New Amsterdam Season 2 Episode 7 Review: Good Soldiers

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Maybe Karen Brantley isn't so bad after all. 

She and Max were at least on the same side during New Amsterdam Season 2 Episode 7 when they found out a surgeon at their hospital was responsible for putting a woman in a wheelchair for the past decade.

Now Karen doesn't seem so awful, and Peter Fulton is a disappointment.

Righteous Karen - Tall  - New Amsterdam Season 2 Episode 7

It's a fact of life that our idols and heroes will fall or disappoint us. It's an inherent truth given that humans are flawed and imperfect.

However, Fulton's fall from grace hurt. When we last saw him, there was concern about his health, and he was supporting Max despite the idealism Max displays.

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He even kept silent about Max's cancer and knew that with the support of the rest of the doctors, he could maintain his position as director.

Farewell Fulton - Tall - New Amsterdam Season 1 Episode 14

He's the guy who came around to Max and fell on a sword for him, in a way, so when he opened the door resigned to why they were there and didn't seem to care about Elizabeth's plight, it was unfathomable.

When did Fulton become this guy?

Max: Sorry, you reported the doctor who covered up a botched surgery, and there is no record of an investigation? Who the hell did you report him to?
Hartman: The dean of medicine. Peter Fulton. I told him everything. Nothing happened.

Is there some doctor version of the blue line? Instead of concerning himself with Elizabeth and the future patients, he protected the doctor who committed the misdeed.

Disappointed - Tall  - New Amsterdam Season 2 Episode 7

His focus was on sending the doctor elsewhere, so he wouldn't be an issue for the hospital anymore, but what about everyone else?

The doctor in question migrated from one hospital to the next. One of the hospitals mentioned was a children's hospital. How many people were like Elizabeth?

Max: I looked up to you.
Peter: I know. As leader, the only question worth asking is if the cost of protecting New Amsterdam is your conscience, will you pay? And if the answer is no, then you're not the leader you think you are.

Fulton was more concerned about getting sued by an esteemed doctor who botched surgery and paralyzed a woman rather than getting Elizabeth any justice.

It was sickening; it was enough to make your stomach turn thinking about it.

A Shocking Revelation -tall - New Amsterdam Season 2 Episode 7

All the patients that man harmed from that point forward fell on Fulton, too. Max was right; he wanted the man's license revoked and privileges stripped.

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Fulton even mocked Max for sitting atop a high horse and implied he wasn't a real leader unless he made similar decisions when faced with such a challenge.

How many more Elizabeth Archers are there?

Max

Again, who was this Fulton? He was unrecognizable. No wonder Max was so disappointed in him. He looked to him like a mentor.

Veteran Support Group - New Amsterdam Season 2 Episode 7

One thing Fulton did have a point about was who comprises the board. It's filled with executives and millionaires. For whatever reason, hospital boards always lack doctors and others in the medical profession.

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Max having Todd represent the people while on the board was brilliant, but there does need to be more doctors on it as well. It makes sense.

Max and Karen will never see things on the same level, but there's the hope they can work together better after this. They have different ways of doing things, but they both have the best interest of the hospital in mind most of the time.

Return of the Dragon - Tall  - New Amsterdam Season 2 Episode 1

Karen was worried about the effects this situation would have on the hospital. For one, Elizabeth could file a lawsuit, and now that Max is going after the reckless doctor, he can file one as well.

Screw him to the fiery pits of hell. Team Max with that one, but Elizabeth deserves every dime she might get from this suit.

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She had every right to be devastated and angry by this news. She spent ten years thinking that her being in that wheelchair paralyzed was her fault.

Elizabeth: So you want a gold star for finally telling me the truth?
Max: No, no we want-
Elizabeth: I don't care what you want! Here's what's going to happen.
Helen: Elizabeth!
Elizabeth: No, I'm going to get the most bloodthirsty malpractice attorney I can find, and I'm going to sue this hospital back to the Stone Age.

Nothing Helen nor Max said could convince her to not sue the hell out of them; if Max sweet-talked her out of it, it would've been unrealistic.

Working Together Again  - New Amsterdam Season 2 Episode 5

Her surgeon destroyed her life, and someone needs to pay for it.

Interestingly, Max confronted Hartman for the first time since Georgia's death, and it wasn't about her. Hartman expected Max to discuss his wife, and the moment never happened.

Instead, Max questioned him about his role in Elizabeth's surgery. It seems Hartman has escaped Max's anger and grief for the moment, but they may have only put a pin in it for now.

Quiet Time - Tall  - New Amsterdam Season 2 Episode 7

He has made some progress with letting people in. He apologized to Helen again, and he even gave her a coffee.

They're coffee besties, and it seems to be their thing, so it was a good sign.

It's OK to let people in.

Ghost Georgia

He confessed that he didn't want strangers in his home, and he wasn't ready for it yet. Helen, for reasons unknown and downright ludicrous, is being criticized for some because of her matching Max's energy of needing to help.

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She's persistent, much like he is, and she knows he needs to open himself to support from those who care about him. He has to embrace the very thing he extends to everyone else all the time.

Relentless Helen - tall  - New Amsterdam Season 2 Episode 7

Helen bringing the gang to his apartment was probably something she should've done first. It was the most moving scene of the hour.

With the help of ghost Georgia encouraging him, he let his friends in to help. They take care of their own, and it's what he needed.

Georgia's final line during the hour was touching, but it remains odd that we see more of Georgia now then we did when she was alive.

The Quiet Moments - Tall  - New Amsterdam Season 2 Episode 3

At least, that's how it feels. Sometimes it makes the decision to kill off a character harder. It's not uncommon for a series to explore the ghost angle or the lingering memory thing, but sometimes you can't have it both ways.

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It may sound harsh, but since they decided to kill her off, they should commit to it. Unless it's leading to something pertaining to Max's health (mental or otherwise), it's overdone.

It would've been an interesting (and arguably realistic) take if Max was shown speaking to his deceased wife, and she wasn't there in physical form. It's a different creative choice.

Out of His Depth - Tall  - New Amsterdam Season 2 Episode 7

Speaking of creativity, Iggy tried his best to appeal to the soldiers he was counseling.

It was one of the few times when he felt out of his depth in what he was trying to do with them. Maybe it's because of his inexperience as a soldier.

It's such a specific experience and culture, and it's understandable if the group of veterans didn't respond well to someone who never had those experiences trying to counsel them.

My friends, I am Vijay Kapoor. I was in the fourth Indian infantry. With your permission, I would like to join your company.

Kapoor

It wasn't for lack of trying, but Iggy's play idea and the choice of play left me dubious too. Sophocles? Why?

Nathan  - New Amsterdam Season 2 Episode 7

Nathan was not up for the peformance, and Iggy was insistent that he do it.

Iggy blew Kapoor off and thought he was overstepping his bounds when he commented on Iggy's practices and how he was handling certain veterans.

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We found out that Kapoor was a soldier too. When he stepped to the group and asked to be part of it, and he volunteered to speak for Nathan, it was equal parts shocking and emotional.

Different View - tall  - New Amsterdam Season 2 Episode 7

It's a reminder of how little we know about these characters. It's always something new to learn about them.

Kapoor reciting the lines was a lovely moment, and he and Iggy hugging was another scene to get a person teary-eyed.

Kapoor has spent the last few installments solidifying himself as everyone's older brother, and the Kapiggy hug was another one of those moments.

Nervous Nathan - tall  - New Amsterdam Season 2 Episode 7

Floyd has some family issues of his own. Did we ever have any indication that he and his father were estranged?

It wasn't until he watched how his case with his young leukemia patient and her father unfolded that he realized he wanted to take a chance on his dad coming to the wedding that he may not even have.

Sorry, but it still doesn't feel like he and Evie are going to be getting married anytime soon or at all.

Kapoor's Service - tall  - New Amsterdam Season 2 Episode 7

His young patient not only had leukemia, but she needed a donation, and she had type AB blood. It's a rare blood type.

The show didn't delve into it, but there was also something they could've explored about how bone marrow donations etc., for biracial/multiracial individuals, can be difficult.

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Kayla's father was there all this time, but he didn't see his daughter in years, and he donated but left without spending time with her.

Ugh, the feels!

Dad Issues - tall  - New Amsterdam Season 2 Episode 7

What's better, the chemistry between Bloom and Zach or the friendship between Lauren and Helen?

Is it normal for a doctor to insist on his patient (another doctor) take pain medication even though she doesn't want it?

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Lauren's doctor was annoying, and it didn't feel right that he suggested she, I guess, ignore her sobriety and focus on her pain management with pills.

It's hard not to look at it as an agenda to push pills.

A Deal with Zach - tall  - New Amsterdam Season 2 Episode 7

Lauren and Helen have come a long way in their friendship, and it's good that she checks in with Helen and talks to her about all of these things.

It made sense for Helen to suggest she be the one to administer Lauren's medication to make sure Helen doesn't feed into her addiction.

Lauren claimed she didn't want or need a friend in that position. Given their past concerning pills, maybe she was right about that.

A Procedure  - New Amsterdam Season 2 Episode 6

However, Lauren chose to go to another addict and her lover for it instead.

It's an unusual choice, but her line of thinking is that Zach doesn't pull any punches.

We'll have to see how that works out for her, though.

Over to you, 'Dam Fanatics.

Which scene made you the most emotional? Did it feel like Iggy was out of his element with the soldiers?

 Related: Get Britbox via Prime Video Channels for the biggest streaming collection of TV from BBC & ITV...ever.

Were you shocked by Fulton's behavior? Did Lauren make the right choice going to Zach? HIt the comments below.

You can watch New Amsterdam online here via TV Fanatic. 

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Good Soldiers Review

Editor Rating: 4.4 / 5.0
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Rating: 5.0 / 5.0 (2 Votes)

Jasmine Blu is a senior staff writer for TV Fanatic. She is an insomniac who spends late nights and early mornings binge-watching way too many shows and binge-drinking way too much tea. Her eclectic taste makes her an unpredictable viewer with an appreciation for complex characters, diverse representation, dynamic duos, compelling stories, and guilty pleasures. You'll definitely find her obsessively live-tweeting, waxing poetic, and chatting up fellow Fanatics and readers. Follow her on X.

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New Amsterdam Season 2 Episode 7 Quotes

Max: Sorry, you reported the doctor who covered up a botched surgery, and there is no record of an investigation? Who the hell did you report him to?
Hartman: The dean of medicine. Peter Fulton. I told him everything. Nothing happened.

Max: So we did this. A New Amsterdam doctor cut her spinal cord.
Helen: And put a plate in to cover it up.