Recently I binged watched an old series on Netflix. The series, Red Band Society, is about a group of teenagers in a hospital as they battle terminal illnesses. While this may sound depressing, it is full of typical teenage drama, fights over relationships, romance and the search for independence as well. As one of the lines in an episode says, “life doesn’t stop in a hospital. It starts.” This show will question your ideals in life, pull at your heart as you want to fight for these beloved characters and leave you in laughter and tears. The symbol of the red band beside the admittance purpose is to silently band these friends together as they are all fighting for life. They see it as a way to signify the moments and courage they shared, linking them in a common struggle few people understand. Before we continue with some amazing quotes, there are a few things you need to know about each character.
Jordi: Jordi is the new kid. Recently admitted for cancer, Jordi finds comfort in the new friends he makes. His mother and grandmother do not believe in modern medicine, so, he travels alone to the hospital begging for Dr. Andrews to be his doctor. His solace comes in the form of his roommate, Leo who also happens to have the cancer in the same area. The two quickly become friends and like all friends do have their fights. After chemotherapy and potential knee surgery with a prosthetic leg, Jordi must discover what family means and whether he indeed has faith.
Charlie: It’s ironic how the narrator of the series is in a coma. After a terrible car accident that left Charlie in a coma, his father must cope with the aftermath of a restraining order. Charlie is the original red-bander as he is a focal point in many of the episodes. His character may not talk until (spoiler alert) the last episode, but the audience goes inside his head to discover his own opinions on the matter.
Kara: Arguably the hardest patient to love, Kara is need of a heart transplant. Throughout the season she must learn to break her mean exterior shell and let people into her life. She at first acts like she is better than the other teens yet grows to see them as friends and confidants. After falling in love, Kara must deal with what it means to truly love someone, getting her heart broken and finding the good in order to change. She meets Hunter who changes Kara for the better and untimely leaves her his heart.
Leo: He is everyone’s rock. Leo while dealing with his own battle for cancer, manages to be the source of encouragement for others. He constantly is looking on the bright side of things and wants his friends to live life to the fullest. Along the way, he deals with a complicated on and off relationship with Emma, who he loves so much he will do anything for. When Leo’s cancer come back everyone else suddenly begins to understand his biggest burden was not fighting cancer but carrying the weight of the world for his friends.
Emma: Her fatal flaw is perfection. She is constantly working to get good grades and wants to have a perfect relationship, so much that she forgets how to have perfect self-esteem. She is anorexic and must battle not only that disease but how to not rely on it as a crutch to maintain control of her life. After a few close calls, she opens herself up little by little and accepts that life is not perfect.
Nurse Jackson: Everything falls apart without Nurse Jackson around. The primary nurse for these teens in the series, she is the one in charge of keeping them in line and doesn’t take anything from anybody. She may be a hard cookie, but she does it out of love for these teenagers. She looks out for their interest both in terms of their health and in their daily, normal lives. She loves each one as her own and intends on keeping her promises to these patients.
