TV Review: NBC Delivers Medical Action With Excellent ‘Trauma’
Submitted by BrianTT on September 28, 2009 - 2:07pm.
‘Trauma,’ which airs on NBC, stars MCliff Curtis, Derek Luke, Anastasia Griffith, Aimee Garcia, Taylor Kinney, and Jamey Sheridan. It was created by Dario Scardapane. The series premiere airs on Monday, September 28th, 2009 at 8PM CST.
CHICAGO – The wave of new fall shows is coming to an end this week with so many shows having debuted to date that we’ve already had our first cancellation of the season (The CW’s horrible “The Beautiful Life). But NBC has saved one of the best for last in “Trauma,” an expertly produced and acted series that stands as the most promising of the three new medical series this season and arguably the show with the most long-term potential, period.
 Television Rating: 4.0/5.0 |
Character-driven, ensemble dramas like “Trauma” have been the backbone of television for a very long time. From “Hill Street Blues” to “ER,” viewers like to watch people who go above and beyond but also have everyday problems and insecurities like you and me. We need to see ourselves in these superhuman characters. It is their willingness to do what most people won’t that makes them unique but it is our commonalities that make them interesting. The premiere of “Trauma” has that balance of the everyday and the heroic down in the first episode.
 Derek Luke Photo credit: Mitchell Haaseth/NBC |
Executive-produced by Peter Berg (who knows a thing or two about the ensemble drama having made NBC’s excellent “Friday Night Lights”), “Trauma” is being sold as the first medical drama series set in the field. These are the men and women who run in the direction of the explosion instead of the other way. When emergencies occur, the team from San Francisco City Hospital are immediately on the clock, knowing that every second counst when it comes to saving lives.
The opening sequence of tonight’s premiere of “Trauma” is a stunner, featuring an adrenalin-pumping helicopter crash that rivals most action sequences currently playing at the multiplex (it’s certainly more well-done than anything in “Surrogates”).
The copter crash sets the stage for some serious psychological scars by a few of the lead characters on “Trauma,” which includes pilot Reuben “Rabbit” Palchuk (Cliff Curtis), paramedic Cameron Boone (Derek Luke), paramadic Nancy Carnahan (Anastasia Griffith), rookie pilot Marisa Benez (Aimee Garcia), rookie EMT Glenn Morris (Taylor Kinney), and Dr. Joe Saviano (Jamey Sheridan).
Being on a trauma team in a major city has to be one of the most stressful jobs in the world. When you lose someone because you couldn’t get there fast enough, how do you let that go? Even on a successful day, one where you save a child’s life, how do you not take home the emotional baggage of that to your own family? It is a job with nothing bug massive highs and the lowest lows - saving lives or losing them. And “Trauma” captures that perfectly.
 Anastasia Griffith Photo credit: Mitchell Haaseth/NBC |
The writing and production are very good but the cast of “Trauma” is what truly stands out after episode one. I like the team on “FlashForward” and “Glee” is its own special kind of awesome, but “Trauma” may have the best ensemble of any new show. Curtis and Luke have been great in film for years and bring the same intensity they have on the big screen to the small one. And Griffith takes a plot arc in the first episode that could have been melodramatic and makes it genuine. Let’s hope she’s a breakout star of the season.
Ultimately, the most frustrating thing about “Trauma” is that it’s on a network that has made it clear that they don’t care about shows like “Trauma” any more. The network that brought us “L.A. Law,” “St. Elsewhere,” and “Hill Street Blues” has given up five hours a week of scripted programming to a talk show host (“The Jay Leno Show”). Many TV writers have already made it clear that if NBC is done with them, they’re done with the network. And yet here’s “Trauma,” one of the most well-written shows of the season.
I’m worried that if “Trauma” takes time to find an audience than the network that clearly doesn’t care about writing will be quick to pull the plug. Then again, if the Leno experiment doesn’t work maybe they’ll be more forgiving and switch the focus back to shows like this one. “Trauma” is proof that adult, character-driven dramas are still worth the effort. Who would have guessed that would have been proven on NBC?
 | By BRIAN TALLERICO |
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I thought the special/visual
I thought the special/visual effects were absolutely awesome, but once the accidents stopped happening, the episode immediately stalled. The dialogue was stupid throughout and the cool twist in the beginning was horribly misused. I actually enjoyed Mercy more than Trauma. There were some times I actually smiled at something. With Trauma, I was constantly pausing to shake my head at the disaster in front of me. Full review of the episode.
http://th3tvobsessed.blogspot.com/2009/09/nbcs-trauma-is-escapist-fun-at…
Worst new series
It is obvious that you did not watch the pilot or are in the network’s back pocket to give the review you published. This is televison at its worst! Everything in this series has been done before and much better. The characters are shallow stereotypes with no ability to hold the viewer’s interest. This hack of a show couldn’t be bothered to get the emergency care even close to reality. I realize that there has to be some latitude in the dramatization of the care, but the level of care provide by the characters in this show would get them kicked out of the profession. This pilot could be used as a training film for new EMT/Paramedics on what not to do on scene. This show is an insult to anyone who provides emergent care in the real world.
Trauma Series is, well, 'Traumatic'
I totally agree with you here, ‘Anonymous’. I have only seen the clips (unable to see the whole thing outside of the US - such as Australia or New Zealand) to see what pretty much EVERYONE in the EMS community have been complaining about (that’s right, complaining about, not praising) the past few days. What I say here, I say as a paramedic (you know, the sort of person this show was MEANT to portray?!?!?) - This show is pure, unadulterated shit! It’s a disgusting embarrassment to the entire EMS profession, and NBC should be embarrassed by it themselves! As you mentioned, it’s only value might be as a training series to teach new paramedics/EMTs how NOT to go about their job!
Also, Brian of ‘HollywoodChicago.com’ (if you actually take the time to read replies), can I suggest that you actually PROOF READ your ‘articles’ before you post them to the internet for the whole world to see??? After all, even my 4 year old daughter knows you don’t spell “but” with a G (and that wasn’t the only spelling error)…
Not great character scripting, just great action
Decided to take a chance on TV and watch the premiere of Trauma. Don’t know if it’s gonna be around long. Heavy on action with very improbable scenarios(a crisis developing within a crisis). Got to be unbelievable after a point. I found the writing kinda lame, with melodramatic, corny lines. But if you like action, this will entertain you.
Cliff Curtis shines in this show
I’m so happy to see my Maori brother Cliff Curtis on a network show. He’s been rising higher and higher on the cast list with every great Hollywood movie he’s made, and now he’s the breakthrough character on “Trauma”. I’ll overlook the fact that he has to use an American accent, because I’m so happy he’s on this show. Really good show and Cliff Curtis has the coolest character on the show. Almost like a Dr. House type.
Seriously? Probably some of
Seriously? Probably some of the worst acting I’ve seen in years, over the top unrealistic action and a show that needs to be taken out back and taken out if its misery.
Trauma
Caught the last 15 minutes of the 2nd show. A snap judgement call on my part says they cleaned up the character acting a bit so it isnt as melodramatic this time around. Things seem slightly more realistic. This tells me the “formula” for the first show was nothing but a hook to create an audience.
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