Royal Pains

:

Season 1
  • Network: USA
  • Series Premiere Date: Jun 4, 2009
Season #: 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Metascore
61

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
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Critic Reviews

  1. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Ken Tucker
    75
    No one's ever going to say Royal Pains, with its pun title (although Scott is the only royalty around, most of the upper-class patients prove to be real pains), is a classic addition to the medical genre, but it certainly is zippy fun.
  2. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Paige Wiser
    75
    In summer, we feel less guilty about guilty pleasures. And Royal Pains is just what the doctor ordered for a shameless seasonal fling.
  3. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Linda Stasi
    75
    Perfect, mindless, summer fun.
  5. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Matthew Gilbert
    70
    The one-liners are broad, the plots preposterous. And yet it all works in a lighthearted-summer-fare kind of way, helped along with almost pornographic images of Hamptons wealth.
  6. Miami Herald
    Reviewed by: Glenn Garvin
    70
    Royal Pains has some moments of genuine wit--a lot more of them after Costanzo shows up.
  7. Newark Star-Ledger
    Reviewed by: Alan Sepinwall
    70
    Royal Pains can't help but suffer in comparison, but it's not a bad summer diversion--which, frankly, is all that "Burn Notice" was in its first season.
  8. Philadelphia Daily News
    Reviewed by: Ellen Gray
    70
    Royal Pains, with a sunny star and even sunnier setting, might be just what the doctor ordered for those who can't take one more minute of pseudo-celebrity antics.
  9. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    Reviewed by: Rob Owen
    70
    USA's Royal Pains is an amusing, enjoyable addition to basic cable.
  10. Variety
    Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    60
    Simply being quirky, however, only goes so far, so my preliminary diagnosis is that these Pains don't amount to much more than a second-degree "Burn."
  11. PopMatters
    60
    Royal Pains is a pleasant excursion, with some great one-liners and a chance to tweak its well-worn formula.
  12. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Maureen Ryan
    50
    Though the show apes “Burn Notice’s” beachside vibe, the new program is too predictable to make much of an impression.
  13. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Ginia Bellafante
    50
    The series may want to say something about the inequities of the medical care system or it may just want an excuse to produce panning shots of the velvet lawns and iron gates of Gin Lane. It seems safer to bet on the second and to remain grateful for the “House” reruns that are shown more or less continually on USA.
  14. Salon
    Reviewed by: Heather Havrilesky
    50
    Like some of the CW's less captivating offerings, this show is a cheese pizza with cheese-stuffed crust. But if that sounds tasty, by all means, enjoy!
  15. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    40
    Royal Pains is a crappy but watchable series about a “concierge doctor” in the Hamptons, radically unambitious but better at balancing the guilt with the pleasure.
  16. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: David Hinckley
    40
    If it all sounds a little contrived, it is. But that's not the show's real problem. The real problem is that instead of having goofy fun with all its eye candy, Royal Pains mostly wants to sit around drinking in the excesses of the uber-wealthy, with an occasional joke as an afterthought.

Awards & Rankings

66
#66 Best TV Season of 2009
57
#57 Most Discussed TV Season of 2009
24
#24 Most Shared TV Season of 2009

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 57 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 45 out of 57
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 57
  3. Negative: 6 out of 57
  1. cherryb.
    Aug 21, 2009
    10
    Its not a house wanna its nothin like it house is based in a hospitable and pretty much no where else and all house does is treat patients Its not a house wanna its nothin like it house is based in a hospitable and pretty much no where else and all house does is treat patients with a small back story to every episode royal pains is a good show compared to the crap they show these days it focuses on hank himself not only the patients its interesting,humorous, and enjoyable.… Full Review »
  2. Cyliann
    Jun 14, 2014
    1
    A series that used to be watchable product now spiring down from mediocrity with excess drama and laughably staged accidents with convenientA series that used to be watchable product now spiring down from mediocrity with excess drama and laughably staged accidents with convenient Hank or associates always 2 feet away from it, more than often having several of those accident happen in the same place with very short timespawns.… Full Review »
  3. Lost_Hero9
    May 7, 2012
    10
    This show has an interesting hook in the first episode. The first 30 minutes or so it just doesn't look good for the main character as he's inThis show has an interesting hook in the first episode. The first 30 minutes or so it just doesn't look good for the main character as he's in a lot of stress due to the whole doctor schedule. He pretty much losses everything, his job, his wife in the pilot episode. But after his brother walks in, his life is refreshed. At first, I didn't like how the episode was going and was but after his brother Evan walks in, it all changed. Royal Pains is nothing like the House Series. Its more unique and takes place surrounding their own built company. Every episode leaves a cliff hanger that makes you want to keep coming back for more. I highly recommend this show to anyone who's interested in medical, adventure, comedy, drama etc.… Full Review »
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