused on the selfish behavior of individuals. I like a series that reconciles parents and children, that tackles tough issues with class and decorum, and doesn't constantly offend me with profane content. For me, it was one of the better offerings of the 2010 season.