ER - thoughts on a finale

I am a big fan of series finales. I have even been known to watch the series finale of a show or two that I have never watch, just to see how they wrap it all up. So, naturally I was all in for the ER finale, a show that I have been watching since high school.

The one-hour retrospective before the finale was made for me. I am a complete sucker for stuff like that. Show me old clips, remind me of the good times, the sad times, the wacky times, etc. Show me cast members past and present talking about the show, the behind the scenes antics and even have one or two of them get emotional. I'm hooked. I am on my couch with the oreos and the tissues and I am your prisoner for the next 3 hours.

There are a few things I look for in my finales, and ER delivered.

First of all, I love it when a finale throws back to elements of the pilot episode. It's a nice way to bookend the series. I loved the shot at the begining of the episode with Morris, asleep in the break room was called awake to duty by the same nurse that woke up a sleeping Dr. Green in the pilot. This is a good sign.

In another nod to the pilot, we have of course a brand new, young, fresh faced intern (played by Alexis Bledel - don't even get me started on HER) on her first night at the ER. Much like Dr. Carter's first shift in the premiere episode, Dr. Rory has some good moments but also gets overwhelmed. She gets close to a family after the mother comes in and gives birth to a set of premature twins, and needing an emergency operation. The twins are allright - win! The mother however, does not make it - fail. At the end of the 2 hour finale, Dr. Traveling Pants (keep up, folks) tells Dr. Brenner that maybe she's not cut out for this and he gives her the pep talk, much like the one Dr. Green gave to baby John Carter in the first. Bookends, see??

Ok, then of course for the true blue fans like me (and my mom) they brought back old faces like Dr. Benton, Dr. Corday, Dr. Weaver and Dr. Susan. I don't know why I can't ever remember her character's last name, because everyone always just calls her Susan. Everyone is in town for different reasons, but they are all gathered at the opening of the Joshua Carter Center at University Hospital. I hate when a character leaves a show and you never hear about them again, especially in a workplace drama. It's nice to know that although these people don't see each other often or at all, they are still connected and are there for each other for big life events.

I love that not EVERYONE came back in the same episode. In a previous episode we saw Dr. Ross (CLOONEY!) and Nurse Carol Hathaway, but they didn't come back for a visit. We got to observe them in their new lives in Seattle. We didn't have to see them reunited with everyone, we just got a glimpse of their life and we know they are ok. I even love that the two people from County that were sent to Seattle for organs were Neela and Sam, who didn't know Ross and Hathaway from Adam. Life goes on. If I went back to my old job from 8 years ago, I wouldn't know 99% of the people that work there now. That's how it goes. I also LOVE LOVE LOVE that Dr. Ross didn't know that the kidney he convinced the accident victim's grandmother to donate was for his good friend John Carter!

Ok, back to the finale. I also am not a big fan of rushing a couple that was once together but is now apart to get back together and be perfect and happy for the finale. I mean, we all knew Rachel was gonna get off the plane, but Carrie didn't HAVE TO end up with Big after all of his...well, that's another rant for another day. So I really love how the writers started planting seeds for a Sam/Gates reunion, but never forced that moment where they ran to each other and threw their arms around each other in a fit of passion! Instead, there was just this really lovely moment when, as they were observing an old man grieving for the love of his life for over 70 years, Sam just quietly reached her hand out and held Gates' hand. That's it. A nice sign that they might be able to work things out, or just her way of letting him now that she still cares. I don't need to know that it will be happily ever after, just that these two crazy kids might just have a prayer.

So now we get to my FAVORITE part of the finale. RACHEL GREEN! No, not the one from "Friends". Dr. Green's troubled teenage daughter is back! Touring County as a prospective Med student. I love this story. I love that they got the same actress who played her as a teen. I love that lots of people didn't know who she was, but the ones that did (how much do I love Chuny?) were touched to see her. Rachel and her dad had somewhat of a rocky relationship at times and their bonding scenes in Hawaii as Dr. Green was dying still get me choked up. So to see her following in her dad (and stepmom)'s footprints was such a great way to tie together the past and present in the finale.

Ok. One more thing I loved about this finale - the whole 'life goes on' aspect. We weren't witnesses to the end of the story, it continues but we just don't get to see it anymore. No, the hospital was not closing, the staff was not being overhauled no major changes that would end most long running shows. The episode ended as so many began. A large incoming trauma. Doctors in the ambulance area to greet and treat the ambulances and patients that are arriving.

Well done, ER. Thanks for 15 years!!!