I’ve been meaning to write about New Amsterdam for awhile now, but there has been so much other news and things to cover that it got pushed to the back burner. But a reader here wanted to know more about it, and so it was high time to pass on the details of this new series from FOX.
It’s actually kind of an intriguing idea and I hope they give it enough good writing to make it more than just a gimmick.
The plot of the show revolves around a man named John Amsterdam (played by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) who is a homicide detective in New York City. The big kicker is that the guy is IMMORTAL.
Interesting. Apparently in the year 1642, John stepped in front of a sword that would have killed a Native American girl. In thanks, the girl puts a spell on John that grants him immortality until he finds true love.
The idea of finding true love to break the spell is a bit cheesy I think, but I still love the whole idea behind a guy being alive since 1642.
With that in mind, the show will deal with John’s loneliness in life, having seen so many people come and go that have been in his life. The funny thing is that the official plot from FOX mentions “lovers” in the description of people that have died while he’s continued living, so why weren’t any of them true loves?
What will that constitute? Will this person not only be someone he loves, but have another special gift that makes her “the one?”
Who knows. But we do know how John figures out that he might be getting close:
When Amsterdam suffers and then recovers from what appears to be a massive heart attack while chasing a suspect, and DR. SARA DILLANE (Alexie Gilmore, “Find Love�) pronounces him dead in the ER, he realizes that the Indian girl’s prophesy may have come true – he felt the pain in his heart that she had foretold so long ago. His soul mate must have been nearby. As he works to find a killer on the streets of New York, Amsterdam understands that his own life – and possibly his death – have changed forever.
So what do you guys think? Worth a watch?

An acquaintance of mine works on the show, so I’m already committed to watching it, but I have so-so expectations for it. They’re even more qualified because it seems unlikely FOX will pick it up.
So even if I really like it, and can be happy to watch it and support my friend’s work on it…FOX will just pull the rug from ‘neath us. Ugh-gain.
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I’ll agree that the plot does sound a bit cheesy on paper. After viewing an unfinished version of the pilot, however, I came away thinking they’d actually pulled it off rather well. The show itself is very gritty and realistic but for the main character’s immortality so I think it helps ground the story.
In fact, I enjoyed it so much I set up a fansite and forum for it ( http://newamsterdam-forever.com ). I know the show got bad press early on due to swirling rumors but the fact is, if “enough” people watch it, FOX will renew it. All we can hope now is that FOX continues to market the heck out of it like they have over the last couple of weeks.
It definitely looks intriguing enough to give it a look. Besides, it’s not like there’s tons of other great stuff on at the moment.
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It’s stupid on paper. The show may or may not be cool. But if you think about, shouldn’t his true love have been born in the same time he was.
I mean, seriously. Well, this is just another reason why I don’t believe in true loves so poor guy just might live forever. Bummer.
I just found your blog post and found it quite interesting. Would you be interested in a story about a real life immortal?
If you are serious about this subject, then you will be quite interested in my research and findings on this very topic.
I have summarized what I have found on my main blog:
http://www.Ben-Abba.com.
Check out the post “Summary of the Factsâ€Â? when you get a chance and then my follow up book “Secrets of an Immortal – An Eyewitness Account of 2,800 Years of Historyâ€Â?.
Dude, what?
I second that
Spam…
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