HawthoRNe – Preview Of New TNT Series

With many of the tv shows that I regularly watch having come to an end of being on summer vacation I’ve been wondering what I’d watch. I received the opportunity to preview the series premiere for TNT’s new medical drama HawthoRNe.

The main character of the series is Christina Hawthorne (Jada Pinkett Smith), chief nursing officer for Richmond Trinity Hospital. Joining Pinkett Smith is Michael Vartan (Alias) as Dr. Tom Wakefield, the oncologist who treated Christina’s husband and who serves as director of medicine for the hospital. The cast also includes Suleka Mathew (Men in Trees) as Bobbie Jackson, a fellow nurse and one of Hawthorne’s best friends; David Julian Hirsh (Lovebites) as Ray Stein, a nurse struggling with being accepted in a female-dominated profession; Christina Moore (90210) as Candy Sullivan, a nurse with a unique sense of duty; and Hannah Hodson (TNT’s The Ron Clark Story) as Camille, Hawthorne’s daughter. In addition, special guest star Joanna Cassidy (Six Feet Under) portrays Amanda, Hawthorne’s mother-in-law, who also happens to be a member of the hospital board.

Despite her personal problems, including the death of her husband, Hawthorne remains passionate about her job, her staff and her patients. The show opens on the first anniversary of her husband’s death. She puts her grief aside to rush in to the hospital in the middle of the night in order to try and prevent her patient (also her husband’s best friend) David. Her determination actually gets her arrested. And that’s only the beginning of her day! Treatment provided by a member of her staff is questioned. She is fair and lets it be known that the doctor involved should also be punished. A homeless woman she has befriended brings in a very sick newborn. This situation and causing disagreement with a fellow staff member who wants to call in the authorities.

When I heard about the show I wasn’t sure I’d like it but as it turns out I enjoyed watching the pilot very much. The show didn’t have that “new show” feel to it, where you wonder what happened to who and what the thinking was behind that. I like the show doesn’t focus only on medicine and doesn’t only have scenes in the hospital. I’m hoping that the episodes that follow are as well written and well acted as the pilot. If it turns out they are then I’ll be adding this show to my Tivo Season Pass list.

HawthoRNe premieres tonight (Tuesday, June 16) on TNT at 9 pm ET/PT.

You can catch a peek here.

Tags: HawthoRNe, premiere, tv, TV Reviews, Val's views

Category: TV Reviews