a new must-see tv addiction? maybe.

[lagilman]

So, I saw the first episode of "New Amsterdam" purely by accident [after being intrigued by the ads, backwhen], and was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it. Missed the second episode, but caught up with via the wonders of webcasts. Cliches, sure [you can't do an immortal cop without cliches, at this point]. But he's not a vampire, he's not even overly angsty, all things considered, and I really like what they're doing with his backstory. The fact that they're integrating his past families via the children makes him amazingly 'real' -- he takes responsibility for events in each of his iterations, and learns from them, and manages to keep it all semi-together. And the possibilities going forward are both fascinating and potentially very funny. Also, his partner? Is a real partner. They work together, and they bounce off each other, but they don't have a perfect rapport and they don't use each other as bases for one-liners or point-scoring.

And yay! for avoiding the dire Immortal Voiceover of Doooooooom!

I like this show. I actually like it a lot.

Comments

[wojsvenwoj.livejournal.com]

dammit. forgot to tivo it.

[lagilman]

Fox.com. And no commercials!

[blackholly.livejournal.com]

am downloading on your rec.

[lagilman]

*meeep*

Hope you like it!

[redstarrobot.livejournal.com]

It looked surprisingly tempting from the trailers. Popcorn television - light but very tasty.

[kessadebra.livejournal.com]

I like how he doesn't admit he is immortal but doesn't lie about it either, he just says knowing things about history 'because he was there' and people just assume he is kidding.....that and his dog's name is #36 *grin*

[lagilman]

Yeah, exactly. He keeps it reasonably simple, but not stupidly so.

(I loved the bit where he's forging his 'new' birth certificate to get into the army, reciting his original details even as he's creating new ones.)

[blazedglory.livejournal.com]

Yes, I love that, too. Also the dog numbering. Easier to remember which dog he had when. Or, at least, in what order. ;-)

[logrusboy.livejournal.com]

But he's not a vampire

But I loved Forever Knight....

[lagilman]

Forever Knight was a long time ago, and that genre's been around the block a few times. Doing something different (and using, however awkwardly, Native American backgrounds) is appreciated by this viewer, at least.

Also? The undisputed reign of Emo Vamps can be over already, k? Give me a nice, unrepentant, enjoying-the-unlife vampire any day night. Or at least one who's willing to admit that if s/he was really that tortured, there is always a nice friendly door into daylight waiting, and get it over with already.

[logrusboy.livejournal.com]

Fair enough. I don't get out much, so I'm not quite so through with it myself, but I'm willing to defer to the trained professional.

I am, however, completely with you on the emo vamp thing. It was hard to get me to buy "Boo hoo, I'm cursed with eternal youth and superhuman power. It sucks to be me!" as a motivation even when the idea was new to me. I would, however, be very disappointed were I to become one of the kind who can't eat real food; a sushiless eternity would make me sad. I'd get by, by still....

[varkat.livejournal.com]

Wow, you and Pete on exactly the same wavelength. Scary! Plus, why I've always loved Spike.

[varkat.livejournal.com]

Oh, and why Angel needed to totally get over his pity party. My favorite ep from Angel was Spike mocking him from the rooftop.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

I like it for much of the same reasons that you do. As a former watcher of Forever Knight and Highlander, not to mention Angel, I was expecting another vaguely angsty immortal show, and have been pleasantly surprised. I was impressed when John's relationship to Omar was revealed, and with the details of John's character as revealed so far. He's actually grown and changed as a person in his 400 years, is able to maintain long-term relationships and takes responsibility for his actions. Cool.

It's the little telling details, like how long he's been in AA, that make him a believable character, and I'm looking forward to seeing how this develops.

[lagilman]

He's actually grown and changed as a person in his 400 years, is able to maintain long-term relationships and takes responsibility for his actions

of course, it's a fantasy!

(sorry, could't resist, just had to type it...)

[pbray.livejournal.com]

*snerk*

Sadly most men don't live the hundreds of years apparently required for personal growth :-)

[fakefrenchie.livejournal.com]

*snort*

[klingonguy.livejournal.com]

I particularly liked the AA line from the first episode, and the nod to Highlander in the second.

[burger-eater.livejournal.com]

I thought the pilot was junk. The mystery was too obvious and the immortal stuff was pretty unconvincing. Why would the partner ask how he knows the bar used to be a speakeasy? Hasn't she ever met anyone with an interest in history?

It was still good enough to bring me back for the second episode, though, and that was much stronger. Once the flashback parallel subplot started, I have to admit that I sighed out loud--it's just been done so much--but the mystery had a lot more nuance and the double plot gave all the actors room to strut their stuff. They really do have a terrific cast.

It's a pretty good show. I hope it gets even better.

[plattcave.livejournal.com]

The mysteries need to improve a bit, but otherwise, we really enjoyed the first two episodes. Looking forward to #3 Monday night.

[lagilman]

I get the feeling that this is "an immortal who happens to be a cop" show, rather than "a cop who is immortal" show. Not to say that they shouldn't strengthen the mysteries, yes, but they're probably going to remain secondary. Interesting if they can make it work...

[lianneb.livejournal.com]

BTW, have you ever read Forever, the Pete Hammill novel that it is absolutely, definitely, beyond doubt not inspired by? I really enjoyed that one (character is Irish, made immortal by African slaves, and not a cop, but running around New York through its history looking for the soulmate who will let him become mortal/die)