The arc with Greene saving the wrong patient, then getting beaten, then trying to recover from it, added some darker layers to an otherwise optimistic character, and they could have done more with that. Like some posters have said, I liked certain arcs more than episodes. Really, aside from such exceptions as Ross/Hathaway, the show never quite pulled off romantic subplots (and a few that worked, like Corday/Benton, were killed for stupid reasons). What drove me crazy as the show went on was how the empahsis was placed more and more on the Giant Disasters, and on interoffice hook-up. Watching Clooney's return, it reminded me that my favorite episodes were the ones that combined high melodrama with subtle emotions. I'm glad the WGA strike only delayed a final season of tribute for ER. Several stars come back and it's like they were gone for about 15 seconds. Season 13 ep that brought the Forest Whitaker storyline to a thrilling conclusion and had a heartbreaking story involving Gates, Neela, and his spurned ex-lover's suicide. Season 11 sees Cynthia Nixon turn in the best guest-starring one-shot in the show's history. It was the next to last episode in Season 9 and fit together two very different shifts for Carter and Pratt around a rare lunar eclipse. It had action, moral dilemmas, and Carter being busted as a drug addict. OK, let me travel back in time a little, after saying that all of the episodes mentioned at first are classics (the best of the bunch was "Hell and High Water"): *"Night Shift", in Season 3, when Omar Epps maybe slips/probably jumps to his death on a train platform, and Carter and Benton page him and the number beeps on his belt and they realize what's happened. I have watched every episode of er (for my sins, its a ritual i cant leave) and have cried many times in the later series, but I just cant remember any of the episodes distinctly - perhaps this is because so many of us have seen the early episodes multiple times (in the UK i spent a whole university vacation watching daytime double bills) compared to the later lesser seasons? I dont know I remember calling a friend afterwards to say i'd just seen the best er episode ever. For me my favourite is Exodus, coz i'm John Carter devotee. I had totally forgotten it was Krumholtz that did the deed. Maybe Lucy's death episode - although I HATED that character and also felt emotionally manipulated with the final 'unable to save her' surgery when they turned the sound on the ECG (?) waaay up so the flatline was anviled in.
#Watch er season 11 time of death ray liotta serial#
I think perhaps in long running serial drama it is particular arcs not just episodes that should be remembered as well, as that truly the defining narrative form of TV.
I loved the Jeannie - Scott Anspaugh arc. I definitely agree with Carol's not-wedding to Tag, Fathers and Sons (if only for Carol's appearance), Union Station (so love that one), Choosing Joi and the live episode. I'm only guessing here but maybe they got some good ones out of Carter's departure in season 11? Usually major characters leaving meant good eps. I'm still laughing at that stupid and random cliffhanger at the end of season 10. The Africa episodes were the most interesting ones, at least they tried something new with those. Can't think of any good episodes from later seasons. Some great ones are Union Station (where Susan leaves), episodes from Choosing Joi to The Storm 2 (Clooney's closing arc), and Laura Innes' directorial debut Power was also quite memorable. Only All Alone from Six Feet Under's last season comes close. That's probably the saddest episode I've ever seen on any series. But actually they are remembering the next one where everyone in the ER tries to save them but Lucy still dies. (What was surprising to me was that Clooney was on as long as he was!)Įveryone always remembers that the great one was the one where Lucy and Carter were stabbed.
Looking forward to reading others' recollections. Sadly, I don't think I've even gone through half the episodes yet. Another favorite? Additional aftermath of the stabbing, when Carter got addicted to pain meds, and Benton took him to rehab.
Seeing the actors on the spot, yet having such a great time was catching. One episode I forgot but I now remember as loopy (all right, gimmicky) fun was "Ambush," the live documentary in the ER. In going through the summaries, I realize how many episodes were a lot more simple in scope than later ones with falling helicopters and tanks coming toward the ER, dealing more with character than plot, which I think was the highlight of this show. I agree with those you've mentioned (most definitely Be Still My Heart when Lucy and Carter get stabbed, and then All in the Family, which is the aftermath). Alan, damn you! I have stopped doing what I should be doing in order to wikipedia ER episodes.