On January 7, Fox came out with a new medical drama, “Doc.” Fox’s new debut “Doc” storyline follows a doctor named Amy Larsen who suffers a brain injury causing her to lose eight years of her memory.
In the series, Larsen works at Westside Hospital as a medical chief. In the first few minutes of the show Larsen gets into a car crash and her car flips over. The episodes feature flashbacks into Larsen’s past life, where she is crude and disrespectful to her coworkers, family and patients. However, when she suddenly loses her memory, her personality seems transformed; she forgets her rude and abrasive attitude at work, catching people off guard.
As the show progresses, viewers learn she is having an affair with another doctor and used to be married to her boss. HWhen she petitions to become a doctor again, people who hold a grudge against the doctor try to prevent her from doing so by throwing obstacles in her path. Through all of this, she tries to figure out her past and who she really is, slowly realizing the struggles she has put her family and coworkers through.
At the end of the first episode, the viewer realizes that the new medical chief has a secret that he does not want Larsen to discover, meaning “Doc” is not only a medical drama but also has an element of mystery.
Studies report that “Doc” has given Fox its biggest premiere in five years. After only 11 days, the medical drama has garnered 15.6 million views across multiple platforms. This is a 600% increase in viewers compared to other medical dramas.
“Doc” is one of Fox’s most-viewed shows in years. One of the leading factors that makes “Doc” stand out from other medical dramas is that it is based on a real-life event.
Real life Italian doctor Pierdante Piccion woke up in 2013 believing it was 2001. While the show is not a direct adaptation of Piccion’s story, it does follow the storyline of how Piccion went from being a doctor to a patient and his struggles to regain his memory.
The acting in this show is akin to a telenovela in regards to its overdramatization relationships. The actors were very adept in their roles and well-cast, aiding the plot go much smoother. The concept of the show is very well done, giving people a chance to think about what could happen if they had the opportunity to redo the last eight years of their life.
While most medical dramas follow a specific pattern, “Doc” allows the concept of medical dramas to be revived and flips the script for future medical dramas.
The actor who portrayed Larsen (Molly Parker) claims it was really hard to portray the loss that Dr. Larsen experiences during the show. Parker accurately portrays the shock and confusion one would have when rediscovering their past mistakes. Parker has been in many films that require expressive acting and has applied her skills into her new role.
