‘New Amsterdam’: Jocko Sims Teases the ‘Complicated’ Midseason Finale & Max Leaving
Q&A
“Complicated is going to be a theme throughout that midseason finale,” New Amsterdam star Jocko Sims (who plays Dr. Floyd Reynolds) warns of the November 23 episode.
Why, exactly? Well, “Death Is the Rule. Life Is the Exception” sees the clock hit zero on Dr. Max Goodwin (Ryan Eggold) and Dr. Helen Sharpe’s (Freema Agyeman) planned move to London … just as a deadly superbug hits the hospital, drawing them back in. Max was able to save their friends’ jobs from his replacement Veronica Fuentes’ (Michelle Forbes) layoffs by firing others, including Dr. Claude Baptiste (Andre Blake). Not only is Claude the husband of Reynolds’ girlfriend, Dr. Lyn Malvo (Frances Turner) — they have an open marriage — but now Reynolds has his former job. That’s not even taking into account the fact that Leyla (Shiva Kalaiselvan) seems to have put the pieces together about her girlfriend, Dr. Lauren Bloom (Janet Montgomery), making a donation to score her a residency spot.
Sims shares what’s ahead.
Going into the midseason finale, how’s Reynolds feeling about the state of the hospital?
Jocko Sims: Veronica is a tornado that has come in, which is really great. We’ve got to change things up and keep things fresh, exciting, and scary. Michelle is just fantastic. I was watching her perform a scene the other day that we have coming up and she just knocks it out of the park every time. So excited to have her on the show.
And she’s flipped it upside down. She’s going in attempting to undo some of the things that Max has done as he’s leaving, which is obviously putting a lot of conflict on his heart. It’s great. Reynolds is the new chair of surgery and not feeling that great about it, as we saw in the previous episode. But in this episode coming up, a massive superbug hits the hospital and Max is on his way out and Veronica is not there. We basically don’t have a leader, so it’s madness.
Virginia Sherwood/NBC
How’s Reynolds feeling about how the situation with Lyn and Claude is going so far at this point?
At this point, Reynolds is just in it. All he knows is that he’s in love, and he never anticipated that he’d be in love with a married woman, but clearly he is, and he’s just trying to function. It’s difficult, obviously, initially, as we saw with his now former boss Claude and to get along and make that work, which has been interesting as an actor to try to find the complexities there [and] dive in. And it’s interesting to watch as well. So far he’s navigating alright. He’s got his head above water, but it’s going to get really hairy coming up soon.
What can we expect in the midseason finale from the fact that, because of all these changes, he has his girlfriend’s husband’s former job now?
It’s pretty awkward. I will say at the beginning of that episode, Lyn seems to be upset and Reynolds is attempting to figure out if she is bothered by the fact that Claude is not there, but it has definitely made things even more complicated. Complicated is going to be a theme throughout that midseason finale.
With Max and Helen getting ready to leave, how is everyone at New Amsterdam handling that?
To be honest, they’re not handling it that well. Max is going around attempting to get folks little parting gifts, and they don’t receive them well. Ultimately what they really want from Max is for him to stick around, as my character says at the beginning of the episode. We’re trying to manage, but I think it’s a double-edged sword. Look, it’s not even the fact that we’re losing our friend, the guy who’s been doing so well not only revolutionizing New Amsterdam, but attempting to tackle the healthcare system and affecting all of the characters at the same time and teaching them how they should put patients first. Not only is he leaving, but in that void, he’s bringing in this tornado of Veronica. So they’re mad.
New Amsterdam, Tuesdays, 10/9c, NBC
Conversation19 Comments
Please read the TV Insider Community Guidelines.
Comments are closed on this story.
-
G
I know it’s only a show but I truly cannot stand the character of Veronica. Did they need a little shakeup, yes, but she is just awful
14 1
-
O
I agree this season just doing to much drama. Is max leaving or not. Get to it, this story getting old.
9 2
-
R
Veronica Fuentes is a bi%#^. Last episode was…OMG! Shes is an evil. I know it is a show, but…OMG! Does she works for a public system hospital or in a federal jail??
6
-
B
I am sad, confused about the way things have transpired. I JUST DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO THINK.. read ALL COMMENTS AND AGREE WITH MOST OF THEM. .... PLEASE GET VERONICA OUT OF NEW AMSTERDAM AND FIND A WAY TO KEEP MAX AND HELEN THERE- still in love with one another and IN LOVE WITH NEW AMSTERDAM.. making it continue to be the great PUBLIC HOSPITAL IT HAS GROWN TO BE!!!
4
-
B
I don’t like this plot line at all. If Max is leaving I will stop watching the show. This current storyline makes me angry. I am not enjoying it all. Get rid of Veronica and get to the point of Max’s leaving. I’m done with all this tension and anger. Come on!
5 1
-
G
Veronica is not making the story interesting; she is just irritating fans. The sooner she goes, the better. Storylines for the other characters (Flyn, tedious and hate it--please end it & Leyren, same) won't be as interesting or really even worth watching without Sharpwin. This, along with Max and Helen's London move, really has fans divided, and I don't believe it was a good idea to go down this particular path. It's not interesting, it's not exciting, it's just out of character. If you wanted to show growth or delve into Helen's insecurities/past or what have you, then they could have gone about it in a completely different way with Sharpwin sharing/discussing & navigating through those doubts and fears instead of this wildly uninteresting and boring plot line--again, not to mention bringing in Veronica to "shake up things". If the showrunner and writers are reading any fan comments, they should know this has been a HUGE miss (S4) with all the obstacles and roadblocks they've thrown at Sharpwin (more joy, indeed, seems to have been a misnomer or sarcasm) as well as cartoon villain manipulative, conniving, uncaring/feeling Veronica. Course correction for the second half of S4 is needed immediately or you will lose fans and viewership/ratings
9 5
-
B
If Max and Helen are leaving for London; what is Max going to do? He is a doctor and not a house husband. I can't understand why this was thrown in the first place. I understand that the writers control the dialogue but some of this is off for me. We never see Helen interact with Luna, never see the in-laws and how they feel about this move.. This is Max's daughter, but they have been actively involved in Luna's life. Thought this season was suppose to be "More Joy", but it seems they have taken joy out and put chaos in. I do love Dr. Wilder and would like to see more of her. As far as Veronica goes, she is doing her job and we just have to wait her out. I just hope the writers get together and straighten out some of this confusion.
5 2
-
O
Lot people say get rid Veronica, but i said she did a great job as an actress..trully did a whole world got angry, well done
2
-
C
You r absolutely correct. I was so mad after the last show i was ready to stop watching. Veronica has changed the storyline back to business. Your comment has changed my mind. Thanks
-
-
G
Get rid of Veronica and bring the othersback
2
-
O
Veronica is the most disgusting character on ANY show
2
-
C
I like a lot the show but I have a crush for Season one, more medicine stuff less drama cue. I find it turns around loves story instead of medicine story. Fuentes is a dark character but she brakes the rules in the 'loves story's' there. We should look outside the story between Max and Helen and more about around them. My point. I preferred the story much before they're together.
1
-
B
I have loved this show every season until this one. The current story line makes me angry and puts me in a bad mood. I quite frankly don't want to feel like this, so I'm cutting this show out of my life
1
-
B
I hate this season so far. I’m about to give up on it. If Max and Helen leave what’s the point of the show. Leaving a heartless monster character like Veronica in charge. This is not the show I signed up for.
-
G
I am really struggling with this season, Max leaving is making me wonder how the show can continue . Some may like her but I can’t stand Veronica and as of last week where she had Karen ousted it shows what a conniving backstabbing witch she really is. I sure hope the writers and producers think twice about continuing in this way, otherwise they will be losing a lot if not most viewers.
-
B
Just NOT a fan of this season at all!! It used to be inspiring and solve problems in creative ways….now it is just chaos and concentrates more on the personal lives than medicine. The new addition of Fuentes is a horrible idea as she is undoing EVERYTHING Max has done so far to better the hospital. Instead of going forward it seems to be taking huge steps backwards.
-
O
the show has lost its character. it is depressing, usually they use to solve problems now they are multiplying them.. with so much saddness in each one of the main protagonists.. we are already living in a pandemic, we need a show as it was in the previous seasons which gives us hope, strength, and joy.. if the show does not change soon I am leaving it..
-
G
Previous sessions were excellent, Funny and inspiring and really miss Dr Kapoor. New season is depressing, capitalism is taking control. Can’t wait to see Veronica de-throned, hopefully very soon because I don’t know how much I can take.
-
P
I agree. Veronica is upsetting fun to us fans. And with the departure of Helen and possibility of Max and others...it's getting harder to stay engaged. Max is main character so if he leaves (and there's no sign of him coming back quickly) I'm afraid too many fans will jump ship to a another 'medical/hospital' show!
Watchlist Easy access to only the shows you care about — all in one simple place
Alerts Only important notifications — when a show is returning, when it becomes available to stream, and more.
Special Offers Exclusive products we release related to your favorite shows and streaming services