‘New Amsterdam’ Boss on Final Season: ‘You Want to End Where You Begin’
The bad news: There’s only one more season of New Amsterdam. The good news: There’s plenty of time to give the NBC medical drama — and its fans — closure.
“For Season 5, you want to end where you begin,” executive producer David Schulner told TV Insider recently. “I think for us, let’s go back to that energy of Season 1 and look at where we started all the characters and make sure we end them in a place where they began. So for Bloom [Janet Montgomery], it was about her addiction.” You can also look forward to meeting Bloom’s sister, “so her mom [played by Gina Gershon] can’t be far behind,” the EP teased.
As for the others, Season 1, “for Iggy [Tyler Labine], was about his sense of self. And for Reynolds [Jocko Sims], it was about wanting a family,” Schulner previewed. “So looking at those core issues that we set up for all of our characters in Season 1, how can we bring those things to a conclusion in Season 5, knowing it’s our last?”
We’ll have to wait to see what the future holds for Dr. Max Goodwin (Ryan Eggold) and Dr. Helen Sharpe (Freema Agyeman), whose finale wedding didn’t happen when she called him from London and told him, “I can’t.”
While so much is up in the air about Max’s life, could we perhaps know if the final season will recreate that very memorable scene of him in the auditorium addressing (and firing) everyone in the series premiere? “That’s a good one,” Schulner said, but noted, “We don’t shoot at that auditorium anymore. But we would always love to get that auditorium back, even though it’s our crew’s least favorite place to shoot.”
Ralph Bavaro/NBC
And if you’re sad you’ll have to say goodbye to New Amsterdam soon, you’re not the only one. “It’s disappointing,” Labine admitted. “When we first got the news, I think we were all a little bit shocked.” But at least there is still one season still to go.
There is “pressure,” however, the star shared. “Look, nobody here wants to make anything less than the best season of TV that we could possibly make next year. There’s no, ‘We’ll get ’em in Season 6.’ This is it. We have 13 episodes left to tell this story and to wrap up these stories. And as a fan of the show, it’s bittersweet. We got five seasons of TV that I think were really interesting and challenging and different. It’s also, there goes my favorite show. But it’ll exist forever on streaming platforms and we can go back and visit it.”
Labine noted that the series will end with 93 episodes, “which is nothing to shake a stick at. That’s a good run for a show, for any show. As an actor and one who’s about to be unemployed, I’m a little scared,” he laughed. “It was nice to have some stability on this show. And I love the people I work with and I’ve made really good lifelong friends with everybody, from top to bottom. So I’m really sad that that’s the end of the show. But all that means to me is that I’m gonna double down on my efforts. I’m gonna do the best, best, best job I can do with Iggy next season. With everything that the show has to offer, I’ll be there putting in my absolute best, which I always did, but it feels a little more poetic. It’s the end of the show. So it’s like, what can we squeeze out of it?”
New Amsterdam, Fifth and Final Season, TBA, NBC
Conversation13 Comments
Please read the TV Insider Community Guidelines.
Comments are closed on this story.
-
C
I think it's a bit odd that there are no comments from Ryan or frema but from Tyler? I don't know whose decision it was for it to only be 13 episodes as I've heard some people say Ryan had another project and that's why it was cut short.
But they should have had a full 22 seasons for S5 even knowing that potentially it could be the last (even when it was renewed back in 2020), so this is a huge disappointment and blow to the fans. It just seems there are too many unresolved issues to try to cram into 13 episodes. I don't think this abbreviated season will do the series justice. To say the the S4 finale was more than a bit disappointing is an understatement.
In my opinion, what fans want to see is a happily married Sharpwin with at least one child of their own or perhaps twins--a boy and a girl just like how he and his sister Luna were. We also want to see Floyd happy and in a decent relationship (it would be nice if they brought back Evie as she seemed to be the love of his life) but, sadly, that's not going to happen. For me, it's too late to try to develop this storyline of Floyd and his father. That should have been done seasons ago. Iggy needs to be alone after the way he was portrayed in S4 and even the previous seasons. It's too late to try to delve into or give more of a backstory to Dr. Wilder although she's been a great character and addition. Lastly, I don't really care what happens to Leyren.
I only hope that the writers and showrunner will right the wrongs
45 1
-
G
It is odd. Last year after the finale there were video interviews with Ryan & Freema on another site. This season beyond the premier there's been no cast interviews or promotion that I can recall. It sounds like Tyler Labine was trying to put a positive spin on things and share a hopeful outlook. Wish I could feel the same way, I'm honestly concerned the show will get worse instead of better. This season wasn't nearly as hyped up and as someone who watches NBC a lot, I noticed they definitely cut back on promoting it. Really hope the cast fares well in the future.
33
-
-
G
Could the show be picked up by another network / streaming service? It's happened to other shows.
10
-
R
That will probably not happen as I believe Ryan does have some other projects in the works and Freema may as well. If it's picked up, you'd have to have those two on board for it to be meaningful, Imo
-
-
G
I love this show, yes it is unrealistic-but that’s what makes me enjoy it so
7
-
R
Among all the doctor/hospital shows we watch I have to say this would be the last hospital I would ever want to be in. They are all a mess.
4
-
B
I love New Amsterdam!I cant believe your going to end this show! I think the cast is great,and this is a show to enjoy watching,Im so tired of the either violent shows or stupidity shows.!This is just sad 🙁
3
-
O
I'm with you Anna!
1
-
-
G
I love this show! So much nonsense shows out there!
2
-
G
How is everyone coming up with 93 episodes total? When I add it up (22 + 18 + 14 + 22 + 13) I get 89.
I'd love for the last season to rebound, but season 4 was really off. It felt like new writers came in and angrily dismantled the show, but it's all the same team. More often than not it didn't feel like the same show in a very bad way. Helen had a personality transplant and her relationship with Max was lacking. They were better off, or at least better written as friends. Reynolds and Iggy suffered big time as well. The only things they got right was the Wilder character, patching things up with Bloom and Casey, and when Max had things to do away from Helen. I don't even want Helen and Max to end up together, that's how badly season 4 messed them up. It seems they'd be better off being friends. That "More Joy" stuff was really a spiteful joke in the end.
5 35
-
O
Max & Helen not ending up together? Heresy!😉
-
-
A
I have always thought this was the most unrealistic of the medical shows on tv. Max is like someone with ADHD on steroids. He has the best of intentions but goes off in multiple directions and always sabotages himself. Let’s face it, you can’t be a maverick AND run a city hospital. He would do better just overseeing a clinic as he was doing in London. His daughter Luna is like a barely acknowledged afterthought (unlike the child in The Resident who is a continuing presence) and the relationship with Helen never seemed believable. Definitely time to move on.
5 36
-
O
I’m a little sad to see it go but hopefully it will end on a satisfying conclusion. The whole will they or won’t they was getting a little tiring. Dr sharpe was way too annoying!!
10 48
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