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MDA is an Australian television show which aired on the ABC from 2002 to 2003, and will return in 2005 as three four-hour miniseries. Spoiler warning: Plot or ending details follow.
Synopsis MDA premiered on 23 July 2002. The title refers to the firm that the show focuses on - Medical Defence Australia - a team of lawyers and doctors who defend doctors charged with malpractice, ranging from Botox injections gone wrong to spinal cord injuries.
The main characters: Dr. Louella "Ella" Davis, the moral centre of the firm whose passion lies equally distributed between her work at St. Albans Hospital Emergency Ward, and defending doctors; "Happy" Henderson, a lawyer whose nickname can be greatly misleading; Dr. Jamie Lawless, an optimistic young doctor whose passion for helping others often leads him to inner conflict; Caitlin King, the new law recruit at MDA whose ambitions far exceed what she can do at the firm; and Layla Young, the friendly receptionist. Also main characters were Dr. Tony McKinnon, a doctor who worked with Ella at the hospital, and Richard Savage - the cut-throat prosecutor who often did battles with MDA.
Season One In the opening episodes, Ella faced personal problems when her lover Nick wished to move out of the country, and she often discussed these with her sister Edwina, but those characters quickly faded into the background. Edwina did return, for one episode, in the second season.
The first few episodes didn't draw great ratings, and the critics were ambivalent about the show, but - by the 8th episode, "Bowels, Bosch and the Whole Damn Thing" - in which Happy faced health problems, Jamie fell for Wendy Rossi, a doctor facing manslaughter, and Caitlin began to consider working with Richard instead of MDA, the show began to gain attention.
Other notable characters of the first season were Helena, a prosecutor whose lack of ability often led to comic relief moments; Claudia, Richard's sardonic barrister; Giles, the amiable old barrister contracted to MDA; Dr. Vince Phillips, a doctor on the MDA board whose desire to take over led to a legal battle; and Dr. Mark Matthews, the head of the MDA board.
In the final episodes of the season, Ella and Tony became victims of a civil suit which led to them facing considerable press exposure. They were found not guilty, but - in the final moments of the season finale, "Divine Intervention" - angry plaintiff Debbie Shanahan drove her car directly at Jamie, Tony and Ella, and the audience was left to wonder who had survived.
Season Two The second season opened with the episode "Eternity" in which Tony died on the operating table, and Caitlin moved to Richard Savage's firm. The second season improved markedly from the first season, tightening storylines and scripts.
Two new cast members joined: Amanda McKay, a legal case manager; and Simon Lloyd, a doctor joining MDA. The two became the will-they-or-won't-they? couple of the show, with the risk increased due to his wife who worked abroad. By season's end they were a couple, but were still easing into it.
Significant season two storylines included the destruction of Jamie and Wendy's relationship, Dr. Phillips' increasing efforts to become head of MDA, and the potential destruction of MDA itself as he attempts to incite a revolution against the firm, Caitlin and Richard's personal and professional fighting, Layla's grandmother getting closer to death, and Happy dealing with his son Jason.
In the second half of the season, Caitlin was written out of the show, as the producers decided her character had run its course. Kerry Armstrong also decided to leave - because the low Government funding for the arts (often criticised within the industry) meant that appearing on one television show was not a sustainable income. Ella, subsequently, took a full-time posting at St. Albans' as Head of Emergency and only appeared occasionally during the latter half of season 2, making her final appearance in the penultimate episode "Pas De Deux".
The Future Despite increased audience size, critical response, and award nominations, ABC made no official announcement of the show's renewal. The final episode, "Memento Mori", aired on 17 December 2003.
Unlike mainstream American television, most Australian shows - particularly on the ABC - act more like cable television shows, that is: they are merely one of a series of things an actor will do during the year rather than their most time-consuming role. (Obvious exceptions include Blue Heelers and All Saints which run all year round) Because of this, it was no surprise that ABC did not make an immediate announcement, however hope began to be lost when months passed by without word.
In August 2004, ABC finally announced that they would continue the show in the form of three four-hour minseries to air in 2005. Early reports suggest that the miniseries will each stand alone, rather than continuing storylines across them.
No casting has officially been announced, but differing reports suggest Kerry Armstrong, Shane Bourne, Jason Donovan and Petra Jared will be back.
Main cast Current cast (in alphabetical order): - Kerry Armstrong as Dr. Louella "Ella" Davis
- Shane Bourne as Bill "Happy" Henderson
- Jason Donovan as Richard Savage
- Angus Grant as Dr. Jamie Lawless
- Petra Jared as Layla Young
- Angie Milliken as Amanda McKay (2003)
- Felix Nobis as Dr. Simon Lloyd (2003)
Previous cast (in alphabetical order): - Alice McConnell as Caitlin King (2002 - 2003)
- Aaron Pedersen as Dr. Tony McKinnon (2002 + first episode of season 2)
Major recurring cast members Current (in alphabetical order): - Michael Carman as Dr. Mark Matthews
- Stephen Kearney as Dr. Vince Phillips
- Nina Landis as Claudia Monserrat
- Mandy McElhinney as Helena
- Simon Stone as Jason Henderson
Previous (in alphabetical order): - Suzi Dougherty as Debbie Shanahan (2002 - 2003)
- Daniella Farinacci as Dr. Wendy Rossi (2002 - 2003)
- Alexandra Schepisi as Edwina "Ed" Davis (2002 - 2003, occasional)
Trivia Jason Donovan's real-life father, Terence Donovan, played his onscreen father Eric in two season two episodes, "A Closer Walk" and "A Reasonable Passion". Like Frasier's Maris Crane, we never meet Happy's much-talked about wife, Nancy.
Awards - 2002 - Nominee - AFI Award - Best Drama Series
- 2002 - Nominee - AFI Award - Best Actor - Shane Bourne
- 2002 - Nominee - AFI Award - Best Supporting Actor - Angus Grant
- 2002 - Nominee - AFI Award - Best Actress - Kerry Armstrong
- 2003 - Nominee - AFI Award - Best Screenplay - Bill Garner, episode: "Crossing the Line"
- 2003 - Nominee - International Emmy Awards - Best Drama Series
- 2003 - Winner - AFI Award - Best Drama Series
- 2003 - Winner - AFI Award - Best Actor - Shane Bourne
- 2003 - Winner - AFI Award - Best Actress - Angie Milliken
- 2004 - Winner - Australian Cinematographers Society - Award of Distinction - Graham Brumley - episode: "A Bird in the Hand"
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