"Wonderland" (2000) TV series

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Directors:

John David Coles
Charles McDougall

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

30 March 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Cast

Ted Levine	...	Dr. Robert Banger (8 episodes, 2000-2009)
Michelle Forbes	...	Dr. Lyla Garrity (8 episodes, 2000-2009)
David Brown	...	Prison Guard (8 episodes, 2000-2009)
Michael Jai White	...	Dr. Derrick Hatcher (5 episodes, 2000-2009)
Billy Burke	...	Dr. Abe Matthews (5 episodes, 2000-2009)
Martin Donovan	...	Dr. Neil Harrison (5 episodes, 2000-2009)
Michelle Barker	...	Julie McCray (4 episodes, 2000-2009)
Linda Emond	...	A.D.A. Strictler (4 episodes, 2000)
Patricia Clarkson	...	Tammy Banger (2 episodes, 2000-2009)
Christopher Larkin	...	Asian Family Member (2 episodes, 2000-2009)
Rafael Báez		(2 episodes, 2000)
Joelle Carter	...	Heather Miles (2 episodes, 2000)
Rony Clanton	...	Bernard (2 episodes, 2000)
Leland Orser	...	Wendall Rickle (2 episodes, 2000)
Matthew Sussman	...	Emanuel Treyhill (2 episodes, 2000)

Also Known As:

"Bellevue" (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

50 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Touchstone Television

Quotes:

Dr. Robert Banger: When the pressures of modern society become too great for a person, when one's chemical dynamic becomes such that they are unbalanced, that they cease painting within the lines, they come to us. These are the people that society would prefer just go away -- the shadow people. The shadow people that project upon us their shadow and remind us just how tenuous mental health is. Our worst fears. They remind us how easy it can be to slip.

Movie Connections:

Follows "Wonderland: Pilot (#1.1)" (2000)

A moving and compassionate series

I came to "Wonderland" with a combination of high hopes (based on the universally favourable reviews and ABC's intriguing ads) and fears that NAMI's charges of violence and hopelessness might have some basis in fact. Of course "Wonderland" contains moments of violence--the subject matter makes that inevitable. But they are balanced by moments of hope and love, in particular the funny, tender scenes involving Dr. Banger (Ted Levine) and the little sons he loves and fears he'll lose in a custody battle with his soon-to-be ex-wife. Never mind that these two people obviously love each other and ought to stay together--this is just one example of the human element, the blending of work and private life in this marvelously written, beautifully acted, impeccably filmed tv series. I'm judging by one episode, but I have no reason not to expect the same high quality in future episodes that I saw tonight watching "Wonderland" for the first time. Bravo, Peter Berg and ABC and all the marvellous cast, psychiatrists and patients alike.