Yet another series brought to us by Acorn Video that offers
a fresh new take on an old genre. Thinking back every medical show I’ve ever
watched takes place in some major hospital in one mega-city or another. Even the
fictional cities are always gigantic. Here we’re exposed to a smaller version,
a county styled hospital with small staff taking care of locals as opposed to
those bureaucratic institutions that populate television.
As with many other series this season as my first exposure
to the show. After some form of misconduct or mistake Dr. Hugh Knight (Rodger
Corser) was forced to work for a year as a country GP in his former home town
of Whyhope by a Medical Tribunal. Since his goal was to leave the town he grew
up in this is a form of punishment that goes beyond the pale for him. He makes
the best of it though, even finding an interest in the head of the hospital
Penny Cartwright (Hayley McElhinney). All of that changed at the end of season
one (apparently) as Penny accepted a new position at a major hospital, exactly
what Hugh longs for.
As this season opens Hugh is hoping that a new artificial
heart he’s helped design will land him in the good graces with the Tribunal.
When it fails he returns to Whyhope. To make matters worse the replacement
they’ve sent for Penny is one of the worst doctors he and the rest of the staff
have ever encountered. Nora (Helen Thompson) is the most self-absorbed person
they’ve ever encountered. And like Hugh she has no desire to be in the
backwoods location. She doesn’t care about anyone and is prone to bad behavior
more than even Hugh.
He’s not the only one who’s unhappy though as Penny’s son
Floyd (Winta McGrath) isn’t happy with his new locale and longs to return to
Whyhope. Adding salt to the already open wound Hugh discovers that Penny
already has a new boyfriend, a doctor who was in the military.
One would think all of this would be enough for a show that
focuses on the medical profession. Not so. Hugh can’t just have problems based
on his issues at the hospital, no he has to have more issues in dealing with
his family. And what a group they are.
His dad Jim (Steve Bisley) seems fine with the exception of
a few health issues. His mother Meryl (Tina Bursill) is another matter, running
for the office of Mayor and almost willing to do anything to win. Like when she
and her son’s girlfriend Hayley (Chloe Bayliss) find two boxes of votes that
weren’t counted. Giving Hayley the task of destroying the votes Hayley’s
conscious won’t let her do so, something that comes back to haunt them later.
Then there is Ajax (Matt Castley), Hugh’s younger brother
and Hayley’s boyfriend. Still finding his way in life episodes deal with what
it is he wants to do. One of those things is marry Hayley. He gets different
views on what to do from all those around him.
That would include Hugh’s other brother Matt (Ryan Johnson).
Matt is having difficulty with both his wife Charlie (Nicole da Silva) and Hugh
because he saw her kiss Hugh. It was nothing but a misunderstanding but an
issue he’s still dealing with that gets solved early on in this season.
All of these stories revolved in and out of every episode
and as one gets solved a new one pops up to replace it. Each of them offers a
brilliant combination of humor and seriousness that will keep you watching and
smiling. The medical issues are real and those tend to be more on the serious
side, the family issues more towards the funny. But there are a number of light
hearted moments in the hospital as well mainly dealing with the quirks of the
staff members. Many involving Nora are absolutely hilarious.
The end result is a series that’s unlike most medical shows
and that offers something that is sure to entertain those who’ve yet to be
exposed to it. Acorn has done another fine job of bringing something to us in
this country we might never have seen. I for one am glad that they did.
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