New Amsterdam

[shakatany]

I watched the premiere of "New Amsterdam" last night and thought it might have promise... if they improve on their inconsistencies. The hero was a Dutch soldier who, in 1642, saved the life of a Native American girl who then rewarded/cursed him with immortality of a sort (he would become mortal again when he met his one true love). He often drops hints in his conversation that he's been around for awhile eg. he told an AA meeting that he's been sober for 15,495 days, but everyone thinks he's joking. Apparently, unlike the hero of  the novel Forever by Pete Hamill that the series has been accused of plagiarizing resembling, he is not confined to Manhattan, having been to Buenos Aires and Normandy.

However there were 3 big oops for me in the pilot.  First he had a sort of heart attack and was taken to the hospital where he "died" then recovered and walked out. The hospital never checked his ID nor noticed he was a cop with a badge and a gun. Surely that's the first thing checked out for insurance purposes and to notify the next of kin? Later it turned out that he was once a famous furniture maker. He made a beautiful desk and when his friend (and possible son) took it to a gallery, the people there didn't seem to be able to detect that it was newly made. Then at the final flashback when he recovered from the immortality rite (and why didn't the NA shamans use it on their own people?) the camera pans to some teepees in the background. Now I'm certainly no expert on NA but from what I've read, teepees of this type were the product of the dwellers on the Great Plains like the Sioux and the Cheyenne as several buffalo hides were needed in their construction. Also prior to the acquisition of the horse in the late 18th century, they were unable to wander very far, certainly not to Manhattan. The series makers probably thought that all Native Americans were alike and simply wanted a generic symbol that we would recognize as NA :(

He also joked about having 609 girlfriends! Now if this is true, he's had more than one a year, as it's only been 366 years since he was gifted/cursed. Maybe he had to go through so many in his quest for his one true love but it makes him out to be not very nice (we met one old girlfriend who stated that he just left her one day). With the mystery and the flashbacks "New Amsterdam" comes across as a derivative of "Highlander" and "Forever Knight" (he even mentions vampires in such a way that could be taken to mean they exist in this 'verse). I am certainly not in love with this show or its hero but I'll continue to view it as long as there's nothing better in that timeslot (on Thursday though Fox is trying it out opposite "Lost" so I may end up taping it if I feel like it).

Comments

[dolnmoon.livejournal.com]

Ok as for the 609 gfs that makes sense that he would have had about 2 a year because how is he going to explain the fact that he's not going to age if he doesn't get the one true love feeling from them. Also he really couldn't keep one for more than a few years at the most as he doesn't age he stays the same age all the time... if he kept one for like 8yrs how would he explain the fact that he isn't getting grey or older looking. LOL

The NA factor falls sort on many of the movies and shows since people have no real idea of what the NA of the Northern American states were like because the highly publicized NA were the Western and great Plain indians, they tend to lump them all together. IM going to look up some more northern plains indians and see how they lived but I would image they made some form of TeePee as a shelter too. More than buffalo hides were used by the NA they used Deer and bear skins for lots of things, they also used the hides of mountain lions, bob cats and small animals for clothing and accessories.

I did wonder why no one realized that he rose from the dead and walked out of the morgue. LOL But then again... who cares I love entertainment and tend not to over thing these things as it's only for my amusement not education.

I liked it a lot and found the inconsistencies to be a non-factor as every show with some historical basis has flaws. Buffy had flaws of its own characters in many episodes, its the fault of the writers not doing enough research but banging out a show for each week.

[shakatany.livejournal.com]

What I meant was that I doubt the Indians in the Manhattan area used teepees. They were known to live in long houses made of wood and bark and covered with skins in the cold months. The writers or the production supervisor ought to have done at least a little research at least for the premiere episode which sometimes may be the script that sells the concept.

It was hinted somewhere that Omar is his son so he should've at least stayed around to raise the kid and not move on to another woman. He also mentioned a young son who died so, unlike the Highlander immortals, he can reproduce.

Shakatany