Critic Reviews
| 70 |
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Rob Owen
Smith is a winning TV star who's adept at scenes that require great empathy or a withering stare. Given time (and more realistic characterizations), Hawthorne may grow into a series worthy of her talents. |
| 70 |
PopMatters
While some subplots are trite (a nurse turns down a paramedic’s romantic overtures, saying she’s “damaged goods"), the premiere hums along whenever Hawthorne is driving it. |
| 60 |
The New York Times Alessandra Stanley
The writing is a bit stilted and predictable, but the show is not unbearable--are some amusing supporting actors and the occasional engrossing medical crisis. As a character study, however, HawthoRNe is weighed down in the pursuit of worthIness. |
| 60 |
New York Daily News David Hinckley
The pieces are in place for a solid drama-with-humor, the kind that cable channels are serving like aspirin these days. The problem is this show hasn't quite figured out yet how to integrate all the components into a uniform tone and direction. |
| 50 |
Variety Brian Lowry
Directed by Mikael Salomon from Masius' script, the debut hour proves busy but not particularly distinctive. |
| 50 |
Boston Globe Matthew Gilbert
HawthoRNe seems bent on being reverential, complete with musical montages meant to break our hearts. It's not awful, by any means, just too good to be true. |
| 50 |
Entertainment Weekly Ken tucker
The results here are mostly mawkish and predictable. |
| 40 |
Hollywood Reporter Randee Dawn
The medical drama is so pervasive on TV both past and present that any new one must fight to stand out, and though Hawthorne's nurse angle is fresh, the plots barely reach subpar "St. Elsewhere" territory. |
| 40 |
Miami Herald Glenn Garvin
What might have otherwise been a worthy effort seems pallid and wheezing compared to the acid-etched Nurse Jackie. |
| 38 |
New York Post Michael Starr
The ensemble cast here is flat and one-dimensional--somewhat surprising, since John Masius ("St. Elsewhere") is one of the show's executive producers. |
| 30 |
Newark Star-Ledger Alan Sepinwall
If you want a show with engaging characters and drama, and not just a public service announcement about the very real value of our country's nurses, then Hawthorne fails to deliver. |
| 12 |
Chicago Tribune Maureen Ryan
Pinkett Smith is an engaging actress, but even her formidable energy can't liven up this sodden drama. |
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