Everwood: television series analysis and cultural impact

Everwood Smehra

Everwood on the WB.

Everwood is the family drama on the WB currently screening on Monday nights at 9/8c. The show is in its second season and revolves around a typical family in the Rocky Mountains. While the show seems to primarily cater towards a teenage audience, their scope of topics range from the controversial to the taboo. Last season they covered teenage abortion, teenage suicide, a minister who was suffering from sudden blindness, and teenagers with STDs. The topics may appear to be over-the-top and a little radical for television, but audiences have been very receptive to these topics, of which they obviously have been either exposed to in their daily life, or need to be aware of the issues they could become exposed to.

According to the synopsis on the website, "Andrew Brown's own life changed forever the day his loving wife died. Up until then, he was a world-renowned neurosurgeon whose career always overshadowed his obligations as a parent." At this stage, Brown decides to move from New York to Everwood, Colorado so he can raise his pre-teen daughter and teenage son.

It is through the trio's daily lives and situations with friends, family and community that the audience is introduced to different issues and relationships that come into play in the real world. Brown runs a free clinic in the community, which was well-accepted by everyone, including his nurse/office manager Edna and her husband, Irv, who drives the school bus.

The two main antagonists to the arrival of the Browns, was the other doctor in the community, Dr. Abbott. Brown's son, Ephram, naturally fell in love with Abbott's daughter, Amy, and amongst the other issues confronting the community, the death of Amy's ex-boyfriend is the main issue through season two.

This show appears to work on two levels. With teenagers included as the main focus of the storyline (with community sub-plots intertwined) the teenage audience is able to immediately relate to situations and dilemmas. The show doesn't alienate through language, rather it tries to keep an even keel so that families are able to watch together.