Diagnosis Murder (TV Series) Less Than Zero (2001) User Reviews

Interesting story on eating disorders

[tles7 · 9/10 · 4 May 2018]

I am sure that this wasn't the first TV drama on the subject. It was definitely a kick in the butt to alternative medicine. It's a very good story. But, there is a silly part to it. They suddenly have the detective son attracted to a chunky girl. Yes, this show is about women's self image but to have that bit on the same show was heavy-handed and contrived. Particularly, since in the next episode, he is chasing after the usual hot-bodied woman and the girl with the weight issue is never seen again.

Ma huang on trial, a spotlight on anorexia nervosa, bulimia, standards for actresses

[safenoe · 9/10 · 12 October 2016]

Less Than Zero is the 11th episode of the 8th season of Diagnosis Murder, and this episode is like a show within a show, with Dr Amanda Bentley-Livingston (Victoria Rowell) being a medical adviser for a top-rating medical drama, but also having a role as a doctor in that show in a key scene when actress Thalia (Jennifer Gareis) collapses on-set, and later dies.

Ma huang (a Chinese herb) is on the dock, and the episode raises important issues about Hollywood standards for female actresses (Thalia wanting to be less than zero size). Thalia's younger sister is an aspiring actress, and suffers bulimia. Thankfully the doctors help her out, and so does Lena (Debra Christofferson) who is dating Steve, and who has revealed past struggles with her image and eating.

This episode was screened just 2 days before the presidential inauguration of George W Bush.

Did no one else notice at least two errors in the IMDB cast listing?

[professor_of_gamez · 7/10 · 27 September 2023]

I guess everyone was so focused on the theme of the episode (eating disorders and unrealistic actress body standards), that no reviewer noticed the errors in the IMDB cast listing.

Heather (Thalia's younger sister) SAID she was 16 during the episode (though the actress playing her appears to be at least 20-25 in real life). However, in the IMDB cast listing, she is attributed to an actress who was 42 at the time ... I SERIOUSLY doubt that that is correct.

Laurel (the person in charge of casting for the medical show within a show) appears to be 40-50 (in real life) at the time of this episode. However, in the IMDB cast listing, she is shown as being played by an actress who was 18 at the time.

I suspect that they simply reversed the listing of these actresses (made easier by the fact that neither has an IMDB profile pic).

Kind of surprised that neither actress has contacted IMDB to have it corrected.

Dr. Sloan and his crew wind up intervening to rescue two sisters struggling with eating disorders

[timmyswisschard · 10/10 · 18 August 2006]

This episode, 11 of season 8, filmed in 2001 during the last season of Diagnosis Murder showed so much genuine insight rather than expected sensationalism that it is what media can do at its finest. It educated and informed in a caring way about the tricky process involved in developing and curing an eating disorder where awareness of the problem is often absent in the person as well as the support environment. Awareness is needed and aid consistently provided in order to heal before the spiral down causes death. Dr. Sloan and gang address all of the problems and show how cure is so possible with a team approach and genuine love. The two sisters, Heather and Thalia, showed eating disorders with totally different characteristics. Thalia was anorexic and a young and involved professional, while Heather was bulimic and in high school. A refreshing twist, they didn't have the expected support of family. There wasn't a neat package to drop this one into. It didn't show parents wringing their hands or outbursts over wanting to make the cheer leading squad. It showed abandonment issues, loneliness and basic human needs in an amazing way. Dr. Sloan created a family of friendship, thus providing a safe and nurturing environment for happiness and good health. The writer and director of this episode had such tremendous skill and feeling. The characters quickly became very human with shockingly devastating disorders and difficult to realize. They showed the problem, possible causes and then realistic cure methods with support and love being central to the well being needed for anyone to thrive. It's a must see and a harbinger for eating disorder awareness. I was stunned at the quality of the one hour show and wanted to immediately discover the producer, casting agent, director and writer of such fine material. It's an episode everyone should see. Cautionary for young children, Thalia looks great and smiles frequently, but the anorexia causes such fluid imbalance and heart disturbances that she does die before anyone realizes how much trouble she is in. She didn't know. She was trying to obtain goals or be the best that she could be without knowing that she was instead, killing herself. It demonstrated that addressing and providing support quickly and consistently are essential. That's all it took for Heather to slowly heal from bulimia. As Dr. Sloan closed with, "We are all here for you", it shed light on how important that feeling is for anyone.