Red Band Society Series Premiere – “Pilot” Spoiler-Free Advance Review. A Coming of Age Dramedy.

Season 1, Episode 1

Airdate: Wednesday, September 17, 2014, 9/8c on Fox

Rating: ★★★★★

“Everybody has two stories; the one they want you to know and the one they don’t.” – Charlie Hutchison

Fox’s new series, Red Band Society, tells the story of six teenagers who live in Los Angeles’ Ocean Park Hospital, attend school there, and deal with the illnesses and accidents responsible for putting them there. The dramedy examines their lives, the friendships they make, and their heartbreaks along the way of this thing called life. Red Band Society is based on the successful 2011 Spanish drama Polseres Vermelles that tells the personal story of Albert Espinosa, and his 14 years of living in a Spanish hospital where he met the most incredible people, many of whom became his friends. Speaking from personal experience, after being admitted to the hospital eleven times in one year, I know how special the doctors and nurses become to you, so I had an easy time relating to this unique series.

Dash, Jordi, and Leo joke around with Charlie

“Pilot” opens with a great deal of comedy as Charlie Hutchison (Griffin Gluck), via voiceover, introduces the audience to the Breakfast Club-esque individual players in Red Band Society. “Coma boy,” as Charlie is nicknamed, has the unique ability of hearing everything people are saying while he lies in a coma due to some sort of accident. He’s quite a snarky kid who has an opinion about everyone, and a father (Thomas Ian Nicholas) who isn’t allowed to visit him because of his role in the accident, the details of which I assume will become evident in a future episode. Charlie first introduces us to Kara (Zoe Levin), a fresh-faced, pretty cheerleader who would have done quite well being one of the lead characters in Mean Girls. She is as cruel and conceited as can be, and no one likes her, especially her cheerleading group. “Ow, you just gave me nip-lash. Are you man-strating? You have no strength.” Yeah, I wouldn’t like her either.

Charlie is one of Nurse Jackson’s favorite patients.

Next up is Nurse Jackson, played by Academy Award® winner Octavia Spencer. She refers to Kara as “Rosemary’s baby.” Jackson initially comes across as mean-spirited and bossy; even her coffee cup has “Scary bitch” scrawled on it, courtesy of her barista. But Jackson is not an unkind person, as we learn later on in “Pilot” when she displays a very nurturing side for some of her patients. Spencer has some of the best lines in “Pilot,” although Levin is close behind her. The dialogue is witty and sharp, and both Spencer and Levin, despite her young age, know how to deliver them to get the most laughs.

Simultaneously, we meet best friends Leo Roth (Charlie Rowe) and Dash (Astro) while they’re hiding out in a storeroom smoking weed. They also do things like sneaking out of the hospital, stealing a doctor’s car, and buying beer. Oh, they steal kisses too. Astro, also known as Brian “Astro” Bradley, is a 2012 BET Award nominee for the Young Stars award. Dash is the horny, cool kid of the group, while Leo, whose room is labeled “The Swamp,” is the unofficial leader of the teen clique. Leo became romantically involved with Emma (Ciara Bravo), a very smart, albeit mousy, girl with an eating disorder, when she first arrived at Ocean Park but now they’re more interested in putting each other down. First loves can do that.

Jordi and Emma at the rooftop party.

Jordi (Nolan Sotillo) is a likeable, smart kid who uses his wit to become Dr. Jack McAndrew (Dave Annable), the “hot doc‘s,” patient. He has osteosarcoma in his leg, and no parents in sight. Jordi’s story, or rather the removal of his leg, is the basis of “Pilot.” McAndrew is the kind of doctor every parent would want to treat their child; he has the best bedside manner. There is something about Annable that makes you like him right off the bat. I don’t know whether it’s his smile or the way his eyes twinkle when he speaks; whatever it is, it puts a big old smile on my face every time I see him.

And then, there’s nurse Brittany (Rebecca Rittenhouse) and Ruben Garcia (Griffin Dunne). Brittany is the thorn in Nurse Jackson’s side. As a young, pretty, naïve, kind of annoying, always upbeat person we all love to hate, Brittany is the perfect foil for Jackson, and constantly gets on her nerves. Their relationship reminds me of the one Zoey (Merritt Wever) initially had with Jackie (Edie Falco) when Nurse Jackie first hit the airwaves. I hope Brittany and Nurse Jackson’s relationship grows as much as the kids’ will over time. Ruben, on the other hand, is the only adult patient in the group, and a rich hypochondriac who is living out his days in the hospital, which is slated to receive all his money when he dies. In a queer sort of way, it looks like Ruben will become somewhat of a mentor to this ragtag group of teenagers.

Dr. McAndrew wheels Jordi into surgery.

Red Band Society takes its name from the red hospital bracelets the kids wear. The first half of the season premiere is very lighthearted and funny despite the seriousness of the show’s premise. There is plenty of drama as well and combined, it makes for a very entertaining, heartfelt, coming-of-age tale. I’m sure some people won’t want to watch a show with such a maudlin topic but they’ll be missing out on a wonderful show that takes you on a journey with each character as they grow and learn about themselves. Red Band Society is a unique show with the potential to become a terrific new series for Fox. By the end of “Pilot,” you find yourself wanting to know what makes the characters tick. Why do they act the way they do around certain people? What are their backgrounds; what happened to make them become the people they are; and where will their stories take us? If Red Band Society’s “Pilot” affects you like it affected me, you’ll find yourself smiling, laughing, and crying but most of all, you’ll be anticipating the rest of the season.

Let me know what you thought of “Pilot” after watching. Drop me a line below or hit me up on Twitter @SeasideTV. I’d love to chat with you.

Tune in to the series premiere of Red Band Society, Wednesday, September 17, 2014 at 9/8c, only on Fox.

Like Red Band Society on Facebook.

Follow the series on Pinterest.

Follow Red Band Society on Twitter, using hashtag #RedBandSociety, as well as these cast mates: Leo Roth as Dash @Charlie_Rowe; Octavia Spencer as Nurse Jackson @octaviaspencer; Dave Annable as Dr. Jack McAndrew @DaveAnnable10; Ciara Bravo as Emma @CiaraBravo; Rebecca Rittenhouse as Brittany @RebeccaRitt; Griffin Gluck as Charlie @griffingluck; Brian “Astro” Bradley as Dash @AstronomicalKid; Zoe Levin as Kara @Zoe_Levin; Nolan Sotillo as Jordi @Nolan_Sotillo; and Wilson Cruz as Kenji @wcruz73.

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Linda

Love TV, movies, and books--mostly mysteries, with a good love story thrown in every now and then. I have four adopted dogs who I adore. I love trying new recipes, and enjoy eating what I make. English language perfectionist. Reading in bed, Italian food, warm weather, the beach, all types of games = favs!