The Pandemic on Screen, on Set and in the Writers’ Room. Writing and Production of the First Two Seasons of Doc – Nelle tue mani

The article explores the production, narrative development, and audience reception of the Italian medical drama Doc – Nelle tue mani in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. Through an analysis grounded in original interviews with professionals, as well as press kits, industry reports, and financial statements from Italian PSB, this research shows the evolution of the series during its first two seasons, marked by the unforeseen outbreak of the pandemic that disrupted filming and shaped its concluding episodes. Consequently, the study examines how the production team adapted swiftly to new health and safety protocols, adjusting schedules, sets, and storytelling to continue delivering the series under unprecedented conditions. As Doc aired, its medical themes, depiction of hospital life, and portrayal of healthcare workers resonated strongly with an audience facing the real-life emergency, contributing to its significant ratings success. Such an alignment between fiction and reality reinforced the content’s relevance and emotional impact, in Italy and within the international distribution, also due to a shift in narrative strategy between the two seasons, from merely adapting to the pandemic behind the scenes, to actively incorporating it into the storyline. In fact, rather than presenting a continuous timeline of the pandemic, Doc’s screenwriters choose to adopt a post-pandemic framing, with key flashbacks allowing for moments of reflection and collective mourning. As the article illustrates, this approach enabled the show to engage with the emotional and psychological consequences of the crisis, not overwhelming the present-tense narrative. Overall, Doc provides a compelling case study in television production under crisis conditions, standing as a notable example of European audiovisual content engaging meaningfully with a global event while achieving substantial audience reach.