13 Reasons to Give New Amsterdam a Chance

1. Within the first 4 minutes of the pilot, a Decemberists' song starts to play, and then the pilot ends with a Death Cab song.
2. It's produced by Lasse Hallstrom (What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Chocolat). The pilot is also directed by Hallstrom.
3. Time Square is the central figure in the pilot's visual scheme.
4. "When you've seen what I've seen, cynicism isn't just a pose, it's what gets you through the day. And I've had a lot of days."
5. It's an immortal cop in New York City instead of a vampire PI in LA. (I had not idea how refreshing it would be to see an immortal crime solver spot some blood and not lean down to sniff--or lick--it.)
6. Within the first 10 minutes, Amsterdam dies twice.
7. Amsterdam has been sober for 15,495 days.
8. His voiceover could run circles around Mick St. John's voiceovers.
9. He references vampire mythology in the pilot.
10. Amsterdam and his partner go to a hookah bar to hang out.
11. He has a rare blood type that became extinct when certain Native American tribes disappeared.
12. Flashbacks never get old. In fact, the older the better.
13. He's a famous carpenter who makes "an original" of his now antique furniture whenever his friend Omar has a debt to pay.