"The War Comes Home"
Has it really been almost four months since last we spoke? I don't know about you guys, but as summer fades into fall, I am so ready to slip into my scrubs and welcome the start of season 14. As rumors swirl about whether or not this will be the last shift for our beloved staff at Chicago's County General, I am ready to settle in and enjoy the gurney ride.
Indeed, the action picked up tonight right where we left off in May when we learned about Ray's horrific injuries and watched as Neela was trampled in the chaotic aftermath of an anti-war demonstration gone horribly wrong. (Actually, I suspect that this particular episode was actually filmed at the end of last season.) Dr. Moretti (
Stanley Tucci) kicked off his official reign as ER chief with the resulting "mass casualty" and Neela's life hung in the balance as a battalion of her friends and colleagues worked tirelessly to save her life. My only disappointment was that any suspense around Neela's fate was somewhat mitigated by
Parminder Nagra's interview with
TVGuide.com that I read earlier today, but it was still nice to see everyone rallying to help their friend. I also loved seeing
Leland Orser back as Lucien Dubenko, the only man, in my mind, who would be a viable suitor for Neela in Ray's absence.
As for the other victims from the bombing, I was very moved by the teenage girl and her grandfather, played by
David Clennon. (If there are any fans of
thirtysomething out there- my all-time favorite show, by the way- you will remember him as Michael's coolly vindictive boss, Miles Drentell, one of the best television villains ever.) Her untimely death, followed up by his murderous reaction, was heartbreaking in that I could completely empathize with his response. Speaking of the ill-fated, alleged bomber, Tony, in typical fashion, played judge and jury in an outburst that lead directly to the guy's death. Is he ever going to learn to contain his emotions and utilize sound judgment and rational thought? As a doctor, aren't those sort of requirements?
Not surprisingly, my favorite part of the episode was at the very end when Frank, Pratt, Abby, Morris, Chuny and Sam all settled into the waiting room to await news on Neela's condition. The closing shot was framed in a very interesting way, with Tony off to the side separated from the group. It is my hope that the writers start to break down this wall that they've constructed between that character and so many others. I do like
John Stamos and I think he would be so much more effective working as part of that core team, building relationships with the rest of the cast. Continuously isolating him and pitting him against the others doesn't do much to endear him to the viewers in my opinion.
So it seems to be confirmed that we will be seeing
Noah Wyle in a few episodes and that
Goran Visnjic will return sporadically. If this is truly the last season (and, don't let anyone fool you- that will be entirely dependent on the ratings), I think long-term viewers deserve the closure and link to the past that those characters would bring. But for right now, I'm looking forward to a full season of traumas, trials and action in the ER.
Welcome back!
Need more ER, STAT? Check out the Online Video Guide for interviews and clips.
