miguelb-99383
Diagnosis: Murder is an American reality medical documentary that provides a detailed, often eye-opening, insight into the healthcare profession, where, unlike in virtually every other country across the globe, doctors are also criminal detectives and private investigators. This particular documentary follows the day-to-day exploits of Dr Mark Sloan, a medical professional at Community General Hospital, or "CGH", for short. Some of you may recognise Dr Mark Sloan from his earlier acting career when he appeared in Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, which was long before altering his life completely by becoming a medical doctor. After watching just one episode of Diagnosis: Murder I don't think anyone would believe that this change of career is anything but noble as Dr Mark saves hundreds of lives whilst simultaneously solving crimes and murders, thereby ensuring American streets are much safer.Now, before you start thinking that Dr Mark is some sort of miracle worker with a device that can stop time – I mean how can one person have enough time to be a full-time doctor at a busy and often underfunded medical establishment whilst also having time to investigate criminal activity? – Dr Mark regularly calls on the assistance of his friends, family and colleagues in his quest to heal people and fight crime. In the crime-fighting department, we have Dr Mark's son, Steve Sloan who is a police detective for the local police department. The Sloan family have much to be proud of and the fact that father and son can work together so productively is beautiful, often causing me to hold back an emotional tear. Steve is a warm, generous and kind-hearted guy that he breaks the mould of your stereotypical, hard-talking, tough-guy law enforcement officer; anyone who needs their faith rebuilding in the police need look no further than Steve Sloan, an all-round bloody nice guy! Steve really did deserve a fantastic woman/girlfriend and there were moments when I thought that he'd found the right person. *SPOILER* Unfortunately, this 'nice guy' persona gave Steve a slight sting in the tail, so to speak, when he started dating a beautiful dancer. As an avid viewer of this ground-breaking programme, I've noticed a few themes have emerged which has made me become a little distrusting of the many new people we're introduced to on a week-by- week basis; this young dancer was one of these people that I had a sneaking suspicion that she might be 'dodgy'. Suffice to say, I was disappointingly proved right.Dr Mark was able to call on the help of his (aforementioned) work colleagues whenever the situation arose. As each new series was filmed, we witness staff turnover at CGH resulting in Dr Mark needing to build new relationships with new staff members (i.e Dr Jesse Travis). I really enjoyed observing this particular dynamic of the programme because we are all aware of how the coming-and-going of team members can be disruptive. However, Dr Mark is able to deftly deal with these challenges and new team members immediately appreciate what CGH is all about and thoroughly understand the hospital's, and Dr Mark's, altruistic ideology. Another member of CGH's staff that needs mentioning is Dr Amanda Bentley. Not only is she absolutely dedicated to her job, she is kind, witty and a fantastic role model for girls wanting to become doctors. Whenever I visit the hospital the doctor, more often than not, is male. However, Diagnosis: Murder and CGH thankfully shows that women can become doctors as readily as men can! Regarding the 'business' side of hospital management, to help provide an even deeper perspective behind doctor/manager relationships at busy hospitals, we regularly see interactions between Dr Mark and CGH's administrator, Norman Briggs. As one would expect, tempers often become frayed between these two titans of the healthcare profession and emotions sometimes bubble over but I believe this is only because they are deeply passionate about healing people. However, I think CGH, and Norman Briggs especially, were extremely commendable for allowing camera crews to film these intimate discussions between doctor and administrator because the content of these talks would usually be of a sensitive nature.The only thing that baffled me week-in, week-out was that the episode's killer(s) / criminal(s) would often allow camera crews to film the criminal carrying out incriminating phone calls /discussions. If I'd committed a crime, I sure as hell wouldn't allow someone to film me when I was trying to cover my tracks. Aside from this bizarre feature of the programme, Diagnosis: Murder is a thoroughly engaging watch. On many occasions I've been on the edge of my seat as Dr Mark manages to save another life or when, right at the last minute, he's able to catch a criminal. *SPOILER* I did worry at one point that the series would have to be suspended when Dr Mark was captured by bunch of criminals, tied up and bundled into the back of a truck but two of Dr Mark's team had been watching the proceedings and were able to rescue him (and the programme, of course).Overall, Diagnosis: Murder is a must-see programme for anybody thinking about becoming a doctor or nurse as it highlights that your job will not be confined to the 'four' walls of the hospital, there's the opportunity to assist the local police department too. Personally, I can't think of a more exciting and fulfilling career. I'm actually sad that I didn't go to medical school but if Dr Mark Sloan is able to start off as an actor and then move into the medical arena, maybe there is hope for me yet!Diagnosis: Murder – 10 out of 10; I'd give it 11 if I could!!
Arnaud Meert
Take all police-crime series you've ever seen, and pick one out in which you were able to laugh and be baffled at the same time. You will only find one, and it is Diagnosis Murder.The difference between Diagnosis Murder and CSI or NCIS, is that every case is solved in a fun and friendly sphere. The tight friendships between Mark, Amanda and Jack (Or Jesse) or absolutely heart-warming. Every episode also contains a personal touch of one of the characters, as well as a different murder case every time.Although usually I'm quite good at guessing who did it, in Diagnosis Murder it just isn't always possible.Now you either love or hate Dick van Dyke, but personally I think every role he has ever played is highly entertaining and iconic.My final statement is that Diagnosis Murder, unlike many other series is one of the last few family friendly- innocent TV series left.
EdwardCarter
Just a stilted rip-off of the infinitely better "Murder, She Wrote", it is absolutely amazing that this poorly-written garbage lasted for a full eight years. I'm sure most of the people who watched this unentertaining crap were in their sixties and seventies and just tuned in because they had nothing better to do, or simply remembered its star from the old Dick Van Dyke Show. Van Dyke, who only had a decent career in the 1960s, never was much of an actor at all (by his own admission) and he was already far too old to play a doctor when the series began in 1993. He looks absolutely ancient as a result of years of chain smoking and heavy drinking. His talentless real life son Barry, a wooden actor who has rarely been in anything that didn't involve his father, plays his son in the series.
tamstrat
I liked the series in the early years, it leaned a little towards the geriatric set, kind of a male based "Murder She Wrote", but Dick Van Dyke is a great actor so I enjoyed watching him portray the amiable Dr. Mark Sloan. He worked well with his real life son, Barry Van Dyke. The series was well written in the beginning, but towards the end it got really lame. It seemed that every episode featured the whole "Van Dyke" clan, and sadly to say, none of them could act with the exception of Dick and Barry. I've heard of nepotism but this took the cake, and some of the story lines got really,really out there, especially "The Blair Nurse Project" which had the young Van Dykes searching (and yikes-finding) there is a ghost in the basement of Community General Hospital. The series was cancelled shortly thereafter and I wasn't surprised. Occasionally I will watch the reruns on the PAX network or Hallmark Channel and I do enjoy them in small doses.
