New Amsterdam

First airing in 2018 and concluding in 2023, New Amsterdam was an American medical drama television series based on Dr Eric Manheimer’s memoir Twelve Patients: Life and Death at Bellevue Hospital. The series was inspired by real-life experiences at the United States’ oldest public hospital, offering a dramatic yet idealistic portrayal of healthcare reform, told through the lens of its central character, Dr Max Goodwin (Ryan Eggold).

Goodwin arrives as the new medical director of the fictional New Amsterdam Hospital and quickly makes his mark with the recurring mantra, “How can I help?” His mission is to break down bureaucracy and prioritise patient care above all else. The series begins with an audacious act: he fires the entire cardiothoracic surgical department for underperforming, a move that sets the tone for his radical approach.

Eggold’s performance anchors the series with sincerity and passion. Michael Starr of the New York Post aptly summarised its appeal, noting: “New Amsterdam will satisfy fans of the genre. It's somewhat predictable, with a moderate dose of prime-time soapiness. But with Eggold's strong performance and an interesting supporting cast, this show could be the right prescription to attract a following.” And indeed, it did build a loyal viewership, drawn to its blend of procedural drama and emotional storytelling.

The series does indeed take a soap opera–like approach to the characters' private lives, which can occasionally undercut the realism of its medical plots. Nevertheless, it deserves credit for consistently integrating emotional and psychological depth into its character development. The show does not treat its doctors and nurses as heroic automatons but as fallible, complex individuals whose personal choices and vulnerabilities are inseparable from their professional roles.

From the outset, Max is diagnosed with stage 1 squamous cell carcinoma of the throat just as he is starting his new role and preparing to become a father. Instead of stepping back to focus on his health, Max largely chooses to keep his diagnosis private, revealing it only to a few trusted colleagues, including Dr Helen Sharpe (Freema Agyeman). His instinct is to continue working and to use his position to create immediate, meaningful change, often at the expense of his own wellbeing. Sharpe becomes both his oncologist and confidante, blurring personal and professional boundaries. His wife’s tragic death in a sudden ambulance crash just as she is on her way to hospital to give birth, adds emotional gravity to the story, propelling Max into single parenthood and deep grief.

Dr Lauren Bloom’s (Janet Montgomery) personal life is perhaps one of the most emotionally volatile. Early on, she battles a dependency on Adderall, tied to the relentless pressure of running the ER. Her storyline sensitively portrays addiction, recovery, and the long-lasting effects of trauma. Her romantic relationships, including one with a fellow addict and another with a hospital paramedic, are turbulent and often reflect her internal struggles. Bloom's estranged relationship with her mentally ill mother also features, offering a poignant exploration of childhood trauma and familial dysfunction.

Psychiatrist Dr Iggy Frome (Tyler Labine) is notable for his storyline and its honest depiction of mental health struggles within the psychiatric profession. He navigates the complexities of being a gay man raising adopted children with his partner, Martin. Over time, he confronts issues such as disordered eating, professional burnout, and boundary challenges with patients.

Dr Floyd Reynolds (Jocko Sims) is a devout Christian who grapples with family expectations, particularly around marriage and legacy. His engagements and romantic relationships, especially one with a colleague who doesn't share his religious beliefs, serve to highlight the tensions between personal values and professional life.

Dr. Vijay Kapoor (Anupam Kher) is a seasoned and compassionate physician with over 40 years of experience. Known for his calm demeanour, empathy and a philosophy that emphasises slowing down to truly understand and diagnose patients, rather than rushing through cases, Kapoor is also marked by personal struggles.

During the making of the series the world grappled with the devastating impact of the Coronavirus pandemic and New Amsterdam tackled this straight on. Originally, the show had produced an episode in season two about a fictional flu outbreak, but this was pulled from broadcast when the real pandemic struck. Instead, the series incorporated COVID-19 directly into its season three storyline.

The show depicted the exhaustion, trauma, and grief experienced by healthcare workers during the pandemic, highlighting systemic failures such as PPE shortages and the emotional toll of high mortality rates. It also acknowledged the pandemic’s disproportionate impact on marginalized communities. Tragically, in the Season 3 finale titled "Essential Workers," Dr. Vijay Kapoor succumbs to complications from COVID-19, bringing a deeply personal and sobering element to the storyline. While some viewers and critics commended the show’s commitment to realism, others felt it reverted too quickly to its pre-pandemic formula without fully addressing the long-term consequences of the crisis. Nevertheless, the decision to confront the pandemic head-on, rather than ignore it, was a sincere, if imperfect, effort to remain relevant and socially responsible.

New Amsterdam was a well-meaning and often moving drama that sought to tackle big issues within a typically formulaic genre. Though not without flaws, particularly its tendency towards sentimentality and at times simplistic resolutions, it brought heart and social conscience to the medical drama landscape. It set itself apart from other medical dramas like Grey's Anatomy or The Good Doctor by often putting patients’ social and economic struggles front and centre, showcasing issues such as healthcare inequality, immigration, mental health, and bureaucratic red tape.

The series was generally well-received by audiences, particularly in its early seasons, leading to a strong viewership and fanbase. Over time, however, some reviewers criticised it for narrative inconsistency and an overreliance on sweeping emotional plots that strained believability. By the final season, some critics noted a decline in quality, citing rushed storylines and underdeveloped character arcs, possibly due to the show’s early cancellation announcement and compressed final season which brought the journey of Dr Max Goodwin and his team to an emotionally reflective, if somewhat polarising, conclusion.

In a surprise twist that divided fans and critics alike, the final moments reveal a flash-forward to the future. A young woman, initially seen narrating parts of the episode, is revealed to be Luna Goodwin, Max’s daughter as an adult. She is now the new medical director of New Amsterdam, echoing her father’s legacy. Her first words to the staff are: "How can I help?"