The Good Karma Hospital

Amanda Redman and Amrita Acharia.

Following a break-up with her long-time boyfriend, Dr. Ruby Walker decides to take a job at an upscale hospital in exotic India. The British-born Ruby also sees it as a way of connecting with her Indian roots--her father, whom she never knew, was from India.

Disillusionment sets in immediately upon her arrival. Instead of the modern medical center shown in the brochure, the Good Karma Hospital is a small, one-story facility with limited treatment capabilities. Even worse, there are a total of three physicians, including the administrator, who do everything from prescribe placebos to perform surgery. Plus, there is no shortage of patients from the surrounding South India community. It's a daunting change of scenery, but as Ruby gets to know the people and their culture, she concludes that it's the right place for her.

Phyllis Logan and Philip Jackson.

The six-episode first season of The Good Karma Hospital covers a lot of ground, from Ruby's arrival to the introduction of its ensemble cast to a touching story about a dying tourist. The overarching theme is one of embracing the colorful new culture. Ruby (Amrita Acharia) isn't the only one that develops an affection for her new home. The same can be said for Maggie Smart (Phyllis Logan), a terminally ill cancer patient who chooses to live out her final days in India rather than return home to England. It's a decision that her husband (Philip Jackson) has difficulty accepting.

The Good Karma Hospital does a marvelous job of capturing the colorful festivals, the picturesque countryside, and the breathtaking beaches. While it may be a postcard portrait of India, the show doesn't ignore the poverty faced by many of the locals. In one episode, a hit-and-run victim faces the prospect of a leg amputation simply because he doesn't have the insurance required for surgery. In another episode, we learn there is black market for organs, such as kidneys, sold by the poor to foreigners unable to get transplants in their native countries.

James Floyd as Dr. Varma.

The ensemble cast is headed by the always reliable Amanda Redman (New Tricks) and Neil Morrissey (British Men Behaving Badly). She plays the no-nonsense hospital director while he portrays her lover, the laidback owner of a beachfront bar. Their "opposites attract" relationship is one of the show's strongest elements. Acharia is appealing as the sometimes naive Ruby, while James Floyd effectively plays the brooding Dr. Varma. That said, the slow-building attraction between Ruby and Varma is much too obvious and has the potential to weaken the series in the long run. (After all, Cheers was never the same after Sam and Diane got together.)

The best performance, though, belongs to Philip Jackson, who convincingly captures the complex emotions of a man who knows his long-time love is dying. Having just watched Jackson as the hilarious Grampy in the comedy Raised By Wolves, it reminded me just how good he can be. (For years, I only knew him as Inspector Japp in Agatha Christie's Poirot).

The Good Karma Hospital is perfect medicine for the doldrums of summer television. It has already been renewed for a second season that will air in 2018. It premieres today in the U.S. on Acorn TV.