For me, the show got off to a poor start as the characters and dialog make it seem like it is supposed to be a grungy, inhospitable atmosphere, yet the presentation is anything but as everything is far too clean and crisp. It looks like the show is instead set in a resort as everything looks manicured.
The storylines for the first episode predictably were designed to reveal backgrounds of the characters, but that is far better a tool to use than some of the forced interaction you often see in other new shows and everything seemed to work naturally in exposing who the new people were, especially considering all of the actors in the show are newcomers with no immediate draw for viewers.
In fact, the only recognizable face on the show is guest star Michael McKean, who plays a man that has terrible accident on a zip-line. His character’s story in the episode is a good one, but for an actor like McKean seemed to be a waste as he could be the type of person who would have made for either a more dramatic or comedic appearance, if not a longer arc on the series.
One of the convenient aspects of that specific plot is that it established the ‘remote village’ as part of a region that attracts tourists, which will no doubt lead to further guest appearances of celebrities.
Back to the character development, another misstep came in the conflicting presentation of the overwhelming nature of the clinic. The show regularly had moments that made a big deal that things were very busy and hectic at the clinic, yet the moments that were designed to show character personality were the opposite as the trio of new doctors bonded at what appeared to be a local ‘bar’ in the evening when everyone was free to socialize. More importantly, the established doctors displayed that they knew in-depth background information on the newcomers, which would mean that they would have needed plenty of time to research the “hundreds of applicants” to make their selections even though they are supposedly busy and there appears to be limited technology available.
All that aside, I kind of liked the show, surprisingly. I will keep giving it a chance, but that will probably be short-lived as it will undoubtedly make the full transition to prime-time relationship soap opera within the next three episodes, following in the footsteps as the previously mentioned Grey’s Anatomy instead of the likes of ER.
More Thoughts:
ReplyDeleteAbout midway through the second episode I started thinking that this show kind of is all over the map as it seems each show is going to fray off into different directions with a different medical case for each of the young doctors, leading to 3-5 story arcs per show. That is a bit much, and over time that is going to cycle the series through creative story ideas far too quickly.
Thankfully the show has not turned into the relationship-drama that Grey’s Anatomy is, but it hit me where the producers made the biggest mistake. They should not have made this an hour-long show. If ever there was a candidate for being a new M*A*S*H. this is it.
Although it is designed to be a drama, the actors have shown thus far through the two hours that I have watched that they are capable of delivering some comedy and this show could really follow the path of a half-hour dramedy as M*A*S*H. did. The historic show was a success because it took a serious topic and showed that drama with a flare of comedy that made it enjoyable, utilizing actors who were not comedians first as most shows these days attempt to do when they try to create that formula. Off the Map has a lot of topics where it is important to be serious, but also presents plenty of situations of a comic nature.
In addition, a half-hour format would allow the show to follow a simpler plot of one or two stories even with the size of the cast. Look at M*A*S*H, it had six or seven major characters at any given time, but was able to brilliantly master their interaction with the story for the episode. Plus, it would be nice to see a half-hour sitcom somewhere that was not in some part about a family or bunch on longtime friends.
On a sidenote, I love the addition of Cheech Marin. Although he was listed as a guest star, his character as the local medicine man definitely opens the door for him to be included more. Although there was no comedy within his storyline for the episode, I am hopeful future appearances would allow him to use those skills, much like his role on Nash Bridges where he played a detective.