In the vast landscape of medical dramas, viewers often search for compelling stories, relatable characters, and perhaps a glimpse into the lives of young, aspiring doctors. Fox’s new series, “Doc,” starring Molly Parker, enters this genre, but not quite in the way one might expect from a typical “Young Doctor Tv Show”. After diving into the initial episodes, it’s clear that “Doc” veers sharply away from the engaging and inspiring narratives that often draw audiences to medical television. In fact, the overwhelming feeling while watching “Doc” is a profound sense of unpleasantness, making it a series that’s difficult to recommend.
“Doc” presents Dr. Amy Larsen (Parker) as a chief of internal medicine who embodies every negative stereotype of a detached and unfeeling doctor. While brilliant in her field, her bedside manner is atrocious, alienating patients and colleagues alike. Before a traumatic brain injury wipes away eight years of her memory, Amy navigates a chaotic hospital environment, marked by a strained relationship with her ex-husband Michael (Omar Metwally), professional friction with the ambitious Dr. Richard Miller (Scott Wolf), and a clandestine affair with the younger Dr. Jake Eller (Jon-Michael Ecker). This setup initially suggests a complex character study within a bustling hospital setting, a familiar trope in medical dramas.
However, the narrative takes a drastic turn when a car accident inflicts a traumatic brain injury on Amy. Upon regaining consciousness, she believes it’s 2016, her marriage to Michael is intact, and her deceased son is still alive. This amnesia plotline, while holding initial promise, quickly devolves into simplistic and predictable scenarios. The premise, adapted from the Italian series “Nelle tue Mani,” had the potential to explore themes of identity, memory, and personal growth within the medical field. Instead, “Doc” reduces itself to a series of tired binaries: amnesiac Amy is good, pre-accident Amy is bad; Amy is a medical genius, everyone else is incompetent.
The show’s central flaw lies in its inability to develop its characters or plot beyond these superficial contrasts. The dramatic irony, intended to create tension and intrigue, instead generates discomfort and stress. Knowing that Amy’s teenage daughter harbors resentment towards her, or that the new chief of internal medicine is dangerously inept, doesn’t add layers of complexity; it simply makes for an awkward and irritating viewing experience. Each interaction Amy has is laden with this heavy irony, but it fails to engage the audience in a meaningful way. There’s no sense of catharsis or even compelling drama, just a consistent undercurrent of unease.
Molly Parker, known for her exceptional performances in series like “Deadwood” and “House of Cards,” is undeniably a talented actress. She attempts to inject depth into the role of Amy, but the poorly written script and unbalanced narrative work against her efforts. “Doc” struggles to decide whether it wants to focus on Amy’s personal journey with amnesia or the episodic medical cases. This lack of focus results in episodes that feel disjointed and poorly paced, leaving the audience feeling lost and uninterested. For viewers seeking a captivating “young doctor TV show” or even a compelling medical drama in general, “Doc” unfortunately misses the mark. The series ultimately feels like a chore to watch, offering little entertainment value and a pervasive sense of unpleasantness that’s hard to shake off. Instead of providing an escape or insightful exploration of the medical world, “Doc” becomes a series best left forgotten.
