I am familiar with Ben Wishaw only from his previous work in "Fargo." There he plays a very serious character, while in "This is Going to Hurt" he mixes it up with lively and sarcastic comedy and a bit of drama sprinkled in. He is a good actor with a lot of range. The other bonus for me is Harriet Walter who seems to be typecast in the unsympathetic mom role (see her in "Succession," "Ted Lasso," "Belgravia," "The Last Duel," "Killing Eve"), but that is okay because she is fascinating in everything she does. "This is Going to Hurt" is the best medical-theme show to come out in years. The last one I can think of is "Nurse Jackie." But this one is a bit different. It educates you on the state of universal healthcare in the UK - that it is not all that it is cracked up to be. On the side there is of course an undercurrent thread exploring various dysfunctional friend and family dynamics, while providing a brutal yet tongue-in-cheek depiction of the overworked lives of struggling NHS labor ward doctors. The writing and editing are top-notch; Ambika Mod as Dr. Shruti is a revelation and the highlight in the best episode; and the show also bravely features a cinematic trick rarely used (protagonist directly talking to the camera) and here it works.
Review of This Is Going to Hurt
