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?
best show on tv (other than Orange is the new Black!)
DO NOT CANCEL!!
I really enjoy this show from the well written episodes to the perfectly chosen cast. Please bring it back soon.
I love it as does my adult daughter, don’t cancel it!
Don’t cancel!
Don’t cancel . Find it intriguing .
LOVE THIS SHOW…WHERE DID IT GO?
Love this show and all of the actors in it-please please please don’t cancel
The show isn’t supposed to be educational, it’s supposed to be entertainment. If people want education they can take a class. TV is not a clinic. If somebody hates it so much they don’t have to watch, they don’t need to destroy (Cancel) for the rest of the people. At first it was confusing, thought it was a show about a psychiatrist but she’s a medical doctor. Look forward to the show, please don’t cancel. Sick of violent, gory, soft core porn, perverse TV. This show is about mystery in a way that’s about healing. One drawback- always starting new… Read more »
Love this show. Where did it go?
It returns tomorrow, 6/19.
The show was not on 6/19 on ABC. Another new show was on, again starting at 10pm. Fell asleep.
Sorry, I didn’t notice they’ve moved it to 8pm. You should be able to find it on demand or online.
Putting it on earlier may help to save it, hope so!
I pray for the day that this show gets cancelled. Terrible acting, terrible script, and horrendously naive and stereotypical portrayal of bipolar. Way to keep the public ignorant of this illness. Ask anybody who is a practicing clinician or has been diagnosed with bipolar I, and they will agree that this is not only an insult to patients with BP and the medical field, but it’s also greatly misinforming to the general public. People have actually replied to some negative comments about the series as “you are so bipolar.” AND FOR THE RECORD: According the the DSM-V, symptoms of a… Read more »
Hi I can understand the reactions to shows that are not “accurate”…and at the same time I am very glad that the controversy of accuracy raises important questions..as well as flushes out the thinking that is undercover in our society yet remains as a filter from which we have learned to view one another…A LABEL. So once a person reveils a nasty opinion…it is clear that there is much work to do in the world in the way of education, understanding, empathy (not sympathy) and compassion. The old ways of thinking are not without uncomfortable and unfavorable consequences as the… Read more »
The National Institute of Mental Health is great resource: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/index.shtml I tried watching this show because I know that this is what the general public will get in terms of knowledge of psychiatric illness. I’ve tried making it through an entire episode, but I get such a visceral reaction that I’ve had to turn the T.V. off every time. To those who argue that I/we “should get over it because it’s a T.V. show”: Say that person A has bipolar disorder. Person A then has close friends or is in a relationship where this is disclosed (for whatever reason). This… Read more »
I think main char is supposed to be bipolar II, as am I. What I don’t like mostly about this show is that she seems to be the ONLY mentally ill patient. Every patient she treats ends up with an organic, treatable illness. What’s the point then of her treating these patients???
No, since she has had at least one psychotic episode, she is categorized as having bipolar I, since psychoses are absent from bipolar II. I think besides her organic disorder (bipolar, which supported by having a high heritability and visible changes in fMRI studies in people with bipolar, particularly in a manic state), she also has a mood disorder borderline personality disorder (BPD). BPD is not addressed and thus the symptoms bleed over to the organic disorder portrayed in the show. This is another reason why I think this show is not the greatest to have around in terms of… Read more »
Absolutely LOVE this series. Please do NOT cancel it. It’s the ONLY one I look forward to each week. Where did it GO????
Love the show, great writing and acting. Please bring it back in the fall.
Love this show! Don’t cancel it. Probably the only show I watch on ABC.
I thought I saw something …a flash on t.v. screen about Black Box returning and playing at a different time….8:00 EST.???? Can no seem to find this info on line though. I want this show to continue also! Seems like the networks are toying with shows….??? What kind of politics ae going on this time? Ugh. Wasting my time! I’m not liking this. I read some criticism about this series and was surprised of the criticism. Most people I know who care about other people in their lives are struggling with a wide range of health, mind, physical, spiritual, financial… Read more »
Where did the show go , I live in Tucson AZ I like watching it have not seen it on sense may of 2014. I find it most interesting and informative.
Please let me know when its on here thank you Glenna
Love the show — don’t cancel it please!!