When M-Net first introduced SA audiences to Night Shift– as a surrogate for Grey’s Anatomy– eyebrows were raised.
While both fall into the medical drama genre – it is almost blasphemous (to diehards) to compare Shonda Rhimes magnum opus with the creative brainchild of Gabe Sachs and Jeff Judah.
But both shows have their own entertaining merits.
Personally, I have to say that I have enjoyed Night Shift. It’s not trying to be a carbon copy of Grey’s Anatomy.
It does, however, share the dramatic emotions and strained personal relationships amid the fast-paced action generated by the patients and their respective cases.
At the heart of the narrative is TC Callahan (Eoin Macken). His time in the army has left him with PTSD-type symptoms that haunt him on a daily basis. That said, he is not a stickler for rules and his defiant attitude often lands him in hot water with the administrator, Michael Ragosa. His ex, Dr Jordan Alexander, is the new head of the night shift team. Oh, there is also the matter of her jealous beau, who is also on the same team.
But such love woes aren’t the only themes that surface in the medical playground. Friendships are tested, sexual orientation is questioned and family dynamics come into play, too.
Last season ended with TC being suspended and Topher being shot in the stomach.
In the new instalment, TC is back and he is reunited with an old army colleague. And things are looking more optimistic for Jordan and he. And Krista and Kenny are now an item.
What will really blow the minds of viewers is the fact that Adam Rodriquez ( Magic Mike XXL and CSI Miami fame) joins the cast as Dr Joey Chavez, the new trauma surgeon. Nothing like fresh eye-candy to incentivise viewers.
In a chat with Collider.com, Flint shared: “He (TC) finally opened up to her at the end of season one. He harboured this guilt. He was carrying around this massive secret and he was being so self-destructive and that ultimately pushed her away.”
She revealed: “Particularly with TC and Jordan’s journey, we see why they fell in love in the first place. You get a little window into their life and what it is about them that makes them tick, as a couple.”
Macken added: “We still got a lot of chaos and intensity, but there’s a bit more time to develop certain characters and storylines. He opened up to her. But we don’t know how long that’s going to last – the connection. It’s a very intense emotional relationship, that’s for sure.”
As for his beef with Ragosa, he noted: “It’s different now. Ragosa had his own demons to battle. None of the characters are black and white...”
Look, there is no powerhouse couple à la Meredith Grey and Derek Shepherd, but TC and Jordan have their own charm going on. Night Shift is an engaging series with ample emotional triggers, tantrums and trauma.
l Night Shift airs on M-Net (DStv channel 101) on Thursday at 9.30pm.