‘New Amsterdam’: Ryan Eggold on How Max’s Breakup Leaves Big ‘Opportunity to Grow’
When last we saw the men and women of “New Amsterdam,” Ryan Eggold’s character Max Goodwin had been left at the altar, on the rooftop of the hospital, where they were all in attendance.
“It was a heartbreaker of a season finale, and playing the scenes with Freema [Agyeman, who plays Helen], in that romance were, you know, some of my absolute favorite scenes, and Freema is so talented,” Eggold said (Agyeman is not returning full time for the final season). “And those scenes were just a joy to play and discover. And I think for David and Peter to write, and to find that whole arc, I just think we had such a great time with it.
“This season is going to be different in that regard,” Eggold continued. “And I’m going to miss playing those scenes very much. But I think that when there’s a dramatic change in someone’s life, it leaves this big opening of opportunity to grow, to change, to learn, and so I think that’s kind of where Max is starting out this year.”
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But Agyeman, who is currently working on a new show for Hulu at present, might not be entirely absent from the final season.
“I’ll tease [to] you we haven’t seen the last of Helen Sharpe,” series creator and executive producer David Schulner added.
Dr. Bloom, like Max, similarly was involved in the end of a relationship (with Leila) in the Season 4 finale, though it was of her own choosing and for well-established reasons. Iggy (Tyler Labine) too, ended his relationship.
“For her to do [that], it was really, a really big step. And I think Iggy, too, I think that was really mature for him to do that. So I think all the characters are hopefully growing and moving forward,” Schulner said.
As for what’s next for Bloom and Iggy, Schulner said many questions remain.
“Who’s to say that Leila will even be in this season? There’s going to be a lot of big changes for all the characters,” he said.
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“It’s one of the great things about heartbreak and devastation is it changes everything. I think it’s Nietzsche [who] said, ‘What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,’” executive producer Peter Horton added. “And so all of them are having to take large strides in their lives.”
If you’re hearing there is a theme of change this season, you’re right. That holds true for Dr. Floyd Reynolds (Jocko Sims) as well.
“He’s gone from classical to jazz,” Horton said, borrowing a metaphor. “He’s trying to figure out who he is in life without all the tethers of his upbringing and his preconditions.”
“New Amsterdam” returns to NBC Tuesday night at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
