Kate Mulgrew joins cast of Mercy (Updated)

The former Captain Janeway actor is joining the line-up of new NBC hospital drama Mercy, which kicks off on September 23rd. According to The Hollywood Reporter Mulgrew will play Jeannie Flanagan, the mother of lead character Veronica (Taylor Schilling).

I don’t really know too much about Mercy, other than the basic premise that it’s a hospital drama focussing on three nurses. Judging from the trailer below the lead (Taylor Schilling) has just returned from Iraq, there’s a rookie nurse (Michelle Trachtenberg) and the distinguishing characteristic of the final nurse (Jamie Lee Kirchner) seems to be… ignoring men. Mmkay.

Normally I hear the words “hospital drama” and my brain starts dribbling out of my ears, but having enjoyed Nurse Jackie so much, I’m willing to at least give Mercy a try (although it does have some very Nurse Jackie-esque elements, both shows featuring similar-looking gay nurses as well as nervous new nurses decked out in brightly coloured scrubs.)

Another element in Mercy’s favour are the executive producers of the show; Gail Berman was involved with shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel and Malcolm In The Middle whilst Lloyd Braun was the guy who was forced out of his position at ABC after signing off on the decision to spend an unprecedented $13 million on a TV pilot. That show was Lost.

So, I’ll be giving this new show a try, but if it sucks I’m afraid I’ll show no mercy. Mercy. Get it? Yeah? Yeah?…

I’ll get my coat.

EDIT: Um, yeah… I just watched the trailer again, and the whole thing kinda reeks of a glossier, sanitised version of Nurse Jackie. I’ll still give it a try, but I may well be watching between my fingers and/or cringing for most of it. Yikes.