New Amsterdam (1.7)

Monday, April 7th, 2008 at 9 PM

FOX

New Amsterdam, Season 1 - Episode 7 - "Reclassified"

AKA"Thank God there is Only One More Episode Left"

Fox

John becomes fixated on granting the dying wish of his first partner, Andy, who is slowly wasting away from leukemia caused by a bullet lodged in his heart. Andy wants the unknown shooter brought to justice before he dies, but the case is more convoluted than anyone originally believes. Memories of John’s beginnings as a homicide detective help him not only piece together clues to his friend’s case, but also prompt John to realize he may be nearing the end of his quest for love and mortality. However, he embarks down a precarious path as his investigation leads to altercations with the Russian mafia and culminates with a shocking end. (Fox.com)

Marmot: My name's New Amsterdam, look at me I'm 400 years, old look at me.

Manatee: That's a really good impression! How long have you been working on it?

Marmot: 5 episodes

Manatee: I don't even know what to say about the show last night. What tired dialogue, cliché characters, lame storyline...

Marmot: Crap. It was complete crap. It was so obvious who shot Johnny Soho's cliche of an ex-partner, that I lost interest 10 minutes into the episode.

Manatee: And what an ending... he gets shot (which we saw in last weeks previews) and in the last 30 seconds we see him alive in the hospital... what kind of cliff hanger is that?! I think these writers need to retake Creative Writing 101.

Marmot: I also don't think they understand the concept of creating rules for their world. For instance, if he's a homicide detective, why is he handling hostage negotiation in the opening scene?

Manatee: I was going to ask you that. Don't they have trained negotiators in NYPD? Why even have that scene. It did not seem to fit in with the rest of the show. It did not lead anywhere, nor did it work thematically. Why not just open with him getting the late night call from the old partner's wife?

Marmot: Or even sitting in a chair drinking a cup of water. That would have been just as interesting and possibly a little more rewarding. The best thing about that scene? The half-dozen or so "STATE" pennants all over the kid's room. Let's hear it for creative set decoration!

Manatee: They were all different colors! That must have been hard to make.

Marmot: How many different States was this kid a fan of?

Manatee: At least 3 or 4

Marmot: Let me guess: New York (obviously), Connecticut, Denver and Iowa.

Manatee: I might guess Michigan. More puzzling, how many 9/11 references can you squeeze into one episode?

Marmot: I hate to make light of it, but it's become a cliché. There are a thousand less obvious things that could have led Amsterdam to becoming a cop.

Manatee: It's definitely a serious matter, and it was not treated delicately on this show. It was just thrown out there. You're right, there are a ton of other reasons to become an NYPD cop. For example, you are tired of being a carnie (did I mishear or did he mention that he was a carnie at one point?)

Marmot: If he did, I missed it, but that is a flashback I want to see. I wish we could watch this show from the perspective of the people around him. Like his partner, who is probably constantly searching for another job when she's not working or his son, who no doubt curses the fact that his dead looks 30 years younger than he does and won't leave him alone.

Manatee: It's an interesting thought to switch it around. I would like to see it from the Sarg's perspective... "Purple pumps don't go with my badge." Did you see in the preview that Amsterdam throws his badge at her?! And calls her something like little miss sunshine... Maybe, with any luck, the badge will be thrown at the exact angle and speed required to puncture her jugular and kill her.

Marmot: There is no way that would ever happen. The gods of TV are not that merciful

Manatee: Hmm... Maybe they can bring back the world's worst assassin (who apparently thinks it is ok to shoot you in the shoulder to kill you) and they can bruise her up a little. Or those 2 cheesy masked guys who were a part of the worst fight sequence ever on TV. "And the Academy's Award for the poorest choreographed fight scene goes to... (open envelope, drum roll)... New Amsterdam, Episode #7."

Marmot: What kind of assassin misses at point blank range, doesn't wear a mask and leaves an obvious witness? Why is everyone on this show inept?! The doctor, the Sargeant, the killer, everyone!

Manatee: Don't forget, the writers, actors, producers, and directors.

Marmot: The only competent one is the dog. And he looks like he wants out more than anyone else.