Far be it from me to try to do a review with the same expertise my friend Ron Kibbey brings to his WinCity Voices movie reviews, but I would like to pass along a simple viewing recommendation.
Everwood is a TV series that ran four seasons from 2002 to 2006 on the WB and is now available on Amazon Prime. It may also be available through some other streaming services.
The series stars Treat Williams, an actor whom I have admired for many years, although he is not as well known as many big-screen actors. Other members of the cast include Gregory Smith, Emily Van Camp, Stephanie Niznik, Debra Mooney, John Beasley, Chris Pratt, Vivien Cardone, Merilyn Gann, and Tom Amandes.
I expect most will not recognize most of these individuals; I did not. Despite the many unknown names amongst the cast, all the characters in the series are drawn with immaculate precision; they become so totally realistic and empathetic.
The story revolves around the lead character, Andrew (Andy) Brown, played by Williams, who is a renowned neurosurgeon living in New York. His wife is killed at the beginning of the series in a traffic accident (the audience is not exposed to this except through the recollections of Andy). She had, earlier in their marriage, mentioned a small community in Colorado that she accidentally happened upon and described it so beautifully that Andy determines to remove himself from the hectic activities of the big city and move with his teenage son and eight-year-old daughter to Everwood, where he sets up a family doctor practice, serving the community free of charge. He has accumulated a comfortable fortune from his neurosurgical practice but does not flaunt it through extravagance.
Everwood already has one family physician (adequate for the size of the town), Harold Abbott, played by Tom Amandes, an arrogant, stuffy sort who is not pleased to be confronted with another doctor offering free service.
Andy’s offspring are Ephram (Gregory Smith) and Delia (Vivien Cardone), both of whom struggle to adjust to their new surroundings.
Harold’s two children, both teenagers, are Amy (Van Camp) and Bright (Pratt, who is anything but bright but, eventually, lovable).
Amy befriends Ephram in high school while he is initially shunned by most others, so he, almost naturally, falls in love with her.
I won’t attempt to expand further on the plot of the series except to say that it involves the daily difficulties and pleasures of Everwood and the many “characters” therein.
The series has pathos, sorrow, anger, infidelity (delicately portrayed), joy, humor, and all the emotions any individual can experience. The characters are so well played that it becomes easy to assimilate them and become embroiled in all the events affecting them.
I reluctantly admit that the endings of many episodes left me with teary eyes, despite laughing at the numerous hilarious and joyful exchanges in every segment.
I heartily commend Everwood to your attention. It is, in my humble opinion, one of the very best series to have ever graced television.
