ABC’s “Black Box”: A doctor’s secret is locked up in new medical drama

Black Box ABC

Black Box ABCABC’s new medical drama Black Box (Thursdays beginning April 24 at 10pm ET/PT) is set in the most mysterious place in the universe: the human brain.

“Marco Polo of the Brain” Catherine Black (Kelly Reilly) is a brilliant neuroscientist at a top medical facility where she studies patients with some of the strangest, most complex brain disorders. In each episode, Catherine and her colleagues attempt to unlock the mysteries of patients’ hallucinations and other frightening conditions.

While the case of the week might be Black Box’s neurons, Catherine’s personal life forms the synapses that fire the show. Catherine has bipolar disorder, and has kept it a secret and under control with medication and advisement from her psychiatrist (Vanessa Redgrave). But Catherine occasionally skips her meds to experience spectacular highs.

“Catherine is addicted to her mania,” Reilly says. “She also has hallucinations, beautiful musical hallucinations.” Her highs are followed by terrifyingly steep lows. “There are repercussions,” Reilly says. “She has to deal with some of her behavior.”

Photo: © 2014 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Credit: Andrew Eccles

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