Madeline
Dr. Foster is secure with her life. She has a great job as senior partner in her medical practice. She has a sweet son who loves her. And she has a husband who adores her. But it all starts with a single blonde hair. She thought she was secure, but this one hair changes everything. This one hair puts it into her mind that she is either crazy or her life is not as secure as she thought. This show starts with a hair and that hair unravels a whole story and a whole other life Gemma did not know was possible.
Premise of Dr. Foster Season 1
Gemma Foster’s husband, Simon, comes home from a work trip. Shortly after, she notices a single blond hair on a scarf. She has never had any reason to question her husband before, but for some reason, this hair puts a small amount of doubt in her mind. As she digs further into what she thought would result in nothing, sure enough, it results in something that she could not imagine. As the season unravels, the secret is a lot deeper than just one long blond hair and the girl it came from. Gemma thought she was secure in her marriage, but that security is thrown out the window with that single blonde hair.
Ethics and the Medical Profession
In the first episode of Dr. Foster, it seems as though Gemma’s profession has nothing to do with the infidelity of her husband. But then as the story unravels, her profession has, well, nothing to do with the infidelity, but everything with how the story unravels and reveals secrets. She crosses many ethical lines and she puts her own job in jeopardy. She breaches the confidentiality all doctors are swarn to. She uses her “power” to threaten people for information. And she saves lives. Gemma thought she was secure as her place as a senior partner at her medical practice, but that security is thrown out the window quickly.
Final Thoughts
I really enjoyed this common story that can be easily found of infidelity. It was told in a way that made it feel unique. Through the story you love Gemma and hate Simon. Then you hate Gemma and love Simon. Then it switches again. Since beginning to write this post I have also completed season 2, which, somehow is even more crazy than season 1. And the switching between loving and hating characters becomes even more brutal. When season 3 comes out, I will be watching that one too and looking forward to loving and hating Gemma and Simon.
