Kat with a K

January 2011

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January 14, 2011

Pilot Review: Off the Map

Shonda Rhimes really doesn't want people to call Off the Map "Grey's Anatomy in the jungle." But, um, it really is. You have basically everything you need to know about it from that description, although it maybe glosses over the uncomfortable way that - so far at least - there's been an overwhelming "American doctors must save the dumb natives" theme. I mean, the pilot was actually called "Saved by the Great White Hope," and while it seems that they meant it ironically, it kind of . . . didn't come across that way. And since the doctors are in a jungle clinic instead of a well-equipped urban hospital, there's a fair amount of wacky medicine - saving people by using coconut milk as plasma, cutting people down from ziplines, stuff like that. Other than those issues, though, it has the clashes between the new and more experienced doctors, the patients that magically mirror the doctors' personal situations, and lots of pretty people, just like you'd expect.

So, no, I didn't think it was great. But what stood out to me here were the actors. I particularly like Zach Gilford (Friday Night Lights), Caroline Dhavernas (Wonderfalls), and Martin Henderson (Darcy from Bride and Prejudice), and the whole ensemble seems to have decent chemistry. So . . . fine, Shonda, you got me. I'll watch a few more episodes to see whether my fondness for the actors outweighs my other reservations.

Posted by Kat at 06:57 AM | Comments (0)

January 21, 2010

What the world needs now...

... is CLEARLY another Shonda Rhimes show. And it's about doctors! Shocking! (I mock, but I will probably watch.) This one is about doctors at a clinic in some sort of exotic location. This could go reasonably well or very, very badly - remember that 7th-Heaven-in-Africa monstrosity a few years ago? Yeah. I just hope that Pete's annoying ex from Private Practice isn't involved. Wait, was she even a doctor? Or was she a photographer or something? Am I confusing her with Luke's annoying ex from Gilmore Girls? So many questions!

Television Without Pity predicts exactly what will happen. They're probably right. And I'll probably get sucked in anyway. One plus: I've spent less time in clinics in exotic locations than I have in hospitals and doctors' offices in the U.S., so I just won't know how unrealistic it is. (Well, no. It will probably be pretty obvious just how unrealistic it is. Never mind.)

Posted by Kat at 03:00 PM | Comments (0)