Essential Workers (2021) User Reviews (4)

Tackling Real Issues

[nikkikowen · 9/10 · 25 November 2021]

This episode really hit close to home for me, as I have experienced - almost word-for-word - what Iggy's character is experiencing. From the emotional & mental abuse from a parent (my mother), to the weigh-ins, the lifting up my shirt to look at my stomach, the bingeing, purging & restricting (all of which were perpetuated & supported by my mother), the self-hatred & self-deprecation, & even down to the attempt to hang myself (which failed because I too, was too heavy at the time). It resonated so strongly with me, & I truly appreciate how the show handled the issue of eating disorders. There's an extreme underrepresentation of accurate depictions of EDs in TV & movies (especially in men!), but this is the first time I've felt like it reflected my own experiences. I hope they don't do what most shows do & wrap up this storyline with an epiphany & quick-fix before never acknowledging this issue again. It Can take a very long time to recover (it's been 10yrs for me, & still not recovered), so I hope this is acknowledged.

But I'm really grateful for how they approached this issue. Amazing episode!

Confusion

[kristy-pritzl · 7/10 · 14 March 2021]

The first episode took us through the pandemic too "present time" yet this episode shows Ella having her baby? So the first episode was fast forward 10 months but just kidding Ella is just having her baby now?

Absolutely Fantastic - 10/10

[kfavell-39610 · 10/10 · 11 March 2021]

This episode right here is New Amsterdam. I don't understand why the rating isn't higher. So many great moments in only 43 minutes of television. There were moments between so many characters: intense moments such as the fight between Iggy and Lauren, funny moments such as the zoom meeting and the whole bike messenger storyline (which although so very unrealistic, quite a "Max" moment that completely describes his character). Another moment such as Ella's baby and how Helen helped her through it made the episode so much more. And holy crap Tyler Labine's acting in this episode is phenomenal. Anyways, it was basically a really good episode and 100% worth the watch. This show isn't losing ANY momentum, ANYTIME soon

Confused by the timeline

[carrionhd · 5/10 · 27 February 2023]

As an essential worker who worked in a hospital throughout the pandemic, the timeline seemed more clear until Ella was still pregnant - in the previous episode (which was very good) they showed healthcare workers getting vaccinated, but the roll out of the vaccine and the lifting of the mask mandate were at least a year apart (in NYC at least) and, though several people wear masks in this episode, many don't, despite being inside a hospital. They keep talking about how bad the virus is while not wearing masks, it's annoying. So, what I figured out is that Ella was pregnant for at least a year and a half OR this is her second baby of the pandemic (but they don't say that) and what was that epidural scene?? Who places one with the patient standing? I've seen dozens of epidurals placed and, you know, since their legs basically go numb, they're not standing for placement. It also seems they still could have tried again, since she was all prepped and stuff. Ella also wasn't wearing a mask and all patients were mandated, there were many complaints from birthing people about wearing a mask in labor, they could have at least had her wear one and then take it off because she couldn't tolerate it. Iggy's storyline was moving, his storyline gets most of the stars I gave the episode.