A Young Doctor's Notebook (season 2)
A Young Doctor's Notebook (season 2) is the second season of the British dark comedy television series adapted from the autobiographical works of the Russian author and playwright Mikhail Bulgakov.
Season 2 of the series focuses specifically on the short story titled 'Morphine' by Bulgakov, but is also dependent on writers for much of the subject matter as most of Bulgakov's works were utilized in the first season. It opens in 1935 with an older, rehabilitated Bomgard being released from prison and hopping on a train, thinking back to his years as a younger doctor 16 years ago. During this season (which takes place one year later: 1918), the Russian Civil War finally begins to affect the small hospital on the outskirts of Muryevo, as an influx of soldiers from both the Bolsheviks and the White Guard. Meanwhile, the young doctor is battling an all-consuming morphine addiction. His older (and drug-free) self watches over him. And a young aristocrat named Natasha arrives in the hospital, whom the Young Doctor takes an interest in. At the same time, The Feldsher takes a romantic interest in the Colonel of the White Guard who is staying in the hospital.
Episodes
| No. in season | Synopsis | Original Air Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | It's 1918 and civil war rages throughout Russia, but it has yet to reach the remote hospital in Mureyvo. The Young Doctor and midwife Pelageya are in a relationship, albeit one based primarily on the fact she is able to both facilitate and conceal his morphine addiction. Skip to 1935 and an upbeat, rehabilitated Older Doctor is in Moscow being discharged from the institution he was sent to at the end of series one. He returns to his memories of 1918 through his notebook and, in contrast to the first series, he now loves life and is no longer sneering towards his younger self, having forgiven him. The hospital staff learns that the Zemstvo is coming for an inspection, sending the Young Doctor and Pelageya into a panic, as the inspection is likely to uncover the morphine shortfall. But, under the disapproving eyes of the Older Doctor, they cover their tracks by re-filling the morphine bottles with water. The arrival of a group of injured Bolshevik soldiers means the Young Doctor's skills are fully tested. | 21 November 2013 |
| 2 | We join Older Doctor as he travels by train accompanied by Vlas, a morphine addict-hating vagrant whose disrespect for Older Doctor's notebook is revealed when he "wipes his arse with Christmas", following some "bad borsht". Meanwhile in Mureyvo, Young Doctor is attempting to hide the missing morphine that he's taken to fuel his addiction when the White Guard arrive at the hospital, asking for medical assistance. The beautiful aristocrat Natasha is part of the group, and Young Doctor falls head over heels for her. After accidentally shooting himself in the foot while drunk, Young Doctor confesses his feelings to Natasha, but she reveals she is betrothed to a Russian General (who bears a striking resemblance to Leopold Leopoldovich). | 28 November 2013 |
| 3 | Pelageya is on her sick bed with typhus while Young Doctor's infatuation with Natasha grows by the day. The Feldsher and the colonel discover a badly wounded White Guard soldier and Natasha is eager to know if he has any information about her fiancé. The jealous Young Doctor lies, telling her he died in battle (while fleeing, no less). Young Doctor heads to his room, hoping to entice Natasha to visit, with Older Doctor trying to convince him he should be looking after Pelageya and that his obsession with Natasha is as self-destructive as his addiction to morphine. After procrastinating, Young Doctor finally visits the sick Pelageya, but he behaves with cold indifference and Older Doctor is appalled at the callousness of his younger self. | 5 December 2013 |
| 4 | Young Doctor delivers a self-serving eulogy at Pelageya's funeral in which he absolves himself of blame for her death. An explosion rocks the hospital; the Bolsheviks have returned. Young Doctor pathetically attempts to persuade Natasha to stay. In desperation, he reveals that he lied to her about her fiancé. Bolshevik soldiers arrive at the hospital and Young Doctor reveals that Natasha and the White Guard have left and are heading for a medical supply train to escape. Young Doctor heads off through the snow with the Feldsher to try to warn Natasha, but they arrive to find it has been derailed by a massive explosion. Young Doctor finds an injured Natasha , but also discovers a bountiful supply of morphine. With Natasha's carriage now on fire, he is faced with a stark choice between escaping with the morphine or taking a risk and saving her. | 12 December 2013[1] |
References
External links
- The A Young Doctor's Notebook page at Sky.com
- The series summary at Ovation TV's website
- A review of the show by The Telegraph
- A review of the show by the Huffington Post