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38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A tear-jerker that you will fall in love with, January 7, 2005
I don't know what to say. This was the best series on television. The technical quality may not be quite like Law and Order or other major network shows (though it wasn't noticeably bad), but the writing is outstanding.
This is a tear-jerker series. Beware: you'll really get involved with the characters. The show promotes family values to the core. Not a single episode had a single thing that might be considered objectionable. This is cleaner than some G-rated Disney movies.
The premise is that Clint Cassidy, a country doctor from Montana, moved to New York City to pursue his relationship with a journalist who had stayed in Montana with him. He begins work at a Manhattan HMO, complete with rules, regulations and politics -- things he's not used to. While Cassidy (played by Billy Ray Cyrus of "Achy Breaky Heart" fame) brings a fresh air of humanity to the otherwise impersonal HMO, there's some troubles along the way as he adjusts to his new life and the new way of doing things.
Like in any series, season one is a little on the cheesy side, but it's nonetheless charming. The characters develop much more fully in later seasons, but season one definitely explains a lot of the things that experiences in later episodes are based on.
Unfortunately, the series was canceled in season 5. The foreign distributor pulled funding (it was filmed in Toronto) and they had to stop making episodes.
After I watched the series finale, I wrote the following letter to the cast (I don't know if they ever received it). I'd like to share it here just to show you how much the show meant to me and how it'll grab you as well!
(Spoiler warning)
Dear Doc cast and crew,
The series finale. Wow. I can't believe it's already here. When I saw the ad, I thought it said "Season Finale." I thought that the middle of December was an odd place to take a season break.
As I watched the last episode, I found myself getting teared up as I realized that not only was the season ending but the show was ending as well, and I'm not a really emotional person. I feel like I've become a part of your family, and seeing you all say goodbye made me feel like I was leaving, too. At the end of that scene, I was literally crying a river. They were tears of joy -- finally, Clint and Nancy were coming together (I had been relentlessly cheering that subplot on for the better part of the last season) -- but also tears of sorrow. I will be missing you guys and your characters as much as you will be missing each other. You all have become like family to me as your struggles and victories, your emotions and your lives been mine. You have built a powerful emotional bond between us and you.
Thank you Billy Ray, Andrea, Derek, Ron, Richard, Tracy, Tyler, Paula, Ruth and all the others who have made this show the truly unique thing that it is. While I am truly sad to see you go, I wish you all the best in each of your pursuits.
May the characters you've played and lived over the last five seasons live on in your and everybody's hearts. As you have taught us to do, treasure each and every moment as a gift from God as he writes the story of your lives. And like Clint said, I can't wait to read the next chapter!
Truly yours,
Chris
P.S. Make sure you guys do a Doc reunion show!
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DVD ~ Rosa Blasi
DVD ~ Edward Asner
DVD ~ Michael Landon
~ Billy Ray Cyrus
