New Amsterdam explores the complicated situation regarding Dr. Lauren Bloom in this week’s episode, “The Blues”. In the previous episode, “Anima Sola”, Dr. Helen Sharpe took a controversial step as a friend, but the necessary one as a physician, to report Dr. Bloom’s Adderall addiction to Max. It brought forth an intervention in “The Blues” organized by Iggy and Max to help Lauren confront her addiction. It was a very well-done episode that focused on an important aspect of being a physician. Doctors spend the first half of their life learning how to help others but are humans with their personal struggles just like anyone else. And often, their lives as doctors are stressful and require copious amounts of energy and focus, especially in the case of Lauren.
As Iggy was eventually able to persuade her, she opened up about her difficult childhood and it became evident how that has shaped her as an adult and as a doctor running away from her issues. This aspect of “The Blues” was very insightful and isn’t often explored in other medical dramas. In ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy, the earlier seasons touched on Meredith’s troubling past and her mental health struggles as a result. However, New Amsterdam really dug deep into the root of the issue and highlighted an aspect of healthcare many of us don’t think about.
If you think about it, we look at our doctors and healthcare providers as people with all the answers. We often don’t view them as people who have a life of their own, with troubles of their own, or as a person that has had their own issues to deal with in life. However, New Amsterdam helped viewers see a different light with Lauren’s storyline. Suddenly, she wasn’t just a prominent figure in the hospital doing her job as a doctor. Instead, she was a human being struggling with ghosts of her past that she couldn’t help but run away from. Stories like this are what makes New Amsterdam so unique it’s delivery and plot points.
The scene between Iggy and Lauren after she came clean with him was extremely powerful and one of the strongest scenes we’ve seen in the series thus far. The moment when she accepts that she needs help is one that hits home for many of the viewers. If anything, New Amsterdam may have given a lot of its viewers the confidence to face their own demons and accept that there may be an issue they are running away from. Another aspect of “The Blues” concerning this storyline is the strain it put on Dr. Sharpe. As a friend, it was very difficult for her to betray Lauren’s trust. But as a doctor, it was something that she absolutely had to do for the safety of her patients and for the sake of Lauren’s physical and mental health. It’s very intelligent of New Amsterdam to rope in this angle of the story because it is just as important.
Being able to take that step is extremely difficult and it betrayed the bond between Lauren and Helen. And while it may have been the logical decision, it’s very hard to know if it was the right decision. New Amsterdam has a way of presenting these complicated stories that feel so relatable despite the fact that many of us can’t connect with the healthcare profession. In fact, so much of what each character goes through is relatable to anyone. We all struggle with our past and we all fear being vulnerable. The show opens up a dialogue in a way that other medical dramas really haven’t. Think about shows like Grey’s Anatomy and The Resident. They all have great stories and have their own messages to deliver, but it is simply not in the same manner as New Amsterdam. However, shows like House have focused on one doctor’s addiction issues and their troubled past, similar to New Amsterdam. It is shows like these which stand out amongst others because of the impactful stories they choose to spend time on.
Another plot of “The Blues” was focused on Max’s efforts to revamp the employee structure – but not in the way you would think. He came to the realization that many employees of New Amsterdam had been working there for years but their jobs had become obsolete. In order to change that, he asked for employees to come forward so he can find them a job with meaning. That is such a unique storyline that we quite possibly have not seen in any medical drama. It’s so raw, real, and empathetic and it is why Max’s character is so admirable. In fact, Max is the heartbeat of New Amsterdam and Ryan Eggold does a marvelous job playing him.
Watching Max throughout the episode trying to help those that have been ignored or forgotten really tugs at one’s heartstrings. He finds employees in the basement, in the parking lot, and in IT who simply haven’t been able to give back in a way that fulfills them. By the episode’s end, Max finds the perfect solution and it adds to the allure of New Amsterdam in so many ways. There is a feeling of joy and contentment one feels when watching episodes like this because they are so profound and heartwarming. If you think about it, it’s almost unbelievable that a story like this was concocted in the writer’s room and brought to life. Kudos a million times over to New Amsterdam for continually producing thought-provoking stories and rich characters to narrate them. There aren’t enough words to describe how much the series has impacted its viewers and helped them by tackling issues of addiction, mental health, finding meaning to life, and so much more.
Between Lauren’s storyline and Max’s mission to help his employees, there’s a lot of inspiration to be found in “The Blues”. It’s one of the strongest episodes of the series and did a great job highlighting controversial topics that many other medical dramas don’t give their time to. Here’s to hoping that we continue to learn valuable life lessons from New Amsterdam in the episodes to come.
Catch up on our previous New Amsterdam reviews here.
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