6.8
Viewer Rating
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources
Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969)
Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969)
Overview
Marcus Welby, M.D. is an American medical drama television program that aired on ABC from September 23, 1969, to July 29, 1976. It starred Robert Young as a family practitioner with a kind bedside manner and James Brolin as the younger doctor he often worked with, and was produced by David Victor and David J. O'Connell. The pilot, A Matter of Humanities, had aired as an ABC Movie of the Week on March 26, 1969.
Starring Cast
Where to watch
Rating & Dimensions
Bias Rating
Analyzing...
Center
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
LGBTQ: Positive
Trans: Positive
Christianity: Positive
Viewer Rating
6.8
Overview
Marcus Welby, M.D. is an American medical drama television program that aired on ABC from September 23, 1969, to July 29, 1976. It starred Robert Young as a family practitioner with a kind bedside manner and James Brolin as the younger doctor he often worked with, and was produced by David Victor and David J. O'Connell. The pilot, A Matter of Humanities, had aired as an ABC Movie of the Week on March 26, 1969.
Starring Cast
Where to watch
Detailed Bias Analysis
Analyzing...
Center
Primary
The series is a medical drama centered on individual patient care and the ethical practice of medicine, largely avoiding overt political themes. Its focus on universal human experiences of illness and healing, rather than systemic critiques or ideological promotion, results in a neutral rating.
This movie, a product of the late 1960s, features traditional casting with a predominantly white ensemble, reflecting the common practices of its era without explicit race or gender swaps of established roles. The narrative maintains a neutral or positive portrayal of traditional identities, focusing on its medical drama themes rather than explicit critiques or DEI-centric storytelling.
Secondary
The medical drama addressed LGBTQ+ themes in the 1973 episode 'The Outcast,' where a character is ostracized due to the false belief that his hepatitis diagnosis implies he is gay. The show, through its protagonists, actively combats this prejudice and misinformation, advocating for the individual's dignity and medical facts. This portrayal is considered positive for its progressive stance against societal stigma.
The show featured an early and notable depiction of a transsexual character in 'The Outcast' episode. It portrayed Dr. David Craig with dignity and complexity as he sought gender-affirming surgery. While exploring medical and societal challenges, the narrative ultimately aimed for empathy and understanding, framing obstacles as external rather than inherent flaws of identity.
The series frequently depicts Christianity as a source of comfort, moral guidance, and community support for patients and their families. While individual characters may grapple with personal challenges, the narrative consistently frames faith as a positive coping mechanism and a foundation for ethical behavior. The show's compassionate tone aligns with an affirming portrayal of the religion's role in people's lives.
The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.
As an original television series from 1969, "Marcus Welby, M.D." introduced its own characters without prior canonical or historical gender baselines. Therefore, no gender swaps occurred.
As an original television series from 1969, "Marcus Welby, M.D." introduced its characters for the first time. There is no prior source material, historical record, or previous installment from which a character's race could have been established and subsequently changed.
Viewer Rating Breakdown
User Ratings
7.0
6.5
Critic Ratings
N/A
N/A
More Like This
Leans Traditional
10.0
In Trousers
(1979)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Center
7.8
The Post
(2017)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Low
Leans Progressive
7.3
The Lost Bus
(2025)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Moderate
Leans Progressive
7.4
Run
(2020)
Political: Center
Diversity: High
Progressive
7.6
Wicked
(2024)
Political: Strong Left
Diversity: High
LGBTQ: Positive
Leans Traditional
6.9
Alpha
(2018)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Traditional
7.3
The Courier
(2020)
Political: Leans Right
Diversity: Low
Traditional
7.6
Sully
(2016)
Political: Leans Right
Diversity: Low
Leans Traditional
7.0
Escape from Terror: The Teresa Stamper Story
(1995)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Leans Progressive
8.5
Soul
(2020)
Political: Center
Diversity: High
Progressive
7.9
Exhibiting Forgiveness
(2024)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: High
Center
7.7
September 5
(2024)
Political: Center
Diversity: Moderate
Leans Progressive
8.0
The Big Short
(2015)
Political: Strong Left
Diversity: Low
Leans Traditional
7.9
First Man
(2018)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Center
8.3
The Big Sick
(2017)
Political: Center
Diversity: Moderate
Traditional
8.1
The Lighthouse
(2019)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
LGBTQ: Negative
Progressive
7.4
Hustlers
(2019)
Political: Strong Left
Diversity: High
LGBTQ: Positive
Leans Traditional
7.0
Hail, Caesar!
(2016)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
LGBTQ: Neutral
Center
7.9
The Peanut Butter Falcon
(2019)
Political: Center
Diversity: Moderate
Center
6.9
Bad Times at the El Royale
(2018)
Political: Center
Diversity: Moderate
LGBTQ: Neutral