I've seen two episodes and I want more. This a great show with tons of possibilities. I watched it on Acorn TV and was pleased to see here that there is more to come. It is intelligent, well written, with drama but no violence and hatred. There should be more shows like this that give us a smile or a tear but do not make us hate humans or fear for our futures. Don't know how else to say it. Amanda Redman is very good in a new character, not typecast, so are the other actors. The setting is nice and realistic at the same time.
63 Reviews
Very enjoyable
lh-142-3553162 March 2017
What a picky bunch some of you are. Just be glad something with 6 episodes has been set outside Europe. I only started watching in episode 4 and have caught up on STV player. I was guessing Goa where I have not been as the location due to the area not being 'dry'. Where did it ever say 'set in Kerala' all it has said is 'seaside location'. Love the mix of mature and younger cast, decorated elephant, fishermen, hippies, goats etc. I've not been to India since 1973 and this series captures many of my memories despite the fact that the hospital I was in was a more modern one even then. I met people who had been in the hospital with goats in the wards. So this is a lovely nostalgic mix up. Thanks to all involved. Can't wait for the next 2 episodes.
Good Karma indeed
pensman23 March 2018
First, I don't really care if its shot in Sri Lanka and not India. The setting looks good and helps make the various episodes Look and appear "real." Other than that, I don't care as the setting is both beautiful and exotic. Amanda Redman still looks great and makes her role of Dr. Lydia Fonseca believable. Amrita Acharia as Dr. Ruby Walker is appropriate as Indian by nationality but English woman by birth who in a fit of heartbreak decides to regroup by taking a position in an Indian hospital whereby she can enjoy the beautiful beaches, local color, and live in a luxurious apartment as her heart heals from a bad romantic relationship. Needless to say, this quickly becomes a fish out of water show as the realities of working in a "dump" of a hospital with minimal facilities and a variety of quirky locals have to be negotiated by Dr. Ruby Walker who is learning how to grow up and not live in the bubble of what she thought would be a medical vacation of sorts.
As the stories progress, we learn more about the various characters and alternate between humor and heartbreak. Dr. Walker has to learn to negotiate her English sensibilities with the realities of working in a run-down hospital and treating patients who have neither money of resources. The humor comes mainly from situations but the heartbreak is about people.
Don't get too attached to some of the characters as their storylines run out while the series continues. The series tries to have a big heart and for the most part it does. The acting is excellent and you care about the characters; it's a shame so many of the stories end sadly.
The series is certainly worth watching and I hope for many more seasons.
As the stories progress, we learn more about the various characters and alternate between humor and heartbreak. Dr. Walker has to learn to negotiate her English sensibilities with the realities of working in a run-down hospital and treating patients who have neither money of resources. The humor comes mainly from situations but the heartbreak is about people.
Don't get too attached to some of the characters as their storylines run out while the series continues. The series tries to have a big heart and for the most part it does. The acting is excellent and you care about the characters; it's a shame so many of the stories end sadly.
The series is certainly worth watching and I hope for many more seasons.
Yippee!!!!!
hpg-770388 May 2018
I am absolutely THRILLED to read that Series 3 has been confirmed. I will wile away another year watching reruns. But, at least this next year I have 12 episodes to watch rather than 6. I truly enjoy ALL the characters - their flows, streangths, etc, the various story lines, the setting. Can't wait for next year!
Great New Show
oscarisagrump11 February 2017
I've watched the first episode twice. An outstanding story line and beautiful surroundings. Witty, charming and a real pick-me up show.
Ruby is a new Doctor from England who moves to India after her boyfriend breaks up with her. She finds herself in less that ideal circumstances as she ends up working in a hospital that is for the poorer people of the area. The three other doctors with totally different attitudes towards their profession they all welcome Ruby in different ways and make up a family style group for everyone to be entertained by.
Ruby with her own new attitude adds add her own personal style of caring for people and helping them realize what is important in their own lives. Her charming English attitude is helpful with the patients and the staff alike.
Ruby is a new Doctor from England who moves to India after her boyfriend breaks up with her. She finds herself in less that ideal circumstances as she ends up working in a hospital that is for the poorer people of the area. The three other doctors with totally different attitudes towards their profession they all welcome Ruby in different ways and make up a family style group for everyone to be entertained by.
Ruby with her own new attitude adds add her own personal style of caring for people and helping them realize what is important in their own lives. Her charming English attitude is helpful with the patients and the staff alike.
Excellent show ... Delighted there will be a second series
d-koutsoukos29 July 2017
Loved Amanda in the old show New Tricks so was attracted to this new program because she was cast in it. Absolutely love the show !!! The characters and story line not to mention the setting have won me hands down. Was so disappointed when the series ended tonight so checked the web to discover to my delight a second series is about to be produced. Look forward to seeing it next year. Daria Perth Western Australia
Great beginning!
hpg-770383 April 2018
Thank goodness. I have been checking monthly for Season 2 and it happened tonight. I have just watched episode 1 of the new season, and the drama has NOT missed a beat! I am very happy for its return. It seems as though all my favorite shows are On Acorn these days. All our favorite characters are present, new story lines emerge and tensions continue to run high. Yet the humor and wit is their to keep everything in check. In addition, the writing remains of excellent caliber and the scenery and countryside is beautiful and authentic,
It's fiction not a travelogue
prclark4624 June 2017
This is a pretty average TV series but I can't agree with many of the reviewers, presumably expats, who seem to take the location a little too seriously. People, it's a fictional hospital series that could have been completely recorded in a studio (as some of it obviously has been) but has many externals of an exotic (to the rest of us) tropical sub-continent coastal locality. Whether it is Indian or Sri Lankan in the end is of little consequence because it is the atmosphere that is important not the accuracy. Often it is too difficult to satisfactorily film in an original locality.
There may have been good reasons why a Sri Lankan rather than a Southern Indian location was chosen, much the same as the recent films that have been made in Australia but set elsewhere, e.g. financial incentives. Another example is the use of Canadian cities for externals instead of New York. I guess we all have to get used to it and accept what film is all about - imagination!
There may have been good reasons why a Sri Lankan rather than a Southern Indian location was chosen, much the same as the recent films that have been made in Australia but set elsewhere, e.g. financial incentives. Another example is the use of Canadian cities for externals instead of New York. I guess we all have to get used to it and accept what film is all about - imagination!
Wonderful Gem
dsaplis14 December 2019
I stumbled upon this series and recognized Dr Fonseca from the series New Tricks which we really liked. This is a great series with interesting characters and very good story lines. We couldn't believe how fast we watched all the episodes. We'd love more!
Absolutely beautiful!
adriennelee-6027321 December 2020
I am still reeling from the episode I saw last night, with the wedding. So much beauty. Everything was so gorgeous. The colours, the costumes, the jewellery, the landscape - everything! The story lines are a bit weepy (for happy and sad!). All the actors are very beautiful. That house boat where the dying Dr Virginia (Sue Johnston) lived was the most beautiful thing ever!!!!
The hard work of kindness
phlbrq5826 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
It's a short list of series that take the viewer into a group of dedicated people who contend with a harsh world and attempt to make it better. American medical dramas never take me to the place this show does. To risk being corny, to emotionally manipulate the viewer and construct dramatic truths. I dig it. I take some points away for stretching the characters quickly into unlikely behaviors. A U.S. guy, I've only wached the first 6 eps. But I think I'll commit to the show. Beautiful lead actresses, exotic locale, appealing ensemble and my inclination to like britworld entertainments make it a hit with me.
Love it
turtlephalla12 March 2017
this show is full of life and heartache a true to the heart series anyone who thinks otherwise doesn't have a heart or any common sense. as I watch several foreign TV series this is by far one of my favorites, wish there were more of this kind of shows and less of the reality garbage that's has plagued our lives
Miss A.Redman rescues this limp drama
ianlouisiana13 February 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Indomitably she takes on the task of pulling this up by its bootstraps,ably assisted by fellow seniors Mr N.Morrisey and Miss P. Logan and together they rescue "The good karma hospital" from being a sunny version of "Casualty". Without them it would be a dreary thing indeed. Hospital soaps and documentaries abound on television and on any given night we can be in A&E,on a children's ward or more likely lying on a stretcher in some appalling corridor in conditions that if they occurred in some developing country we would protest about. Or we could be treated by Charlie Fairhead - surely the most boring character in soaps - in which case we might welcome the Grim Reaper. So to set a hospital soap in India - currently the "go to" place for TV programme makers - was hardly cutting edge. We have some nice looking young actors doing their earnest best not to laugh at the dire dialogue they are given and the old pros doing their stuff with gusto and every sign of enjoyment. Instead of spending her time castigating old coppers,Miss Redman now spends it castigating young doctors and generally has a lot of fun. It's predictable by - the - numbers stuff but just when you might doze off Miss Redman explodes and we are reminded what a fine actress she is. Mr Morrisey makes his mark as a beach bum and Miss Logan as a patient with terminal cancer.Not on the face of it a particularly cheerful part but her character remains positive and believable. Is this going to be a Sunday night staple? Possibly on the back of the success of "Best Marigold" franchise it will prosper. But if they let go of Redman,Morrisey and Logan it won't be worth watching.
Meh.
AgentSiegfried6 April 2020
So critics, tell me, what IS completely original on tv these days? I've been watching tv for almost 70 years now and I can tell you... NOTHING!
Bobonthecouch14 March 2022
Give this show a break. I don't see why some critics are so harsh. "...does not have an original bone in its body...." It's a medical drama. How different could it be from the 83,243 medical dramas that preceded it? It has decent writing, good acting, generally relatable likable characters, good production values, beautiful scenery, humor, a little suspense, a little romance, a basically optimistic outlook... you get the drift. This is entertainment. Relax a little and enjoy it for what t's worth.
Addendum: The way I rate shows... I don't usually review anything less than a 7 because 6 would be a failing grade and I won't waste my time watching it. I'm old; I don't know how much time I've got left. Since I probably turned it off before getting even halfway through, it wouldn't be fair to rate or review it.
7 is watchable but I may go a while between episodes since, though somewhat entertaining, there are other shows more interesting or compelling.
8 would be a regular in my lineup.
9 is a must see and probably bingeable.
10 is just the epitome of superbity and headed for my all-time favorites list.
I'm adding this to my reviews because it seems there are a lot of binary reactions to pretty much everything these days. I am not a like/unlike kind of guy. I see a lot of grays so if I give something a 10 it doesn't mean the only alternative is a 1.
Addendum: The way I rate shows... I don't usually review anything less than a 7 because 6 would be a failing grade and I won't waste my time watching it. I'm old; I don't know how much time I've got left. Since I probably turned it off before getting even halfway through, it wouldn't be fair to rate or review it.
7 is watchable but I may go a while between episodes since, though somewhat entertaining, there are other shows more interesting or compelling.
8 would be a regular in my lineup.
9 is a must see and probably bingeable.
10 is just the epitome of superbity and headed for my all-time favorites list.
I'm adding this to my reviews because it seems there are a lot of binary reactions to pretty much everything these days. I am not a like/unlike kind of guy. I see a lot of grays so if I give something a 10 it doesn't mean the only alternative is a 1.
Superb new show, with exquisite costumes, good medicine - unlike anything else I've ever seen!
silverhlz1 December 2019
Having just streamed seasons 1 and 2 and now part way into 3, I must say I'm delighted by this fresh new series. People who have complained should watch the series bonus at the end of season 2 to understand the great care these folks are doing to make things as authentic as possible. For instance you will learn why they needed to use Sri Lanka instead of the southwest coast of India - it rains too much there! As a physician, I generally avoid medical dramas because they're so phony and often filled with mistakes, but so far I haven't caught a one. I've laughed, I've cried, and I love the characters. They are just unpredictable enough to seem real, and seeing Ruby challenged reminds me of some situations I got dropped into unexpectedly as I was training. Life happens. I hope this series has a long long run.
Love it!
ilr-587-43021328 December 2019
Excellent series with original plots
SunnyDaise1 June 2021
I think this is the most original med-drama I've seen. The excellent storylines are contemporary yet different from what's covered in other shows which have been done to death now. There's some really great twists and stunning scenery. I hope they are able to make more high standard series of this soon, and I'm quite happy for them to include the pandemic/aftermath as I'm sure they'd handle it well.
FABULOUS
lastpagebooks29 December 2018
Very entertaining with beautiful settings and scenery. The show draws you in with getting to know each character as if you knew them personally. The acting is excellent and the storyline keeps you wanting more.
I hope they continue on with a 3rd series of this feel good show.
Could be great
editing_budgie20 October 2018
Beautiful locations, great stories
debdshaw607 May 2018
I love this show. The storylines interweave so beautifully. It's about a young doctor who has recently finished with her residency, who is running from her crushing break up by moving to India to work in a hospital. The inner workings of the individual character's back stories unfolds from episode to episode. There's humor, drama, friendships, a bit of intrigue, and even some romance. I highly recommend this!
Comme ci, Comme ça - Season 3
westsideschl21 February 2020
Nice scenery; very colorful; some good cases, liked the presentation of an acid attack episode (maybe they can venture into controversy with a FGM episode), but downside too much focus to attract a certain demographic viewer w/attractive staff & lots of romantic entanglements - seems better suited to an urban Western city. Also, Amanda Redman's characterization is just not believable in that role.
It's about time!
rwdempsey-576-93199919 February 2019
Loving this show! While it stands on it's own in a number of ways, one reason I love this is that it reminds me of Off The Map. Doctors out of their element working with locals whose stories are brimming with culture and character. Really great series, very happy to hear it got renewed for a third series.
Very annoying lead
mafdenver18 November 2020
The character played by Amanda Redman is one of those people we're told to admire but who, in actuality, is a nightmare to be around. She's pompous, self-righteous, and doesn't care about anyone but herself. She's only tolerable if everyone acknowledges she's the coolest kid on the block and knows more than they do. When she's wrong or misses a diagnosis, she becomes vicious and it always somehow turns out to be someone else's fault. Halfway through Season 2, it's become too excruciating to keep pretending.
Absolutely love this show
suckmydag19 April 2020
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