Christina Hawthorne (Jada Pinkett Smith) is the Chief Nursing Officer at Richmond Trinity Hospital. In the pilot episode she has to deal with a friend’s attempted suicide, her daughter and mother-in-law on the first anniversary of her husband’s death, one of her nurses who followed a doctor’s instructions even though he knew they were harmful to the patient, a newborn with a medical problems, and several other incidents that happen on one day in the life of this character.
Not only is Christina Hawthorne a dedicated nurse, she is compassionate and stands up for her nurses, even if it means going up against a doctor who feels nurses are the inferior workers in the medical profession.
At times Christina must cope with a rebellious teen-age daughter. This strong-willed girl is also a buffer between Christina and her mother-in-law. And, as the series opens, the anniversary of her husband’s death brings up several other deep emotions with all three of these women.
If the rest of the season is as intense as the pilot episode, the viewers are in for a treat. The storylines run in a quick pace in this non-stop drama where personal and professional lives intersect in the hospital.
The Series Includes a Cast of Veteran Actors
All of the characters are interesting and their relationships range from fun and flirty to tense and strained. The actors who play them are veterans which television viewers will recognize.
Michael Vartan plays Dr. Tom Wakefield, the Chief of Surgery. Vartan starred in the hit series Alias. Veteran actress Joanna Cassidy plays Christina’s mother-in-law who is also a member of the hospital board. Vanessa Lengies was part of the American Dreams cast and Suleka Matthew starred in the series Men in Trees. There are more familiar faces in this talented cast.
Strong Women Characters are Front and Center on TNT
HawthoRNe is one of the new breed of strong women lead characters on television.
TNT is making its mark on the television industry with its stable of female-driven dramatic series. Holly Hunter and Kyra Sedgwick (Saving Grace and The Closer) are both popular and the lead characters are strong women the public has embraced. Jada Pinkett Smith’s HawthoRNe is in the same league as the other dramas and will undoubtedly have a wide demographic. It is a compelling show with an appealing lead character and a great ensemble that interact in a fun and entertaining way while keeping the story fresh and enjoyable.
HawthoRNe airs Tuesdays on TNT.
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