Dr. Kildare

If you want a drama that takes its characters as seriously as its plot, Dr. Kildare is available on streaming right now. 5 seasons means there is plenty to get through without ever feeling padded. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Watch it for Raymond Massey — one of the stronger performances out there right now. There is no real reason to keep putting it off.

Dr. Kildare is not trying to be everything to everyone, and that focus is exactly what makes it work. Dr. Kildare takes its time building the world its characters inhabit, and the patience pays off. The story of a young intern in a large metropolitan hospital trying to learn his profession, deal with the problems of his patients, and win the respect of the senior doctor in his specialty, internal medicine. Raymond Massey and Cynthia Stone lead a cast that treats the material with real seriousness. Across 5 seasons (1961–1966), it never lost the thread that made it worth starting. The performances in Dr. Kildare do a lot of work in the silences between the dialogue. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Drama fans who appreciate slow-burn storytelling will feel right at home with Dr. Kildare. Viewers who responded to The Resident will find a lot to like here too. The complete run is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Raymond Massey is the centre of it, and it is one of their strongest performances on record. The patience it asks of you early on is paid back with interest.

Dr. Kildare wrapped up in 1966, created by James Komack — and 5 seasons are available to watch from start to finish. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.