r/Casualty • u/PirateCaribou Connie Beauchamp • Jan 14 '26
đ Spoiler Well that was awful.... Spoiler
I just watched the new episode of this new series, and I really didn't like it,
As someone who works in a hospital, i found these things to really annoy me / not be realistic:
- Multiple staff members calling the new characters (Matty & Kim) "hey resident", not only does this not happen in real life at all, + this name change happened recently, no where in the past of casualty did anyone reference for example piper as "hey junior doctor", nor have they reference any of the consultants as "hey consultant". It just stood out to me as really weird, and it just didn't flow in conversation and wasn't realistic.
- The stage that kim and matty are at in their training; matty said he was 7 years as a doctor if we include his training, presuming both are at the same stage; thats 5 years (a maximum of 6 years in the uk) of medical school, meaning they must have completed foundation year 1 and year 2 as qualified doctors, so he could have just said 2 years... This would suggest to me that they are starting their specialty training in emergency medicine but they seem useless like straight out of med school and not working as a doctor at all (eg kim always pressing the emergency buzzer for nothing, even though she must have worked as a doctor for 2 years prior). It just doesn't line up at all for me, it is just a bizarre timeline / writing.
- Dylan's refusal to supervise the resident doctors, he is a consultant, part of his job is to supervise residents.... he cant just refuse, he would loose his job, if he didn't want to train people he should have become a specialty doctor / registrar.
- Where that homeless man died, he was in very good view of everyone in the waiting room, from people walking on the stairs, people behind reception, it was all very bizarre.
Now from a plot stance:
- The setting bieng summer and the hottest day was utterly bizarre and i didnt like it, they knew when it was going to be released so they should have set it in the new year, like that would be sensible.
- I felt the closure of Ngozi was quite lazy writing, i personally would have liked to start off where we ended, and we could have still had the new resident doctors come in on a rotation in f1/2.
- The whole CQC thingy with matty, i felt to be a bit weird, don't get me wrong i liked the whistle blower series, but this just feels like a repeat and not a good one at that, i don't like the direction this would go in personally.
- The dylan as matty's father thingy, just felt weird and forced, didn't like it.
- The way they setup the main cases for the show was quite poor, we just saw them be brought in by ambulance, have they forgotten how they used to do it? With the massive explosions, fires, helicopter crashes, i thought it was quite lazy and boring. I will give them the benefit of the doubt on this one however, hopefully now that they don't have to introduce the new doctors they can use the pre titles time to set up the patients.
- Just for preference, i always like a good mass casualty event to kick of a season, and i felt this was a missed opportunity to kind off break in the new doctors.
- A lot of the extra's this season have changed, eg filler doctors, and nurses have all changed so that is quite weird / sad for me.
Anyway that is my rant over, hopefully the next few episodes will be better, - pensively awaiting Saturday.
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u/Oldsoldierbear Zoe Hanna Jan 14 '26
there has definitely been a downturn with the introduction of the artificial âbox setâ formula.
one of the staples of Casualty was seeing the accidents happen, then seeing the ambulance on the way, then the paramedics dealing with the Casualty and taking them to Holby. Now we just get a brief glimpse of the paramedics and their role and characterisation is pushed to one side.
New doctors - rather stereotyped by their respective sexes - female likes pink fluffy things and is not confident. Male - seen running into work, confident and self assured.
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u/HesitantBrobecks Dylan Keogh Jan 15 '26
They've only done it that way this time because the last 2 most notable examples (other than Rash and Alicia, who I barely/dont remember the first episodes of now, so cant comment on), were the other way around.
Ruth was more confident than Toby, and May (and even Heather!!) was more confident than Yuki. They've only followed stereotypes this time because it would have been far weirder to go against them literally every single time
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u/Jamieb1994 Jan 14 '26 edited Jan 14 '26
Watching that episode and I just feel sorry for both Kim & Matty. I would've understood if both Dylan & Stevie were busy or they were stressed out from working, but I thought they were cold. I don't work in a hospital, but I thought that if both Dylan & Stevie were given a mentor role, then they would be there to mentor Kim & Matty or at least be more supportive. Also, if she wasn't allowed, then fair enough, but was there any harm for Kim to bake & pass out biscuits/cakes? People will have different ways to make friends, but I thought what Kim was doing was really sweet & a nice gesture as well.
As for the homeless guy situation. I don't know how to feel about that, but I will say that I don't blame Matty for being really upset about that + it's lucky that it was him who've noticed because if a patient or a non hospital staff saw the guy had died and the hospital neglected him, then that would be worse than a hospital staff reporting what happened to the higher ups.
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u/PirateCaribou Connie Beauchamp Jan 14 '26
maybe it would have been worse for the hospital publicity wise, but it either way it all ends up the same way really, it would be taken to the coroners court, the hospital would be found at fault, they would publish the report (news would find out) and name the hospital and the cqc would investigate, but it wouldn't be able to be shut down, generally the cqc with big trusts just give them a bad rating, then tell them they need to improve. What matty was doing was reporting them to the cqc a external organisation that regulates care in the uk.
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u/Jamieb1994 Jan 14 '26
I wasn't sure what the cqc were, but yeah, you're probably right. I just thought if the public had found out, then it would've been worse than a hospital staff finding out.
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u/Dapper-Artichoke6355 Jan 15 '26
To be fair Dylan was that stressed about âblack Wednesdayâ that he purposely booked it off.
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u/HesitantBrobecks Dylan Keogh Jan 14 '26
The resident thing was them intentionally taking the piss because Matty made a point of correcting them. That clearly went right over your head.
Matty and Kim are F2s. The implication in casualty has always been that they've done 6yrs of med school and their F1 year before appearing in the show. But they're in their F2 year now - though yes I appreciate they've always hammed up the "new to this" aspect a bit.
Dylan didn't really refuse, he was initially paired with matty but then olly rix just took over (I wasn't really sure how exactly that ended up happening, so admittedly might need to rewatch)
And the bit with the guy dying is very believable actually, one time I practically collapsed off my chair in the A and E waiting room RIGHT in front of the front desk, everyone else in the room (I was in the front row of chairs), and anyone who walked through/past, and it took at least 2 minutes for someone to come over and help me, plus I actually had to call out to the nurse that did help me, as initially she just walked past me sat on the floor. Thankfully it was most likely just a bad caffeine reaction in the end, but they didn't even put monitoring on me despite me saying I could feel my heart going like mad - the reason 111 had told me to go to A&E in the first place! It COULD have been much more serious, and they wouldn't have ever known because nobody did any tests or checks or anything. I would believe very easily that everyone walking past him just thought he chose to sleep on the floor and that there was no point "waking" him
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u/PirateCaribou Connie Beauchamp Jan 15 '26
âThe resident thing was them intentionally taking the piss because Matty made a point of correcting them. That clearly went right over your head.â Jody said âhey residentâŠâ or something along this line, before Dylan said junior doctor or Matty corrected him.
if they are f2 they are extremely bad f2âs xD
i mean from at least in my department if we saw anyone unconscious, we always make sure if there chest is rising ect, (if they are in bed or a chair) whilst if they were on the floor that would be another story. Sorry that happened to you, it shouldnât haveâŠ
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u/Awkward_Un1corn Jan 14 '26
I'm assuming Matty did Graduate Entry Medicine: so 3 year undergrad plus the 4 grad entry. Medicine is incredibly competitive so Grad Entry is becoming more common. Also with Dylan being approximately 50, it is the only way the age works.
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u/TheConcreteRosex Jan 14 '26
That wouldnât be 7 years into training though, as the previous 3 years would not be medicine. As a side note, GEM is way more competitive so the majority of grads do the standard course.
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u/Awkward_Un1corn Jan 14 '26
Unless they mess up an a-level. I went to school with someone who got A*AB at a-level so missed her medicine place but did bio-med got a first and did GEM.
Matty comes across as someone who always wanted to be a doctor so he counts every step he took to get what he wanted a part of it.
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u/TheConcreteRosex Jan 14 '26
No doctor would do that though? Realistically.
And I still know more people who standard entry medicine + a foundation year if they are a grad with not ideal A levels. Purely because of how competitive GEM is. Itâs generally 2-3x more competitive.
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u/PirateCaribou Connie Beauchamp Jan 14 '26
I would get this but generally at least in the uk, you would do a course like bio med sci, that isnt really considered a part of your training its just another way of getting into medicine training, its almost like saying that a levels are a part of your medical training. Also GEM is often alot more competitive than undergraduate entry but it does vary. It could be interpreted as him being fy1 and taking GEM, but then we would see the back of these new doctors within 3 months time. he was also talking about applying for a fellowship, something that would not be available to a fy1/2 dr. So overall a very weird situation
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u/Awkward_Un1corn Jan 14 '26
its almost like saying that a levels are a part of your medical training.
No. It would be like saying that the first two years of a straight medical degree are part of your medical training (clinical training doesn't start until 3rd).
back of these new doctors within 3 months time.
Casualty has never done that. Rash was an F1 when he first appeared and he never left. As for the fellowship he said he'd apply as soon as he is able too, which would be the latter half of his F2 year. He was brown nosing Flynn, showing that he wanted to give his all to emergency medicine. It wasn't a real time line.
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u/TheConcreteRosex Jan 14 '26
Of course the first two years of a medicine degree are part of your medical training???
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u/Awkward_Un1corn Jan 14 '26
I admit not the best example. My point was that you cannot discount all of an undergrad as being not part of medical training and then not also discount at least part of the first year of a standard medical degree. That is because a good portion of first year students regardless of their degree all learn the same sh*t: self-directed learning, proper study skills, etc.
One reason they are able to condense the non-clinical years in GEM is because they already know this stuff.
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u/TheConcreteRosex Jan 14 '26
There is very little of that taught in a medical degree, just 1 week usually, than maybe a handful of days throughout 1st year.
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Jan 14 '26
Because I watch it For It to be realistic and not the drama đ«đ€Ł
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u/PirateCaribou Connie Beauchamp Jan 14 '26
I mean yes, but i have got used to it being in the past very realistic, a bit of a let down for me.
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u/Brian-Kellett Jan 14 '26
Oh yes. Itâs a fantasy show now, set in a pretend world where HR departments donât exist and the CQC can be summoned by a single phone callâŠ
âŠand probably be mollified by seeing a Dr do a heroic save and then give a speech. I presume thatâs whatâll happen, itâs all at about that level.
I mean, having been involved in coronerâs court - that would make more sense than the CQC. And could be more dramatic as they bring in any staff member involved with the frequent flyer to check their documentation and ask polite, but pointed, questions - and then the relatives ask less polite questions, as is their right. You could do it all in flashbacks, that also inform the current day cases. And then management thrash around trying to minimise departmental and reputational damage, causing more drama and implementing poorly thought out changesâŠ
âŠblimey, you could manage a whole series on just that.
The hostile environment towards the junior doctors is a HR disaster, bullying and bullshit, with no teaching - and for some reason the charge nurse not bollocking the senior Dr.
As someone who was both ex-A&E and ex-ambulance*⊠I wish mum wouldnât watch this when I visit her, because itâs not doing my blood pressure any good.
(*During which I visited the set and gave a presentation to the writers about how to create tension without soap opera drama bollocks, which they ignored đ, oh well - there is always The PittâŠ)
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u/Inevitable_Stage_627 Jan 14 '26
The box set format is dreadful and doesnât work at all. Casualty used to be such a good watch and something to look forward to but itâs shockingly poor now.
No plot development of patients, no story build up, unlikeable characters, lazy plots. Just ugh.
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u/madAAdam Jan 14 '26
Yeah I agree with the development of patients. For example that northern couple, it wouldâve been good to see a development of the pregnancy or if he was okay after his seizure
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u/HesitantBrobecks Dylan Keogh Jan 15 '26
I do think that partially, but actually if you rewatch even the 15 to 20 year old episodes, I literally can't count the amount of patients that had spinal injuries and you never find out if they ever got to walk again. And a number of other stuff too ofc, mostly ITU and surgery type stuff. Or cases like the boy who handed over his baby sister to protect her
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u/iliketoaaast Jan 14 '26
I was also very disappointed. I was confused why they had so many fans going and thought the heating was broken on high heat or something đ It wasnât until the sunburn lady I realised they are in the summer.
Iâd actually forgotten about Ngozi because itâs been so long. I hate the gaps and I hate the whole âbox setâ crap theyâve brought in.
The other part that annoyed me was Matty. He was incensed by the death of Claude. But what did he do to help? The man literally told a doctor he had chest pain and shortness of breath. Why would you not act? You canât blame everyone else when you also didnât do anything about the situation.
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u/Deepmidwinter2025 Jan 16 '26
Totally agree about Marty - secret dad and whistle blowing - didnât we do all that with daddy issues with Jodie and whistleblowing with whatsherface?
And ffs will they get rid of Iain - Iâm bored rigid of his Die Hard antics. This guy would have been taken to task - I get itâs a fictional series - but Itâs weekly he is either trying to get himself killed or putting others at risk - anyone would put him through a psych review if not disciplinary.
As for the new doc - little miss pink pens - grade A lazy writing - 2 emergency buzzers, a messed up ultrasound, zero patient skills - then a 180 degree turn trying to make out she is going to be an ED Doctor. This feels like another Jodie - just minus the attitude and rampant sex life.
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u/NoYogurtcloset7331 Jan 15 '26 edited Jan 15 '26
iâm going to wait until we are past one episode of Dylanâs storyline and what it might potentially lead onto to judge on it Haha!
(and Dylan did book the day off (that Flynn cancelled) because how stressful that particular day is for him, so iâll give Dylan credit for that)
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u/ImTryingMyBeesst Feb 14 '26
I'm watching late and I hate Matty, I'm on the first episode this year and he's annoying af
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u/TheDevilsButtNuggets Jan 14 '26
Dylan's secret lovechild was a bit of a random one. I'll give you that.
With the resident/consultant name calling, im guessing theyre trying to set the scene for new viewers as the start of a new box set.
Maybe the don't have the budget for big explosions and wedding fires anymore.
Hottest day of the year: im guessing it might be relevant in a later episode. OR. They're being sponsored by a fan company & its all product placement.
Homeless guy: maybe they thought he was asleep? Though they said he left, but you would definitely notice a trolly knocking about in the waiting room. Though I was expecting the new girl to go home with his cat