Mercy

Impactful series that should have went on. I still think about this series often... even 13 years later. Mercy dealt with real life problems that so many people deal with. I am not really sure where they could have taken it but the drama and dysfuction was second to none in this one. I have always wondered why the decision was made to end this fabulous show, apparently it was because of low ratings. Maybe this one was just out before its time because it for sure was much better than other shows that happened to make it. Well, I'm giving it a 10 rating because I can honestly say that Veronica has stuck.

A few weeks ago, under my former name of Ruth Ann Renaud, I wrote a review stating that Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan wouldn't have taken five minutes of any of this. Now that I've gotten to see some more episodes and I've gotten more adjusted to the characters, it's good to see that everybody SEEMS to be getting along. The plot line about the father having Alzheimer's disease/senile dementia hits home-my mom and at least two uncles died from it. James LeGros' doctor (who I called "oily") deserves some sympathy having lost a wife. At least he's on a first name basis with the nurses. The young nurse (Michelle Trachtenberg's character) seems to be developing some armor-the way she stood down the wife of her boyfriend was good to watch. Veronica also was good as a surrogate older sister playing "crazy war veteran" with the wife. The usual subplots that are in other medical dramas are here, but putting the emphasis on the nurses gives the show a new perspective. It just gets better every week!

Look, the other reviewers have covered a lot of points -- acting is pretty good, story lines are engaging. My beef is with how the writers play up the nursing and downplay the "doctoring". Since when is a newbie nurse going to go from general admissions to the ER to a surgical suite, all in the span of a few episodes?

The nurses also tend to diagnose at the patient's bedside, where in reality they have zero training or right to do so. I'm not looking for 100% realism (remember ER?) but it's laughable how much leeway the writers give nursing in this show, distracting from what little suspension of disbelief viewers may have.

I watched the first episode (as I do with all new shows) to test it. All I can say is that another famous TV nurse with a military background...Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan...wouldn't't have taken five minutes of any of this. Doctors who show no professional respect to a nurse; drunken parents who can't show any sympathy for their daughter's problems; marital/relationship issues; etc....Margaret would've either freaked out or hit somebody just because it felt good to hit someone! I honestly had enough of the oily bearded doctor and the drunken parents after one episode. The younger nurse who couldn't turn off the life support and/or froze in an emergency will be OK after a few episodes. Veronica needs to channel the spirit of Margaret and tell some people to simply take a hike!

I loved the show and want it back. The network cant leave a cliffhanger like that then choose to end the show. We should have a petition. I never heard of this show till I was on netflix not too many watch TV now a days and when you find a good show and watch the whole thing and at the end your looking for the second season and it says there isn't one. Thats heart breaking. They said they canceled the show because on average only 3.6 million people watched it, then they just disappointed 3.6 million people. Thats a lot of people to me. I think if a show is going to end then they should at least take the time for a last show to give us closure. I cant stop thinking about the last episode.