Yes, it's true ER lost its flair years ago, but the show always still had something. It was always fun to watch. I was sorry to hear the show was ending, even though I knew it was for the best. To be honest, I was expecting some rather soap operaish ending, but never this. The end of ER was absolutely beautiful. The episode reminded us of everything that made ER so good: the drama, the suspense, the tension, the love. Sure there were the occasional moments we could have done without, a problem that has plagued the show in recent seasons, but overall it was very well executed. The last shot where the camera slowly pulls out while the theme music fades in was exactly how the show should have ended. Ending the show with the message that life goes on, the characters live on, doing what they've always done, but giving us, the viewer, a chance to say goodbye. ER was undoubtedly the greatest medical drama ever made. Quite simply, it was one of the best dramas ever. It had its bumpy spots, but this show was special. And we will never, ever forget it.
16 Reviews
Dr. Green, you coming?
slak96u21 March 2022
Such a fantastic series, such a fantastic finale.
The series never really recovered when Anthony Edwards left. But...bringing back Rachel as a med student was such an incredible way to bring the entire series full circle, just spectacular and so effective. Mark Greene was ER, he was the most important character over the series run, and now his daughter continues his legacy. Unbelievably satisfying storyline.
The entire episode was great, really felt like an episode from the first 5-10 seasons, the dialog and camera work, everything. Not a lot of focus was put on the "new" regular cast, but even they were less annoying than usual. Alexis Bledel was excellent as Julia Wise, she would have been a great regular cast member. My only knock, Carter/Kem storyline felt completely unnecessary, it added nothing to the episode and offered no closure. The final scene was absolutely splendid
There will never be another ER, even when it wasn't great it was still better than nearly every other drama on television.
The series never really recovered when Anthony Edwards left. But...bringing back Rachel as a med student was such an incredible way to bring the entire series full circle, just spectacular and so effective. Mark Greene was ER, he was the most important character over the series run, and now his daughter continues his legacy. Unbelievably satisfying storyline.
The entire episode was great, really felt like an episode from the first 5-10 seasons, the dialog and camera work, everything. Not a lot of focus was put on the "new" regular cast, but even they were less annoying than usual. Alexis Bledel was excellent as Julia Wise, she would have been a great regular cast member. My only knock, Carter/Kem storyline felt completely unnecessary, it added nothing to the episode and offered no closure. The final scene was absolutely splendid
There will never be another ER, even when it wasn't great it was still better than nearly every other drama on television.
Great Ending
helenandbrian29 May 2009
This is a medical drama that seems to have captured the imagination so much more than any other before it. You really identify with the characters, and yet every time it risks degenerating into soap opera, you get a face full of standalone medical drama to bring you back to "real life".
I thought the last episode excelled in the way in which it brought everything to a close and yet left a positive note for the future. The programme is gone, but the hospital carries on and we still identify with it and wish it well. They even resolved all the subplots, something totally unheard of in an ER season finale.
A nice, albeit predictable, touch that the old stagers were brought back in one by one over the course of the last series - and probably right that for most of the time, they were just there for our benefit and did not interfere with the "real" story of the hospital itself. Particularly nice touch that they used the same actors for the two children who returned (Rachel Greene and Reese Benton).
The episode wallowed a little in sentimentality, because the expectation was that the audience would welcome that, but again, the usual side stories were juxtaposed with hard hitting, fast moving, medical action - something that was always a strong point of the series.
A final nice touch for me was the return to the old theme music. A tacit acknowledgement perhaps of how much everyone hated its replacement?
I thought the last episode excelled in the way in which it brought everything to a close and yet left a positive note for the future. The programme is gone, but the hospital carries on and we still identify with it and wish it well. They even resolved all the subplots, something totally unheard of in an ER season finale.
A nice, albeit predictable, touch that the old stagers were brought back in one by one over the course of the last series - and probably right that for most of the time, they were just there for our benefit and did not interfere with the "real" story of the hospital itself. Particularly nice touch that they used the same actors for the two children who returned (Rachel Greene and Reese Benton).
The episode wallowed a little in sentimentality, because the expectation was that the audience would welcome that, but again, the usual side stories were juxtaposed with hard hitting, fast moving, medical action - something that was always a strong point of the series.
A final nice touch for me was the return to the old theme music. A tacit acknowledgement perhaps of how much everyone hated its replacement?
Outstanding end to an outstanding series
Mellnie3 April 2009
In many ways this is a typical episode of ER, showing a cross-section of stories and how the usual cast members are affected while further developing the background stories of each series character. There are nice (even if sad) wrap ups to some ongoing story arcs, but more than anything else, as the episode comes to an end one is reminded that this show reflects real life so well, and that while you may be looking at a snapshot of a period of time in the ER, the real story will keep going even after you are not watching. And in that sense, this typical episode is such an excellent close to this series. Some more cynical than I am might suggest that this leaves the producers an opportunity to bring back future episodes (1 year after ER closes! Guest appearance by George Clooney!!) but I hope that that kind of thing won't happen. The ER series wasn't perfect by any means, and although I watched it religiously at the beginning, I admit my attention wavered at times for months as the cast or focus of the show changed, or as my own real-life interfered with my TV viewing. I didn't necessarily get all my questions answered about what happened to X (insert a cast member's name here)? but overall, a very satisfying end to a remarkable series.
Quietly brilliant
cnorm-230 May 2009
I thought it was quietly brilliant, I agree with some of the other comments, the message at the end was life will go on but the camera's not watching anymore....which is a huge shame, because I think ER was one of the best series ever, and the writing second to none for a TV show. The show boasted believable, flawed characters, compelling story lines and exciting camera work. What I loved about ER was that, despite the big, dramatic events that happened from time to time, often there were very real, quiet, human, affecting moments. I'm going to have to buy all the series on DVD because television is not going to be the same without ER. Congratulations on all that worked on ER for a quite brilliant achievement. The show deserves a place in TV history.
And in the End... (#15.22)
ComedyFan20102 July 2015
Warning: Spoilers
And so it is over. It is not my favorite episode, but I give it a 10 as it was really the best way they could have wrapped up the show. A perfect finale.
We are going through the usual ER time. With doctors saving patients, some dying and them going through their personal stories that are not completely ended, yet we see where it is going.
Besides the ER they also bring us a big number of previous characters for the opening of Carter's new facility. We get to see Dr. Weaver, Dr Benton and his son who is so much older now. There are Dr. Lewis and Dr. Corday. This gives us beautiful nostalgic feeling when they remember the old times. And since we of course can't see Mark who died, there is his daughter Rachel who now wants to go to medicine school and practice in the hospital keeping up the work of the Greene's. She gets to hear from doctors how it goes and at the end Carter calls her as Dr Greene when he asks her to join them. This also brought a wonderful feeling of how everything will keep going even after we don't get to be part of it anymore. A future that also lets us remember the past. Was great to see Carter playing a big part, just like in the very first episode but in a different stage of his life.
The final scene is actually beautiful. All the staff, including the nurses we saw all 15 seasons are standing there waiting for the ambulances. And then then camera moves away showing us the big picture with the action continuing at the ER.
We are going through the usual ER time. With doctors saving patients, some dying and them going through their personal stories that are not completely ended, yet we see where it is going.
Besides the ER they also bring us a big number of previous characters for the opening of Carter's new facility. We get to see Dr. Weaver, Dr Benton and his son who is so much older now. There are Dr. Lewis and Dr. Corday. This gives us beautiful nostalgic feeling when they remember the old times. And since we of course can't see Mark who died, there is his daughter Rachel who now wants to go to medicine school and practice in the hospital keeping up the work of the Greene's. She gets to hear from doctors how it goes and at the end Carter calls her as Dr Greene when he asks her to join them. This also brought a wonderful feeling of how everything will keep going even after we don't get to be part of it anymore. A future that also lets us remember the past. Was great to see Carter playing a big part, just like in the very first episode but in a different stage of his life.
The final scene is actually beautiful. All the staff, including the nurses we saw all 15 seasons are standing there waiting for the ambulances. And then then camera moves away showing us the big picture with the action continuing at the ER.
And So It Goes...And In the End
BaileySEA9 April 2009
E.R was a fantastic show, for an incredible fifteen year span. It had excitement, suspense, pathos, despair...all the human emotions. This last series finale episode not withstanding. It went through cast changes many over the years,but it never failed to deliver competent, relevant drama. John Carter (Noah Wyle)started out as a resident student and finished as a wiser, been through the mill human being. E.R. had a wonderful human element. the scripts, acting, production values made it one of the finest prime time dramas ever. This final episode was a changing of the guard of sorts with some old regulars sprinkled in there as Cook County's Carter Center opened. It suffered a little in the early 2000's with so many characters being damaged goods somewhat. But it bounced back and became the grand drama it's always been. It was an incredible show, it'll be missed.
Goodbye old friend.
cathyandrews-5697720 June 2021
Am truly feeling bereaved after watching the end of this beautiful series. It was lovely to see all the old characters come back for the opening of the Carter Centre, with their new lives. And the writers still enabled me to continue to hate the dreadful Kem who turned up just long enough to break Carter's heart once more, but always keeps him on a string so he cannot make a new life. I even forgave Rachel, who was a horrible child, because she redeems herself by following in her father's footsteps (thanks to Elizabeth's influence).
I wept buckets as the credits went up, feeling the loss of dear friends.
Beautifully constructed and performed. A unique gem of a programme.
I wept buckets as the credits went up, feeling the loss of dear friends.
Beautifully constructed and performed. A unique gem of a programme.
Perfect Ending for a Near-Perfect Series!
sherilyn_lover7 April 2009
Warning: Spoilers
I've watched ER since it began. In the beginning, it was riveting TV with actors we cared about. After a few years, I watched more out of habit and because "I had invested so much in it, I might as well stick around." When it was announced that this would be the final season, I was somewhat relieved - - I watch a lot of TV, and this would free up an hour every week!
Have I been surprised! My comment and score of this episode really applies to the entire final season. I have been impressed every week with the story-telling, and the way the old stars have returned. The Mark Greene flashback episode was phenomenal, but they've all been really good. The finale was a great piece of work. The stories were solid, as usual. The returning stars and their respective stories were well-done. The re-introduction of the opening credits were wonderful; the music is amazing, and, although I never cared much for Dr. Benton, his celebratory move in the intro still moves me, for some reason.
I guess the thing I liked the best was the ending.....after some calm, another crisis arrives, Carter calls to (the future?) Dr. Greene to join them, and they show a view of the hospital that I don't think they ever showed before. I was left with the feeling that most of these people (or people like them) will still be there in another 15 years. Just an awesome season!
Have I been surprised! My comment and score of this episode really applies to the entire final season. I have been impressed every week with the story-telling, and the way the old stars have returned. The Mark Greene flashback episode was phenomenal, but they've all been really good. The finale was a great piece of work. The stories were solid, as usual. The returning stars and their respective stories were well-done. The re-introduction of the opening credits were wonderful; the music is amazing, and, although I never cared much for Dr. Benton, his celebratory move in the intro still moves me, for some reason.
I guess the thing I liked the best was the ending.....after some calm, another crisis arrives, Carter calls to (the future?) Dr. Greene to join them, and they show a view of the hospital that I don't think they ever showed before. I was left with the feeling that most of these people (or people like them) will still be there in another 15 years. Just an awesome season!
Like spending time with an old friend...
storyofcory39275 May 2019
The finale was on POP TV today as a lead in to Noah Wyle's new series 'The Red Line'. I'm glad I watched it, because it was like watching old friends get together and put on a show. There were A LOT of people in the finale I had forgotten about (which is what led me to IMDB, to look up names/credits/etc). For as bad as the series got after Anthony Edwards, Eriq LaSalle, and Noah Wyle all left, the finale of the series was surprisingly very well done. A tip of the hat to an old favorite, and to a show that could be considered the "father" of shows like Grey's Anatomy, et al.
Will Be MIssed! A Great Show!
nays20033 April 2009
I love e.r and have watched every episode! A few times over in fact. I really will miss it, it had a nice blend of medicine and the personal side of being a doctor;love triangles, marriages, babies, deaths etc made this show more than a medical drama. The story lines were brilliant mixing emotions so well into the story. each plot had me on the edge of my seat with explosions to car crashes or even a fall down the stairs was made interesting. Throw in a great cast that had everything from hotties to funny men made this a show a must see and thats why Thursday nights will never be the same again. Im glad the way the final episode ended, as though they were just getting on with their lives like after filming a documentary just cos the cameras aren't there, doesn't mean they still aren't doing their thing...
If you skip all the scenes with the newer cast members....
mrwb7717 June 2021
Warning: Spoilers
The last few seasons of ER were an abomination. It jumped twice,Monkey Pox after Greene left and then again in "I don't" at the end of season 13. The episode "freefall" where Romano is crushed by a helicopter and Bloodline where Sam gets away with murdering her ex whilst he's sleeping were also low points.
Probably better just to forget the last few seasons entirely. Could have been 100x better but the writers totally lost the plot.
Better to just remember the first 8 seasons of pure genius. Which surely rank amongst some of the best TV of all time.
Probably better just to forget the last few seasons entirely. Could have been 100x better but the writers totally lost the plot.
Better to just remember the first 8 seasons of pure genius. Which surely rank amongst some of the best TV of all time.
Nice way to wrap up 15 years of relationships, happiness and the lives of our beloved staff from County.
drewstewartcola14 July 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I just finished watching the final episode after 3 months of binge watching on Hulu, which typically shows the unedited episodes from each series they carry. With the hospital dram genre still alive and kicking particularly on ABC and NBC, I hope they will leave any notion of reviving ER, in the delete box in the trash can before it becomes slated for a revival, but as time pushes the divide between the finale and the post ER lives of the original actors, the prospect seems less and less likely.
In the END nothing beats the...
razaxo9 November 2022
Warning: Spoilers
They ended it with 24 hours in the ER like the first episode. 5am to almost 5am...
The original cast they tried their best to capture the old magic but it fell flat. After season 8 it was like going through the cycles with some highs. The episode that stuck with me through the entire series was when Reese loses his mum. Dr Peter having to explain to his son that his mum is gone and she isnt coming back. I sobbed like a baby!!
Last season lacked the punch I was hoping for. I powered through last 7 seasons to get here to see the old cast. One with Dr Greene was perhaps the best cameo. Other cameo just felt basic like they just dropping by.
I liked that Dr Carter had good presence in the final episode and was the glue that brought back the old characters.
It was awesome to see old cast get together for the Carter Centre opening. They then go to dinner with all of them. Rachel taking her dad's place. She turned herself around and come good again. The hug Peter gave Carter was special like a dad to a son would. Elizabeth and Peter reminesing old times. Nice to see Peter, Kerry, Elizabeth and Susan be in good place in their lives.
It's sad that John and Kem can't get over their tragedy. I think John deserved happiness after everything he's been through. Maybe season 16?
Would have been nice to see Dr Doug and Nurse Hathaway show up too! I guess can't have everything.
Seeing Dr Carter teaching Rachel was great to see. And the last line makes all the more sense.
If I ever watch again. First 8 season are the only ones that have repeatability.
There's rumours of season 16 and that Amazon may pick it up but we will see.
First Line in the show: Dr Greene, Dr Greene Last line that's audible: Dr Greene, you coming?
The original cast they tried their best to capture the old magic but it fell flat. After season 8 it was like going through the cycles with some highs. The episode that stuck with me through the entire series was when Reese loses his mum. Dr Peter having to explain to his son that his mum is gone and she isnt coming back. I sobbed like a baby!!
Last season lacked the punch I was hoping for. I powered through last 7 seasons to get here to see the old cast. One with Dr Greene was perhaps the best cameo. Other cameo just felt basic like they just dropping by.
I liked that Dr Carter had good presence in the final episode and was the glue that brought back the old characters.
It was awesome to see old cast get together for the Carter Centre opening. They then go to dinner with all of them. Rachel taking her dad's place. She turned herself around and come good again. The hug Peter gave Carter was special like a dad to a son would. Elizabeth and Peter reminesing old times. Nice to see Peter, Kerry, Elizabeth and Susan be in good place in their lives.
It's sad that John and Kem can't get over their tragedy. I think John deserved happiness after everything he's been through. Maybe season 16?
Would have been nice to see Dr Doug and Nurse Hathaway show up too! I guess can't have everything.
Seeing Dr Carter teaching Rachel was great to see. And the last line makes all the more sense.
If I ever watch again. First 8 season are the only ones that have repeatability.
There's rumours of season 16 and that Amazon may pick it up but we will see.
First Line in the show: Dr Greene, Dr Greene Last line that's audible: Dr Greene, you coming?
Not as good as other reviews suggest
neatmiker8 June 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Almost 90 minutes of show and we get maybe 10 of an assortment of cast members from when the show was good. I cannot believe how disappointed I am.
There are moments which tug at the heartstrings: Peter watches Elizabeth drives away in her rented Hummer, Susan puts her arm through Johns as they walk off to the ER after drinks, seeing Rachel Greene in a pack of med students and Franks reaction when She introduces herself to him; even Kerry Weaver being nice. But it is nowhere near enough. And therein lies the rub. After putting up with years of crap including Pratt, Chen, the new black ER boss and most notably, the plague of John Stamos, we're given 10 minutes of 'oh my gosh, Rachel, you're so grown up' and 'nice job Carter'. A beautiful nod to the pilot occurs during the last few minutes of the episode. Dr Carter, while giving Rachel a tour and showing her how to insert an IV, repeats nearly verbatim the first words Peter said to him when they first met in the pilot, 15 years ago. Aside from that, the nostalgia is lacking and disappointingly so.
This episode is largely devoted to the sappy, inept, entirely underwhelming John Stamos, who, as has become his standard, shares most of his scenes with prepubescent actors, his acting talent equivalent. In addition to us learning in previous episodes that he was an Army Ranger, a street fighting paramedic, a rock drummer and a womanizing, wannabe heart throb, in this episode we learn he can air spray paint and rebuild a '60 something Mustang convertible. Truly a renaissance man - gag - and we had the pleasure of having this far fetched, desperate attempt at story, force fed to us for the past two seasons.
Carter's wife, Kem - because Kim would be benign - shows up for his Medical Center dedication and instead of, even for an evening, letting go of her baggage and being happy for and supportive of him, we're fed wasted moments of film dedicated to her selfish, macabre, depressing self. I was tired of it three years ago, it certainly has no place in the SHOWS FINALE.
All in all, this was the perfect exclamation point on a great series that should've stopped and spared us the waste that was the last 5 seasons and realistically should've concluded after season 7. Thanks to the actors and actresses that played the characters I'll never forget: Carter, Mark, Susan, Benton, Elizabeth, Doug, Carol, Romano, Luka, Maggie, Frank, Archie, Mark's dad, Lucy, Anna, Morgenstern, Shirley, Kerry (only because every show needs the bad guy which she played so well), Shep, Jerry, Chuny, Lily, Abby, Ray, and Reese. And thank you Michael for representing our country's awesome military.
ER is my gold standard by which all television dramas will forever be judged. For a solid 6 years, the episodes revolving around Mark's final days and a handful of episodes thereafter, it was the absolute greatest show on television and of a generation. I believe it will stand the test of time, despite all the mistakes of the last five years, and go down in television history as one of the top 3 dramas to ever grace network television. Seeing the end and watching the last scene fade to credits brought a tear to my eye and felt like waving goodbye to old friends.
There are moments which tug at the heartstrings: Peter watches Elizabeth drives away in her rented Hummer, Susan puts her arm through Johns as they walk off to the ER after drinks, seeing Rachel Greene in a pack of med students and Franks reaction when She introduces herself to him; even Kerry Weaver being nice. But it is nowhere near enough. And therein lies the rub. After putting up with years of crap including Pratt, Chen, the new black ER boss and most notably, the plague of John Stamos, we're given 10 minutes of 'oh my gosh, Rachel, you're so grown up' and 'nice job Carter'. A beautiful nod to the pilot occurs during the last few minutes of the episode. Dr Carter, while giving Rachel a tour and showing her how to insert an IV, repeats nearly verbatim the first words Peter said to him when they first met in the pilot, 15 years ago. Aside from that, the nostalgia is lacking and disappointingly so.
This episode is largely devoted to the sappy, inept, entirely underwhelming John Stamos, who, as has become his standard, shares most of his scenes with prepubescent actors, his acting talent equivalent. In addition to us learning in previous episodes that he was an Army Ranger, a street fighting paramedic, a rock drummer and a womanizing, wannabe heart throb, in this episode we learn he can air spray paint and rebuild a '60 something Mustang convertible. Truly a renaissance man - gag - and we had the pleasure of having this far fetched, desperate attempt at story, force fed to us for the past two seasons.
Carter's wife, Kem - because Kim would be benign - shows up for his Medical Center dedication and instead of, even for an evening, letting go of her baggage and being happy for and supportive of him, we're fed wasted moments of film dedicated to her selfish, macabre, depressing self. I was tired of it three years ago, it certainly has no place in the SHOWS FINALE.
All in all, this was the perfect exclamation point on a great series that should've stopped and spared us the waste that was the last 5 seasons and realistically should've concluded after season 7. Thanks to the actors and actresses that played the characters I'll never forget: Carter, Mark, Susan, Benton, Elizabeth, Doug, Carol, Romano, Luka, Maggie, Frank, Archie, Mark's dad, Lucy, Anna, Morgenstern, Shirley, Kerry (only because every show needs the bad guy which she played so well), Shep, Jerry, Chuny, Lily, Abby, Ray, and Reese. And thank you Michael for representing our country's awesome military.
ER is my gold standard by which all television dramas will forever be judged. For a solid 6 years, the episodes revolving around Mark's final days and a handful of episodes thereafter, it was the absolute greatest show on television and of a generation. I believe it will stand the test of time, despite all the mistakes of the last five years, and go down in television history as one of the top 3 dramas to ever grace network television. Seeing the end and watching the last scene fade to credits brought a tear to my eye and felt like waving goodbye to old friends.
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