Having lost my father to cancer (not leukemia), I decided to avoid this show rather than dredge up painful memories. But, one Tuesday evening I was simply not ready to go to bed, and this was the only thing on TV that looked interesting. I watched episode 4 and found it wasn't so bad. So, I went back and watched the previous 3 episodes to catch up. I suppose if the show ever progresses to April's death, I'll have to stop watching, but it's okay at the current apparent stage of her illness.
While April's surprise leukemia diagnosis is central to the story, there is also much else going on, including a new boyfriend who may or may not be a good guy, a budding journalism career where she must deal with a new back-stabbing boss, a political campaign she is covering that introduces her to the candidate's obnoxious (and cancer infected) son, a troubled teen sister, a mother who is dealing with returning to the dating scene, her mysteriously self-estranged uncle/doctor, the recent tragic loss of her father, and a surprise previously unknown sister. There are plenty of hooks to keep most viewers interested, the acting is quite good. Aisha Dee is absolutely adorable as best friend Beth, and Scott Michael Foster is particularly good as the obnoxious Leo.
I'll have to take the other reviewers' word for how accurately leukemia itself is presented, as it's a type of cancer I've had no direct experience with. The presentation is believable enough to someone like me, who is unfamiliar to the disease, and this is a drama, and not a documentary. Still, I'd hope the writer would try to keep it at least somewhat realistic, and avoid encouraging someone not to take their condition seriously enough. While I don't think the show does that, it is a legitimate concern. I will also say that the show is a "drama" and not a "sitcom" as described elsewhere. And, however accurate or inaccurate the show's presentation of leukemia is, the show does NOT make light of the disease or its implications.
FOR PARENTS: The show deals with a terminal disease, but it hasn't shown any disturbingly graphic representations of illness. Also, with regards to sex, the show presents casual hook-ups as the norm (typical for ABC Family). However, sex is not dwelled upon, and there have been no gratuitous overly-lurid scenes so far.
Edit: Increased the stars. The show is improving with each episode.
While April's surprise leukemia diagnosis is central to the story, there is also much else going on, including a new boyfriend who may or may not be a good guy, a budding journalism career where she must deal with a new back-stabbing boss, a political campaign she is covering that introduces her to the candidate's obnoxious (and cancer infected) son, a troubled teen sister, a mother who is dealing with returning to the dating scene, her mysteriously self-estranged uncle/doctor, the recent tragic loss of her father, and a surprise previously unknown sister. There are plenty of hooks to keep most viewers interested, the acting is quite good. Aisha Dee is absolutely adorable as best friend Beth, and Scott Michael Foster is particularly good as the obnoxious Leo.
I'll have to take the other reviewers' word for how accurately leukemia itself is presented, as it's a type of cancer I've had no direct experience with. The presentation is believable enough to someone like me, who is unfamiliar to the disease, and this is a drama, and not a documentary. Still, I'd hope the writer would try to keep it at least somewhat realistic, and avoid encouraging someone not to take their condition seriously enough. While I don't think the show does that, it is a legitimate concern. I will also say that the show is a "drama" and not a "sitcom" as described elsewhere. And, however accurate or inaccurate the show's presentation of leukemia is, the show does NOT make light of the disease or its implications.
FOR PARENTS: The show deals with a terminal disease, but it hasn't shown any disturbingly graphic representations of illness. Also, with regards to sex, the show presents casual hook-ups as the norm (typical for ABC Family). However, sex is not dwelled upon, and there have been no gratuitous overly-lurid scenes so far.
Edit: Increased the stars. The show is improving with each episode.