The latest medical drama to hit TNT is just what you would expect it to be: another medical drama. TNT’s new drama series “HawthoRNe,” starring Jada Pinkett Smith, premiered June 16, joining the summer medical premieres of USA Network’s light-hearted “Royal Pains” and Showtime’s dark comedy “Nurse Jackie.”
Pinkett Smith stars as Christina Hawthorne, a complex nurse whose compassion for her patients sometimes leads her to react blindly. Hawthorne’s actions may be in the best interest of her patients, but they constantly put her at odds with the doctors and administrative staff of Richmond Trinity Hospital. Stressful days at the hospital are off-balanced by single motherhood. Exactly one year after her husband’s death, Hawthorne must do her best to raise her rebellious teenage daughter. Pinkett Smith is joined by Michael Vartan (Alias), who plays Dr. Tom Wakefield, the Trinity Hospital’s Chief of Surgery.
Whereas “Royal Pains” took the light-hearted offbeat approach to medicine and “Nurse Jackie” focuses on the darker side of hospital life, “HawthoRNe” seems to fall into the category of the cliché. From high-school drama dialogue to the dog-eat-dog nurse vs. the world story arc, there is nothing to distinguish “HawthoRNe” from the overflowing stack of medical programming on TV. At every turn doctors and nurses play the blame game, constantly pointing fingers and undermining each other’s positions. We’re given great actors like Jada Pinkett Smith and Michael Vartan, who are constantly forced to play below their talent, do to the lack of originality in the story.
Understandably, we’ve only seen the pilot episode, but trite dialogue where nurses flatly need state, “I’m a nurse,” makes you want wince in pain every time. It’s unfortunate that this series may fall to the wayside. The opening sequence is actually very engrossing. Pinkett Smith delivers a performance filled with action and humor as she rushes to save the life of a suicidal patient. But, after the opening sequence is over, so is the entertainment.
Hopefully, Pinkett Smith’s return to TV isn’t a short-lived one due to the story she’s forced to suffer through.
The pilot featured music by Alicia Keys.
I love this show I do not see why someone would say this show may not make it. I think this show is the best on TV! It has everything in this drama and show.You cant get no better than this and for all of the people who says it does they are crazy.Most of the shows they have now is all about women showing there bodies to get a rating let me give and example desperate housewives.It sucks but people like it because of the women they have on it.Don’t knock this show it is the best I have ever seen.And Jada keep doing your thing you are awesome and your show! I watch the reruns on cox ondemand all the time.Take it from me it is the best show out there and next is the show House!
This is a great series. I’m an RN and I really love this show. I also like Nurse Jackie. I’ve never really gotten into a medical drama before so i don’t know about it being the same as all the other medical dramas. I totally get what your saying about the nurse/doctor back and forth which was a little overdone but HEY let’s not count this series out already!!!!!!!
Jada Pinkett Smith is great. And, she’s very believable. It’s great that now I have two nurse shows to watch and they both are at different ends of the spectrum.
Say doctor drama is done too much, nursing is NEW TERRITORY!!! YEAH JADA!