Black Box

Being a mother of a child with ADHD, another with ODD, and dealing my entire life with epilepsy and seizure activities, the workings of the brain intrigue me. I watched as a woman, as a mother, as a patient. I understand that tendency to go off the medications because I've done it, my son has done it. It's normal. It is what normal people do who do not want to take medication for the rest of their lives, who want to rebel at a diagnosis they do not want or agree with. I loved the show and I will be tuning in to watch every week.

This was truly the worst pilot TV show I've ever seen. The writing is very weak and silly but the worst part of the show is the actress who plays the main character. She is once of the worst actresses I've seen in ages. She pouts everything she says and speaks in this sort of baby-whining voice. She is utterly unbelievable in every part of the script she is acting out. It is so bad, it makes you think its a case of someone giving a role because of nepotism or something similar. She fails at delivering a single line believably. Even her body actions are bad and unbelievable. On a more shallow note, they also expect us to find her attractive because they call her beautiful. Its doesn't matter, but she is wholly unattractive. I feel badly for bi-polar people, for writers, for actors, for directors, etc who watch this disaster from their unemployed couches. Please cancel this immediately.

The plot focuses upon mental illness in the best of ways: by having a physician herself expressing Bi-Polar Disorder behaviors. This strongly suggests that mental illness can impact anyone.

With Vanessa Redgrave acting as the psychiatrist of main character, Dr, Black, we can't top her performances! Redgrave's great in this role and should keep the series very interesting and informative.

I like the fact that we're getting a variety of perspectives of how family, co-workers, lovers and friends treat people who they know have serious-enough bouts with manias, most especially.

If I were to change one aspect, it would be to have more of Vanessa Redgrave providing "the talking cure" (psychoanalysis) to Dr. Black, especially while she's on a mania high.

I really do not understand why this show was canceled. I mean, I absolutely loved it! I have watched 'House', 'treys Anatomy', 'Scrubs' and those kinds of hospital shows for a long time, but honestly I must say that this one is my favorite of them all! The show contains great characters and I love the relationship in the family and the dynamic at 'The Cube' Hospital. It has an exiting storyline and I find to really interesting that Catherine must struggle with her own decease while helping other patients. I have actually been really into neurology since I watched this show for the first time. I couldn't stop watching, so I saw season one from the beginning and though out on two days.. I would recommend making a season two off this show and do more to make people aware off the show. Who agrees? Save some money on making another season off House.

The "Black Box" is a show that truly breaks new ground, about a subject that is universal, but not discussed. The show is an accurate depiction of mental illness that is unique, as all mental illness is, to one individual. Bipolar illness is a category, for instance, that covers a wide spectrum, with each individual having a different shade in that spectrum, along with all the different variations each individual possesses. Much of mental illness can be just a difference in amount and degree, of what is mentally healthy. For example, we all have something that is a routine we cannot break, a problem we come back to numerous times a day or something we obsess about which distracts us all day long. OCD is similar, but on a short loop that repeats continuously, and you're unable to get off that loop. Again, it happens in varying degrees. "The Black Box " shows a smart, creative neurologist who functions as an amazing doctor, with and w/o medication. In her personal life, the boundaries are gone w/o medication, and the extremes become almost infinite. It's an accurate and educational depiction of mental illness in a caring, compassionate,vital, observant, and beautiful woman. It's a character you come to care about, who wants to love and be loved, as we all do. Her patients are complex, with interesting case histories that she cares deeply about, and she uses science, knowledge of the brain and her ability to think outside the box, to treat the patients. Medicine is a science, but also an art; both are well depicted. Love it or hate it, you won't feel ambivalent. You will be enlightened either way. It can be a disturbing show to watch, you may disapprove or judge her actions when she is off her meds. You may envy the enlightenment, insight and freedom she has while off her meds, or abhor the torture and recriminations that are the consequences of no boundaries- probably both. The acting, settings, story lines, and other characters are easily HBO worthy. Above all, it is riveting entertainment and it will make you think- and that's rare! It's risky, especially for an ABC show-but no guts, no glory!!!