http://www.nbc.com/mercy/


The write ups and previews definitely make it seem little more than a GA rip off although I thought the script was good. I like Michelle Trachtenberg and James Tupper so I hope it turns out fairly decent for them. It will definitely be interesting to see what happens with this as it seems like it might become the poor relation when it comes to NBC promoting it's new medical shows as "Trauma" has much more action and buzz about it than this.


It's funny that there are 3 series from a nurses POV in one season after decades where there has been zilch.

Saw the promo for this and I have to say that it piqued my interest. I would definitely catch the pilot and see how it goes from there. Kinda weird considering I'm not a Grey's Anatomy/Private Practice fan (can't stand em at all especially Grey's), yet this contains a certain feel about it from both shows and I'm indifferent.

Maybe the actors on this show don't annoy me as much as I've never heard of most of them. I like Michelle Trachtenberg though. Haven't seen her in much except for Gossip Girl. Would be nice to see her play a totally different character.

The preview clips were just OK. I will watch the first few episodes to see how it goes because the showrunner/writer is Liz Heldens. She wrote some fantastic episodes of Friday Night Lights and I am eager to see what she can do with her own show. The backdrop may be a hospital like Grey's and there may be some similarities in the pilot, but I'm not convinced those will remain past a couple of episodes. If she writes like she did on FNL then my guess is that the characters will have greater depth by episode 6 then Grey's characters have in season 5. Also, I don't expect her to write adults behaving like 14 year olds. On FNL even the teen characters had a maturity about them that does not exist on Grey's or Private Practice. Basically, I'm hopeful that the name of this thread won't apply after a few episodes.

For better or worse, looks like this show is coming a lot sooner due to the unfortunate issues surrounding Parenthood. I hope the writers having to scramble some does not mean crappy quality.

But since it is a hospital show of some sort, I'm sure some will tune in. But now with two medical series on the Fall schedule at NBC, I hope Mercy and Trauma won't cancel each other out.

Though if Mercy is more like Grey's Anatomy and Trauma is more like ER, well...maybe that won't be an issue, either.

Haven't seen an episode of the show but just saw some idiotic preview. The new nurse is being told to kill her patient saw they can all go out for drinks. When she say's he's not dead according to the vital signs on the monitor the other nurse just tells her he is & turns off the monitor. First of all turning off his monitor does not kill the patient & I didn't see him on any mechanical ventilation that was keeping him alive. Anyway I could go on & on but it's a waste of time, doubt if I will ever try watching this show.

Haven't seen an episode of the show but just saw some idiotic preview. The new nurse is being told to kill her patient saw they can all go out for drinks. When she say's he's not dead according to the vital signs on the monitor the other nurse just tells her he is & turns off the monitor. First of all turning off his monitor does not kill the patient & I didn't see him on any mechanical ventilation that was keeping him alive. Anyway I could go on & on but it's a waste of time, doubt if I will ever try watching this show.

Ugh. Mercifully this show should be cancelled any minute now.

If nurses are so much smarter than doctors, why aren't they doctors?

If this lasts a month, it's a miracle. All I got.

I wanted to tune in even though everyone said how bad it was...

Yeah it was bad. Anyone could write this show-nothing was creative and wayyyy too predictable. The people are pretty but that's about it.

PULL THE PLUG, STAT !!!!!! Everything about this one hour show was BAD. I was waiting for the nurses to appear with capes attached to their scrubs. Not exactly a realistic portrayal of nurses, or doctors. Definitely a DNR - do not resuscitate, OR evrer watch again!

Oh my gosh that was terrible! It was so cliched and predictable at every turn. The dialogue was laughable and the acting even worse. I liked Michelle Trachtenberg in Buffy but her little girl voice and "look at me, I'm the adorable, clueless newbie!" mannerisms made me want to slap her across five counties. I can't believe NBC cancelled Life then gave the greenlight to this trite garbage. I can't wait for it to fail.

I guess, like a lot of you, I tuned in just to see if it was as bad as I had heard. Yep.I could be wrong,but I predict it will be the first cancellation of the season. If nothing else, it should win an award for "worst hairdo on a primetime show" for that Little Orphan Annie 'do on the one nurse. Bad.Seriously.

She was the worst part of the show. It was bad, completely predictable.

Its incomprehensible to me how the woman who wrote some amazing Friday Night Lights episodes wrote this show.

Ok, maybe I won't tune in now. I thought the previews looked a little interesting but if it's this bad I might as well waste my time doing something else.

This was supposed to be a mid-season replacement right? It was pushed forward when Parenthood was delayed I think.

Damn I missed it, it seems like such a wonderful opportunity for snark. Does it still have that hilariously obnoxious I want you to be better line?

I concur, that was baaaddd. NBC must have been either on crack or desperate to pick up that show.

Yes, it was. But I don't think, even if it was mid-season, it would have fared any better. At least the title is apropos.

Canceling it would be a true act of Mercy.

As a nurse, it was offensive to me. I did like the actress playing the cancer patient though. We've all had our share of those patients.

ducking but didn't find it that awful. I found it kind of hilarious. Yes, tired of heroic nurses and stupid bumbling non caring doctors but as entertainment found it was moreso than the Will Smith wife thing. I liked "recommitting to my horrible marriage" and "I have to kill this guy first". I just didnt' find it that awful, like Greys Anatomy and kind of enjoyed it (ducking). Sorry, I am easily amused and refuse to spend one second of my life watching fat people grunt and groan, dismal losers compete for dates, losers sob and cry in silly contests so ... anything scripted that doesn't involve forensics is a break for me.

God, this show was just DULL. Dull character, dull writing, dull direction (I know they said it was set New Jersey but seriously that looked like Backlot, USA).

And I know it's television but other than that one male nurse I can't imagine any of these people working in a hospital. That one nurse was gorgeous and walked like she was on a runway. They just all looked so ridiculous.

So we finally have a show where doctors are all idiots and nurses are the ones with all the real skill. Yawn.

Actually, I didn't find this show to be dull so much as irritating, especially the Nurse Veronica character. The "I'm so complicated and therefore a huge bitch" routine became old in about 2 minutes, and to the extent that I would have fired her ass in about 30 seconds.



The second scene with her was the best of the show, I thought.

I'm ducking right alongside with you, cos i kinda liked it. I gave up on soapy Grey during its second season, though, and am usually tired of your standard medical drama, but i found this one quite fun. It won't probably last longer than a couple of weeks, but i'll be there.

Anyone who made it through the full pilot has my admiration. We ended up disconnecting it from the monitor (I mean DVR) and going to have a drink after the first 15 minutes. And we only made it that far because spouse had confused the show with 'Trauma' and we were waiting for the promised giant explosions.

I didn't find it as bad as others. I usually give shows a 2-3 episode chance because pilots rarely measure up.

Didn't find it to bad but it was all over the place...Didn't like any of the nurses really. I guess Nurse Jackie is my favorite nurse show. I could not watch Jada's show after seeing Nurse Jackie. It was kind of strange seeing the guy from Weeds play a nurse. I don't have a problem with the nurse smarter then the doctor thing...Sure most of them are because they use a lot of common sense having to deal with people all the time. I've had some great doctors but I've been in the hospital twice in my life and each time I've gotten the best practical advise from a really great nurse.

I think I will watch again because I hope to see more of Delroy Lindo and Kate Mullgrew two really good actors.

By the way the actress playing the cancer patient has been on several of the Law and Order shows and she is always good.

This show was a "Meh" and I might watch it next week if I don't have anything else to do. It was a lame attempt to cash in on the Nurse Jackie and other shows of that ilk, and they did a massive epic fail at that.

That being said, was it a show where bored actors go when their other shows are canceled/on break?

Guillermo from Weeds = Gay nurse a la Mo Mo from Nurse Jackie
Cancer Patient Lady = Mike's mom from Rescue Me (among a million other things)
Older Wiser Nurse at Desk = Was on Dexter...cannot remember that lady's name right now, she died of cancer last season on Dexter

And there were others but that's all I can come up with right now.

But it we listed the cliches on this show, we could write a book. It could have been good...it just wasn't.

I thought it was ok actually. It reminded me GREATLY of Greys, but from the nurses side and if Meredith was the obnoxious adulterer, not Derek.

I'm biased because anything that reminds me of Men In Trees makes me happy, so after seeing James Tupper, I was a gonner. I'm not sure how convincing he is as a doctor, but really don't care. I loved his character-- a nice, calm, quiet guy. Very good love interest.

On the other hand, I can't stand the main character Veronica. Seriously. If she's so smart and wonderful, why not go back to med school and become a doctor? Her character began to grate immediately and then add in TWO love struck guys completely in love with her... Ugh. She treats both of them like crap and I can't enjoy watching that.

Her friend was funny and interesting, but acted predictably (though the cop was VERY cute). Michelle Trachtenberg's character was unoffensive to me. I think she could flesh out and be interesting as well.

Right now, this isn't on my DVR, but I would watch it again. Nothing else is good at that hour so might as well.

I saw a slightly different version of this at a screening; the black nurse didn’t go to the fancy party after she was attacked in the version I saw. She called and cancelled, and then went to the “not getting divorced party.” Small difference. I was excited to see it because the actor who plays Ronnie’s brother (he’s Irish in real life, with a full-on brogue) is a friend of a friend of mine, and he’s really nice. I said after I saw the screening that I thought he was better than Ronnie, and I stand behind it. But also, Ronnie SUCKS. Has she been in anything else? I think the show could be better with a different actress in the lead. I liked the black nurse and the cop and I love Delroy Lindo. I basically like everyone EXCEPT Ronnie. And Michelle Trachtenberg, but I can see her character changing as she gets more experience. I think Ronnie’s written in stone, which is too bad, because she's pretty hard to like, and again, the actress is terrible.

mandigirl-funny and true....

What's so wrong with being a smart and wonderful nurse?

Wow, ratings tanked. I give it 2 more.

Nothing at all! But she's not being a smart, wonderful nurse. She's got a chip on her shoulder the size of Texas and is openly dissatisfied. She is constantly chaffing at the fact that she can't treat patients the way she wants and that she instead has to kowtow to people who are less skilled and less competent than herself. If she were ok with this, I would be too. But she's not and instead chooses to undermine, antagonize and patronize the doctors she works with. If having less authority than these assholes frustrates and angers her then she should do something about it by going back to med school and becoming a doctor so she can have the authority to treat patients her own way.

I liked the idea around the stuff going on outside the hospital - the nurse with working-class family and friends (like the lead character in the movie Working Girl), and the nurse sleeping with the cop. I also liked the idea of Ronnie being in Iraq and falling in love with a doctor there, being unfaithful to a boyfriend who was also unfaithful to her while she was away. And while I enjoyed what I watched, I have to admit that I was on the phone and reading a book through most of it.

I didn't like James Tupper as the doctor. He grinned too much and didn't have the edge I think the character needed to make him interesting to me. (I was a fan of Men in Trees, but I haven't enjoyed James Tupper in anything else after that.) I hated the new nurse. Not only because I dislike Michelle Tractenberg, but because that storyline is boring. Hated the incompetent doctor storyline. I think it's okay for that storyline to be rehashed in every medical drama or comedy, but only if there's something new and powerful to add. I hated Ronnie's mother, but maybe that's the actor's fault. She was too much.

I'm going to tune in next week because that cop was cute and I think he's going to show up again (I liked that he was in the bar). But I won't be surprised if there is no next week for this show which will only mean less TV I have to watch.

And strangely, that's the version I saw on TV last night. The make-up scene never happened and after she got into the elevator, she realized her dress has been ripped during the attack and that's when she gave up on the fancy party and called to cancel, lying that she had to stay at work. Did they show different versions in some markets?

I was wondering that myself! The version I saw had her cancelling on the lawyer and hitting the bar.

Huh. The recapper describes a scene where she goes to the fancy party with the lawyer and all the rich folks there make her feel bad, and then she goes to Ronnie's party. I actually didn't watch last night because I'd already seen it, so I'm not sure which version aired in NYC.

@Slade2: I am with you. I liked a lot of the ideas, but the execution was just awful.

I was really intrigued by the idea of a female lead who was dealing with PTSD after being in Iraq. I absolutely love some of the supporting actors (Kate Mulgrew, Margo Martindale) and this COULD have been interesting.

Part of me feels bad about trashing other people's artistic endeavors. But this was a total train wreck. And the lead actress... maybe it was how she was directed... probably she was just nervous.... oh fuck it, she was terrible. Awful. Hammy and overACTing and utterly charisma-free.

What a letdown.

Agreed, except here the execution, writing, directing and acting were atrocious.

Um, that lacked any subtlety, but I did enjoy her family and husband a great deal. There were a couple of parts that made me laugh out loud. She and her brother scouring their parents place for booze played as comedy and it struck me that perhaps it would be better as a dark comedy than the straight drama it's supposed to be. Even when the guy attacked the nurse which was initially horrifying, it kind of made me laugh when she started beating the hell out of him. And of course at the end when they were fawning over the bartender and the main nurse suggested he take off his shirt, funny.


Since apparently this ep was tweaked, maybe there's time to course correct on the remaining episodes to establish a consistent tone. Dark comedy fully on board, okay maybe partially on board, straight drama not so much.

Agreed. As it was, it was just painful. Stupid, stupid, stupid characters in stupid situations making stupid choices and expecting us to feel for them in their stupidity. Arrgh.

I thought the nurse friend in the elevator finding the rip in the dress scene was the only decent one in the whole stupid show - it was the only time I sympathized with any of these people. (Maybe because nobody was talking?)

Just a quick comment based on the recap. (DISCLAIMER: This is no way endorses the acting or quality of this show, which is debateable at best. I am simply arguing some factual/contextual points).

I find it very funny how the recapper has no problem pointing out her major problems with the inconsistencies of the roles of doctors and nurses in this show and their respective knowledge and responsibilities. I am not a nurse, but work with them every day. I know that nurses have a wealth of knowledge and that, yes, many times, they do understand and can give better recommendations for diagnosis/treatment than a physician. Does that mean that a nurse has more specialized training, education or knowledge than a physician? No. But I am just saying...it's not far-fetched that this type of thing DOES happen in hospitals and health care settings.

That being said, I believe that there is a distinct place for each role in the health care team. Well-respected, knowledgeable nurses understand their role and that of a physician. They would never undermine a physician who does give the orders for the patient, however, that doesn't mean they are handmaidens and cannot exercise their voice or judgment when they feel something may be contrary to their patient's well-being. I mean, how many of you have been or have had family in the hospital? Really, truly how often do you see your doctor? And who is in charge of your 24-7 care? I am just saying, no they are not doctors, but should be respected as part of a health care team, not seen as some doctor's do-girl (or boy).

Finally the most offensive and funny part of the recap is does this outrage go on for recaps of House, Grey's, ER and the countless medical dramas over the years? The ones that show doctors doing the routine treatments and orders that a nurse does 99.9% of the time? The ones that show doctors at patients' bedsides for an inordinate amount of time when really they are barely there for 1-3 minutes? I don't disparage their work, but if we are going to attack reality, what about that reality? That kind of crap has been going on for years...no wonder the public gets disappointed when they visit health care settings and realize a team of doctors won't be visiting them every 20 minutes. Did anyone attack its reality? And if people have, then kudos. But skepticism tells me that it's far easier for people to swallow doctors coming and in doing wholly unrealistic miraculous work then it is believing some nurses may know more than some doctors. Does that allow these nurses to go around with major attitudes? No, of course not. But it's offensive when someone says, if she is so smart, she should have become a doctor. Maybe that is why she chooses to stay a nurse.

Just my two cents. :)

This is all I really have to say about this show.

Too similar to Jada Pinckett Smith's recent TNT homage to nurses, HAWTHORNE, and that's not meant as a compliment. Perhaps it's only fair to give this show a chance, with another viewing or two, but it's probably on the short list of "First Cancellations of the New TV Season." Doubt that it'll make it more than three weeks before the network pulls the plug. MERCY-killing.

That was one of the worst shows I've ever seen. I liked Viva Laughlin better than I liked this. And I did not like Viva Laughlin.

Veronica was awful in every single way. Her acting physically hurt me and her "this is what's sad" speech may have given me cancer. And I can't get it treated because all doctors suck and all nurses are bitches.

Please, for the love of God, cancel this shit.

It's not about intelligence, it's that she thinks doctors are beneath her. Nurse Jackie is a perfect example of a nurse being competent, smart, doing extraodinary things within her means, and knowing her place. Veronica is an extraordinary example of a bitch.

First part of the thread made me want to jump up and defend the nurses, because I work with them everyday as a paramedic, and most have 4 year degrees. Nurses are not lacking in knowledge, and nursing is a very different skillset than medicine. The two fields overlap a lot, but they are distinct. If a nurse wants to continue their education they will probably obtain a master's or doctorate level degree in nursing. After reading all the replies though I understand what everyone is saying. It all boils down to the attitude, and that is something I agree with everyone on 100%. She needs to realize that physicians have something to bring to the table too.

The show itself is just crappy. I watched it on hulu because I was bored working the night shift. Everything seems like a rewarmed version of some other medical show.

One more technical rant. It also majorly bugged me that doctors are managing nurses again. A physician is not a nurse's supervisor, they will not deal with nurses' disciplinary issues. Producers and writers need to visit a real hospital.

and



I took that scene as her being frustrated that the doctor totally dismissed her suggested for heparin because she was "only" a nurse. He didn't even consider it. We saw the female doctor give Veronica a "who do you think you are?" look and rolled her eyes when Veronica suggested the heparin. If a doctor respects her, she'll respect him/her.

Clearly, MMV.

I agree that the show needs to be more accurate in its portrayal of hospital hierarchy, i.e., doctors don't supervise nurses. But I suppose the producers feel there's less drama in that.

This is a great point.

I don't think there's a need to defend nurses. We all know that most nurses are awesome and hardworking, and without them the medical community would collapse. It's just when an epically bad show comes along about nurses, the profession can get caught in the crossfire, especially when the show makes a point of telling us that all nurses are brilliant saints, better than the idiot doctors who oppress the.

I thought Taylor Schilling was a good discovery. She's not perfect, but look at her IMDB. I think she's got a lot of potential. Then again, she's probably 35. In another plus, she looks like a put together Natasha McSomethingOrOther, which makes my pants very happy.

That said, the rest of the show sucked elephant wang.

The only medical show I have seen where doctors do not manage the nurses was on ER.

Aside from that, Physicians' Assistants on that show were said to be evaluated by nurses, not doctors. (I recall Jeanie Boulet being shocked Carol did her evaluation ages ago.)

Not sure if that is true or not, either.

But every other show seemed to have the doctor/nurse clash and management issues, etc. Maybe to TPTB at Mercy, it made for more drama. But it was tired.

I wanted to like Mercy, but it was just so warmed over and derivative that I gave up.