I finally got to watch the first two episodes of Sirens today (I’d already seen the sneak preview episode, which will air this Thursday). I like it. I think there’s perhaps a little too much focus on bathroom humor… but aside from that, it’s the most accurate a depiction of #MyEMSDay in television I've seen since Emergency!
The characters, thus far, are the clear win. They remind me of people I've worked with. The conversations with each other and practical jokes are akin to things I’ve seen or done in my years in EMS. The personal issues regarding relationships are something I’ve seen many times, and the relationship between partners seems to be accurately depicted.
The nicknames are a nice touch, and something VERY common within Emergency Services. Many newbies acquire nicknames. Sometimes you get to grow out of them, sometimes you don’t. I’ve seen several places where active members don’t know someone’s real or full name, because they only ever refer to that person by a nickname or their last name. Some of the nicknames are based on something in particular, and in other cases, they are assigned seemingly at random. “Why Pedro? Because there were already two John’s”.
I have 2 issues with the show. One is professionalism, and the other is the actual medical care.
Professionalism: Making fun of a patient’s disability - like temporary deafness, isn't funny. I think the show can have just as much fun, while ALSO highlighting the professionalism of the providers and their patient care. On the flipside, I recognize that a 20-minute show doesn't provide a lot of time to showcase both patient care AND witty dialogue, but I hope the show’s writers can find a way.
As for the actual medical treatment: It seems overly dramatic at times, and they seem to not spend so much time focusing on standard treatment. Guess what… it’s TV, not real life. Further, this isn't the first show to have that problem - ER, House, and even Scrubs often focused on “zebra” diagnoses over standard treatment. My biggest gripe is that
I also have a question - What is the level of provider? Are they EMT-Basics? Paramedics? It would be a great opportunity to highlight the different levels of training, and the fact that the more advanced prehospital providers have 1.5-2 years of schooling, if not a college degree.
Anyway - Thus far, I think Sirens has potential. If you can get past the “TV Medical” issues inherent in every show, it’s worth a watch. Further, I think the characters are solid, and there is a FUTURE in this show.
Anyway - Catch up, and watch the next episode Thursday!
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