Watch Code Black

Code Black was a medical drama that aired on CBS from 2015 to 2018. The show was set in the busiest and most notorious emergency room in the United States - Angels Memorial Hospital. The ER was nicknamed "Code Black" due to the overwhelming influx of patients that came in daily, leaving the staff with too few resources and too little time to attend to each patient effectively. This extremely busy and overwhelmed atmosphere made for a unique and dynamic show with intense action and medical emergencies.

The show was developed by Michael Seitzman, who was inspired by the documentary Code Black, which gave an inside look at Los Angeles County General Hospital's overcrowded emergency room. Seitzman created a show that portrayed the daily lives of the doctors and nurses at Angels Memorial Hospital, who frequently dealt with a high volume of patients, and the tough conditions that came along with it.

Rob Lowe starred as Dr. Ethan Willis, the new addition to Angels Memorial Hospital's ER team. Dr. Willis is a former military doctor who is brought in to shake things up within the department, bringing his unique approach and expertise to the table. Marcia Gay Harden played Dr. Leanne Rorish, the residency director who is constantly fighting against the system to do what's right for her patients. Luis Guzman played Jesse Salander, the head nurse who was responsible for keeping the chaotic ER running as smoothly as possible.

The show also featured a range of other talented actors who played doctors, residents, and nurses within the hospital. The characters played by Melanie Chandra, Harry Ford, Benjamin Hollingsworth, and Jillian Murray were all residents who were training under the supervision of Dr. Rorish. William Allen Young played Dr. Rollie Guthrie, an experienced doctor who had seen it all in the ER and was known for telling it like it is, no matter how harsh. Bonnie Somerville played Dr. Christa Lorenson, a single mother who was trying to balance her personal and professional life while being a hard-working ER resident.

Throughout the series, Code Black presented a range of intense and unique medical cases, including injuries from car accidents, real-life disasters, and even rare diseases that the doctors had never seen before. The show was realistic in its portrayal of the fast-paced environment of an ER, with the doctors and nurses constantly struggling to triage and treat all of their patients in a timely and effective manner. The show made sure to highlight the hard work and dedication that the staff exerted daily, often sacrificing their own well-being to save the lives of their patients.

The show also explored various ethical dilemmas that the staff encountered while treating their patients. They were often faced with tough choices, such as whether or not to continue treating a hopeless case or to override a patient's wishes for their own good. These tough decisions were often emotionally charged, and the actors did an excellent job of portraying the internal conflict felt by the characters.

Code Black also delved into the personal lives of the staff at Angels Memorial Hospital, showing the toll that the chaotic environment took on their personal relationships. The show highlighted the unique relationships that developed between the staff members and how they relied on each other for support in and out of the hospital.

Overall, Code Black was an intense and dynamic medical drama that accurately portrayed the tough conditions that medical staff often deal with in an overcrowded hospital. The show was well-acted, with a talented cast that brought the medical emergencies to life with gripping performances. Fans of medical dramas will enjoy this thrilling show.

Code Black is a series that is currently running and has 3 seasons (47 episodes). The series first aired on September 30, 2015.