Network: ABC
Episodes: 13 (hour)
Seasons: One
TV show dates: April 24, 2014 — July 24, 2014
Series status: Cancelled
Performers include: Kelly Reilly, Ditch Davey, David Ajala, Terry Kinney, Ali Wong, David Chisum, Laura Fraser, Siobhan Williams, and Vanessa Redgrave.
TV show description:
This dramatic series revolves around uncovering the mysteries of the human brain —
Catherine Black (Kelly Reilly) is a world-famous neurologist who is brilliant, beautiful, and at the top of her game. However, few know that she’s also bipolar. The medical director of The Cube, this complex woman draws patients from all over the world. Outside of work, she keeps multiple secrets from her family and loved ones.
Doctor Ian Bickman (Ditch Davey) is a brilliant neurosurgeon and a known womanizer. He’s handsome and funny but his work comes first. He’s always treasured his freedom — until he met Catherine.
On the other side is Will Van Renseller (David Ajala), a handsome and trailblazing new chef in Brooklyn. He’s smart and ready to settle down with Catherine but her secret may derail their happiness.
Doctor Owen Morely (Terry Kinney) is the chief of staff and department chairman of The Cube. He’s Catherine’s former teacher, current boss, mentor and a fellow neurologist. He’s a true gentleman. Lina Lark (Ali Wong) is an intelligent and eccentric radiology technician who’s hiding a secret of her own.
Joshua Black (David Chisum) is Catherine’s best friend, confidante, and brother. He’s her protector and stands by her side, keeping her rooted along. His wife is Reagan (Laura Fraser). She’s a complex woman who sometimes finds it a struggle to stand by and support Catherine knowing all her secrets. Things are more complicated by the fact that her teen-age daughter, Esme (Siobhan Williams), looks up to her aunt.
Doctor Helen Hartramph (Vanessa Redgrave) is Catherine’s very intuitive and insightful psychiatrist. She’s more than just Catherine’s doctor, she’s also a mentor. She knows more about Catherine than anyone else, and holds the key to her mysterious background.
Episode #13 — Consequences
The police pick up Catherine half-naked in the woods after she stole Bickman’s car. After undergoing treatment in rehab, Catherine returns to face the fallout at home and at the Cube. Joshua tells her that he can’t be her enabler anymore. Catherine returns home to her apartment. It’s in shambles. Joshua reminds his sister that she’s a lot stronger than she thinks she is.
Bickman gives Leo his coveted letter of recommendation. He later gives Catherine a big hug upon her return. He knows she’s bipolar. He also knows that she needs to fight for her job. He’ll back her up. He’s her friend. Owen is agreeable to having Catherine back at work, though it isn’t without strict parameters, making it a challenge for Catherine to earn her credibility back.
Owen gets the background on Catherine from Dr. Hartramph. There will always be risks of having her work at the Cube. Of course, there are great rewards, too. Back at the Cube, Truman is a young man who believes he has a doppelganger. Catherine is treating him under the watchful eye of Owen, who ultimately turns over the case to Farrah. A short time later, he realizes Catherine’s assessment of the situation is on target.
Nurse Carlotta is jealous now that Catherine is back. She believes Bickman is in love with her. Catherine shows up at Bick’s place asking to turn back the clock. She doesn’t wait around to hear his answer once she sees Carlotta is there. Bick later explains that he was just trying to get Catherine out of her mind.
While trying to get her life back on track, Esme’s biological father, Johnny, arrives and is in desperate need of a transplant. Catherine is faced with the difficult decision of having to reveal the truth to Esme about who her real parents are. Reagan agrees to break the news but without Catherine present. Esme is angry, but agrees to the transplant.
Catherine finds Johnny unconscious in his apartment. Time is critical now. Too bad Esme is nowhere to be found. That’s because she’s hiding at Will’s restaurant. The two of them show up at the hospital. Esme is ready to meet her biological father, but she wants her real dad and mom to go with her. Catherine is left standing in the corridor alone.
Owen lets Catherine know that he’s not going to second-guess her anymore. Later, news comes in that Esme is a good match for Johnny. She’s still not ready to talk to Catherine, who gets more bad news from Owen. Carlotta came to him with allegations that Dr. Black duped her into filling a prescription for Oxy that she ended up using for herself. Owen steps up to Catherine as she watches Bick operate. He tells her that she’s fired. (Description courtesy ABC.)
First aired: July 24, 2014.
What do you think? Do you like the Black Box TV series? Do you think it should have been cancelled or renewed for a second season?
I disagree!!!! I LOVE this show. I work in the mental health field and am aware that the portrayal of bipolar in the show is not 100% accurate. I do believe the creator’s/writer’s in the show knew what they were facing, the truth is having a DRAMA based on bipolar would not be enticing to this audience. I feel that this can be a voice, and this show can open a new door into the acceptance of mental health. This is definitely a very touchy subject but the first time I watched this show, I was hooked. I think it’s… Read more »
I have given this show 3 chances to improve. Hasn’t happened. The music is terrible, the constant sexual encounters to prove what?? Needs more medical material and stronger characters. I also agree with others here it takes more than a day or 2 of being off meds to produce her drastic changes!
I watched the first episode and that was it for me. This show is very strange and weird.
A big fat hot mess. When I googled to see reviews, (it has been a few weeks now), I see people all seem to agree on this.
I wasted an hour of my life that I want back. This show is terrible. Being Bipolar doesn’t mean you are at that extreme level, even without the meds. Stupid, horribly acted.
Awful, Awful. Kelly Reilly is atrocious. Perhaps she is better in her native country with her native accent but she sounds and seems odd on this show. There is only one decent actress on the entire show. I also think the content is bad. I’ve seen better shows cancelled quicker. How anyone thought this was a good idea is beyond me. CANCEL!
This is the worst show I have every watched. To think that the public would enjoy such a irresponsible and inaccurate display of a person with a bipolar disorder is shameful. I agree that some people will believe that it is better to stay off their meds. Garbage!
Poor. Less than a day off her meds and she goes completely berserk, needless to say that is way from off from being realistic. It portrays people with Bipolar as extremely dangerous psychopaths, like ticking time bombs that if they miss the meds just one time all hell will break lose. The music score was bad, the acting needs a little work. I just think they tried to hard. This show can be cancelled anytime, and it will not be missed.
Just another white woman black man love story. Over this kind of show, prefer NCIS Los Angelis
Just plain awful! Insulting to medical professional, bipolar individuals, and humans in general. Who are you using as your medical experts? Obviously not anyone of science or
intelligence. Does nothing to raise awareness, understanding or compassion for individuals that struggle with being bipolar. Many do it brilliantly without the ridiculous theatrics or side shows of this premiere. Don’t waste airspace with additional episodes. Could not finish watching the first.
The first was by far the worst. The second was a close second. But, the third became a little better and 4 and 5 I think were brilliant.
The show has been cancelled. Unfortunately, the writers allowed the first 2 episodes to air. They were just AWFUL> I only watched because a very good friend of mine said she loved it. And in the end, she was right. Too little though and too late.
Absolutely loved it!!! So many people suffer from bipolar! I could relate to this show on many levels. I can’t wait to see how the characters evolve.
being married to a BP and raising 2 kids with BP I found the show disgusting. It portrays bipolar people as if they are ticking time bombs that if they miss just one set of meds then total and complete mayhem will appear. I am disgusted with how awful they portray bipolar people. Cancel it, not worth watching.
Forced myself to watch the entire show, hoping it would get better, but it only got worse. AWFUL SHOW !
I hope to be able to watch another episode of this show — characters and plots must develop as a new TV show begins. It’s frustrating that the TV powers that be and many viewers do not have the patience or willingness to let a show evolve. Very maddening to begin a show and have it yanked off the air. Am thinking this’ll be the case with this show.
Georgia…you hit the nail on the proverbial head!
it was disturbing. i feel it would encourage people to go off their meds thinking abnormal is the new normal. i am not sure that is the right description.
OMG!!!! More, more, more!!!!!
Reilly gives a good, strong performance in a difficult script as a person fighting bipolar illness. While this is a topic that needs to be brought more into the open, this program neither gains my sympathy nor makes me want to watch past the premiere. I often felt some of the scenes were too contrived and a lot of the jazz background music was distracting rather than assisting with the story. Finally, being brilliant in her field yet bipolar to this extreme is too much a stretch for me.
I agree this topic needs to be brought out more into the open, 100%. But they way they are doing it, IMHO, makes it worse, will actually make people fear someone with BP even more. If she goes off the deep end so easily from missing just one days meds how the heck did she make it through college. The stress of it all would have sent her over the edge even with meds if this is how quickly and easily she actually falls. to unrealistic. Put this show out of its misery, PLEASE!
Yes and No. They portrayed her absolutely so poorly and not Bi-Polar at all. Except for not wanting to take the meds because it calms the mania which Bi-Polars do enjoy (I would love to do whatever whenever I wanted and not have to give that up for a more sublime existence by taking Lithium and whatever else they are using today). However, history will tell you that so many geniuses, heads of state, great actors and actresses and even a CIA agent named Carrie on Homeland can be bi-polar and be outstanding (THE BEST) in their profession. The problem… Read more »