Off the Map

Various doctors work in a clinic in a non-specific South American country. Mamie Gummer, Caroline Dhavernas, and Jason George portray some of the doctors.

Shonda Rhimes was attempting another doctors show. It's an easy sell to the TV exec suits. Imagine Grey's Anatomy in the jungle. Non-specific is in fact the mantra for the whole show. The jungle in Hawaii just looks too pretty. The tiki bar is pulled out of numerous other shows. The whole show just feels fake. Add on Rachelle Lefevre, and it seem like some kind of Models for Doctors program. Shonda should have spend more time trying to give more realism to the show.

I love this series and it's no different than Greys or ER was. I love the intertwined lives of the doctors and the jungle. The actors are decent and seem to play off of each other well. The location is believable enough, as I think they are supposedly in Peru somewhere. I've seen every episode and hope it continues on!!! It's one of those weekly shows that is totally a mix of McGyver and ER at times, in the way they save people, and their struggles in losing lives too. This week, the episode about a doctor who was doing surgery on black market for a man who needed kidney transplant (man was paying a lady for her kidney and the doctor to do the procedure) brought out the one aspect of this week's episode, which was "take a chance" on things - whether it be life, love, or otherwise. There is always an underlying message with this show.

...Think sorority girls and stud muffins play at being doctors in the jungle complete with simpleton "locals" and formulaic drama and that is all you need to know.

...Because this show is shot in Hawai'i, the scenery is spectacular. It will make you all the angrier that not more was done with the writing, casting, and scripts.

...I made it through 1 and 1/3 episodes, but no more. The acting is passable, but the music is sappy, the stories are predictable, and the casting is well, to be kind, extremely uninspired. This could easily have been the Disney Channel does jungle medicine with high schoolers.

...I can guarantee you that it is only a matter of time before one of the "doctors" has to land an airplane due to an accident with the pilot.

...yes it is that bad.

... The networks wonder why the cable channels have all the hits now-a-days. Well I give you "Off the Map" as exhibit Number 1.

AMAZING it grows on you. Some of the stuff that happens in the show maybe a bit eccentric and over the top but the message the show gives it more than what meets the eye. The is often watched by people who don't have open minds and care tooo much about the little details and are overwhelmed at small irreverent things. I'm a med student and understand that some stuff is a bit odd but overall its a great show! All I can say is watch it understand it don't judge it and over look the small stuff because in the end it is a drama after all and so does not have to be incredibility realistic sometimes its better to get away from the reality of it all!

I just finished watching the 3rd episode before writing this review. I think the show is displaying great potential. It's the story of 3 young doctors who, after finishing their residence, get to South America and start of new. Of course there are some bumps, but it's just at the beginning, actors still have to know each other in order to put better performances, not that the ones that are on display now are bad. The story is good, the plot is developing really nice and I am really intrigued on how the characters will evolve given their stories so far. There is a little bit of resemblance to House M.D. and a McGyver, but at this moment what shows can you actually say are 100% original.

I really don't get the people that are giving bad reviews to this show, especially after seeing the reasons. For the people that want to see the show for its entertainment and story i fully recommend it, for the people that want 100% real cases with no fiction to them: go watch doctors in an hospital.