ER Season 13

[Chris S.]

I don't see a thread for this so I am starting one. I am a huge ER fan. I own the first five season's on DVD. A week has not gone by that I havn't watched atleast 5 ep. of ER in a long time. So having said that...

The show is horrible now. The minute Carter left I knew it would be. I missed the second ep. of the season because the first was so horrible. Everything about it was a huge step backward. Abbey's premature baby, I mean thats been done. Also a car chase on ER? I mean the show is ER not ER and car chase. Also the cheesy music, what was with that? ER never needed cheesy music to draw your attention in, you were already tuned in.

It just seems like I am no longer watching the same show. Before it was so fast passed that even after watching an ep. like 5 times I will still be on the edge of my seat. Now the show is just boring, it's like they have to do everything to the extreme. Character growth is just everywhere (moris for example, he wasn't as annoying in the first ep. as past ones), and there is no characters I really feel attached to anymore.

The show should have ended when Carter left. I would say more, but then I would just bore you. What do you guys think.

[DrewTheXenocide]

I agree whole heartedly, except for one thing. It began to suck total ass when they were nearing Mark Greene's leaving. They should've ended the season with Carter leaving, though.

I mean, I barely watched three quarters of last season, but caught the finale. I enjoyed the finale, but not like other ER eps. On the other hand, the opener was soooooooooooooooo boring. As was the episode after. You weren't missing much by seeing it. For both eps. I kept dozing in and out of sleep.

The worst thing about it is this ER: The New Class thing. I had high hopes for Gallant, but well, yeah. And while I was a bit aprehensive at first with Ray, I began to grow on him. But no, no one is showing any doctoring skills. Also, I haven't noticed the camera going between the two trauma roooms, with that heavy bass synthesizer music, or whatever, in a while.

I miss season five. Season five was awesome.

[Nate Grey]

I still like ER and will watch it till they take it off the air. However, seems its gotten a tad bit too dark lately.

[Deathstroke]

I have to disagree. I am still loving the show. Sure they have some crap characters but I look forward to each new episode.

[Chris S.]

In all honesty it is the only show I still watch. I look forward too it, and it is probably the best show on TV in my opinion. However, put next to classics and the show is horrible.

Having said that it goes to show how horrible I think TV really is if I look forward to what I consider a horrible show.

I would also agree the show went down at Dr. Greene's death. The next season really had so much potential though. It almost seemed the show went in a diffrent direction. To put it blunt it went from being a fast passed soap opera to being an actual soap opera.

[DrewTheXenocide]

The biggest letdown for me was the finale from two seasons ago. It was the one where Ray and Morris were at that party when the deck collapsed. It had so much potential for the new characters to show their stuff, but nothing really happened.

What I think they need to do, is make one of the existing characters the main focus. I think that's what they've been trying to do with Kovac recently, but he just fails at it. I don't think he makes a good leader, and we already get too much Abby. Pratt should don some green scrubs, and tell every GSW to "Come n' Get It!"

Do we even have a crew up in the Operating Room anymore? With the exception of that curley haired guy, I don't see any regulars. But Neela shows some promise.

[sschroeder]

I watch the show. This show is so hard on its characters and that is the single biggest thing that makes it tough to watch in the long run.

I mean Abby has a premature baby. Hard enough. But let's take out her uterus too.

One thing they maybe should have done in the season premiere is get rid of Sam. Her on the run from the ex-husband drama was never very interesting viewing, and she has almost no real connection to any of the other characters on the show, especially with Luka and Abby together now. The actress is cute, but it isn't enough. I'm not a fan of the way the show kills characters it doesn't need, but maybe Sam was a good candidate at this point.

I like Neela and Abby and that's why I keep watching.

[DrewTheXenocide]

I just hope Uncle Jesse brings something fresh to the table.

[Deathstroke]

I just hope Uncle Jesse brings something fresh to the table.

I can't wait to see the character they are bringing in to hook up with him. She's played by Paula Malcolmson from Deadwood. (She played the prostitute Trixie.)

[Chris S.]

Do we even have a crew up in the Operating Room anymore? With the exception of that curley haired guy, I don't see any regulars. But Neela shows some promise.
I agree we need to see some doctors in surgery, but not Pratt. I really feel like Pratt could have carried the show. I think he is under used. For awhile, when carter was still there even, he was great. The minute he turned down the chief res. job it was horrible. I hate hate hate morris.

I kinda stopped watching last season, but I think I have seen them all. I don't get what happened to Sherry Stringefield still. It seems like she just up and disappeared. She also had not been great since her return.
One thing they maybe should have done in the season premiere is get rid of Sam.
I agree that Sam has been an extreme let down. However, the bigger let down is how many characters they have killed in the last 4 or 5 seasons. I am glad they didn't kill her, I was amazed she killed her x though. I saw it coming, but I really didn't want to see it happen. I don't even get why she "let" him rape her. She should have told him to get his hands off her, I don't think he would have killed her. I felt this was yet another flaw in characterization because she had been so strong up until this point. They should have left her with Luca.

Thats another problem I have is the whole Abbey Luca thing. It happened so fast. I get that they had history, but suddenly she was pregnant and they were happy about it. I guess you would have to be, but it was just too quick.

[Nate Grey]

Why she "let" him rape her? The guy was nuts with a gun, and just killed off his two cohorts cause for no other reason then them pointing out how pointless it is keeping her and the kid in tow. He made it known he'd never let her go, never leave her life, he already proved he can escape from prison, there's no telling what he would have done if she kept resisting. He seemed carazy, but he also seemed of the "if I can't have you no one will" mentality.

Her shooting him like that, if she had just escaped she knew he would have turned up again and possibly made the shootout at the ER seem like a picnic in the park on a warm sunny day compared to his NEXT shootout. It was a judgement call and she made it. I wouldn't have made it, but I'm not her in that situation with a child to think of.

Anyway, last night was pretty good. I'm liking John Stamo's character more and more. He reminds me of how Carter was back in the day. I kinda like seeing him and Pratt butt heads. Not sure about the new resident (the one teaching Milla), but he's just recurring so he may just be for an ep or two. And there's something cool about Weaver having to start from the beginning again.

[KenK]

It's nice to say Prattin charge. Yeah, he's been a knucklehead in the past, but even Carter was knucklehead for a while (granted, he was much different knucklehead than Pratt was). Cool that they have Glenn Plummer's character back filling in for Jerry.

I agree with the whole Abbey/Luca, thing too. One, I was pullin' for him and Sam, but clearly she had way too much baggage, and will just have even more now. And second, I just never liked the pairing of Abbey and Luca from before. It never really clicked with me. Now they've got a damn baby! Now they HAVE to get back together! Like Ross and Rachel on Friends, but that couldn't go any other way. Abbey and Luca had real options!

OT: anyone notice they're letting a few curse words slide? One patient was talkin' about his "dick" and Abbey tells Morris he can't look at her "tits" while she breastfeeds. This is NBC, people, not FX!!

[Cyke]

I haven't been able to watch the show since the new series began, so I really want to ask:

Is Jerry okay?

[DrewTheXenocide]

I actually liked this episode better than the other two. It was still slow, but it was good. Even though the whole Uncle Jesse (I don't remember his character's name) and John Mahooney thing was done, albeit differntly.

Pratt once brought back to life a guy who was down for a good long time, and thus suffered from brain damage afterwards. Got his ass handed to him by Carter after that.

And I think Luka wanted to follow what this one lesbian wanted to do when her partner was dying, but Kerry said no.

John Mahooney does not look good as a woman, though.

[PerfectBrak]

I haven't been able to watch the show since the new series began, so I really want to ask:

Is Jerry okay?

Yup, he's alive but still recovering.

[Deathstroke]

Yup, he's alive but still recovering.

In Alaska apparently since he's on Men In Trees on ABC.

[PerfectBrak]

In Alaska apparently since he's on Men In Trees on ABC.

I'd rather him stay there, and have ER bring back Randi the female desk clerk who hasn't been around for a few years.

[LordEd1976]

In Alaska apparently since he's on Men In Trees on ABC.

I know that some people were scared that Jerry would die once it was revealed the actor would be in Men In Trees. Fortunately that turned out not to be the case.

[KenK]

I know that some people were scared that Jerry would die once it was revealed the actor would be in Men In Trees. Fortunately that turned out not to be the case.

That's what I thought.

[Deathstroke]

I'd rather him stay there, and have ER bring back Randi the female desk clerk who hasn't been around for a few years.

Ahhh yes, Kristin Minter.

Who has a smoking body judging by a quick google search with the safe search option off.

[DrewTheXenocide]

Ahhh yes, Kristin Minter.

Who has a smoking body judging by a quick google search with the safe search option off.
Well noted, kind sir.

[Deathstroke]

The show was planned to go on a January to April hiatus this season to avoid repeats. The Thursday 10pm timeslot was going to be taken over by the new drama The Black Donnellys.

Due to an unexpected surge in ratings however, the show will remain on the air and the season may even be extended to 24 or 25 episodes.

No word on when The Black Donnellys will now air.

[PerfectBrak]

The show was planned to go on a January to April hiatus this season to avoid repeats. The Thursday 10pm timeslot was going to be taken over by the new drama The Black Donnellys.

Due to an unexpected surge in ratings however, the show will remain on the air and the season may even be extended to 24 or 25 episodes.

No word on when The Black Donnellys will now air.

Interesting, not many other shows last when all of the original cast members have moved on. ER has become the show that will not die.

[Deathstroke]

Interesting, not many other shows last when all of the original cast members have moved on. ER has become the show that will not die.

Which is good because it's still a consistently entertaining show.

[PerfectBrak]

Which is good because it's still a consistently entertaining show.

I agree, though I could do with less car chases and shootouts.

[Chris S.]

No one commented on this past weeks ep. so I will bring it up. Continuing my trend of thinking this is a horrible show now, this was a horrible ep. Following the first ep. I missed the next two weeks so this would have only been my second. The important thing is "would have" in that last sentence. Midway through the ep I turned it off. It didn't even keep me entertained. Sorry to say, but I think the show is dead.

[DrewTheXenocide]

I liked last weeks. It had a familiar rushed feeling to it, with the multiple traumas and Pratt on his own.

And that med student of Neela's was smokin' hot.

Oh, and I got a hoot out of Abby pretending to be a nanny, talking with all those other chicks at the park.

"I s'pose we could get a nann-"
"No!"

[Conn Seanery]

I guess we got a minor Freaks & Geeks reunion starting last week with Linda Cardellini (Sam) & Busy Philipps (Hope) together again.

[Deathstroke]

I was kind of underwhelmed by the Kovac vs. Ames lawsuit storyline.

The acidic interplay between Abby/Tony vs. the surgeon dickhead was funny.

[KenK]

I guess we got a minor Freaks & Geeks reunion starting last week with Linda Cardellini (Sam) & Busy Philipps (Hope) together again.

I completely forgot she was on Freeks and Geeks, too!!

But I'm glad to hear ER is picking up in the ratings. I agree with Deathstroke, say what you want about it, but more often than not, it's a very entertaining show. The original cast was great, but the new cast has done an admirable job of picking up the slack. And the nature of the show has always been such that the cast would naturally rotate and require newbies.

[DrewTheXenocide]

I liked the Ames v. Kovac stuff. Except that video at the end made me groan. If I'm properly informed, Ames isn't going to be leaving anytime soon, right? That's good because I really liked Whitaker.

Although, I really hate that surgeon guy. For some reason it feels like he's trying to hard to be like House. I liked Romano in that, a, he came first, and b, he seemed more geninunely mean than snooty.

[LordEd1976]

I was kind of underwhelmed by the Kovac vs. Ames lawsuit storyline.

I feel the same way. The whole thing reminds me of way back in the show's history when Mark Greene was sued for apparently failing to give an African-American kid proper care because he thought he was a gang member.

That said, I did miss the first 15 minutes of the episode. Anyone know if there's anything I should know about that might change my mind?

[Deathstroke]

That said, I did miss the first 15 minutes of the episode. Anyone know if there's anything I should know about that might change my mind?

No, you didn't miss much.

[Deathstroke]

I liked the Ames v. Kovac stuff. Except that video at the end made me groan. If I'm properly informed, Ames isn't going to be leaving anytime soon, right? That's good because I really liked Whitaker.

I think I posted in the TV/Film Update thread that he's on four 4 episodes.

[Deathstroke]

The show last night drew 13.546 million viewers which finished behind Shark's 13.607 million. Both got clobbered by the baseball game though.

[Chris S.]

The show last night drew 13.546 million viewers which finished behind Shark's 13.607 million. Both got clobbered by the baseball game though.
Unfortunatily in todays world doesn't mean it is a "good" show. I love the old ones though, been watching some of Season two this past week. Love my Sherry Stringfield.

[Deathstroke]

Kip Pardue (Remember The Titans) has been cast as a new nurse and love interest for Linda Cardellini's "Sam."

He debuts November 30th.

[Deathstroke]

NBC has given the greenlight and ER will air 25 episodes this season.

[DrewTheXenocide]

Hmm... I dunno. I'm always wary when a season goes on for that long. It can lead to a lot of filler episodes.

[Deathstroke]

Last night's episode finished #1 in the timeslot with 13.77 million viewers.

I honestly couldn't give a damn about the Luka storyline with the lawsuit, it's going in a predictalbe direction and I see nothing that draws me in.

Neela's dream about Gates was pretty intense, but I just have a feeling all is not said and done with her and Ray.

Morris is an idiot. (This is nothing new, but it had to be said.)

Is it me or is Kerry much calmer now that she's JUST an ER doctor now? She was really good last night.

[DDM]

When will George Romero show up? He needs to tell the producers the show is a zombie.

[DrewTheXenocide]

Last night's episode finished #1 in the timeslot with 13.77 million viewers.

I honestly couldn't give a damn about the Luka storyline with the lawsuit, it's going in a predictalbe direction and I see nothing that draws me in.

Neela's dream about Gates was pretty intense, but I just have a feeling all is not said and done with her and Ray.

Morris is an idiot. (This is nothing new, but it had to be said.)

Is it me or is Kerry much calmer now that she's JUST an ER doctor now? She was really good last night.

I really liked the Ames stuff last time, but now that Kovac has one, it's a bit pitiful to see Ames beg like that.

Re: Morris, I hated him before, but now he makes me laugh. Starting to grow on me.

[PerfectBrak]

Is it me or is Kerry much calmer now that she's JUST an ER doctor now? She was really good last night.

I noticed that too. And she's actually likeable now, a far cry from Season 2.

This episode was pretty good, still waiting for Randi to come back as desk clerk though.

[LordEd1976]

I noticed that too. And she's actually likeable now, a far cry from Season 2.



Kerry seems to mellow out whenever she's not in a psoition of authority. About the time Kellie Martinw as on the show, she lost the chance to become chief. She refocused her efforts in the ER was actually more relaxed. She even let Carter rent an apartment in her basement.

[Deathstroke]

This episode was pretty good, still waiting for Randi to come back as desk clerk though.


I hope you aren't holding your breath for that, because I have a feeling you are going to be a corpse before she comes back.

[DrewTheXenocide]

I really, really liked tonight's episode. Those scenes with "Andre" both at the beginning and the end were very well done.

What's kinda killing it for me is this "The Hand that Rocks the Cradle" vibe I'm getting from Ames. Not cool.

[Deathstroke]

I really, really liked tonight's episode. Those scenes with "Andre" both at the beginning and the end were very well done.

What's kinda killing it for me is this "The Hand that Rocks the Cradle" vibe I'm getting from Ames. Not cool.

The whole thing with Ames is boring me.

I can't believe I actually felt sympathy for Morris. ARGGGGGHHHH!

Great way to give him a meaty story line, and the ending scene was great. Oh, and Shawn Hatosy as the MPD guy was nicely cast and performed.

[Deathstroke]

Last night's episode drew 12.41 million viewers, down 2 million from last week.

[Deathstroke]

Last night's episode drew 12.06 million viewers, up 1.18 million.

Pretty good episode last night, with Kerry Weaver's goodbye and all the future plot points set up.

Alex burning up the apartment, Abby being held hostage by the crazy guy who hates Luka, and the potential death of Tony's ex-girlfriend. Lots of stuff being set up, not to mention Pratt's arrest.

I'm sick of Sam's son, Alex. He's a future serial killer in the making and just like his father. The story isn't even entertaining. All it does is make you wonder how bad Sam could've been to wind up with all these useless evil guys in her life.

Abby finding out the patient with the lung problem was actually her long lost father, arguing with Luka all day, and then finding the guy who sued Luka in her apartment pretty much had to cinch her claim to having a totally bad day.

The show is off for a few weeks now, so I can't wait to see where these storylines go next.

[Nate Grey]

Last night's episode drew 12.06 million viewers, up 1.18 million.

Pretty good episode last night, with Kerry Weaver's goodbye and all the future plot points set up.

Alex burning up the apartment, Abby being held hostage by the crazy guy who hates Luka, and the potential death of Tony's ex-girlfriend. Lots of stuff being set up, not to mention Pratt's arrest.

I'm sick of Sam's son, Alex. He's a future serial killer in the making and just like his father. The story isn't even entertaining. All it does is make you wonder how bad Sam could've been to wind up with all these useless evil guys in her life.

Abby finding out the patient with the lung problem was actually her long lost father, arguing with Luka all day, and then finding the guy who sued Luka in her apartment pretty much had to cinch her claim to having a totally bad day.

The show is off for a few weeks now, so I can't wait to see where these storylines go next.

I ran out of tape on my VCR so I missed ALL of it, but with the exception of Forrest Wittaker's character doing that, I pretty much guessed all of this was gonna happen (I knew Alex would do something AMAZINGLY stupid, just didn't figure it'd be burning down the apartment). And who DIDN'T figure Fred Ward was gonna turn out to be Abby's father? :rolleyes: I think it would have been cooler if it was Armand Assante's character, though.

The only thing I'm confused about is Pratt's arrest. Something about giving out drugs under the table to help people who couldn't afford it? I know it was a hold over from the previous ep, but it went over my head there, too.

[Hush Little Batman]

ER has become a very bad soap opera with dull, uninteresting characters and ridiculous plotlines.

[Deathstroke]

The only thing I'm confused about is Pratt's arrest. Something about giving out drugs under the table to help people who couldn't afford it? I know it was a hold over from the previous ep, but it went over my head there, too.

Dispensing controlled substances without a pharmacy license. Felony.

[Deathstroke]

Stacy Keach will begin a multi episode arc on the show starting February 22nd. He plays the alcoholic father of Tony Gates (John Stamos).

[Nate Grey]

Wait, that Armand Assante character was tied to Sam, I forgot. HE'S probably Sam's real father.

And now Gates' father is showing up, and before we had Fred Ward as Abby's father, and then Danny Glover as Pratt's father for an arc.

Okay, they're going to the father shows up well too often, IMO.

[Deathstroke]

Wait, that Armand Assante character was tied to Sam, I forgot. HE'S probably Sam's real father.

And now Gates' father is showing up, and before we had Fred Ward as Abby's father, and then Danny Glover as Pratt's father for an arc.

Okay, they're going to the father shows up well too often, IMO.

Well the moms stuck around, so they'd have to go to the fathers. :D

[Deathstroke]

I'm so glad Forest Whitaker's storyline is over. It was almost as bad as the Tritter story arc on House.

The show drew 11.76 million viewers last night, down 300,000.

[Nate Grey]

I'm so glad Forest Whitaker's storyline is over. It was almost as bad as the Tritter story arc on House.

The show drew 11.76 million viewers last night, down 300,000.

This show has become unrelentingly depressing. Not sure how much more I can take. We need some bright, upbeat, hopeful stories every now and then.

[DrewTheXenocide]

Did anyone find it funny that there were two gunshots at the end?

[Deathstroke]

Okay, who watched this week's episode. Everything was pretty good, but Gates is really starting to wear on the nerves with his incredible flaunting of the rules.

And how disconcerting was it to learn that the idiot surgeon is involved in a dom/sub relationship with Jane (Sara Gilbert)?

[Nate Grey]

Okay, who watched this week's episode. Everything was pretty good, but Gates is really starting to wear on the nerves with his incredible flaunting of the rules.

And how disconcerting was it to learn that the idiot surgeon is involved in a dom/sub relationship with Jane (Sara Gilbert)?

Well at least his personality makes sense now. Usually the sub in a dom/sub relationship acts like an ass to everyone BUT the dom, and also until the person he/she is being a jerk to asserts him/herself in a FORCEFUL way, hence why he's suddenly nice to Nila. Jane was a surprise, but I guess they had to do SOMETHING with her character.

The show still has that vibe of doing too much. And the two recurring kids (what's her name's son and Gates's daughter) are annoying. Morris's kids are fine, though, and I'd like to see more of them.

[Deathstroke]

I like where they seem to be heading with Tony's POSSIBLE daughter.

Alex needs to be killed in a tragic fingernail clipping accident as fast as possible.

[Nate Grey]

I like where they seem to be heading with Tony's POSSIBLE daughter.

Alex needs to be killed in a tragic fingernail clipping accident as fast as possible.

Alex and Tony's daughter seem like bad seeds...Tony's daughter cause of her crazy mother and Alex cause he saw his mom kill his dad. I don't know where they're going with either, but I wish they'd hurry up. Where do you see them heading with Tony's daughter? That she ISN'T his but he'll adopt her or something?

[Deathstroke]

Alex and Tony's daughter seem like bad seeds...Tony's daughter cause of her crazy mother and Alex cause he saw his mom kill his dad. I don't know where they're going with either, but I wish they'd hurry up. Where do you see them heading with Tony's daughter? That she ISN'T his but he'll adopt her or something?


I think she'll end up being his daughter and that might be how they bring in the father of Gates as he tells his dad. It might also force Gates to grow up a little now that he truly is responsible for someone else.

[Nate Grey]

I think she'll end up being his daughter and that might be how they bring in the father of Gates as he tells his dad. It might also force Gates to grow up a little now that he truly is responsible for someone else.

Hmm...okay, I can see that, but what about Nila? I don't know if she'd gotten over her grudge of Nila or not, but if not it would force Gates to make a decision. Hence the growing up part.

[Deathstroke]

Hmm...okay, I can see that, but what about Nila? I don't know if she'd gotten over her grudge of Nila or not, but if not it would force Gates to make a decision. Hence the growing up part.

She seemed cordial to Neela when they came downstairs in the beginning of this week's episode. Maybe not accepting of her, but not outright rude as she has been in the past.

[Deathstroke]

Last night's episode of ER drew 9.92 million viewers, down 1.6 million.

The best part was when Sam left Alex off at the school for at risk kids. About time he got shown the door. I hope the show keeps him in character limbo now.

I'm hoping Gates wakes up and keeps his presumed daughter with him, I kinda like Sarah being around.

[Sean Whitmore]

The best part was when Sam left Alex off at the school for at risk kids. About time he got shown the door. I hope the show keeps him in character limbo now.

Not quite the slow ritual murder the character deserves, but hell, I'll take it.


SEAN

[Deathstroke]

Goran Visnjic (Luka) has decided to NOT renew his contract with the show for next season (probably it's final season).

The show's producers are trying to work out a deal for him to appear in 5 or 6 episodes in order to give closure to the Abby-Luka storyline.

[DrewTheXenocide]

Goran Visnjic (Luka) has decided to NOT renew his contract with the show for next season (probably it's final season).
.

God, I hope so. Let's try to end on a bad note and not a terrible one.

[Deathstroke]

Stanley Tucci will appear in multiple episodes over the end of this season and next season. He'll play new ER chief Kevin Moretti. His first appearance will be May 10th.

My guess is he'll eventually be the replacement for Luka.

[DrewTheXenocide]

Ummm.... who?

In any case, if Uncle Jesse wasn't enough to make ER as good as it was before, how well is this guy going to fare?

[Deathstroke]

Ummm.... who?

In any case, if Uncle Jesse wasn't enough to make ER as good as it was before, how well is this guy going to fare?

Stanley Tucci was on the first season of the ABC drama Murder One as Richard Cross.

He was in the failed TV series 3-lbs this season on CBS.

Starred in the movie Big Night.

He's one of those guys that you know when you see him.

Don't know what he'll do for the show's numbers or anything but I have a feeling he's going to shake up the ER in the storylines.

http://www.nndb.com/people/805/000043676/stanley-tucci.jpg

[Sean Whitmore]

He was in the failed TV series 3-lbs this season on CBS.

I guess playing a House ripoff gave him a taste for doctor shows.


SEAN

[Deathstroke]

So ER was back with a new episode last night. What did everyone think? There was some interesting tidbits of information let out, but overall it wasn't OVERLY spectacular.

The episode drew 9.14 million viewers, down 700,000 from the last new episode.

By the way, Goran Visnijc and Maura Tierney have confirmed that they are planning to leave the show after next season whether it's renewed or not. Visnijc will appear in less than 5 episodes next season while Tierney will be gone after the season ends.

Tierney reportedly wants to be killed off, but both believe the writers will give them a happy ending.

[sschroeder]

So ER was back with a new episode last night. What did everyone think?

For some strange reason (maybe because she was attacked in one of the promos), I kept expecting Sam to die in this episode. When she went out to take that call, I thought something terrible would happen to her.


By the way, Goran Visnijc and Maura Tierney have confirmed that they are planning to leave the show after next season whether it's renewed or not. Visnijc will appear in less than 5 episodes next season while Tierney will be gone after the season ends.

So, what, are Luka and Abby going to break up? Maybe Luka will rejoin Carter in Africa for most of next season either way. Or maybe they will just kill him.


Tierney reportedly wants to be killed off, but both believe the writers will give them a happy ending.

Why would she want that? Way to think about your fictional baby, Maura.

[Deathstroke]

So, what, are Luka and Abby going to break up? Maybe Luka will rejoin Carter in Africa for most of next season either way. Or maybe they will just kill him.

I've got no idea. I'm sure the writers don't right now either.

[Deathstroke]

Last night's episode was a little weak.

I liked how Morris gave Gates what for for disobeying his orders. The writers have really started to make Morris seem more competent these days. I do feel bad that Sarah turned out to not be the daughter of Gates though.

They've begun laying the groundwork for Luka's departure with him quitting as ER chief.

The show drew 9.39 million viewers.

[sschroeder]

Last night's episode was a little weak.

I agree.

The woman sick with cancer was touching enough though.

The fight between Tony and his Dad was pretty tough stuff to see get that far. I don't see how the girl can stay with him now. She won't want to. I must have missed the part where she wasn't his, so that only makes it easier, if true.


I liked how Morris gave Gates what for for disobeying his orders.

Which he totally deserved by this point. Right or wrong. There was no big reason to do it his way except that he wanted to. That was not a battle worth fighting on his part.


The writers have really started to make Morris seem more competent these days.

Is this actually justified though? Is he studying more? What really accounts for it? Just experience, I guess.


They've begun laying the groundwork for Luka's departure with him quitting as ER chief.

This and the ER shutdown were pretty much out of nowhere. The writers seem to know it too and acknowledged or explained it as best they could.

[Deathstroke]

Pretty good episode last night. Luka gives all men an impossible standard to match for weddings. Archie and Hope hook up. The Ray-Tony fight. Last but not least the both HAWT and hilarious kiss from the female asian doctor and Neela...the look on her face was priceless.

The show drew 8 million viewers, down 1.3 million.

Oh and Ray got taken out by a big ass truck.

[sschroeder]

Oh and Ray got taken out by a big ass truck.

Sigh... Why do they keep doing this? He was not the best character or actor they have ever had, but that really sucked. I guess they were out of ideas for him. Is there any hope he made it?

The teaser gives us Stanley Tucci. That doesn't thrill me either.

I can see why the rating might be down, because this episode didn't look like it would be much (I know I wasn't waiting for Luka and Abby to tie the knot all this time), but it was much better than I thought it would be. Up until the very end at least.

[DrewTheXenocide]

I actually caught the last half of this episode. It was alright, nothing great.

About Ray though, I really hated that he bites it, assuming, of course, he's dead. He was probably one of the only characters on that show that I still liked. In any case, I thought the scene itself could've been handled a lot better. The SECOND he stepped onto the street, it was obvious he was gonna get hit by something. The little tease with the UPS truck was a nice touch, but the actual hit itself wasn't an "Oh Shit!" moment like those types of scenes should be.

What I am really annoyed with are all the House wannabes on this show. There's the curly haired guy who fit that bill when he first came onto the show, they have that bald surgeon guy, and now it looks like this new guy is going to be the same. Lame. Come up with your own characters, ER.

[Sean Walsh]

Oh and Ray got taken out by a big ass truck.

My mom burst out laughing when that happened. :eek:

I was rather shocked by that reaction. Normally, I'd be proud. But it was...........just so unexpected of her.

[Nate Grey]

I always thought they were setting up Gates and Barnett to be like the new Ross and Greene, repsectively. The first time ER tried this was when Luka and Carter became Ross and Greene, 2.0, and I think it worked fine. I thought they were trying for 3.0 with Gates and Barnett, but...Barnett seems like a crybaby here and Gates is so unlikeable at the moment. Maybe they can turn it around.

Really doubt Ray is dead, by the way. Either someone saved him or he moved in time, and he probably just want to take some time to "find himself", hence the "missing" promos.

Stanley Tucci, from the promos (which could be misleading) looks like Romano 2.0 to me instead of a new Weaver or Luka. Why they feel this character trait needs to be repeated ad nausim with new characters is beyond me. I'm tired of the "a-hole new guy in charge who tells EVERYONE everything they've been doing is WRONG". Its soooo old and at this point an immediate turn off. Figure out a way to make the new character make a big splash some other way, writers.

[Deathstroke]

Really doubt Ray is dead, by the way. Either someone saved him or he moved in time, and he probably just want to take some time to "find himself", hence the "missing" promos.

I'm pretty sure Shane West's contract is up and he's not coming back. I believe he's a dead man.

[Deathstroke]

Thursday's episode drew 9.2 million viewers, up 1.2 million from last week.

What a great episode.

The Archie-Hope pairing is really good. Hope isn't nearly as irritating as she was when the season began, and they are actually making Archie both competent and interesting.

Loved all the Abby and Luka scenes, but saddened by the final one where you get introduced to how the show will be writing Luka out.

I hope they decide next season which way they are going to go with Gates. He comes off as a complete ass at the hospital, but so damn good in his dealing with Sarah. I hope to see more of the good Tony (and scenes with Sarah) next season.

Looks like Ray is still kicking, so apparently I was wrong about that.

Stanley Tucci will be a series regular next year and he made a strong debut last night.

The only thing I didn't like was the idiotic doctor thinking he and Sam were an item. Can you spell L-O-S-E-R?

[DrewTheXenocide]

Loved all the Abby and Luka scenes, but saddened by the final one where you get introduced to how the show will be writing Luka out.

Which would be...

[Deathstroke]

Which would be...

When he got the phone call and started speaking his native tongue. Supposedly he goes back to Croatia because his father is ill.

[sschroeder]

Thursday's episode drew 9.2 million viewers, up 1.2 million from last week.

That seems like a huge increase. I wonder why.

I enjoyed the episode for the most part.


The Archie-Hope pairing is really good. Hope isn't nearly as irritating as she was when the season began, and they are actually making Archie both competent and interesting.

Doesn't it seem like they've shed most of their unique character traits to get to this though? I'm still not convinced the changes in these characters hasn't been too fast to believe.


Looks like Ray is still kicking, so apparently I was wrong about that.

Who could blame you though with this show. We'll still have to see if there's anything terribly wrong with him now.


Stanley Tucci will be a series regular next year and he made a strong debut last night.

That came off better than expected. I might actually like this move.


The only thing I didn't like was the idiotic doctor thinking he and Sam were an item. Can you spell L-O-S-E-R?

I thought that was amsuing at least from the perspective of Sam reacting to it. I like when they use Sam for comedy. Her stuff is often so dark.


What struck me as odd about this episode was Neela taking the balme for the other surgeon wanting to move the patient. And then Tucci's character ripped her in front of the husband and then somehow completely ignored the subject that it was supposedly her fault afterwards when they were idly talking.

[Nate Grey]

Sorry, didn't like Tucci's character. He was unnecessarily a-holish. So is this some sort of rite of passage when a new character has rank, they come in, be amazingly unpleasant, and then pick a fight with Pratt? I'm sick of it. Work with Pratt or fire him, but none of this chest thumping middle ground foolishness. Its getting ridiculous, and I'm positive this nonsense will carry over into the next season, too.

[Deathstroke]

Doesn't it seem like they've shed most of their unique character traits to get to this though? I'm still not convinced the changes in these characters hasn't been too fast to believe.

Perhaps a bit too fast, but after all the time they spent making Morris an incompetent boob, to spend too much time remaking his character would rob the viewer of seeing him grow up, because the show will not last long enough to do a long drawn out character redemption arc. As for Hope, I thought her religiousness was too off-putting so the faster they softened that point the better.