What is It about Doctor Shows?

Some of the earlier television shows were doctor dramas. And almost from the beginning--even in the 1/2 hour shows--they were soooo angst-filled.

I spent a lot of time in the Maine Med ER these past four+ years waiting for people to put my parents through tests, and I can attest that doctors aren't sitting around clutching their heads and hearts. They aren't constantly experiencing crisis of faith or belief or whatever. Thank goodness! 

Arguably watching angst-filled people still perform efficiently is the attraction of these shows. (Watch life and death being handled by a professional!) But the look-at-so-much-competence-amongst-so-much-HORROR is rather draining.

Between Ben Casey and Dr. Kildare, I found Dr. Kildare slightly less oppressive, in part because Richard Chamberlain is a decent actor and also because the day-to-day grind is often emphasized (in the earlier seasons, at least). 

But generally speaking, these shows bring home why early MASH was so comparatively impressive. For one, it had already laid claim to the ultimate angst: War! Consequently, the doctors act more like actual doctors, focused on their expertise, guided mostly by practical self-interest and needs. 

It didn't take long for MASH to become self-conscious (basically, by Season 4). I used to put down the change to anti-war lecturing pompousness taking over. But now I wonder if the looming tradition of Important and Suffering Doctors was the factor. 

Too bad. Watching people do a job is more interesting, ultimately, than watching people clutch their heads and hearts.