Jason O’Mara
Jessica Szohr
Beth Riesgraf
Lauren Stamile

Created by:
Matt Nix

Drama, Thriller
2015-
USA Network

TV-14

USA Network’s “Complications” starts with a common feature of many TV drama-thrillers: a flashback. The first episode starts with a potentially tense situation (a home intrusion), then flashes back 10 hours. We discover that the man who went to confront the intruder at the beginning of the episode, after pulling a gun out of a doctor’s bag, is, in fact, a doctor. He’s being evaluated by a therapist after an incident at work. Of course, he doesn’t want to be there; he claims that his behavior was an aberration; and so on.

So, we have another doctor with … complications. His complications seem to stem largely from his penchant for weapons. This is supposed to tell us that he’s no ordinary doctor. There are reasons for these complications, which will be revealed, of course. And the doctor, played by Jason O’Mara, is a good guy despite them. Of course.

This isn’t anything new, really. But the problem is that nothing new, in this case, leads to nothing compelling. When a TV show, or a film for that matter, follows a formula, the question is: How well will it execute that formula? And, will it be sharp and entertaining? If so, we can overlook its redundancies. If not, then why watch it? This show is an “if not.” It’s a distant echo of many medical and criminal procedurals that came before it. It’s not bad, but it’s not good either. Blah; blah, blah; blah, blah; blah, blah; blah, blah.

Verdict: OKish

About: (Source: complications)

COMPLICATIONS centers on disillusioned suburban doctor John Ellison (Jason O’Mara, “Vegas”) who, while still dealing with the emotional effects of his daughter’s death, unexpectedly becomes a vigilante hero when he intervenes in a drive-by shooting, saving a young boy’s life. When John learns the boy is still marked for death, he’s compelled to save him at any cost. Through this journey, he must compromise his morals, often doing the wrong thing for all the right reasons.

The series also features Gretchen (Jessica Szohr, “Gossip Girl”), a reckless but capable nurse; John’s wife, Samantha (Beth Riesgraf, “Leverage”), who while attempting to support her husband is struggling with her own issues; and John’s by-the-book coworker, Dr. Bridget O’Neill (Lauren Stamile , “Burn Notice”), who finds herself dealing with the aftermath of his actions.

COMPLICATIONS comes from Fox 21 Television Studios and is created by Matt Nix (“Burn Notice”) who also serves as executive producer. Michael Horowitz serves as co-executive producer.