PILOT REVIEW: Off the Map

OFF THE MAP

Starring: Jonathan Castellanos, Valerie Cruz, Caroline Dhavernas, Jason George, Zach Gilford, Mamie Gummer, Martin Henderson, Rachelle Lafevre

Created by Jenna Bans
Written by Jenna Bans, Directed by Randy Zisk

ABC's new midseason drama Off the Map is a new medical drama from Shonda Rhimes set in a remote South American Village. The show plays like a typical medical drama in an untypical setting. It centers on several young doctors who are in South America for various reasons. Some have been there awhile while three Americans have just arrived. The pilot dealt with three separate cases, each involving one of the three new American doctors, who seem to be in the center of the ensemble. There are also back stories to these doctors which are just beginning to be explored.

Overall, it's an ordinary show in an extraordinary setting. The backdrop certainly provide some interesting storylines that you can't get on a Grey's Anatomy or Private Practice. The scenery is beautiful and the problems that arise are unique. But it is still your average medical drama. The cast is ok but nothing special yet. Some of the dialogue felt forced (like the young doctors talking at 3am after their first day) and some parts were cliche for a melodramatic medical show (Zach Gilford trying to connect to a South American family that desperately needed medical care). But there was some good parts. The scenes with Caroline Dhavernas and guest star Michael McKean were solid and despite the questionable dialogue, the three new doctors (Gilford, Dhavernas, and Mamie Gummer) did have a solid connection to each other. Rachelle Lafevre's character who was only seen in the beginning and end seems to have an interesting storyline.

Overall, it's worth watching if you like medical dramas if only to see the unique location. If they can get the dialogue and cases to be as imaginative as the setting and scenery, it could be a good show. Simply transplanting a Grey's Anatomy to South America will not work for this show. It has potential but it's not there yet.