DVD Review: "A Young Doctor's Notebook"

"A Young Doctor's Notebook"

DVD Review
BBC Home Entertainment

Release Date: July 1, 2014
Source: DVD sent by publicist in exchange for an honest review

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

About the DVD: (from the publicist)

Jon Hamm (Mad Men) and Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) star in this insanely dark, and brilliantly hilarious 4-part comedy noir from the BBC. It’s 1917, on the eve of the Russian Revolution, and a young doctor (Radcliffe) arrives in the middle of the night to lead an eerie, back-woods hospital. Fresh from med school, he is completely unprepared for the bizarre people and alarming medical maladies that face him, so, in an unexpected twist, he turns to his older self (Hamm) for advice. It’s a fascinating, dark and original comedy with two of Hollywood’s leading talents that surprises and entertains in a wholly unique way.

My Review: 

I honestly hadn't heard of this series before I received the DVD for review, but with Daniel Radcliffe and John Hamm in starring roles, I knew it would be great. It didn't disappoint, and my fiance and I really enjoyed this mini series and watched it all in one sitting. While I understand that the series may not be for everyone, I do highly recommend it as long as you know what is in store. There is a lot of gore, they don't hold back in showing exactly how bloody the medical field is in 1917. There is also (I hope this isn't too spoiler-ish) drug use, but it definitely isn't glamourized. So as long as you can handle those two aspects, this is really an excellent series!

Daniel Radcliffe is superb as the young doctor who has just graduated from medical school. All of his lofty dreams are given a fast dose of reality when he realizes just how much he still doesn't know about saving lives. John Hamm is wonderful in his role as the same doctor later in life. It's genius how the two men interact in real time and Hamm's character tries to save himself from a terrible fate.

The tone of the story darkens a lot as you continue through the four episodes. The series starts out so funny, it's truly hilarious. It's dark humor even in the beginning, but the series takes a much darker turn as the doctor begins to unravel. Between the isolation of the hospital, the stress of being responsible for whether patients live or die, and being physically unwell, it's understandable how he starts to lose control.


Bottom Line: This series is truly brilliant, with a fantastic story told in a new and inventive way, and exceptional performances by both lead actors.


Find out more and purchase the dvd here: http://shop.bbc.com/us/comedy/a-young-doctors-notebook/invt/18469
You can also purchase the dvd here: http://www.amazon.com/A-Young-Doctors-Notebook-Various/dp/B00D49YFLY

Disclosure: I received a copy of this DVD from the publicist in exchange for an honest review.