TV.com

ER Season 9 Episode 8

First Snowfall

Favorite

Watched It I've Watched This 0

Next
Episode Previous
Episode

8.7

User Rating

83 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: 11/21/02

Abby's family nightmare continues as she and her mother Maggie search for Abby's missing brother Eric, who Abby suspects is suffering from serious mental problems. The two women go to a Midwestern air force base, hoping to prevent Eric from being court-martialed for being absent without leave. Carter struggles to get out of Chicago to join Abby. Meanwhile, Corday treats a family of patients who, while building a snowman, were severely injured after being struck by a truck driver. She must help the father, Stuart, make a life-or-death decision. Corday also sympathizes with troubled surgical resident Paul Nathan as he struggles with the increasing symptoms of his physical handicap.moreless

Fan Episode Reviews (4)

Facts about certain places not true and no research conducted.

0.0

By anniejm, Oct 21, 2011

I haven't seen this episode, but have heard from friends who have. First off, the writers seriously let thier viewers down by failing to research basic facts about the U.S. Air Force, it's installations, and it's people. From what I'm told the plot involving the U.S.A.F involves Abby and Carter travelling to a "Mid-Western(Nebraska)Air Base(Not even Air Force Base)in search of Abby's brother who is AWOL from the military. The only base in Nebraska is Offutt AFB and from a friend who was stationed there this wasn't the base pictured.

Also, and the most upsetting to me, is that the Air Force Security Forces Members are referred to as "Military Police". I AM an Air Force Security Forces Member! This is insulting to me and all those in my Career Field. This generalization of military law enforcement does nothing to help the public understand us and our jobs, and in my belief was not important to them so long as the plot moved forward. I am disgusted with the makers of this program and demand they research thier facts before committing to plot development!

The Department of Defense and the Air Force would (and has been countless times in the past) be more than willing to assist Films and Television shows in research, and allow them to visit and use thier facilities, personnel, and equipment in thier shows. This is a service provided by the DOD and even has a full time staff in the Pentagon dedicated to Films and Television shows. However it seems that the producers and writers decided not to go this route and in turn INSULTED all Air Force Members with this episode!moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
2 13

Flag
Share Hide
wonderful episode

9.1

By DanLC03, Jul 26, 2010

There has been a lot of talk about this episode focusing on the storyline with Abby's brother, but this review will focus on the other storyline. In this episode we see two sides of Dr Corday, we see her being compassionate and understanding with the father of the two boys and we see her act the exact opposite with Mr Nathan. I think that she should have done more for him and did not give him a fair opportunity to pass his rotation. I cannot even begin to imagine the pain that father experienced, losing his wife and son. He would have to suffer serious PTSD and survivor guilt after what happened. The first thing I always think when I watch this episode is how bad I feel for this man. I think that the scene where he's talking to Dr Corday is one of the greatest in the history of ER and very moving. I don't think the ending could have been handled any better with Mr Nathan going into the OR during the kid's surgery, because he was responsible for that kid being alive because he convinced the father to give consent.moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
3 0

Flag
Share Hide
Always on his heart...

9.2

By Parricida, Jan 18, 2008

It was beautiful episode - first the storyline with Abby's family. It's never easy for them and now it is Eric's turn as he seems to get bipolar too. And Abby finds herself in potion what she knows and cannot change - she feels it is her mother fault that Eric got it and on the same time, he wants to avoid Eric turning into her mother. And everything seems to be the way it always has.

And the other storyline on Chicago. Snowfall - lot of snow and some drunk drove into a family - mother and two kids. One kid is brain dead soon, they do not manage to save the mother and the other boy - only change for him is his brother's heart and lungs. So, hard decision to father and Nathan has to get him into this. And his rotation is over, Cordey fails him but he has beautiful way of leaving.moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
0 0

Flag
Share Hide
Elizabeth fails Nathan as she promised, but acknowledges that he is the ultimate people person.

9.2

By linseyt67, Aug 31, 2006

The snowfall has resulted in a quiet day in the ER. Then a mother and her two sons are brought in, victims of a lorry driver who ploughed straight into them as they made a snowman. The father was in the house getting a carrot. One boy is brain dead and the other has a damaged heart and lung. Elizabeth realises that to save the one, then the heart and lungs are needed from the other. The father is too distraught to make the decision, but Nathan talks him through it and the procedure goes ahead. Sadly the mother dies of her injuries. Eliabeth and the father speak and she breaks down and tells him about Mark. They embrace, and then go up to the ER where Nathan starts the boys implanted heart. Elizabeth has failed Nathan, but tells him he has a great gift as a physician.

Abby dashes off to find where her brother is being held. Gallant goes along to facilitate entry into the base. Carter follows, but not til the snow has been cleared. In the meantime Abby finds that her mother is there already and knew a few months back that Eric was having problems.moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
0 0

Flag
Share Hide

See All Fan Reviews

Cast & Crew: STARS

EDIT

Alex Kingston	Dr. Elizabeth Corday
Goran Visnjic	Dr. Luka Kovac
Laura Innes	Dr. Kerry Weaver
Maura Tierney	Nurse Abby Lockhart
Mekhi Phifer	Dr. Greg Pratt
Ming-Na	Dr. Jing-Mei "Deb" Chen

See All Cast & Crew

Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

EDIT

Don Cheadle	Paul Nathan	Guest Star
Larry Hankin	Bearded Homeless Guy	Guest Star
Joseph Kell	Drunk Driver	Guest Star
Sally Field	Maggie Wyczenski	Recurring Role
Laura CerÃ³n	Chuny	Recurring Role
Troy Evans	Frank	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 (8)
ADD QUOTES
- (upon entering Eric's military hospital room)
  Abby: Hi.
  Eric: Were you expecting a strait jacket?
  Abby: No. You look nice.
  Eric: Fashion is key at a court martial.
  EDIT SHARE
- Carter: Commuting on skis!
  Luka: What?
  Carter: Skiing to work.
  Luka: Yeah, I don't live far. Nice coat.
  Carter: Goodwill box.
  Luka: Hey, did you find him?
  Carter: Who?
  Luka: Abby's brother.
  Carter: Um, I'm just gonna try and catch a train to Midway and wait for it to open up.
  Luka: Where are you going?
  Carter: Nebraska. She's already there. She left last night.
  Luka: Did'nt go with her?
  Carter: I had a shift.
  Luka: Oh.
  Carter: I sent Gallant with her.
  Luka: Gallant?
  Carter: Yeah. Why?
  Susan: Carter! We've got multiples coming in.
  EDIT SHARE
- (to a man who lost his wife and son in an accident and said Elizabeth couldn't understand his pain)
  Elizabeth: My husband, his name was Mark, he died... My God, I was about to say last year. It's only been six months.
  EDIT SHARE
- (after the completion of the heart transplant)
  Elizabeth: I guess his brother will always be with him.
  EDIT SHARE
- Drunk patient: They let you be a doctor, like this?
  Nathan: (suffering from tremors) Only on the patients they don't care about.
  EDIT SHARE
- Susan: Is he getting consent?
  Corday: He's trying.
  Susan: Comes in handy I guess.
  Corday: What?
  Susan: He's good at talking patients into stuff.
  EDIT SHARE
- Nathan: The husband wants to come in.
  Luka and Corday: (in unison) No!
  EDIT SHARE
- Abby: All they had was Diet Shasta.
  Maggie: They still make this?
  Abby: I hope so.
  EDIT SHARE
NOTES (2)
ADD NOTES
- In the first of four appearances she would make during the season, Sally Field reprises her role as Maggie Wyczenski, Abby's mother, in this episode. Her performance garnered her another Emmy Award nomination in the Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series category; in 2001 she won the award for her portrayal of the same character during Season 7.
  EDIT SHARE
- Although in the opening credits, Mekhi Phifer, Ming-Na and Paul McCrane do not appear in this episode.
  EDIT SHARE
ALLUSIONS (0)
ADD ALLUSIONS
- ADD ALLUSIONS from this episode.