What’s the talk around the campfire? Is there any good reason to tune in to the finale tonight if I have been immune to the show’s (rumored) charms since Dr. Greene died?
I stopped watching consistently after Dr. Greene died and virtually stopped completely shortly thereafter, catching maybe 1 episode a season merely by coincidence. I’ve enjoyed watching the last couple episodes. I watched the episode where Dr Carter comes back and the rest since then on NBC. I guess realistically I’ve only been watching them to see the old cast make their appearances, which was fun for me. I think I’ll watch the finale just because watching the 4 episodes or so that I’ve seen has left me a little interested in the current “regulars”, even though I never saw them until a few weeks ago. The episode where Carter comes back, then the one where Dr Benton and George Clooney and Julianna Margulies were also on was neat and worth watching if you liked those characters and don’t have a better way to spend 50 minutes.
While I have never been a steady viewer of ER, I did read in the paper that the promos for the final episode tonight are misleading; supposedly they say that all your old favorites are back, and show footage of actors who used to be on the show at the hospital, making it appear that the final episode will have all these cameos---- When really there will be a clip show retrospective (with all the guest appearances) before the actual final episode-----which will feature only the current cast…
Hope I have got that right, but that is what I read today.
Wait… Clooney’s been on already? I thought they were saving that for tonight’s finale. That’s the only reason I was going to watch it.
Nope - there is a one hour retrospective clip show that airs before the two hour finale, but the finale itself will indeed feature appearances by Noah Wyle, Eriq LaSalle, Sherry Stringfield, Alex Kingston, and Laura Innes. Everyone is returning to Chicago for the opening of Dr Carter’s new medical center.
Margulies and Clooney were already on a recent episode, but there is a rumor they will also make an appearance in the final epsiode.
Do I understand that Dr. Green’s daughter Rachel is in the final? Is she played by the same actress? She should be about 20 by now.
Personally, I quit watching it just before Romano’s second (and final) accident.
Yes, that’s my understanding. I also heard a rumor that Rachel Greene is now a medical student, and the last scene will be her waking up in the on-call room at County, just like Carter did in the very first scene of the pilot.
Well, long after ER jumped the shark (which must have happened somewhere around season 3 or 4), I made a vow to watch every single last stinkin’ episode, no matter how bad ER began to suck. I think I have missed one episode in this entire time (because I don’t know what happened to Ray or why he has prosthetic legs now). I used to love it, but somewhere around the shark jump, ER became a “chuck shoes at the TV” kind of show for me. So I’m sticking with it to the bitter end.
I still think my favorite episode was when they carved up Kellie Martin like a thanksgiving turkey and her character still croaked. That was awesome.
While the article I read seems to say differently, I hope, for fans of the shows’ sake that you are right!!!
Enjoy the program!!!
There’s no doubt it went on far too long. I think it should have ended when Mark Greene croaked (I think it was season 8). I only watched sporadically after that until this last season, which has really been terrific. It’s nice to see the show end on a good roll.
This Dr. Green stuff is just too painful… I’m still dealing with the loss of Goose in Top Gun.
Like the OP, I haven’t watched in years. I’m still going to DVR tonight’s ep, though, just to see the cameos and such.
(bolding mine) Wait- what’s this now?
It’s probably easiest to direct you to the Wikipedia article on the character.
Ray got drunk at Abby and Luka’s wedding, and wandered outside. Neela called him, and he decided that answering his phone was a good idea despite being in the middle of the road at the time. There was a truck…
So, what’s the verdict?
I liked the concept of the finale - A Day in the Life, the cyclical nature of the ER…and it was great to see all the returning cast members. Original Reese!
But it was an underwhelming finale. Too much crammed in and not enough was significant. I expected more of an emotional payoff, I guess. Overall there were more satisfying episodes over the course of the season, including both Pratt and Abby’s last shows. I’m also disappointed Abby and Luka did not return.
It seemed kinda pointless having Thandie Newton return…her character seems so miserable and I doubt she and Carter will make it for the long haul.
I was pretty underwhelmed too. I did enjoy seeing Eric LaSalle (and his son!), Alex Kingston and Sherry Stringfield again though. And of course Noah Wylie, but that goes without saying. He anchored that show for me. So did Dr. Greene and like a lot of people, I mostly stopped watching A.G. (after Greene).
I was completely confused by the dying old lady storyline. I thought she was the same woman that had wandered away from home and hurt her wrist. I was confused when she died and then next scene was alive again until I figured it out. :smack: And also, the pregnant woman with the prolapsed uterus is probably the goriest scene I’ve ever seen on TV and that includes the eye gouging scene in Deadwood! It literally looked like someone was pouring buckets of blood onto the med student’s shoes. Which is probably exactly how it was done.
Overall, I think the best part for me was the original theme song playing over the final credits. Oh, and Jerry’s epic beard.
It seemed more like a season finale, except there was no major cliffhanger.
I was disappointed.
It was a wonderful episode of course, but not a finale! Too many stories left undone. I want to know more about hot Aussie doc, and if Clementine makes it, and if birds build a nest in Jerry’s beard.
I was far too loyal to this show. I will miss it. Even when it’s been at it’s worst I’ve never missed an episode.
The very end was good though. The music playing as they just go on with life. That was nice.
I enjoyed the retrospective too.
Her name is Rachel Greene? Wouldn’t it be a better ending to have the character run into a coffee shop in her wedding dress?
After reading the Wiki article about Ray, I remember him getting hit by the truck. I guess I haven’t really watched since then.
I, of course, had no idea it was a 2 hour episode- but had I thought about it for more than a millisecond would probably have realized it. As a result, I assumed the clip show/retrospective would start at 9 and the show at 10 (EST). So I missed the clip show. Any idea if it will be available online?