Spoiler alert: The following article contains mild spoilers from St. Denis Medical season 1, episode 5, “A Peanut and Caramel-Filled Miracle.”
AlthoughSt. Denis Medicalis off to a great start, one can’t help but notice one thing missing from its plot, and it’s a detail thatSuperstoreused to its full advantage. NBC’s 2024 mockumentary sitcom follows the lives of an eccentric group of doctors and nurses working at St. Denis Medical Center. Given its talented cast and reliable premise, it’s no wonder whySt. Denis Medicalhas been a hit with criticsand audiences alike. However, after only five episodes,the new show has failed to establish one important storyline that madeSuperstoreas beloved as it was.
New episodes ofSt. Denis Medicalair on Tuesdays at 8 pm ET on NBC, while all six seasons ofSuperstoreare available to stream on Hulu and Peacock.
Superstoreran for six seasons and 113 episodes,from November 2015 to March 2021. Any TV show, especially in this day and age, that makes it to over 100 episodes should be regarded as an overwhelming success, andSuperstorewas. The NBC comedy received great ratings and impressive reviews —Superstorehas a 93 percentRotten Tomatoesscore. To emulate its achievements would be difficult for any series, but if any sitcom could do it, it’sSt. Denis Medical. So far,St. Denis Medicalis checking almost all the boxes, but it’s lacking one ofSuperstore’s most significant qualities.
St. Denis Medical Has A Lot In Common With Superstore
Justin Spitzer Created Both Sitcoms
It’s quite easy to compareSt. Denis MedicaltoSuperstorebecause of the people involved in each comedy. Justin Spitzer was the sole creator of the older series. Meanwhile,Spitzer co-created the 2024 mockumentary sitcom with Eric Ledgin (who was also a co-executive producer and wrote five episodes ofSuperstore).Given the minds behind the two TV shows and the fact that they are both workplace comedies,NBC’s new sitcom is the perfect replacement forSuperstore.
Nico Santos
Rene
The two shows also share a handful of cast members.St. Denis Medicalseries regulars Kaliko Kauahi and Josh Lawson appeared inSuperstore, as Sandra Kaluiokalani and Tate Staskiewicz, respectively. Additionally,Nico Santos, who memorably played Mateo Liwanag in the first series, guest stars as Rene inSt. Denis Medical.Based on the show’s first five episodes, it stands to reason that moreSuperstoreactors will pop up in Spitzer’s new comedy.
Amy & Jonah’s Slow-Burn Romance Was A Highlight Of Superstore
The Couple’s Love Story Began In Superstore’s Pilot
One ofSuperstore’s main qualities that made it so popular (and whatSt. Denis Medicalis missing) was the slow-burnlove story between Amy Sosa and Jonah Simms. Jonah was a “fish out of water” character introduced in the series premiere. Meanwhile, Amy was a long-term Cloud 9 employee who had achieved the position of floor supervisor after working there for more than a decade.Jonah was obviously smitten with Amy from his very first day on the job in theSuperstoreseries premiere(even though she was married).
St. Denis Medicalwould be much better off if viewers had a love story to root for.
Over the course ofSuperstore’s six seasons, Amy and Jonah went through a lot. Their relationship transformed from co-workers to friends to lovers, and back to friends, before the couple reunited at the show’s end.Amy and Jonah’s tumultuous but thrilling relationship inSuperstorewasone of the show’s highlights. Thesitcom wouldn’t have been as successful as it was without Amy and Jonah’s iconic slow-burn romance.
St. Denis Medical Has Failed To Establish Its Own Love Story
After 5 Episodes, There’s No Obvious Couple To Root For
St. Denis Medicalhasn’t truly set up an epic romance in its first five episodes, whileSuperstoredid it during its pilot. TV shows technically don’t need to have a love story front and center to be successful, but it certainly doesn’t hurt. Plus,many popular sitcoms feature memorable couples(including Amy and Jonah inSuperstore,Jim and Pam inThe Office, Janine and Gregory inAbbott Elementary, etc.). As a result,St. Denis Medicalwould be much better off if viewers had a love story to root for.
Abbott Elementary’s New Competition Is Now Airing On NBC & It Has A 88% Rotten Tomatoes Score
A new mockumentary sitcom has entered the stratosphere, and the freshman NBC TV series serves as Abbott Elementary’s direct competition.
St. Denis Medicalis teasing Matt’s crush on Serena.However, it’s so subtle and easy to miss for anyone who gets distracted for only a minute while watching. Episode 5 featured the biggest interaction between Matt and Serena, and even that scene did little to set up a slow-burn romance on the same level as Amy and Jonah. It just included Serena showing some appreciation for Matt, with him taken aback by her compliment. IfSt. Denis Medicalwants to get on the same level asSuperstore, the sitcom must focus much more on Matt and Serena’s connection (if one even exists).
St. Denis Medical
Cast
St. Denis Medical follows a diverse team of doctors and nurses at an underfunded Oregon hospital as they manage patient care and maintain camaraderie amid challenging circumstances.
