Saving Hope : Au-delà de la médecine

Considering that I love to spend my free time watching medical dramas with a twist of supernatural, I really can't comprehend how I've missed Saving Hope so far. Being a moderate Stargate SG-1 fan, it's quite natural that Michael Shanks brought me here, but while I was expecting another fairly drama-packed, standardised medical show, I was quite surprised to see a really good character development. And while I resisted in the beginning, I'm really enjoying the dedication of Alex, the reserved but caring demeanor of Joel, the quirkiness of D-r Hamza and the amusing yet adorable way that Charlie deals with his gift/curse.

There are a few things that actually remind me of Grey's Anatomy (the high school-like relationships and dramas around the hospital, the constant endangerment of the hospital staff etc.), but unlike the other show Saving Hope is quite realistic when it's portraying the personal issues and musings of the staff when it's challenged with seemingly unbearable situation. Throughout the three seasons I've watched so far, I was amused, shocked, saddened and caught hoping and coping side by side with the characters - a thing I never do when the spirit of a show just isn't there.

I personally find this show very entertaining and demonstrates reliable emotions that occur in everyday life. The actors are excellent choices and the directing is flawless. The plot is well written and demonstrates life for doctors and patients, and the problems they face on a daily bases. But it also focuses on the fiction of what a person may think they are experience while being in a coma. "Saving Hope" is an exciting drama, that allows the watchers to expand their knowledge on medical procedures (eg. various surgeries). I personally think many people will enjoy this TV series especially if you have watched and enjoyed shows like "Grey's Anatomy", "ER" etc.. This show is available to buy on DVD and can also be found on the CTV website. You won't regret watching "Saving Hope".

Having watched this entire series from start to end (only a few episodes left), I am impressed with the writing and acting, particularly the roles played by Erica Durance and Michael Shanks.

The first season was a great introduction to the characters and the premise of the show. I will admit, I had my doubts this would work, but it did, and in excellent fashion. As the seasons progressed, they became very much more appealing.

My two complaints are that in the last season, it seems the writing got lazy and repetitive. Maybe it's because the episodes were cut short and everyone knew the end was near, but I wished it had maintained the pace and drama from the previous seasons. My second complaint is the fact the show did not get renewed. It's a shame as it has much more potential to keep going on.

Nevertheless, it's a fantastic Canadian production, and it will be sadly missed.

A well deserved 9/10 from me!

From the creative team that brought us the hit Canadian summer series "Rookie Blue" comes "Saving Hope", a new hospital drama with a supernatural twist. Boasting the same high quality ensemble cast and plenty of star power, it features the trio of Erica Durance (Smallville), Michael Shanks (Stargate SG-1) & Daniel Gillies (The Vampire Diaries). The hook to this series is not that it's a medical drama, or even the premise of one of the leads living in a parallel universe of sorts while in a coma. What makes "Saving Hope" a winner are the characters who roam the halls of Hope Zion. A diverse group of charismatic heroes, each with their own virtues, flaws and most importantly, heart.

Much like its predecessor "Rookie Blue", "Saving Hope" features a large cast of supporting characters that recur throughout the season, giving a real sense of authenticity to the hospital. We get to know not just our leads but their friends, co-workers and rivals. And in that spirit, each story of the week ties into the overarching love story between Dr. Alex Reid (Durance) & Dr. Charlie Harris (Shanks), and their fight to get back to one another. As a result, you get completely invested in not only their story, but everything going on at Hope Zion.

The supporting cast is a fantastic mix of young and veteran Canadian talent, led by accomplished actress Wendy Crewson (Air Force One) as Alex's biggest rival, Dr. Dana Kinney. Daniel Gillies plays Dr. Joel Goran, hotshot surgeon and Alex's ex-boyfriend. Daniel does a wonderful job of balancing Joel's arrogance & heart-breaker tendencies with his caring nature (towards Alex in particular). Michael Shanks plays Dr. Charlie Harris, Alex's fiancé in a coma, stuck between the spirit world and the real world. Charlie is the male protagonist of the series, and it's thanks to Michael's skillful blend of wit, dry humor and genuine emotion that we cheer for Charlie to beat the odds and wake up.

Last but certainly not least, the center-point of the series, Dr. Alex Reid played by Erica Durance. Known for her chipper and optimistic spitfire portrayal of Lois Lane on "Smallville", here Erica portrays an equally strong woman, but that is where the similarities end. No matter how closely identified she'll always be for her arguably definitive portrayal of the iconic Lois Lane, after watching a couple of episodes of "Saving Hope", you'll simply see her here as Alex. A true testament to Erica's talent. She presents Alex as a caring, driven and practical woman whose life is thrust into chaos, and it's this test of her love for and bond with Charlie that leads her to start to question where science ends and hope begins.

"Saving Hope" is an amazing series which Canadian audiences have discovered & are loving, but which US audiences sadly as of yet are mostly missing out on. In a landscape littered with disposable 'reality' show tripe, this is a high quality, brilliantly acted and emotionally powerful scripted drama with heart. I for one hope that we get to share in the lives of the residents of Hope Zion for many more seasons to come.

The show hooked me from the beginning and has a great cast but by Season 4 it was just dragging out unnecessarily. The best part was the cases with the dead people Charlie would meet. But c'mon, it's basically the same storyline over and over. Right down to the final episode.