November 2, 2006: Heart of the Matter
Now that is what I call a dream. Yowza. I think we have established that
Parminder Nagra and
John Stamos have some chemistry. (For more on the lovebirds, check out the
ER cover story in the new issue of TV Guide Magazine.) I was almost disappointed that Ray interrupted the proceedings. But how can you not love a guy who shows up to fix your cable before his 7 am shift, with Krispy Kremes in tow? Neela may be dreaming of Gates, but I think this love triangle is going to heat up once Ray gets a clue.
Shane West is too darn cute to be on the back burner for long.
Aside from the very pleasant opening sequence, tonight's episode served up a big dose of bittersweet. Kovac won the lawsuit, though it was an empty victory. The sad fact of the matter is that Curtis Ames probably hadn't received the level of care that would have been required to prevent his debilitating stroke, but he certainly received the best care that Luka was able to offer at the time.
Forest Whitaker is doing an outstanding job of portraying the misplaced anger and hopelessness that Ames is harboring. We are definitely getting a clear picture of his growing desperation. (
SPOILER ALERT) Sadly, if the previews are to be trusted, it appears that the story is going to take a dark turn.
Back at the hospital, two trauma cases were particularly (and in one case, literally) heartbreaking. First, there was the husband who died in surgery, causing his shocked wife to fall victim to the so-called broken-heart syndrome. While watching the teenage daughter tearfully beg for her mother's life as Pratt and Abby tried to call off Neela's resuscitative efforts, I was dreading the thought that she would lose both her parents in such horrific succession. Thankfully, Neela's persistence paid off, right after Dubenko ripped her a new one for disrespecting Crenshaw's authority. (Speaking of Crenshaw, I hate him more with each condescending, narcissistic word he utters.) Then there was the motorcyclist whose unexpected ER trip uncovered metastasis of his pancreatic cancer. Luka's last-minute decision to withhold his grim prognosis was probably questionable from an ethical perspective, but certainly understandable, since his wife described his resurgent zest for life in the face of his seemingly dormant disease.
Tonight, we also learned more about Tony's domestic situation. We now have a vague explanation for his attachment to Meg (
Paula Malcomson) and her daughter. Also, your suspicions have been confirmed, as Gates reluctantly admitted to Neela that he has dyslexia. As interesting as these stories may pan out to be, I don't totally agree with all the pundits who are claiming that John Stamos is the primary reason for
ER's resurgence this season. While I find him to be a fine addition to the cast, I think he is only one piece of the puzzle. As we all know, big names alone will not draw viewers if the writing doesn't engage the audience and serve the narrative. (Former
ER guest star
Ray Liotta comes to mind over on CBS. Or not on CBS, to be more precise.) By returning to storytelling that focuses on the people we care about, the writers are leading the charge to reinvigorate this show. It's great to watch.
Happily - and as has consistently been the case this season - there were some lighter moments to offset the drama. Morris offered his usual brand of ridiculousness, as he not-so-secretly prepped for his news interview highlighting the dangers of Halloween overindulgence. (I loved it when Kerry told him, "There is a rectal prolapse in curtain two with your name on it." Yuck.) Finally, the ladies of the ER enjoyed a night on the town, reminiscent of the days when Hathaway, Lewis and Corday would get together and dish. Apparently, Ike's is still the place to go for after-work camaraderie. It is these little nods to the history of the show that are going to keep me coming back for more. Well, that and some more of those steamy dream sequences.
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