When Chief of Internal Medicine Dr. Amy Larsen suffers a catastrophic brain injury, her life is turned upside down. Still determined to once again practice medicine, she charts a new path forward, ready to face whatever obstacles stand in her way.
First of all, this show has one of the most generic, nondescript titles. It basically sets the expectation of the narrative having no personality whatsoever. Sure, Doc immediately implies this is a medical procedural. That has been a solid format for broadcast networks over the decades. However, it doesn't convey the twist that makes this one unique. It's hard to break new ground in this genre. As such, audiences have to typically settle for well-executed versions of the formula. It's easy to create tension because the profession frequently revolves around life-or-death stakes. As long as the characters are engaging, it can be palatable to a broad audience. The title does reflect how Dr. Amy Larsen has been focused on her career. In the end, she even states how important this job is to her. And yet, the majority of the premiere doesn't revolve around her excellence. The supporting ensemble overwhelmingly suggests that her brilliance in the profession makes up for her shortcomings elsewhere. That's not good enough according to the new hospital management. Amy has to care about patient opinions. The tables turn when she becomes the patient. But again, that's only expected to be the case in the premiere. And so, nothing that happens here immediately ignites what the basic function of the narrative will be moving forward.
A lot of the tension and uniqueness is sucked out of the narrative right away too. The story starts with Amy's accident, subsequent surgery and amnesia-based consequences. The audience is aware the story will build to Amy not remembering the last eight years of her life. It doesn't even offer a joke about anyone yearning for the days when Barack Obama was president. Instead, the story immediately goes for the melodrama with the reveal Amy's son died tragically. He had a heart condition that no one could prevent. It was more serious than anyone realized. One day he was just gone. Amy gave up on her marriage after that. She shut herself off from the world. And now, she has to grieve all over again. It's done with the intention of correcting past mistakes. However, those errors are solely communicated to the audience. The viewer is learning about the past alongside Amy. She is the conduit for this information. She didn't experience it. Her body carries the trauma. It's an emotional and grueling experience. It's hitting her all over again after everyone has learned how to move forward. She can't make sense of it. No one essentially knows what to do next.
The accident was caused because Amy was certain Dr. Miller made a mistake when trying to revive a patient. She has the accusation ready to go when she confronts him. However, she doesn't have the autopsy report to confirm her suspicions. The news drops while she's driving home. She's distracted during a heavy storm. Her injuries may very well be permanent. No one can offer any definite prognosis. They all just agree that the brain remains a mystery. She may get some memories back. It's more important to focus on the future and try to repair broken relationships. Everyone handles the situation delicately. They don't want to overwhelm Amy with information. However, she deserves the truth. Her whole life changed during these years. They are now missing from her recollection. She doesn't recognize the woman she has become. Her goals and ambitions changed over time. She knows she wants to be a doctor. That's the only clarity she has right now. And yet, she doesn't know the program she was managing just a day prior. Instead, Miller has been named interim director. He's given a promotion while she has lost everything. No update is given as to the mystery that caused this accident. It can't be dismissed entirely. That's not the immediate focus either.
The premiere showcases a singular moment of medical brilliance from Amy. It's not a solution offered after the accident. It's all a matter of perspective from before. It was simply detailing who was willing to defend her decision now that she is incapable of doing so. She hasn't lost her edge though. People speak about her as if she can't comprehend what's going on. The patient thanks Amy for saving her life. Amy doesn't know what she did. She relied on Jake to continue supporting her medical expertise. However, his judgment is clouded because he's in love with his boss. They've been dating for five months. That relationship is suddenly gone. He's left pining for her from afar. He lets Sonya in on the truth. It was better to keep the relationship a secret. Everything has changed. But the audience has improper expectations. No clarity is given as to if this relationship or the one with Amy's ex-husband are worth salvaging. The job may be the steady constant that keeps Amy afloat throughout this mess. That was already seen as having disastrous consequences before. Now, she has to do things differently. The audience deserves that contrast frequently. However, the narrative mostly just expects to infer drama from memories Amy no longer has while stating things will be different with this second chance. It's complicated without offering much of a clue as to how this accident will actually benefit the career she desires so much. The balance is just off.
