TV.com

ER Season 4 Episode 13

Carter's Choice

Favorite

Watched It I've Watched This 0

Next
Episode Previous
Episode

8.8

User Rating

73 votes

Your Rating: 10
Your Rating: 9.5
Your Rating: 9
Your Rating: 8.5
Your Rating: 8
Your Rating: 7.5
Your Rating: 7
Your Rating: 6.5
Your Rating: 6
Your Rating: 5.5
Your Rating: 5
Your Rating: 4.5
Your Rating: 4
Your Rating: 3.5
Your Rating: 3
Your Rating: 2.5
Your Rating: 2
Your Rating: 1.5
Your Rating: 1

Rate Now

EPISODE REVIEWS
By TV.com Users

Write A Review

Episode Summary

EDIT

AIRED: 1/29/98

Carter faces a dilemma during a blood shortage when a serial rapist is in need of a transfusion. Carol and Weaver deliver the baby of a mentally challenged couple who fear a relative is going to take the child away. Benton turns down Corday's romantic offer. Weaver actively campaigns against Synergix. Doug comes to grips with his relationship with Carol and tells her that he'll wait for as long as she needs. Cynthia pours her heart out about her relationship with Mark to an uninterested Doug.moreless

Fan Episode Reviews (2)

Beautiful episode with dilemmas, conclusions and endings

9.2

By Parricida, Sep 08, 2011

Maybe most of all, this episode had many conclusions, endings - first the elder lady assault case found its end as they caught the bad guy - he was just a kid. Maybe we will find out why he did what he did but... at least it is over.. and I do not imagine about the reaction most of the staff there had if they heard they have to treat him. It build a perfect ground for very moving and deep dilemma what Carter has to work out. He is human after all... and I do understand Anna too and that he later admitted that what he did - it was just what she wanted - to make him understand what he did.. not because maybe she taught the same.. but because he had to understand that himself and not lie to himself.

Another conclusion was in Benton and Carla's relationship. That had not had so much attention lately and I thought they are ok but it seems nothing will come out of that and she has moved on. Maybe it is better as I have never enjoyed that storyline and when they drop it - maybe it is better.

It seemed almost that Carol's and Doug's relationship has found it's end too but Doug has some sense to try to work it out. I am so sad about it as I do enjoyed it.. And I hope they manage to find peace...

Also Mark's things are not going to best... i was quite sure about it.. as they are just so different.. looking different things.. but I am sorry about her.. I am sure we will find out how the outcome of this will be...moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
1 0

Flag
Share Hide
Carter gives us a show!

9.0

By anyabr, Sep 08, 2011

After many episodes, the disgusting rapist is finally caught and brought to the ER.

The character's feelings were in everything. How slowly his gurney was moved, the nurses' comentaries and refusals, and finally Carter making decisions to save the life of a man who certainly did not deserve it.

Noah Wyle was great in this episode. You could see the disgust in his face and the whole speech in the end of the episode, when he tells Anna that he wanted the bastard to die, was so powerful.

I didn't get Anna in this episode, mad with Carter because he didn't want to save the guy, but I guess she got it in the end. I love Carter and Anna, they have so much chemistry without actually being together.

Great episode.moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
0 2

Flag
Share Hide

See All Fan Reviews

Cast & Crew: STARS

EDIT

Alex Kingston	Dr. Elizabeth Corday
Anthony Edwards	Dr. Mark Greene
Eriq La Salle	Dr. Peter Benton
George Clooney	Dr. Doug Ross
Gloria Reuben	P.A. Jeanie Boulet
Julianna Margulies	Nurse Carol Hathaway

See All Cast & Crew

Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

EDIT

Lily Knight	Mary Cochran	Guest Star
George Eads	EMT Greg Powell	Guest Star
Rebecca Tilney	Judy Cochran	Guest Star
Abraham Benrubi	Jerry	Recurring Role
Ellen Crawford	Lydia	Recurring Role
Lisa Nicole Carson	Carla Reese	Recurring Role

See All Cast & Crew

Watch Online

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

FILTER BY TYPE

TRIVIA (0)
ADD TRIVIA
- ADD TRIVIA from this episode.
QUOTES (9)
ADD QUOTES
- Doug: (to Carol) I didn't mean to push. Take as much time as you need. I'll wait.
  EDIT SHARE
- Benton: You feel like hitting darts?
  Corday: Just darts?
  Benton: Yeah. Just darts. I mean, if that's okay.
  Corday: Don't know what you're missing.
  Benton: I've got a pretty good idea.
  Corday: Well, as long as I'm not being unappreciated.
  EDIT SHARE
- Corday: I've had a thought. I have no family here. No ties. No time. You have the baby, but not much else. And with our schedules, it makes it almost impossible to date or even really meet someone, much less anything approaching a real relationship. So, um... I was thinking. We're both adults, attractive... we, we enjoy each other. Why not? (Benton looks up from his files) I won't disappoint. (Benton laughs) I've made you blush.
  Benton: I... I don't think I'd be comfortable with that.
  Corday: That's a pity.
  EDIT SHARE
- Kerry: Overweight 62-year-old shoveling two feet of wet snow. I can't imagine why he's having an MI [myocardial infarction].
  EDIT SHARE
- Carol: I've spent years, years of my life, changing to fit your needs, working around your schedule, your insecurities, your inability to commit. Well, you know what, Doug? It's not all about you! I know that may come as a shock, but a relationship is give and take; two people as equals, and right now I need something! So you can grow up and accept it, or you can go on being the same selfish, self-centered bastard you've always been, and refuse to give me the one thing, the one thing I've ever asked you for!
  EDIT SHARE
- Jerry: Carter, what do you think the best approach with Weaver is? Contrition? Indignation?
  Malik: Begging.
  Carter: I think I would just appeal to her innate sense of fairness.
  Lydia: She has a sense of fairness?
  Carter: Yeah. Just remind her that you've been on nights now for...
  Jerry: Four months.
  Carter: And that you think your exemplary work history and your many years of loyal service, marred only by one minor incident...
  Lydia: Blowing up the ambulance bay.
  Carter: ...makes it incumbent upon her to bring you back to the land of the living.
  Malik: I still say beg.
  EDIT SHARE
- Weaver: So, you want me to fall on my sword in front of the Board of Directors?
  Anspaugh: It is your sword, Kerry...
  EDIT SHARE
- Carter: How long is Weaver going to keep you on nights, Jerry?
  Lydia: I believe her exact words were, "until hell freezes over."
  EDIT SHARE
- Carter: I wanted him to die. I saw what he did to that old lady and the others before her, and I wanted him to die. I didn't think he should have that blood. I mean, if someone had come in and they really needed it... If some little kid had been hit by a car, or some old guy had been accidentally shot; if someone like that had died because we wasted the blood on that guy... I don't know. It was my decision, and I made it, and if he died, I don't know how I'd feel, but I can't say that I'm sorry. (pause) I mean, was I wrong?
  EDIT SHARE
NOTES (2)
ADD NOTES
- Though spelled correctly when he is listed as the series creator in the opening credits, Michael Crichton's last name is incorrectly spelled "Chrichton" when he is listed with the other executive producers in the end credits of this episode. This mistake was repeated in most of the Season 4 episodes and in all of the Season 6 episodes.
  EDIT SHARE
- Music: Smash Mouth, "Walkin' on the Sun"
  EDIT SHARE
ALLUSIONS (1)
ADD ALLUSIONS
- Title: "Carter's Choice"
  The title of this episode is a reference to the 1979 novel Sophie's Choice, written by William Styron, in which the title character must make a forced and difficult decision in which any and all options have equally negative outcomes. In 1982, the film same name, staring Meryl Streep and Kevin Kline, was released to critical acclaim.
  EDIT SHARE