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What’s the Story?

Reviewed by Melissa Camacho

HAWTHORNE stars Jada Pinkett Smith as Christina Hawthorne, a driven nurse who will stop at nothing to help her patients at Richmond Trinity Hospital. She's supported by fellow nurse/best friend Bobbie Jackson (Suleka Mathew) and Ray Stein (David Julian Hirsh), a male nurse who's having a tough time being accepted in the female-dominated profession. Also joining the team is young nurse Candy Sullivan (Christina Moore). While Hawthorne fights for her patients' rights and well being, she struggles with the loss of her husband and raising her rebellious teenage daughter Camille (Hannah Hodson). This becomes especially difficult when working alongside Dr. Tom Wakefield (Michael Vartan), the oncologist who treated her husband.

Is It Any Good?

3

This character-driven series features all of the drama you'd expect from a medical show, but from the nurses' point of view. It highlights the struggles that nurses face while trying to help their patients and simultaneously dealing with patronizing doctors and an extremely bureaucratic medical system. The humanity behind what nurses do is driven further home by their personal stories -- particularly Hawthorne's struggle to let go of her husband.

While the show has plenty of heart, it's relatively strong content makes it a better fit for older audiences. There are lots bloody images of the sick and wounded and a fair bit of salty language. And some of the exchanges between Hawthorne and her daughter aren't always the most appropriate, either. But for teens and adults who like a good medical drama, this one will be sure to please.

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