Monroe (2011–2012) User Reviews

ITV medical drama Monroe not renewed for a third series

[megaenk · 7/10 · 13 March 2013]

Deeply disappointed that after two series ITV has decided not to renew this medical drama starring James Nesbitt and other talented people. It was interesting comparing the character of Mr Monroe - a talented brain surgeon but a bit of a mess as a man - with the American television series character Dr House (played by Englishman Hugh Laurie) who is also a brilliant doctor but a deeply flawed human being.

I didn't know much about the medical system and how it works in the UK, and if for nothing else, Monroe educated me a bit about it. Plus there was good characters with interesting relationships, although some did feel a bit forced. But this show had at least one more series to it, so I hope people will watch the first two to see what I mean.

Not subtle,not original,but hugely compelling viewing....

[ianlouisiana · 8/10 · 17 April 2011]

We've had maverick cops,maverick lawyers,a maverick judge,maverick bus crews,maverick politicians,maverick sailors from old King George's golden days and now ITV has produced for our delectation a maverick brain surgeon played with lip - smacking relish by Mr James Nesbitt,a man who has never knowingly underacted,and he doesn't let us down in "Monroe",which may not be subtle,but by golly it is compelling viewing. You may,if you wish,merely sit back and count the clichés,but if you simply let it wash over you and enjoy Mr Nesbitt's mesmerising display of eye - narrowing,facial tics,brief grins and outright double takes,"Monroe"is hugely enjoyable. Set in a good,old - fashioned Edwardian English hospital with absolutely no frills it lacks the anaesthetised,antiseptic aura American hospital soaps - however better - made - all seem to possess. We are deep in NHS country here,no gently swishing doors and dulcet bells,these doctors,nurses and patients are all involved together in a struggle to make things work at all,let alone quietly and discreetly. Within these parameters Monroe grapples with his perhaps over - familiar demons (dead teenage daughter,failing marriage,stroppy student son)whilst mentoring budding surgeons and struggling with inter - departmental politics. The stuff,then,of every medical soap on British TV since "Emergency Ward Ten". But "Monroe" actually benefits from Mr Nesbitt's larger than life performance which makes him the focus of all eyes whenever he's on screen,as it does from Miss Sarah Parish's rather less showy turn in the battle of the egoes as a cardiac surgeon with a dysfunctional home life - his mirror - image of course but he's too full of male arrogance to see it. It's pedigree may be plainly discerned,but that does not make "Monroe" a bad show by any means. It kept me out of the pub every Thursday night for it's whole run and if a second series is commissioned I'm sure that will do the same trick.

Well worth catching

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 16 May 2011]

I agree it may be lacking a tad in subtlety and originality, and the characters are slightly clichéd, but man did I love Monroe. It was a compelling, well-acted and well-written series that also does well in conveying any complexities and difficulties in the profession. I too don't understand the House comparison, the only two similarities I can think of at the top of my head are that they are set in a hospital and that both characters are cynical, House more so. Monroe has high production values, sharp, smart and witty writing, good direction and story lines that while not exactly original are more than benefited by the way they're paced and constructed. Monroe has excellent acting too, James Nesbitt is absolutely brilliant as his cynical yet fun character, and while Sarah Parish's role is less showy she does an excellent job with it. In conclusion, a great series and well worth catching. 9/10 Bethany Cox

This is NOT House revisited

[borborygmus · 10 September 2011]

Having watched the first few episodes of Monroe I am surprised by reviews comparing it to House. Sure, Monroe is a hospital drama centred on a brilliant surgeon with a challenging personality. But hospital dramas about so so surgeons with boring personalities tend not to rate.

Monroe is well scripted, the story lines are compelling and much more credible than House's fantasy plots. It is well acted, has very high production values and is backed by a great music score. All in all it is great entertainment - exactly what I want from a TV series. To base a negative review of one show on a supposed, tenuous association with a completely different show instead of on its merits is puerile.

excellent hospital drama with the personal touch

[steviec1972 · 10/10 · 4 May 2011]

Having been a big fan of james nesbitt's since his cold feet days i was really looking forward to this new drama as the character Monroe (a larger than life, wise cracking, chain smoking neurosurgeon) seems to be made for nesbitt's charming and sometimes overconfident persona and i was certainly not disappointed. Whilst previous hospital dramas hailing from the UK have tried to imitate their US counterparts with their clichéd, overburdened, permanently exhausted staff, Monroe has an edge to it which subtly introduces us to the personal complexities and difficulties needed to survive in a field where the mortality rate is so high. Everything about this drama is top notch from the writing,the acting, to the highly entertaining incidental music. Don't be put off by 'lame' reviews dissing this as a poor UK remake of House. Not only is it almost completely different from House (the similarities ending in it's set in a hospital)it is superior in every way. Trust me give this drama a chance you won't be disappointed.

James Nesbitt makes thee show

[de3206 · 8/10 · 29 June 2018]

Despite people claiming it is only a British knock off of the US series, "House" (the creator admits he was inspired by the series, so there is no skullduggery), I am a big fan, and wish they had made more.

It is only like "House",in that it is a hospital drama.

Nesbitt plays Monroe, and unlike "House", he is not a neurotic and not addicted to pain killers.

He is a delightful fellow, with the same problems as anyone else, and has a fun pleasant sense of humor, not acerbic and ogomaniacal like "House".

I loved "House", don't get me wrong, and as an American I might be expected to be the first to cry "foul".

But I don't, because "Monroe" is original, funny, and Nesbitt makes it a joy to watch.

The best

[tnpreuss · 10/10 · 23 September 2018]

Love this series. Fine acting. Great stories. Medical sequencing is accurate.

excellent cast

[ortizjanat · 9/10 · 7 May 2018]

Very engaging medical series. The cast plays an assortment of characters destinctive and interesting. The drama of the serious medical issues is reflected by patients and surgeons as they have to deal with their role in each crisis. The personal lives of the doctors and staff fill in the drama outside of the operating rooms. Good acting and writing have so far prevailed. Hope there is more than one season.

An annoying UK version of 'House.'

[mark-newman-1 · 4/10 · 17 March 2011]

Hmmm... It's a (much needed, wink wink!) medical drama set in a hospital! The show is named after the 'brilliant' neurosurgeon who is a cynical, damaged but genius doctor who is constantly at odds with his colleagues and authority... Can YOU guess the name of the show? Well, you're wrong. It's called Monroe and it's an annoying copy of the US show House. But this time we have to endure an hour of a smug and antagonistic showoff who insists on telling everyone how good he is, rather than letting us find out for ourselves! If you can get past the awful British accents and the clichéd cast of supporting roles then you'll probably get stymied by the adolescent script and implausible story line...

One junior doctor says this to her boss at the end of an exhausting operation... "Coo - where did you learn to suture so fast!" Plenty of other annoyances, too. One patient buys his wife fruit knowing that she hates fruit because Monroe thinks it'll save their relationship, lots of students humiliated by their 'fantastic' God-like masters, scores of people in immaculate white coats whizzing importantly by and of course there is the fast walking conversations with people appearing from corridors to join in the fun. It's more like a well choreographed Andrew Lloyd Webber production...

It would be funny if it were a parody of House. It's rather sad that it isn't and that it actually got through the planning stages.

The humour is different ....

[mauvehaze63 · 15 October 2011]

I grew up in NZ on British humour.

This is also shared by many Australians.

Monroe is full of UK humour and idioms, the "Stiff upper lip" etc.

I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This is not a UK version of House, it is totally different.

Other cultures often have difficulty with this type of humour and it's "Lost in translation".

Man About the House, a British sitcom was remade in the United States as Three's Company;

Also, The Ropers (US), based upon Robin's Nest (UK) and George & Mildred (UK), respectively all lost the British humour to replaced by a much different US humour.

Note my spelling :-)