Complications

I really looked forward to watching this show every week. I was never disappointed, thought it kept you on the edge of your seat. The actors fit their characters perfectly. The episodes, each filled with unexpected twists and turns, always left one intrigued, wondering what next week's show will bring.

I just read a couple days ago that they're taking it off the air. Totally unexpected. Why they would do this to a perfectly great show is beyond me. I'm really disappointed. So many shows that I started getting interested in have been axed over the last couple years. I thought Complications would be one that could be enjoyed for a few seasons.

The context for "Complications" seems wild: A stressed-out ER doctor out for a drive comes upon a drive-by shooting. He ultimately saves the boy who is shot and kills members of a rival "Loco" (read: Mexican) gang who are coming back to finish the job.

Turns out the boy is not just a random ghetto statistic: He is the son of a prominent imprisoned gang leader. The E.R. doc - Dr. John Ellison, played very well by Irish actor Jason O'Mara - is unwittingly drawn in to their world and ultimately lives or dies at their behest.

Dr. Ellison bouncing from one admittedly absurd scenario to another forces you to either embrace the show as an edge-of-your-seat action-drama show or reject it as a ridiculous farce. Some will certainly choose the latter. Any drama - nor comedies or kids' shows, either - is nothing without conflict and "Complications" has plenty of it.

"Complications" was created by Matt Nix, the creator of "Burn Notice," one of my favorite USA shows - though admittedly the premise of "Burn Notice" wore quite thin after a few seasons. To Nix's credit he pushed the show into fairly dark territory as the stock show formula of Michael saving X person from bad guys and getting some form of revenge got pretty dull.

Now that Dr. Ellison in "Complications" is being setup as a kind of gangland doctor one wonders if Nix will follow something of a similar formula with various scenarios involving he and numerous somewhat or entirely outlandish setups where only the doctor can help.

It's great to see Beth Riesgraf - the very quirky Parker from the wonderful and frequently overlooked show "Leverage" - as Ellison's wife. Nix also seems to be drawing on some "Burn Notice" regulars as well, notably Lauren Stamile as another E.R. doctor (IIRC she played an FBI agent who was at first against Michael in "Burn Notice" but ultimately worked with him).

Whether you love or hate this show - I'm close to "really like" - there is no denying the direction, writing, and acting are all very good. Unlike a lot of pilots and new shows the actors seem incredibly comfortable and believable in their respective roles. The plots are at times pretty absurd - why doesn't the doctor, for example, simply go to the cops if a gang leader is threatening his life and that of his family? - but they're also designed quite well to keep you interested in the story. I have to wonder what direction they'll be taking next.

To be honest, I believe its title to be its failure. Like the writers and producers just went along with it after script editing without rechecking its connections.

M.D. Vigilante or something that would bring it the show's class would have been better. Complications for one would be too complicated to search in Google as it is a common word not only in general but medical terms as well. It's flair would have been lost to the fray.

On the show, I believe the first season was setting up John to be a continuous vigilante throughout the series and getting better and more determined at it, flowing his PTS syndrome into a more less symptomatic more driven goal that would flourish into a probable "Prison Break" like or otherwise "The Company/E Corp" face off i.e. International Cooperation/Multi-conglomerate Company.

So to be hard driven into this situation and molded by the plot in the first season to me was a very good start. For first seasons, I'm rather withdrawn with how the cast plays their characters because I believe most things in life are work of progress so it would not be a surprise if they seem too dry at this point. There was no plot to submerge them into a character that would be growing yet.

As with many first seasons, most things revolve around the main repeating casts and the play with Gretchen and john was masterwork for a first season. I especially love that they added scenes in John's psychology where he back and forth himself towards explaining what the entire first season was about, "Killing the cancer's source". The ideals presented in this form was admirable.

It is just that I would remain with this remark until if season 2 was also dry with each of the character they have ensemble into the web around John. So I say give it a shot for Season 2 because Season 1 did keep me wanting for more, not sort of like GoT or other high production types but because of its "Hannibal" like appeal of character interchange of abstract moral ideals.

This show is an amazing series, it keeps you on your feet throughout the show. Excellent acting and great script. The action scenes are amazing and it's a show I look forward to watching. Keep it up, this show has so much potential. I can't wait to see where it goes. It shows how people have different aspects of their lives and shoes the challenge of balancing the good with the bad. Suspense and action throughout the show. If you are looking for a story that shows struggle, excitement, and just a small chance of getting out of thin situations this is it. This show is an amazing series, it keeps you on your feet throughout the show. Excellent acting and great script. The action scenes are amazing and it's a show I look forward to watching.

I never rated for television series. This is my first time. I just want the Season 2 so badly. Best series ever........... Every second of each episode I felt the thrill. We need this show back on the screen. So many are watching television via NETFLIX and other stuffs. So don't just count the viewers based on Cable signal and discontinue such a good series. Dr. Ellison, Gretchen are the best actors. After a very long time I started enjoying television show by watching 'Complications'. No one can presume that this is what gonna happen next. I'm gonna keep checking IMDb everyday until i see that Complication Season 2 is back again. It really kept me excited.I will comment here again after watching Season 2 :)