Thursday March 12, 2009
15019
A former mentor and colleague visits Carter in his time of need as he waits for a kidney transplant. Meanwhile, a woman is grief-stricken over the sudden death of her grandson. Sam and Neela are stuck at the airport with transplant organs in hand. Banfield bonds with a baby abandoned at the ER.
Write a Recap »Very well done, one of the best this season. hide show
This was my favourite episode for some time, why? Because it was done really, really well. Instead of Doug and Carol suddenly turning up at County we went into their lives...it wasn't soppy or stupid - it felt normal. Both were great characters, Carol especially for me was great throughout this episode.
I liked the brief mention of the twins, how Doug asked Sam and Neela about the staff at County.
That was another thing I loved about this feature, no one really knew each other, there was no 'OMG you're Doug Ross'. One of the highlights was when Carol said 'And they gave the kidney to some doctor' what a classic line. How they both had no idea they were helping an old friend, Dr. John Carter. The Susan S as the grandmother did a brilliant job, very emotional.
Benton was the best part of the episode, he was hilarious. The friendship between him and Carter was so entertaining. Great performance. I have to admit I'm not a huge Carter fan but I liked him here. Neela also really stands out for me, not that much here but this season. I can't help but like Brenner... who knows why. Gates/Sam...sorry but I'm not a huge fan, both are alright on their own.
I liked the Banfield storyline, even though that baby will more than likely end up with her. Impressive episode for sure.
Probably the best episode of the season along Heal Thyself, the episode focuses on the older characters for the most part. Including John Carter, Carol Hathaway, Peter Benton and the return of none other then George Clooney as Doug Ross. hide show
This was a great episode the only thing missing was Anthony Edwards, but hey his character is dead. What made this episode perfect? Well for starters the main focus of the episode was the older characters, including Dr. John Carter needing a kidney transplant stuck in the uptight Northwestern hospital. In the meantime Neela and Sam are in Seattle, where they encounter Carol Hathaway and Doug Ross! Yep George Clooney returned! Well apparently there is a woman whose grandson died played by Oscar winner Susan Sarandon and it's up to Hathaway and her husband Dr. Ross to convince the grandmother to donate her child's organs. Including a heart for a mother back in county in need of a transplant and a kidney for Dr. Carter back in Northwestern. After Ross works his charm on the grandmother, obviously Ross has his way with women, he is able to get County to take the organs. There is also a nice moment where Ross talks with Neela and Sam about County and they ask whether he knows a couple of older doctors, and they tell him that they don't know them, well except for Anspaugh who is briefly mentioned. There is also an appearance by Eriq La Salle as Peter Benton who is working at Northwestern and encounters Carter, they talk about life and Carter informs him about his wife and his dead child, Benton obviously cares about Carter and he watches as an arrogant doctor operates on Carter. The scene is incredible because we see the old Benton demeanor a cocky, arrogant but brilliant doctor as he is able to get into the head of the doctor operating at Carter. There is a nice bit with Ernest Borgnine playing a caring husband whose wife is dying and Gates taking care of him. There is also a nice storyline involving Neela who gives a woman a heart transplant, cheering up her young daughter who had had been forming a kinship with Brenner. The best part however is seeing Carter and Benton after the surgery and Benton telling Carter to call his wife, and of course the ending of the episode where Hathaway and Ross are in bad and they receive a phone call informing them that a heart went to Chicago as well as Kidney to "Some doctor" obviously they don't know it's Carter. Which is better because that would be a little bit weird. The episode worked and was able to show the lives of the characters after they left the ER Including Ross and Hathaway who work in a Seattle clinic, and Ross's character has stopped trying to be the Maverick breaking all the rules, but still the guy with a heart who cares for his patients. It was great seeing 4 former cast members from the first season in the same episode. It was truly a delight, and I have to give credit to George Clooney. A lot of starts at his position would probably say they are too big to appear on a dying show, but Clooney appeared alright, and he nailed his performance. Despite a lack of real promotion. Great episode, and a fitting end to Ross and Hathaway though Benton and Carter appear again in the finale.
Carol and Doug return... kinda hide show
In this episode of ER, the following happens. We open this episode, with a woman bringing a baby into the ER which she found abandoned near her apartment. The team work on the baby boy and the woman who brought him in vanishes. Carter gets told that a kidney may have been found for him. Then as if by magic we see Doug and Carol, as they organise who shall get a 16 year olds organs. Neela and Sam are one of the hospital teams there to collect organs. The holdup is that Billy's grandmother, felt him squeeze her hand and so now believes that he is in a coma and will come out of it, even though all the tests should that he is brain dead. There is an amazing met up between Neela, Sam and Doug and when they compare notes on who is in the ER now, it's amazing to see that so many people have come and gone. But they mention Abby to him and you'd think he would know that name as she helped to deliver his twin girls with Carol. Another old face comes back in the form of Bennett, who goes to visit Carer. Finally the organs are donated, but then when Neela and Sam go to their plane to get back to Chicago it has gone. So they have to share a plane with someone else in order to get back in time. They manage to get back in time and so the heart patient and Carter are both taken to the OR's. Soon the woman who found the baby comes back into the ER. Soon when Banfield asks her questions we learn that she is the mother. She says she can't cope and walks out of the ER, even though Banfield chases after her. The mother simply asks that they find him a good home. Luckily both of the organ transplants go well and both of the patients survive. At the end of the episode after his operation we see Carter ringing Kem, to tell her the good news. As the episode ends we see Carol and Doug in bed together, telling each other the words that all the fans have been waiting for "I love you".
The more things change.... hide show
What a wonderful episode! This episode was definitely written for those who have all 15 seasons of ER. It brought back the old characters we loved and had just the right amount of dialogue to remind us why we loved them. Who can forget the love story of Carol and Doug or the tension and friendship of Benton and Carter? These character relationships helped develop this show into one we loved. What a tribute!
While we would have loved some laughs with Carter and Doug, the storyline had a poetic beauty because of the unknown effect the players had on one another. We never know who we help. Over the years, ER has taken on many issues and policies. Organ donation is a life saving gift but the sacrifice is not one of ease. Adding this message to the final chapters of ER was a fitting story.
Brings back memories hide show
Doug Ross, Nurse Hathaway and Dr. Benton definitely among my favorite characters in the early days... the script was woven with such ease and clarity... the dialogue on point. The episode solidifies why it is still one of if not the greatest medical drama series on television. Few series get the chance at a fifteen year run and ER deserves it. Thus, it is befitting to start its closure with elevated drama and reminiscence. The return of George Clooney who slipped back into his Doc role as if he'd not been 'Out of Sight' and become the legendary Danny Ocean. The Librarian (Noah Wyle) proved to be everything his mentor Benton had hoped he'd be... No longer youthful and unsure of himself, but an equal and a friend.
Not taking the lime light off the existing main cast; in a few short words, Banfield, Brenner, Sam and Neela were a joy to watch as their roles entwined with the old greats.
a great tribute to the brilliance of its now passed creator Michael Crichton.
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