ER Series Finale

As I watched the series finale of "ER" on Thursday night, I felt the powerful emotions of the "glory years" of ER rising to the surface. Thus, it was a great final episode because it brought back many of the memorable stories and personalities of the show: Dr John Carter opening the medical centre named in memory of his son, Joshua, who died at birth. Dr Peter Benton and his hearing impaired son, Reese standing beside him, at the opening of the Carter Centre and Benton giving Carter a congratulatory hug along with a sarcastic remark. Then to have Dr Mark Green's daughter, Rachel, interviewing for a position at County General. And the fact that the episode had the "old ER" feel to it... the rush of 2-3 storylines, some which end nicely, most which end realistically... the alcohol poisoned daughter and the parents who got a Dr Ross-like rebuke from Dr Gates (John Stamos). The dear old man who didn't want to let his wife pass away, even though she had a DNR, after they had been together for 72 years. It was classic ER and a great way to end. Reminded me of why I loved the show from 1994-2002/3... and sad to see how far it has faded...

Other than the fact that it was a medical drama with a great mix of characters, I don't know exactly why I loved the show so much... perhaps I was at the right age to reasonably deal with all my hospital experiences and assess them from a semi-detached, minimal emotion stage. I could so much appreciate the awesome pediatrician, Dr Ross, in dealing with children and parents in significant medical and emotional trauma. I could see the incredible skill and desire of a surgeon like Dr. Benton to fix the problem, even if he had a seemingly insensitive bedside manner. I could appreciate the steadfast Dr Greene managing the various ER doctors, not being a great specialist and yet being a superb doctor, great attending, and caring person.

Many episodes of the first 7-10 seasons were soooo well-written, both medically and emotionally, that one easily identified with different situations they developed.
ER has been taken over by Dr. Gregory House, both in my heart and mind, and in the viewership of most of North America. Yet for my generation, ER was the first great medical drama!