Last night was the premiere of the new Global/ ABC show Combat Hospital.
Original called "Hot Zone", Combat Hospital is a fictional drama set in 2006 at the only military hospital that provides advanced surgical care in all of Southern Afghanistan. The show follows the lives of the hospital's resident doctors and nurses from Canada, America, the U.K. and other allied countries, although a larger portion of the characters are Canadian (yeay!).
Combat Hospital is a production of Sienna Films and the U.K's Artists Studio, shot in Toronto on an expansive 185,000 square foot indoor and outdoor set and is being said to be one of the largest standing sets ever built for a Canadian original production. The set is modelled after the real Canadian-lead NATO Role 3 Hospital at Kandahar Airfield.
You can see how I kind of have high hopes for the show.
So far there have been mixed reviews for the show, calling it a M*A*S*H with more blood and Grey's Anatomy meets Kandahar.
So I went through my own search for answers. I asked some of my friends on Facebook and Twitter what their thoughts on the show was.
- Some of the US Military Spouses, said it was too soon for a show like this and they couldn't watch it because their spouse was deployed.
- Others made fun of the acting and called them weird Canadians (thanks!), let me remind them that the actress who plays the main character is American, so you can't blame the bad acting on us.
- Combat Hospital is being called a generic medical show, however it is trying to steer clear from the Grey's and Off The Map formula.
Here's my opinion of the show:
It was set in 2006, so for those who are freaking out about the set, calm down! Did you know that Role 3 Hospital Kandahar is affectionately called "the wooden palace" by the firsts occupants because at first the hospital was nothing but wooden structures and tents? Role 3 Hospital has moved into a brick building now but that was only established back in April 2010.
The costume design according to Cpl. Mayhem should be looked at again, if they are trying to be authentic. And also, yes, you can get reception in Kandahar if you want to text but it's up to you if you want to pay that bill. Most soldiers buy cheap phones and use calling cards while over there to contact family.
The beginning scene, to me, was a little silly. I'm sorry, but why is Major Rebecca Gordon (American actress, Michelle Borth) trying to pee on a stick minutes before landing in Kandahar is kind of far fetched to me.
I think for the first show there are way too many head strong characters, which makes Captain Bobby Trang (Canadian actor Terry Chen) endearing. Although he looks like a deer in the headlights at first, he will prove to be a capable Trauma Team Leader as the show goes on. He may become one of the most likeable characters.
I would like to see more of the translator Vans. I know it's a drama but he brings a little comedic timing which is nice for the heavy show.
I'm not sure what I was expecting with the show. At first I thought it would be nice to see the clash of different cultures with all characters coming from other countries but as Deborah Kara Unger who plays Aussie psychiatrist Major Grace Pedersen said in an interview on Shaw TV Vancouver's Urban Rush,
"there is no politics involved in the show because there is nothing political about saving lives".
Co-creator of Combat Hospital Jinder Oujla-Chalmers agrees but also adds,
"The political aspect of it is really the fact that we are set in a contemporary war, it's current and on going. But the stories that we try to tackle, we try to steer away from that because really how can you represent forty nine nations who probably have all very different points of view."
Ok, back to my point of view.
I do want to defend something here. All over the internet people are going crazy about all the Canadian flags and how many there were. FIRST of all, Role 3 Hospital was first lead by the Canadian Forces when it was first established in 2005 until October 2009 when the U.S. Navy later assumed responsibility for the Role 3 hospital. I'm so informative today!
All in all the show was good, I think I need to watch a couple of more episodes to see if it's going to be a success or a flop. I think because the war is current there is a sense of walking on egg shells, trying not offend but still trying to tell the stories of the soldiers fighting overseas.
What were your thoughts of the show?
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