The Beginning of the End

Season 15, Episode 16, Aired
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Episode Summary

Valentine's Day in the ER finds Neela spellbound by Brenner. Determined to have a baby, Banfield comes up with a plan but has difficulty getting her husband on board. Neela performs surgery on a young girl's mother. Dr. Carter surprises the staff with a visit to the ER. Gates treats a strange patient who may have ingested a toxin while hunting for mushrooms.moreless
9.1
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Fan Episode Reviews (5)

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  • Carter comes back!

    10
    "Perfect"
    By vicky24c, Mar 30, 2009 Report Abuse
    In this episode of ER, the following happens. It's Valentine's Day in the ER and everyone seems to be loved up. Even Ray sends Neela a special gift, in the form of a love song. Then the magic really happens, Carter has returned to Chicago and is back in the ER. Then in one moment, I lost all my respect for Gates, when he basically asks Carter is he is Ross. When Carter bumps into Morris, we learn that carer is staying in love for a bit and wants to pick up some shifts at the ER. Just like old times. Then I lost all respect for Banfield, when she calls carte, Jim. Banfield tells Carter that he can pick up some shifts, which he says he will work for free. We also see that 5 years after the tragic birth/death of Carters son Joshua, the centre in his memory is soon due to open. Simon tells Neela that in April, he wants to take Neela to Venice, together. SO he gives her an IOU for it. At the very end of the episode, we see Carter on a dialysis machine.moreless

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    1 1

  • John is back

    8.0
    "Great"
    By wimtenbosch, Feb 22, 2009 Report Abuse
    I am not writing many reviews but this one matters.
    John is back en he is nog in great shape. He is in the ER but not really. He sees some people he knows but a lot he doesn't know.
    And he is sick. In the last scene he is on a dialyse machine. Kidney problems!
    Where wil this end? A transplant?
    We will see in the next weeks.
    I am sad the end is near. Hopefully we wil see the cast in other nearly as good shows.
    Beening in Europe, I am looking a bit different to the show. But people are all the same.moreless

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    0 0

  • Return...

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By CaptainHarkness, Feb 21, 2009 Report Abuse
    Well I've never seen an episode of ER with Dr. Carter until now, I know, shameful. But I have done some reading and learned he hasn't been on the show for a few years, so I was interested to see this episode. Now I'm not a frequent watcher of ER but that might change after a while. I really liked the character of John Carter and I'm interested to see him in the early years. This episode takes place on Valentine's day and from there we have lots of romance around the hospital and some heart break. I know Sam still hasn't forgiven Tony for the incident but she is starting to warm up to him again and I'd like to see them get together again. Anyway. I was very intrigued by the end. What was Carter hooked up to? I guess only time will tell.moreless

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    4 0

  • Carter is back

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By Parricida, Feb 20, 2009 Report Abuse
    I almost jumped on my chair when I saw the opening credits and there was Noah Wyle. As I have been watching it from the beginning and Carter has been in for so long.. it just was amazing to get him back and by the way things are looking - he might stay for a while. And I am so eager for it. And the ending, that one scene - wow.. it looks like there is much to talk.. But the whole Valentine atmosphere... it was great. Having all that care and emotion around.. and maybe it was shocking.. the surgery Neela had.. took out the heart just when they learned the one they got is not good. Poor little girl.

    And Morris.. the whole thing with the patient. scary..moreless

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    2 0

  • Take one very interesting prop, some jokes that hit their mark, a lot of interesting relationships, add a few well-placed montages, throw in some genuine division, and simmer. Add mushrooms for some reason and serve.moreless

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By simpleton7, Feb 20, 2009 Report Abuse
    I thought this episode was deft, engaging, at times hilarious and at others surprising and emotive. Based around the theme of love, there's a tonne of really interesting developing relationships.

    Rather than having one of the characters make a mistake to give interest to these relationships, it's the situations they're in that drive a wedge in. There's no reason not to empathise with these storylines, and the characters drew me in to a rare extent.

    It's a really thoughtful story, and feels incredibly natural. The builds to the dramatic beats are very well formed, it's a joy to watch. Nothing seems arbitrary or contrived.

    The only notable fault I'd find was the girl in this episode, who was a little jarring, but what can you do? Great hour of television, looking forward to more.moreless

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    4 0
 

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

    ADD TRIVIA

    • There's an irony of Carter returning on Valentine's Day, given what we find out is his primary reason (a kidney transplant) - it was the same day nine years prior that Carter was stabbed that led to this moment (in the sixth season episodes "Be Still My Heart" and "All in the Family" where Lucy Knight also died).

      Edit
    • Carter: Looks like you followed my advice, Archie. Morris: How's that? Carter: You set the tone. This is a reference to a conversation the two had in the Season 11 episode "The Show Must Go On." Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • Music: "Crystal Village," Pete Yorn; "Town Where You Belong," Earlimart Edit
    • In this episode Noah Wyle reprises his role as Dr. John Carter. He left the series as a regular in the Season 11 episode "The Show Must Go On." Like Anthony Edwards earlier this season, he is listed first in the opening credits rather than being billed as a special guest or making a guest appearance. He was credited as a special guest star for his four appearances during Season 12, the last of which was in the episode "There Are No Angels Here." Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Carter: Looks like you followed my advice, Archie. Morris: How's that? Carter: You set the tone. Edit
    • (on seeing Archie again, who is showing intern Tracy Martin a procedure) John Carter: Archie Morris, all grown up. Edit
    • (after Simon gives her the plane tickets to Venice) Neela: You want to go to Venice? Simon: Yeah... with you. Neela: I think this qualifies as a romantic gesture. Simon: This is nothing. This is just the beginning. (they kiss) Edit

  • Allusions

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