Bodies

One of if not THE finest medical TV series ever!

I should perhaps quantify that by saying I'm not really a fan of medical dramas. I used to watch Casualty back in the late eighties/early nineties but I've never had much time for ER or Holby or Chicago Hope or any of the seemingly endless programmes about pathologists...

BODIES on the other hand is a real treat! It's darkly comic, actually realistic [so some doctors have told me, all be it a endlessly the worst day ever], superbly written, acted and directed.

Why oh why isn't there more British Drama like this!!! This excellent programme does go to show BBC THREE is worth it's chunk of the license fee!

I'm writing this review from the perspective of someone who has worked in the medical profession for 38 years, the medical procedures, characters, medical, managerial and nursing are incredibly accurate, anyone who has spent a reasonable length of time in a comparable situation will recognise the characters portrayed, a superb insight into the workings and machinations of the NHS, the storylines and situations are totally reflective of how management, medical and nursing staff interact, an exceptional piece of television, Jed Mecurio is a genius.

I have been following this fantastic drama over the last few weeks. It was gripping. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. Every week I kept thinking of a very small swear word to describe Dr Hurley.

I read the book and as Jed Mercurio rightly points out his book taken straight from page to screen would not have worked. I am pleased with the way in which he has handled the transition and made it real in a way that only television and the screen can do.

I felt that by making Donna Rix and Rob Lake older than their characters in the book (21 and 24 if i remember rightly) their lives held a better realm of realism. Max Beesley was far more believable as a doctor rather than trying to find a younger actor to play the part. When he makes mistakes you feel as though as an experienced doctor he should have known better.

All in all bodies was a fantastic piece of drama and my only point of criticism is that the ending of the series was a little abrupt, especially if this is to be a one off drama. I hope not as the doors have been widely left open. I hope to see a DVD release and a new series.

I work as medical doctor at emergency department in a little town in Poland. For me, watching this series was very important experience - I realized that people who work in medical field all over the world are always the same : greedy and thirsty for power,revengeful, cowardly etc. Hospitals are full of bureaucracy, statistics,nasty people, procedures and doctors who sometimes want just to treat patients good -and they have to fight with management, insurance companies etc Other doctors are interested only in money and brilliant career, not particularly caring for their patients. All of this is shown in "Bodies" and also seen in real life.

Watching this series I've felt like being in my own hospitals...very weird

to summaries : "Bodies" is the most realistic and breathtaking medical drama I've ever seen. anna salwierz, MD, Lesko

I work in the NHS, and this is the most realistic drama I've seen. None of your dewy-eyed idealism of casualty et al, this shows what hospitals are really like, and it's not pretty. I think the acting is great, on the whole, Max Beesley is a really realistic sort of person, and Neve NcIntosh looks really anxious and upset, which judging by the circumstances, she probably ought to be. My favourite bit is when one gynaecologist tells the manager that there's a four letter word that describes a gynaecological orifice, and he's the biggest one he's ever met! Absolutely priceless! I wonder if they'll make any more, they should move it to BBC1 if they do.