Critical, Sky1 - TV review

Critical is proving itself a worthy successor to Jed Mercurio's previous medical drama, Bodies, and ER

The trauma team in Critical (Sky)

Sky1's Critical does make our NHS look alluringly modern — all stainless steel and thrillingly efficient staff. Those gleaming floors can be lethal, however, as Harry (Kimberly Nixon) discovered when she witnessed this week's dramatic accident taking place right inside the hospital's glass-walled atrium.

In this real-time drama, it's only when treatment gets underway that the tension really heightens, as chauvinistic surgeons and fast-talking registrars all crowd into one room. Harry recognised the patient but didn't want anyone to know, while Glen (Lennie James) and Lorraine (Claire Skinner) fought it out for the head of trauma role.

Halfway through the compelling first series, Critical is proving itself a worthy successor to both Jed Mercurio's previous medical drama, Bodies, and ER, but with all the animosity between staff, it's a wonder the patients ever make it out alive.