It was only after Mamie Gummer first appeared on "The Good Wife" that I learned she was Meryl Streep's daughter -- not that it mattered, because by then she had already won me over as that snippy, seemingly harmless Nancy Crozier. Gummer may have only done four "Good Wife" episodes, but that was all it took. She had me with her faux naivete. I followed her over to Shonda Rhimes' "Off the Map," which was unfairly -- but unsurprisingly -- canceled, but I knew it would be no time before someone snapped up the talented actress. The CW did just that, and not only did they scoop her up, they made her the lead of her very own show.
"Emily Owens, M.D." centers on a former (sometimes still-)sweaty nerd during her first-year internship at Denver Memorial. She assumed her loser status was done once the scrubs were on, but she gets a rude awakening upon discovering the hospital halls are just like the high school ones (think hot, unattainable boys and girls who make Regina George seem sweet).
Emily Owens is no Trapper John. In fact, the dramedy is more like "Grey's Anatomy" lite -- but that doesn't make it bad. Rather, the show is quite good. It's sweet and has heart and that's a testament to the awesomeness of Gummer, who absolutely shines in the lead role. But, to be honest, I don't quite get what's so geeky about Emily (though maybe it takes one to know one). She's smart, obviously, pretty, sweet without being annoying, albeit a bit awkward ... but is that it? Or that she gets the odd pit stain? Couldn't we all be labelled a loser at one point or another?
The CW-ified doctor show is a breath of fresh air, and while I'm sure there'll be the usual patients of the week, it's the simpler, personal stuff that will lure viewers back. Emily's crush on Will (Justin Hartley) is meh, at best, not because a girl like Em couldn't get a guy like him; I just simply don't see it. Gummer could have chemistry with a scalpel, but I see nothing between her and Hartley.
The writers are obviously leaning towards her and Micah (Michael Rady) -- a pairing I'm already on board with; it's just going to take Emily some time to realize it. Thanks to Gummer, her relatability and her fun portrayal of the titular character, I'll keep tuning in to see it happen. I want to know what happens to this girl, I want to root for her every week (because who doesn't love an underdog?), I want her to impress her stern boss (Necar Zadegan), top that irksome Cassandra (Aja Naomi King) and realize who the right man is for her.
Bring on episode two!
"Emily Owens, M.D." premieres Tuesday, October 16 at 9 p.m. ET on CTV Two in Canada/The CW in the US.
