Emily Owens, MD: Is the New CW TV Series Worth Watching?

Opposite new and existing shows, The CW’s Emily Owens, MD is going to have to work hard to get decent ratings? Does the new TV series have a chance? Is it even worth watching?

Emily Owens, MD revolves around intern Emily Owens (Mamie Gummer) as she starts working at Denver Memorial Hospital. She’s excited to begin her new job until she realizes that it’s going to be a lot like high school — complete with her former school nemesis.

The show also features the talents of Justin Hartley, Aja Naomi King, Kelly McCreary, Harry Lennix, Necar Zadegan, and Michael Rady.

Does Emily Owens like it’s worth your time? Here’s what some of the critics think:

Kansas City Star: “Although the role is a sad waste of Gummer’s skills, she makes Emily believable and likable against impossible odds. The rest of the cast is fine, but without Gummer, they couldn’t begin to rescue the series from its enormous burden of predictability and cliché.”

Salt Lake Tribune: “It’s not a great show, but it’s a much better show than you might expect for one reason – Mamie Gummer is so winning in the title role… There are more than a few over-the-top moments, particularly when Emily crushes on her fellow doctor. But Gummer (Meryl Streep’s daughter) is so charming she manages to make the character likable despite the writing.”

NY Post: “Is there a virus going around that is infecting all new female doctors—or is this a disease that is just infecting all new female doctor shows?… Now comes The CW’s Emily Owens, M.D. which may also meet its untimely demise due to that pesky, yet fatal condition: LOCS. LOCS is like other popular TV medical syndromes such as ED, IBS and RLS, but more widespread. What does LOCS stands for? Lack Of Creativity Syndrome.”

LA Times: “I happen to like Emily Owens, M.D., the CW’s new medical comedy, which is also its new medical drama. It is smartly written and well played and stars Mamie Gummer, who has been sneaking up on television via John Adams, the short-lived Off the Map and a delightful recurring role on The Good Wife. But I can see that this series, which premieres Tuesday, is also going to be very much a matter of taste.”

USA Today: “That Gummer makes it through the hour with her reputation intact is a credit both to her talent and to The Good Wife, which allowed her to shine in a much better role than she has here or in her last medical series, the equally ridiculous Off the Map. Maybe she should stay out of scrubs for a while. Luckily for her and for us, that same device with the mute button also comes with one that lets you change the channel. Hit it.”

Hollywood Reporter: “Welcome to one of the most annoying and condescending shows you’ll ever hopefully not watch. Emily Owens is a pilot that should be shown to all preteen and even high school girls, like one of those shocking Red Asphalt driver’s ed films from long ago. It should be a warning to all young women that they need to have self-esteem, confidence and a belief in their own intelligence, or they’ll end up like Emily, the most talkative, least confident successful woman you’re likely to meet.”

Miami Herald: “The show’s various gossipy subplots — particularly those involving Tyra Dupre (Kelly McCreary, White Collar), an intern whose chief-of-staff father “wanted a son, got a lesbian” — are all entertaining. So much so, in fact, that you sometimes forget that Emily is a medical drama with unexpected life-and-death moments that can feel like a punch in the stomach. Any show that can simultaneously work on your gut and your heart is worth a look.”

What do you think? Have you seen the Emily Owens, MD TV series? If so, will you watch again?

More about: Emily Owens MD, Emily Owens MD: canceled or renewed?, Emily Owens MD: ratings

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