Critical (TV series)
| Critical | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Medical drama |
| Created by | Jed Mercurio |
| Written by | Jed Mercurio Matthew Broughton Laurence Davey Mark Greig Michael A. Walker Tom Needham Katherine McGinn |
| Directed by | Jon East Michael Keillor Philippa Langdale |
| Starring | Lennie James Catherine Walker Claire Skinner Kimberley Nixon Neve McIntosh Prasanna Puwanarajah John MacMillan Ellen Thomas Mali Harries Paul Bazely Danny Kirrane Peter Sullivan Emma Fryer Jack Fortune Orion Lee Juliet Oldfield |
| Composer | Ruth Barrett |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 13 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Jed Mercurio Mark Redhead Cameron Roach |
| Producer | Christopher Hall |
| Running time | 60 minutes (inc. adverts) |
| Production company | Hat Trick Productions |
| Original release | |
| Network | Sky 1 |
| Release | 24 February – 19 May 2015 |
Critical, styled with a time-clock format as CR:IT:IC:AL, is a British medical drama series that debuted on Sky 1 on 24 February 2015.[1] The series is set in a fictional major trauma centre (MTC), City General Hospital, which treats critically ill patients. Each episode is based on one patient and efforts to save his or her life within one hour.[2] Created by Jed Mercurio (Line of Duty and Bodies),[3] the drama follows the team of medical professionals whilst they make life-changing decisions.[4] The title refers to critical condition, the most serious medical state, as well as the decisions and actions of the staff; everything done within the first hour is absolutely vital and could determine whether a patient lives or dies.[5] Even though the show received positive reviews, it didn't quite get the viewing figures it wanted and on 14 July 2015, it was officially axed.[6]
History
The series was created by Jed Mercurio.[7] The first 13 episodes were ordered by Sky 1 from Hat Trick Productions[8] in September 2013.
Characters
- Lennie James as locum trauma consultant, Glen Boyle.[9]
- Catherine Walker plays Fiona Lomas, a vascular surgical registrar and trauma fellow.
- Claire Skinner plays Lorraine Rappaport, a consultant vascular surgeon.[10]
- Kimberley Nixon plays an emergency medicine SHO, Harry Bennett-Edwardes.[11]
Cast
| Actor | Character | Role | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lennie James | Glen Boyle | Trauma Consultant, Trauma Team Leader[12] | 13 episodes |
| Catherine Walker | Fiona Lomas | Vascular Surgical Registrar, Trauma Fellow[13] | 13 episodes |
| Claire Skinner | Lorraine Rappaport | Consultant Trauma Surgeon, Consultant Vascular Surgeon, Trauma Team Leader | 6 episodes |
| Kimberley Nixon | Dr Angharad ('Harry') Bennett-Edwardes | Senior House Officer | 13 episodes |
| Neve McIntosh | Nicola Hicklin | Consultant Nurse, Acting Clinical Lead, Deputy Clinical Lead | 13 episodes |
| Prasanna Puwanarajah | Ramakrishna Chandramohan | Anaesthetics Registrar | 12 episodes |
| John MacMillan | Justin Costello | Staff Nurse | 13 episodes |
| Ellen Thomas | Constance Campbell | Sister | unknown episodes |
| Mali Harries | Nerys Merrick | Sister | 9 episodes |
| Paul Bazely | Giles Dhillon | Trauma Manager | 9 episodes |
| Danny Kirrane | Billy Finlay | Operating Department Practitioner | 13 episodes |
| Peter Sullivan | Clive Archerfield | Clinical Lead Consultant, Major Incident Officer | unknown episodes |
| Emma Fryer | Rebecca Osgood | Orthopaedic Registrar | 9 episodes |
| Jack Fortune | Robert Street | Consultant General Surgeon | 6 episodes |
| Orion Lee | Brian Zhao | CT Radiographer | unknown episodes |
| Juliet Oldfield | Shelley Imms | Radiographer | unknown episodes |
| Maya Barcot | Tessa Yarwood | 4 episodes | |
| Daphne Cheung | Debbie Wong | 4 episodes | |
| Anna Koval | Ania | 4 episodes | |
| Kirsten Foster | Dalisay Guinto | 3 episodes | |
| Garry Marriott | Paramedic | 2 episodes | |
| Mingus Johnston | PC Simpson | 1 episode | |
| Paul Blackwell | Police officer | 1 episode | |
| Elliot Cowan | Tom Farrow | O/G Consultant | 2 episodes |
| Benjamin Dilloway | Angus Hamilton | 1 episode | |
| Peter Guinness | Mr. Devlin | 1 episode | |
| Oliver Lansley | Wes Howe | Microbiologist | 1 episode |
| Lisa Miller | Emily Norcutt | 1 episode | |
| Anouska Mond | Lauren | 1 episode | |
| Cyril Nri | Joseph Whitnell | 1 episode | |
| Simon Poland | Ed Warburton | 1 episode | |
| Lee Asquith-Coe | Fireman | 1 episode | |
| Jay Boakes | Tommy | 1 episode | |
| Chloe Driver | Nuala Barrington | 1 episode | |
| Uriel Emil | Fareed | 1 episode | |
| Tim Faraday | Bob Webster | 1 episode | |
| Ana Lucia Robleda | Ana Garcia | 1 episode | |
| Cosima Shaw | Jenny Kirk | 1 episode | |
| Joe Tucker | Kevin Curtis | 1 episode | |
| Glenn Webster | Paramedic | 1 episode |
Episodes
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | UK viewers (millions)[14] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Episode 1" | Jon East | Jed Mercurio | 24 February 2015 | 0.79 | |
|
Sixty minutes to save a life. The clock is ticking in this real-time medical drama set inside a state-of-the-art major trauma centre | ||||||
| 2 | "Episode 2" | Jon East | Jed Mercurio | 3 March 2015 | 0.50 | |
|
Time is running out as the team treats a woman who has suffered an horrific fall. Amid all the action, Fiona tries to adapt to working with her ex, Glen. | ||||||
| 3 | "Episode 3" | Jon East | Jed Mercurio | 10 March 2015 | 0.47 | |
|
Emotions run high when the team fights to revive a cyclist involved in a serious collision. Glen makes a bold decision, but will it be enough? | ||||||
| 4 | "Episode 4" | Michael Keillor | Matthew Broughton | 17 March 2015 | 0.37 | |
|
Stress levels rocket when, while treating a badly beaten man, the team faces a nightmare scenario that sends the major trauma centre into lockdown. | ||||||
| 5 | "Episode 5" | Michael Keillor | Laurence Davey | 24 March 2015 | Under 0.36 | |
|
Confusion fills the operating theatre when Lorraine returns to work, taking the reins from Glen as trauma team leader to treat a woman with a gunshot wound. | ||||||
| 6 | "Episode 6" | Michael Keillor | Mark Greig | 31 March 2015 | Under 0.37 | |
|
Tensions continue to bubble between Glen and Lorraine, when they race to the aid of a troubled patient who has jumped from the hospital's atrium walkway. | ||||||
| 7 | "Episode 7" | Philippa Langdale | Michael A. Walker | 7 April 2015 | Under 0.35 | |
|
A shock is in store for the team when they treat an agitated patient who has been involved in a car crash. Glen delivers an overdue apology to Fiona. | ||||||
| 8 | "Episode 8" | Philippa Langdale | Jed Mercurio | 14 April 2015 | 0.29 | |
|
The team feels the pressure more than ever when they treat an unexpected, horrifically burned patient. Glen grows closer to Fiona, when he sheds light on his army days. | ||||||
| 9 | "Episode 9" | Philippa Langdale | Jed Mercurio | 21 April 2015 | 0.36 | |
|
The prognosis is bleak when the team battles to save a teenage drowning victim, leading to a standoff between Glen and Clive. Fiona, meanwhile, makes a bold move. | ||||||
| 10 | "Episode 10" | Jon East | Tom Needham | 28 April 2015 | 0.39 | |
|
Hospitals are normally animal-free zones, but the team makes an exception when the victim of a dog attack is brought in - with the canine still attached. | ||||||
| 11 | "Episode 11" | Jon East | Laurence Dave | 5 May 2015 | 0.44 | |
|
Obstacles arise when the team tackles one of their trickiest cases, a man who has been perforated by crane spikes. Glen receives an interesting offer. | ||||||
| 12 | "Episode 12" | Jon East | Katherine McGinn | 12 May 2015 | 0.38 | |
|
Stretched to the limit, the team hits the road to treat multiple victims involved in a traffic accident. Fiona, meanwhile, tries to keep her engagement a secret. | ||||||
| 13 | "Episode 13" | Jon East | Jed Mercurio | 19 May 2015 | 0.40 | |
|
Devastated by news of Fiona's engagement, Glen races off, only to be involved in a life-or-death emergency. | ||||||
Reception
Reviews were predominantly positive,[15][16][17][18] noting the ground-breaking style and structure of the series; however some critics expressed a preference for a more traditional approach to medical drama.[19][20]
International broadcasters
In Australia, the series premiered on BBC First on July 28, 2015.[21]
References
- ^ "Critical: Every second counts as Lennie James leads ground-breaking Sky1-HD medical drama". Sky. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
- ^ Lynn, Connolly (3 February 2014). "Critical coming to Sky 1! Is this the lovechild of ER and 24? Lennie James stars in "real-time" drama". Prime Time. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
- ^ Plunkett, John (27 January 2014). "Line of Duty's Lennie James to star in Sky1 Jed Mercurio drama". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
- ^ Drewett, Meg (27 January 2014). "Lennie James leads cast of new Sky1 medical drama Critical". Digital Spy. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
- ^ Munn, Patrick (27 January 2014). "Lennie James Cast As Lead In Sky1's Medical Drama Series 'Critical'". TV Wise. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
- ^ Martin, William (14 July 2015). "Sky1 has axed medical drama 'Critical'". Cultbox. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
- ^ "Bodies creator pens real-time medical drama for Sky 1 ". The Guardian.
- ^ "Lennie James to lead cast of Sky1's Critical". Televisual.
- ^ "Sky announces real-time '24-style' medical drama Critical". Whats on TV. 27 January 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
- ^ Hunt, Debs (27 January 2014). "Lennie James leads cast of Sky 1 medical drama 'Critical'". Inside Media Track. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
- ^ Pyke, Chris (30 April 2014). "Watch: Kim's Critical new medical drama from Line of Duty team". Wales Online. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
- ^ "Line of Duty's Lennie James to star in Sky1 Jed Mercurio drama ". The Guardian.
- ^ "Critical coming to Sky 1! Is this the lovechild of ER and 24? Lennie James stars in “real-time” drama!". Unreality Primetime.
- ^ "Weekly Top 10 Programmes". BARB. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
- ^ Billen, Andrew (25 February 2015). "TV Review: Critical; Immigration Street". The Times.
- ^ Jones, Ellen E. (25 February 2015). "Critical, Sky1 - TV Review". The Independent.
- ^ Wollaston, Sam (25 February 2015). "Last Night's TV". The Guardian.
- ^ Hogan, Michael (25 February 2015). "Critical episode 1 review". The Telegraph.
- ^ Harrison, Bernice (28 February 2015). "Critical needs a dose of the emotion shown by Grey's Anatomy". Irish Times.
- ^ McKay, Alastair (27 February 2015). "Catch-up TV". London Evening Standard.
- ^ Purcell, Charles (23 July 2015). "NEW THIS WEEK (Jul 27): I Am Cait, Village Vets Australia, Critical, Atlantis, Ipswich V8s & more". The Green Room. Archived from the original on 25 July 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2015.