New Amsterdam (1.5)

Monday, March 24th, 2008 at 9 PM

FOX

New Amsterdam, Season 1 - Episode 5 - "Keep the Change"

"Quick, must... add... name... into Google Search." (FOX)

Marmot: Blonde Doctor: What's your real name? / John Amsterdam: John Amsterdam / Blonde Doctor: That's made up. / John Amsterdam: ... / John Amsterdam: You are.

Manatee: Your script would have made for a more compelling hour of TV than the one that aired last night.

Marmot: What was that that we watched? What a garbled mess.

Manatee: I know. Now that the series is winding down, I feel like last night's episode asked too many more questions than it solved. But not good questions, messy logistical ones. Maybe they hope that's what will save them for a season 2. I hear the buzz is pretty good to consider it for a 2nd season.

Marmot: Question #1: If he fathered 63 children over the course of 400 years, that is one 6 years or so, if you assume they came at regular intervals. Which would mean that given the average life span of 75 years, he would have 12-13 living children. If that's the case, why does he only talk to Omar?

Manatee: That is a great question. I did not really do the math on that one. Someone in the writer's dept is dropping the ball on the bible. Shouldn't someone keep track of this info? I think next week, another son pops up. Though in the flashbacks, I got the sense that he sort of just leaves his families instead of telling them the truth, that's why there was that long drown out scene with Omar as a kid. Him facing his "Demons."

Marmot: So has he not fathered a child since Omar? I mean, if he has, this guy doesn't really learn his lessons. And here's another thing: if his current identity is only about 5 years old, who is doing the background checking at the NYPD?

Manatee: He fakes his own documents remember?! I don't know how great of an argument that was – a Google search. Sure we all do it to our dates, friends, family...but my name only comes up in a few databases. I think it was a bit of a leap that she freaks out about a Google search. If she went to the hall of public records, she'd see he's owned that loft for 300 years!

Marmot: A Google search? Don't they teach you to be a little more resourceful in med school? If I Google Marmot, all that comes up is camping gear and a Wikipedia page. Does that mean I don't exist?

Manatee: That's a deep question, one for another conversation, haha! But you're right, she is a doctor. Does she not have better resources? My big question from the night is this: how does this fate/destiny/true love thing work for John? They've already met, he's had a heart attack and lived, they've slept together, gone on a date... did I miss something in the pilot? When does he become mortal? Do they have to have some kind of "I love you" talk? It's definitely a cruel curse... how do we know that she will love him back? Or is that built into the definition of true love, that it's mutual? Could he miss his true love? I suppose anyone could be his true love, any of the mothers of his 63 kids, and then some. But the heart attack gave this one an edge. Should finding her be easy? Making her love you, should that be easy? Do you have to work so hard at true love? Generally you want true love to be happy, but you can live with or without it. You still die all the same. But he needs to find her to die. Or is it to be mortal? And when will that happen? When will we see him tempt fate, get hit by a train, and actually die?

Marmot: That's something I've been wondering about, too. The logic doesn't really work here. If they have to be joined or whatever for him to become mortal, why does he have a heart attack when he passes her in the subway, but gets a grey hair when they are at their most intimate? True love is such a vague idea anyway. What makes Blonde Doctor more special than Omar's mother or the 15 year old girl from last week? And of course, in fairy tale world, true love comes easy, but in real life, it's the hardest thing you're going to do, relating to someone for the long-term. So what if he marries Blonde Doctor and then makes an off-hand comment about her mother, or consistently leaves the toilet seat up. Is that a deal breaker? Does he go back to being immortal?

Manatee: I don't get their "relationship." In bed, he says “trust me” to her, just because the douche bag you were about to bone tells you to trust him, you should?! Obviously she thinks better of it. And the end is weird... he has told other people in his life that he is 400, with 63 kids, etc. Like Omar's mom (right?) and maybe a few other women? Why is the doctor giving him such a hard time! She made some dumb comment about needing hard evidence or proof since she is a woman of science.

Marmot: Blonde Doctor is kind of a ridiculous character. She sleeps with a complete stranger while separated from her husband with no problem. Then she gets a little weary about it, and decides to Google his name, gets upset that he isn't on the web, and takes that at face value. But when he opens up and tells her something that frankly, given everything she knows about him is completely plausible, she doesn't believe him. Why is Google more reliable than the source? She also needs another name than Blonde Doctor, but until I think of one, that's what she's being called. Thanks, Scrubs.

Manatee: How about Blonde Sargeant? OMG, she (Susan Misner) was so bad. I am not a fan of hers. She had a role on Gossip Girl this year, and I could not wait for her arc to be over! Are there only 40 actors in NYC to pick from? Stop recycling the same people! Put someone decent on a plan from LA to NY.

Marmot: Why is Blonde Sargeant spending most of her working day trying to talk to Johnny Bronx's partner? I appreciate that this isn't the typical gruff with a heart of gold police Sargeant, but she looks to be about 5 years younger than those working beneath her. At least you can believe Robin Weigert on Life. Mostly because she behaves as a cop.

Manatee: I know, I could not tell if she was joking with the partner, or trying to be serious. But I think we could do without her for sure.

Marmot: I think the NYPD could do without her as well.

Manatee: Which opens another question for me, why does this show need the NYPD at all? I know we have touched on this before, but the detective stories are so boring. They need more jazz, action, something. I like the character/personal stuff ok, but we don't need more cop shows. Why couldn't he be a street performer (a mime?) in Central Park? Or a nanny? Or a city council member? Something new that I have not seen before on TV in NYC.

Marmot: Or a hot dog vendor by day who solves crimes by night.