'New Amsterdam' Season 4 Episode 13 Review: Max and Helen struggle in somber episode

For those who haven't watched the episode yet, this one's surely going to turn on the waterworks
A still from 'New Amsterdam' Episode 13 (NBC)
A still from 'New Amsterdam' Episode 13 (NBC)

Contains spoilers for 'New Amsterdam' Season 4 Episode 13 

'New Amsterdam' just shows that with every passing pleasant scene, there's a sense of unease and bad news brewing. It's that template the NBC medical drama, perhaps one of the best there is right now, has relied on in the past, and in the form of Dr Vjay Kapoor's (Anupam Kher) death, the show has now managed to bring all the scattered characters under one roof. The tone is unusually dark and somber, but 'New Amsterdam's last couple of episodes were leading up to it. The itty-bitty forced humor and the filler storylines were just a temporary distraction.

Getting into Episode 13, there are three major plotlines — Max (Ryan Eggold) and Helen Sharpe's (Freema Agyeman) relationship has seen some turbulence with the latter fed up with attempting to patch things with her mother. It doesn't help that Max, was, well..being Max. The heart-fluttering shower kisses right at the start of the episode end with a heated argument for the two before news of Dr Kapoor's death shakes them to the core and see them rush back to the US.

The focus is also on Floyd Reynolds (Jocko Sims) who treats a patient banged up pretty badly in an accident while trying to save his baby. He does his best, but while Lauren Bloom (Janet Montgomery) figures out the hidden issue with the baby by doing a manual DNA sequence check, Floyd can only watch his patient die slowly despite his best efforts. The third storyline is about whether Lauren Bloom will leave New Amsterdam. Clearly, her relationship with resident ER, Leyla Shinwari is on the rocks, and Veronica Fuentes (Michelle Forbes) manages to rile her up, so that will be the focal point of the next episode.

The other storyline that slips under the radar is that of Dr Wilder and her relationship with her brother, Adam. It takes some help from Iggy (Tyler Labine) to patch things up between the siblings, but their story just adds to family — the theme of Episode 13. What Dr Kapoor's death does is connect Max back to New Amsterdam, even if it means he and Helen work things out long distance. And from a fan perspective, the hospital needs Max considering Fuentes just pops in to antagonize folks in and around the place.

There are changes ringing in on 'New Amsterdam' and while there is certainly a season 5 in the works (NBC renewed the series for three additional seasons in 2022), there is no better time to switch gears and put the characters through enough before completing their ar

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Peacock’s limited series has become the platform’s most-watched scripted show to date following a record-breaking streaming run.
4 hours ago
The nine-episode FX drama follows an uneven weekly rollout through its September 9 finale, here's the complete schedule.
8 hours ago
The actor joined the series after completing the final season of ‘Yellowstone,’ which is also created by Taylor Sheridan.
9 hours ago
The beautiful world of ‘My Life with the Walter Boys’ comes alive in surprising real locations that perfectly capture its small-town charm.
9 hours ago
A familiar character returns with a new face, sparking fresh questions about a bigger role and what it could mean for Ted's next chapter.
11 hours ago
'The Young and The Restless' bid farewell to Noah and Sienna because of Matt Clark; however, new writers could have a different fate for the couple.
12 hours ago
Alex Russo came face to face with alternate versions of her childhood best friend Harper and ex-boyfriend Mason in Season 3
14 hours ago
The popular teen drama is based on Ali Novak's young adult romance novel series of the same name
14 hours ago
Disney+ and Hulu have renewed ‘The Artful Dodger’ for a third and final season, bringing back the lead cast to resolve Season 2’s cliffhanger.
15 hours ago
'Ted Lasso' Season 4 Episode 1 reveals that Ted has settled back into life in Kansas City and works at a supermarket
17 hours ago