Sometimes, there’s nothing wrong with a television show or film from a creativity or execution standpoint. Sometimes, it just has bad timing. It’s still unclear which–or how much of each–is true of St. Denis Medical after screening the six episodes (1-5, 7) provided to critics.

Certainly, the series’ choice of the mockumentary with interspersed talking heads format does suffer for timing. There’s little to no freshness left in the approach made storytelling structure du jour back when the American incarnation of The Office entered its imperial era in 2006. While by no means ubiquitous, the subsequent critical and/or ratings successes of shows like Modern Family, Parks and Recreation, What We Do in the Shadows, and Abbott Elementary have made the subgenre’s pleasures familiar. That doesn’t mean it can’t work. After all, both Shadows and Abbott continue to be two of the more consistent pleasures on TV. But it does give a new show playing in that sandbox a bit tougher time.

That acknowledged, the format still can give great performers an excellent stage. So St. Denis Medical’s sweet and pleasant but not hilarious vibes suggest that the familiar—perhaps tired—subgenre isn’t the only issue here. Of course, there might be a gulf between what appeals to this critic and what the show wants to do. At this juncture, it seems to be looking for a slower, gentler pace. A show that’s less a joke machine and more a “love and learn with laughs” style throwback. Lead nurse Alex’s (Allison Tolman) stymied efforts to get to her daughter’s musical in the pilot, capped by a milkshake and pep talk from veteran doctor Ron (David Alan Grier) supports this.

On the other hand, the show seems especially adept at exploring the weird, petty feuds that arise among a small group of coworkers stuck in a stressful job. Ron’s clash with cocky himbo surgeon Bruce (Josh Lawson) over a candy bar is a strong example. Brand new nurse Mekki Leeper—a refugee from either an incredibly conservative sect of Christianity or a straight-up cult—becoming increasingly agitated by the hospital Chaplin Steven’s (Stephen Schneider) grasp of theology is another and a personal favorite. There are several others, sparked mainly by Grier’s excellent depiction of the doctor’s quickly triggered sense of personal affront.

The times St. Denis Medical dives into those escalating conflicts are its best and funniest moments. The creative team, led by show creators Justin Spitzer and Eric Ledgin, has the right touch for it. They find the laughs without the show ever getting too mean-spirited or unpleasant. However, the series’ impulse to deliver a lesson in the final minutes often undercuts this, as when Serena (Kahyun Kim) gets a treacly denouement to camera regarding Ron and Bruce’s candy-fueled conflict. One wishes the show would get out of its own way and let the scene before that speak for itself.

None of this is fatal. It isn’t even critical to offer a bit of a relevant pun. St. Denis Medical, at this juncture, is just a little unformed. It still hasn’t defined itself, which is both good and bad. That means it still has room to nail down the tone. On the other hand, given the current television landscape, it might not have the time to do it.

The talent is definitely there. Grier is a reliable purveyor of punchlines who can also sell the show’s kinder moments. Wendi McLendon-Covey, as hospital administrator Joyce, has never met a comedy she doesn’t make funnier. Both Tolman and Leeper seem to have the chops to excel if the show stays gentle or leans a bit more into what it so far does best. So there’s plenty of potential.

The thing it needs to do is make a choice. That doesn’t mean jettison feel-goods for guffaws, necessarily. Plenty of shows do both. The mix of silly and sentimental was the bread and butter of the similarly set in a financially strapped hospital Scrubs. Modern Family successfully mined the mockumentary with interviews format for lots of laughs and well-earned tears for 11 seasons. It can be done. St. Denis Medical has to work out its ratios first though.  

St. Denis Medical reads your charts starting November 12 on NBC. It is also available on Peacock beginning on November 13.

Watch the St. Denis Medical Trailer: