The Night Shift season 1, episode 1 proved this isn’t your typical hospital drama. Filled with an unusual cast of characters and focusing on the late night hours in an ER, it is a refreshing take on the hospital drama.
The pilot gives a look inside the night shift at San Antonio Memorial. A hospital surrounded by military bases meaning most of the staff have a military background. TC, Topher, and Drew are all ex-military who know how to work together and aren’t necessarily willing to listen to Jordan, their new boss. As the evening moves on the tension gets higher with each new case.
TC
The Night Shift opens with TC demonstrating that he is an amazing field doctor even with a hangover and having just left lock up. TC has an attitude problem that got him kicked out the army and could possibly get him fired from the hospital. He has a list of bad habits including drinking, gambling and fighting, but his skills as a doctor are unparalleled.
TC and Ragosa, the manager of the hospital, don’t even try to be friendly. TC doesn’t respect him and Ragosa thinks TC is a liability. This sets the stage for the rest of the night as these two battle it out over treating patients.
TC and Topher head out to an accident in order to save a boy. The boy is critically wounded and his injuries remind TC of something he saw on the battle field. Once the boy is back at the hospital Jordan takes TC outside for a chat. He tells her about the soldier he lost. TC clearly blames himself and it is the first time you see weakness in him.
Later TC shows a different side when he talks with Drew about his sexuality. TC feels that Drew should stop pretending to be something he isn’t but for Drew the army is his life and being the ‘gay guy’ isn’t what he wants.
Jordan
Jordan may not be quite the rebel that TC is but she isn’t willing to let a woman remain in pain because of a contract. Jordan also has high hopes of becoming the night shift chief of staff. She finally convinces Ragosa to give her a shot and he immediately tries to use her to overrule TC.
Jordan and TC have a past but it is unclear when the relationship ended. He still counts on her and even said he would trust her with his life. Jordan struggles to find balance on her first night as the night shift boss but manages to keep everyone on staff, at least for the first night.
Topher
TC’s best friend and fellow war vet he follows in TC’s footsteps when it comes to rules. The janitor’s daughter comes to him for help with what appears to be a tumor. Ragosa won’t approve the MRI so Topher takes the situation into his own hands bartering with others to get the girl the treatment she needs.
Ragosa
Ragosa is the man assigned to keep the night shift on budget. The doctors don’t like him and he doesn’t make it easy. He frequently threatens TC which doesn’t end well. TC ends up punching him which prompts Ragosa to fire him. Jordan manages to convince Ragosa to keep TC before the rest of the shift revolts.
TC and Jordan attempt to save a boy’s life and it is Ragosa who gives them the surgical guidance. In this odd twist it seems that Ragosa is more than he seems and by the end of the episode we learn that Ragosa is losing his eye sight and that he had actually started to train as a doctor before his vision started to fail.
The Night Shift wasn’t all about saving lives as Drew and Kenny played several pranks on the interns, Krista and Paul. While Krista seems to settle in and take things in stride, Paul is significantly more awkward. It will be interesting to see how these two characters develop.
Even though there still seems to be chemistry between TC and Jordan, he is seeing Landry the shift psychologist. This will inevitably lead to drama between the three and next week it looks like Jordan’s boyfriend, played by Scott Wolf, will be joining the team and challenging TC.
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