Home > Code Black > Season 1 « TV Series Page Code Black: Season 1 (2015 - 2016) SEASON: Season 1 Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 Want to see Episode List Season 1 Code Black Critics Consensus While not reinventing the stethoscope, Code Black is an above-average medical drama, with appropriately theatrical storylines that make up for sometimes cheesy dialogue. 50% TOMATOMETER Critic Ratings: 42 82% Audience Score User Ratings: 192 See score details Rate And Review Submit review Want to see Edit Submit review Super Reviewer Verified Super Reviewer Verified Edit Super Reviewer Rate this season Oof, that was Rotten. Meh, it passed the time. It’s good – I’d recommend it. Awesome! So Fresh: Absolute Must See! What did you think of this tv season? (optional) Submit Continue Super Reviewer Step 2 of 2 How did you buy your ticket? Let's get your review verified. Submit By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie. You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket. Super Reviewer Rate this season Oof, that was Rotten. Meh, it passed the time. It’s good – I’d recommend it. Awesome! So Fresh: Absolute Must See! What did you think of this tv season? (optional) Submit How did you buy your ticket? Submit By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie. Episodes 1. Pilot Air date: Sep 30, 2015 Doctors and nurses fight to save lives in the country's busiest ER. In the opener, four new first-year residents are immediately put to work by the ER's tough-minded residency director Dr. Leanne Rorish. View Details 2. We Plug Holes Air date: Oct 7, 2015 Christa saves a woman's life and then pleads with Neal to perform a surgery that will save the patient's reproductive future. Meanwhile, Mario gets into a fight with a patient after he delivers a diagnosis that could end the man's hockey career. View Details 3. Pre-Existing Conditions Air date: Oct 14, 2015 The doctors work 36 consecutive hours in code black and must deal with a distraught mother of two sons who were in a devastating car accident. Meanwhile, Mario bullies Angus into performing an unnecessary operation and lets Angus take the blame when Leanne finds out. View Details 4. Sometimes It's a Zebra Air date: Oct 21, 2015 Guthrie's estranged son joins Angels Memorial as a surgical attending and clashes with Leanne over their contrasting approaches to medicine. Meanwhile, Christa experiences a crisis of confidence in the middle of a procedure on her first infant patient since the loss of her son. View Details 5. Doctors With Borders Air date: Oct 28, 2015 Neal clashes with his neurosurgeon father over how to treat his gravely ill mother, whose mysterious symptoms force the hospital to quarantine Trauma One. View Details 6. In Extremis Air date: Nov 4, 2015 Leanne struggles with whether to treat a police officer who helped her during an accident or his shooter, who has more serious injuries. Meanwhile, Malaya's pregnant ex-girlfriend arrives at the hospital with pain in her arm, and Malaya is shocked by her MRI results. View Details 7. Buen Árbol Air date: Nov 11, 2015 Angus uses his background in psychology to help a woman who doesn't remember how she injured herself and others. Meanwhile, Christa bonds with an illegal immigrant whose son is diagnosed with cystic fibrosis and becomes determined to find long-term care for the boy in the U.S. View Details 8. You Are the Heart Air date: Nov 18, 2015 Christa experiences her busiest shift yet when she is responsible for all emergencies at Angels Memorial that occur outside of the E.R. Meanwhile, Mario bonds with an older patient with HIV; Malaya starts a bone marrow drive for Carla; and Leanne refuses a date with Cole. View Details 9. The Son Rises Air date: Nov 25, 2015 The lead actor in the touring company of the musical "The Lion King" arrives at Angels Memorial with a throat infection, but Leanne gives him a diagnosis that puts both his career and life in jeopardy. Meanwhile, the doctors and the cast of "The Lion King" help a 17-year-old boy deal with the difficult decision of taking his father off life support. View Details 10. Cardiac Support Air date: Dec 2, 2015 Leanne becomes rattled at the thought of losing Jesse, as he fights for his life after suffering a massive heart attack. Meanwhile, Mario asks the residents to cover for him so he can search the city for a patient's son, which goes against Neal's direct order not to leave the hospital. View Details Show More Episodes Code Black: Season 1 Photos View All Photos (65) Tv Season Info From creator Michael Seitzman comes this medical drama that follows Residency Director Dr. Leanne Rorish (Marcia Gay Harden) as she manages four first-year residents at the overcrowded and understaffed Angels Memorial Hospital ER Room. Dr. Rorish must also navigate her relationships and occasional differences of opinion with colleagues, including Senior Nurse Jesse Sallander (Luiz Guzman), Dr. Neal Hudson (Raza Jeffrey), and Dr. Rollie Guthrie (William Allen Young), as she attempts to successfully treat patients under often stressful circumstances. Genre: Drama Network: CBS Premiere Date: Sep 30, 2015 Creator: Michael Seitzman Exec. Producers: Michael Seitzman, Marti Noxon, Linda Goldstein Knowlton, Ryan McGarry, David Marshall Grant, Brett Mahoney, Molly Newman, David Semel Cast & Crew Luis Guzmán Jesse Sallander Melanie Chandra Dr. Malaya Pineda Ben Hollingsworth Dr. Mario Savetti Marcia Gay Harden Raza Jaffrey Dr. Neal Hudson Harry Ford Dr. Angus Leighton Bonnie Somerville Christa Lorenson Angela Relucio Risa Park William Allen Young Dr. Rollie Guthrie Gabrielle Carteris Amy Wolowitz Jillian Murray Heather Pickney Ellia English Isabel Reynolds Emily Nelson Hannah Theo Breaux Medic 4 Christina Vidal Gina Perello Tommy Dewey Mike Leighton Jeff Hephner Ed Harbert Aris Mendoza Paramedic 2 Cress Williams Cole Guthrie Christina Cannarella ER Nurse Michael Seitzman David Semel Ryan McGarry Linda Goldstein Knowlton Marti Noxon David Marshall Grant Brett Mahoney David Von Ancken Molly Newman Kristen Kim Constantine Makris Oz Scott Alex Zakrzewski Matthew S. Partney Corey Evett Kayla Alpert Christopher Misiano Rob Bailey Corinne Marrinan Vincent Misiano Show all Cast & Crew News & Interviews for Code Black: Season 1 People’s Choice Awards 2016: Furious 7 and The Big Bang Theory Are Fan Favorites People’s Choice Awards Nominations 2016 The Martian is Certified Fresh View All Code Black: Season 1 News Episodes 1. Pilot Air date: Sep 30, 2015 Doctors and nurses fight to save lives in the country's busiest ER. In the opener, four new first-year residents are immediately put to work by the ER's tough-minded residency director Dr. Leanne Rorish. View Details 2. We Plug Holes Air date: Oct 7, 2015 Christa saves a woman's life and then pleads with Neal to perform a surgery that will save the patient's reproductive future. Meanwhile, Mario gets into a fight with a patient after he delivers a diagnosis that could end the man's hockey career. View Details 3. Pre-Existing Conditions Air date: Oct 14, 2015 The doctors work 36 consecutive hours in code black and must deal with a distraught mother of two sons who were in a devastating car accident. Meanwhile, Mario bullies Angus into performing an unnecessary operation and lets Angus take the blame when Leanne finds out. View Details 4. Sometimes It's a Zebra Air date: Oct 21, 2015 Guthrie's estranged son joins Angels Memorial as a surgical attending and clashes with Leanne over their contrasting approaches to medicine. Meanwhile, Christa experiences a crisis of confidence in the middle of a procedure on her first infant patient since the loss of her son. View Details 5. Doctors With Borders Air date: Oct 28, 2015 Neal clashes with his neurosurgeon father over how to treat his gravely ill mother, whose mysterious symptoms force the hospital to quarantine Trauma One. View Details 6. In Extremis Air date: Nov 4, 2015 Leanne struggles with whether to treat a police officer who helped her during an accident or his shooter, who has more serious injuries. Meanwhile, Malaya's pregnant ex-girlfriend arrives at the hospital with pain in her arm, and Malaya is shocked by her MRI results. View Details 7. Buen Árbol Air date: Nov 11, 2015 Angus uses his background in psychology to help a woman who doesn't remember how she injured herself and others. Meanwhile, Christa bonds with an illegal immigrant whose son is diagnosed with cystic fibrosis and becomes determined to find long-term care for the boy in the U.S. View Details 8. You Are the Heart Air date: Nov 18, 2015 Christa experiences her busiest shift yet when she is responsible for all emergencies at Angels Memorial that occur outside of the E.R. Meanwhile, Mario bonds with an older patient with HIV; Malaya starts a bone marrow drive for Carla; and Leanne refuses a date with Cole. View Details 9. The Son Rises Air date: Nov 25, 2015 The lead actor in the touring company of the musical "The Lion King" arrives at Angels Memorial with a throat infection, but Leanne gives him a diagnosis that puts both his career and life in jeopardy. Meanwhile, the doctors and the cast of "The Lion King" help a 17-year-old boy deal with the difficult decision of taking his father off life support. View Details 10. Cardiac Support Air date: Dec 2, 2015 Leanne becomes rattled at the thought of losing Jesse, as he fights for his life after suffering a massive heart attack. Meanwhile, Mario asks the residents to cover for him so he can search the city for a patient's son, which goes against Neal's direct order not to leave the hospital. View Details Show More Episodes Critic Reviews for Code Black Season 1 All Critics (42) | Top Critics (21) | Fresh (21) | Rotten (21) Action and the beginning of character development are both good signs. Sep 9, 2015 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review… Gail Pennington St. Louis Post-Dispatch Top Critic If you missed ER or would prefer your Grey's Anatomy without so much bed-hopping, this could be the show for you. Sep 30, 2015 | Rating: B | Full Review… Vicki Hyman Newark Star-Ledger Top Critic Harden's unfortunate typecasting is the least of the ailments afflicting Code Black. Sep 30, 2015 | Full Review… Mekeisha Madden Toby TheWrap Top Critic If the writers keep showing off Harden and Guzman so well, Code Black should have a good shot at survival. The premiere's emotional payoff offers another reason to hope. Sep 30, 2015 | Full Review… Hal Boedeker Orlando Sentinel Top Critic Harden is a fine actress, but the show's writers too often give her heavy-handed lines that are the equivalent of cauterizing a head wound with a blow torch. Sep 30, 2015 | Rating: C | Full Review… Ed Bark Uncle Barky Top Critic Code Black is a pretty good show and a pretty recognizable one too. Sep 30, 2015 | Rating: B+ | Full Review… Verne Gay Newsday Top Critic It's a mishmash of serious ER chaos and manipulative sentimentality and melodrama, which feel forced. May 7, 2019 | Rating: 2.5/5 | Full Review… Allison Keene Collider Code Black makes you cardiac arrest at the pace of the action, but there's nothing new to see here. Jun 14, 2017 | Full Review… Jane Bowron Stuff.co.nz Code Black is at war with itself, trying to sell its setting's realistically jagged edges even as it files them down to nothing. Sep 30, 2015 | Rating: 4/10 | Full Review… Isaac Feldberg We Got This Covered Harden is strong, Shonda Rhimes strong, in her role as a dedicated physician. Sep 30, 2015 | Full Review… Mark A. Perigard Boston Herald There's potential in Code Black, but it's tempered by the realization that this is a series that's not breaking any new ground and sometimes revisiting old ground in all the expected ways. Sep 30, 2015 | Full Review… Rob Owen Pittsburgh Post-Gazette It's fast-paced with lots of blood and lots of lives saved and lost, but there's really nothing here we haven't seen a hundred times before - and better. Sep 30, 2015 | Full Review… Brooke Cain News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) View All Critic Reviews (42) Audience Reviews for Code Black: Season 1 Apr 25, 2019 I love this show so much Jennifer D Nov 04, 2018 A primeira temporada de "Code Black" não teve um impacto grande nos espectadores, no entanto, as histórias contadas e os personagens encantaram, certamente. Gonçalo S Aug 22, 2018 A new tv show that may even challenge ER and Grays Anatomy. The best! May 23, 2018 one of the better medical dramas i've seen, much more realistic than most other medical dramas although season three is obviously trying to appeal to people who prefer more drama than medicine. Still my favorite show because of the complex cases, plotlines, and high intensity episodes! Victoria O Jan 12, 2017 Great acting, directing, and stories Mary M Oct 30, 2016 Like most "Miracle Center" medical dramas, this show had promise when it started. But at Episode 3, I am already disgusted with the characters, especially Boris Kodjoe as Will Campbell, who makes me want to switch channels with his bad management, pathetic empathy, cold hearted attitude. No way an ass like this would ever rise to his level with usch bad judgement and manners. Always good to have a jerk in the cast, but this contrived crap is not entertaining at all. (Kudos to Boris Kodjoe for portraying a character we can hate so well.) And the spineless characters who put up with his BS make me want to puke. Do they not have an HR department in this hospital? Kudos to Luis Guzman and Marcia Gay Harden for excellent acting. So sad that your characters and the writers have no backbone for them. Deleted from my DVR, I'm done. Owen R Sep 23, 2016 it doesn't re-invent the wheel as far as medical dramas go but 'Code Black' is a welcome addition to CBS showing real doctors doing their best to save as many patients as possible the term code black itself refers to massive patients that outweigh the hospital staff and that's certainly the case with this hospital in Los Angeles when the injured and close-to-death individuals start pouring in it really is a huge weight on these doctors' shoulders the cast is amazing from Marcia Gay Harden to Luiz Guzman to Bonnie Sommerville to Jillian Murray some may compare it to 'ER' or 'Grey's Anatomy' yet it still finds a way to find its own stature compelling drama, a sense of realism, so many pouring emotions, and always addictive believe me there is room to make things better so I hope the TV creators can keep their footing this is a good, laid-back program to fill up the slate Jon C Aug 12, 2016 Along with police procedurals and courtroom dramas the one genre that is always represented every seasons television lineup is the hospital series. In recent times the emergency room has been renamed emergency department mostly in order to give it equal representation at the all-important departmental meetings. Despite the real-life name change what goes on in the most hectic part of the hospital remains the same. That is because human nature has not changed and is still people were going to shoot and stab each other or drive drunk or have accidents. Anyone who was actually worked in an emergency department will be quite justified for shaking your head in disbelief how they are represented almost television shows. The patient of the week is taken into a nice curtained off area or into an always available examination the doctor can focus exclusively on the patient. Most emergency departments that is woefully incorrect. Emergency department is in place of chaos, it is messy and loud, confusing and bloodied. The first thing I noticed about the latest offering in this genre by ABC, Code Black is that the hectic war zone-esque atmosphere is closer to a real emergency department television audiences accustomed to seeing. Help justify the exceptionally chaotic setting in the title of series. According to the standardized system of hospital color codes a Code Black situation with the influx of patients overwhelmed the available resources. As a title caught explains in the beginning of each episode is only a few such times in the normal emergency department of fictitious Angels Memorial Hospital that condition is called 300 times a year. What first attracted me to the series was the gritty realism of how they portrayed patient care. The doctors and nurses are all dedicated to giving the best care possible but they had to face the often terrible reality that they are in a war against sickness and injury and they are hopelessly outnumbered. The floor is limited discarded needle caps and bandages punctuated by pools of blood. The doctors and nurses do their best to go for one patient to the next but it seems as though there is never an end in sight. In a situation like these examinations are performed in situ, wherever they can fit the gurney. Theres little concern for privacy, that is vastly superseded by the need for immediate action. Those patients were the most critical are sent to a somewhat corndog area known as Center Stage, rather more difficult emergency procedures are performed. As a series opens a group of new residents are beginning their emergency department rotation. In charge of the program is. Leanne Rorish (Marcia Gay Harden) projects the persona of a stern but fair or father figure was to be obeyed immediately. In contrast, is the head charge nurse, Jesse Sallander (Luis Guzmán) was respectably referred to by all as Mama. He tells the newbies one thing keep in mind, " In Momma house no one dies". The band sufficiency and respect for each of nurses as well as the doctors working alongside them. Just as initial casting immediately caught my eye but I started watching the show. Mr. Guzmán has been a character actor of exemplary standing for many years. He is a journeyman actor who never disappoints of his performances. A simple observation can be made for Ms. Harden when the decades she has been acting as successfully portrayed an eclectic range of characters. What is most notable about most of her performances is the manner in which she is able to nuances and subtleties, using them in the very core of a characters personality. It is hinted at by some extraneous comments that are character is not been the same since the incident. Most of the season will have passed before we all let into the details due to Ms. Hardings stellar performance witness how it has affected his talented and dedicated physician. I have noticed that some have critical about how this series follows the perennial names and archetypes will be fine by the genre. While I freely admit that comments such as these are true they do not take into account the drive and energy that the writing and acting fuses into each situation. It is this intensity carries a series and differentiates them from others. An example is the new residents; each one fits a checklist found in almost every medical drama on television. First there is Dr. Christa Lorenson (Bonnie Somerville), a bit older than her peers and is now divorced and has a son who died of cancer. Dr. Malaya Pineda (Melanie Chandra), who was quite familiar with the hospital having gone to medical school and served internship at Angels Memorial. Dr. Mario Savetti (Benjamin Hollingsworth) grew up exceptionally poor and had to work at the medical school job such as bartending. It is like this there is always somebody was suspected of having achieved the position of nepotism or favoritism. That slot is built by Dr. Angus Leighton (Harry Ford), whose father is on the Board of Directors. Is also overshadowed by the return of his older brother, Dr. Mike Leighton (Tommy Dewey), who has been hired as one of the EDs attending physicians. The brothers have always competed and Mike is always turned out on top. A very emotional plot lines the entire first season is our Angus begins to stop competing with his brother just concentrate on being the best doctor he can. There has to be some elements of the soap opera present in most television series. Although denounced as for the masses the format of a soap opera produces shows that Christa psychological challenges keep the viewer coming back episode after episode. The same holds true for this series. One of the main emotional entanglements is when Dr. Carla Niven (Shiri Appleby) reappears. She had been a resident at the hospital previously had been in a romantic relationship with Malaya. Now she is exception sick and pregnant. Another emotional entanglement is between Dr. Heather Pinkney (Jillian Murray) who becomes involved with Mario. Complications occur when it comes out that shes playing the field why people relationship more monogamous. Most of the storylines are familiar to anyone whos a fan of the genre but again is a twist afforded by ramping up the intensity and by performances of an amazingly talented ensemble cast. When Dr. Mark Taylor (Kevin Dunn), the Director of the Emergency Department, innocently shows a young boy was left on his own around the department administration does not regard this is just a grandfatherly gesture, he is placed on administrative leave pending investigation or misconduct. Is replaced by Dr. Gina Perello (Christina Vidal) tries to reorganize the emergency department according to own way of doing things. He quickly learns that she may not agree with how things are done but they work. There are some real world moral dilemmas that the doctors have to face. While out in the field during a very serious traffic accident Christa disregards the Doctor in Charge sentiment of the hospital in order to go and help little girl whose mother has been trapped. Although life is saved Christa has to face disciplinary charges for disobeying the chain of command. In all too many hospital shows it seems that the maverick doctor gets away with everything without any repercussions. At least in this series there is an effort made to demonstrate that doctors and nurses are expected to work within the guidelines and rules established by the administration and other governing bodies. Theres plenty of action to go around in the series with a dangerous stalker lurking about the shocking murder that nominee affects the staff emotional level will result in a major change in the hierarchy of the emergency department. Every one of these characters is a three-dimensional, realistically drawn human being with the typical spectrum of strengths and foibles all people are subject to. Thankfully the series has been renewed for a second season is just too good to be relegated to the canceled before its time list. The frantic quasi-control insanity of the emergency department initially caught my eye but it was the depth of the characters development that made me a dedicated fan. Douglas M Aug 03, 2016 A good watch, with interesting storylines. Stephen J Jul 17, 2016 Very well-written and -directed. Marcia Gay Harden is a joy, and the ensemble cast is very good. Unusual (and great) in the way it is shot. A winner. Mj F See all Audience reviews News & Features Best Horror Movies Top 200 of all time "Rotten Tomatoes Is Wrong" Our new podcast Worst Superhero Movies Thanks, <em>Squad</em> Best Netflix Series and Shows What to binge right now More News & Features TOP HEADLINES Best Horror Movies of 2020 Ranked – Rotten Tomatoes Fall TV First Look: Find Out What’s Coming – Rotten Tomatoes The Best Peacock Original Shows and Movies – Rotten Tomatoes 20 Movies To Watch If You Loved Inception – Rotten Tomatoes All Upcoming Disney Movies: New Disney Live-Action, Animation, Pixar, Marvel, and More – Rotten Tomatoes The Best Quibi Shows to Stream Now – Rotten Tomatoes The 64 Most Anticipated Movies of 2020 – Rotten Tomatoes Sundance 2020 Movie Scorecard – Rotten Tomatoes More Headlines Go back More trailers