In This Section
TV Guide Spotlight
Also on TVGuide.com
|
« ER
Episode Recap: "The Test"
This was definitely one of the tougher episodes in recent memory, especially being the mother of a son. Watching Gates’ brave young patient succumb to his terminal respiratory disease was almost too much to bear. The scene with the chaplain and the mother watching his struggle for each breath was heartbreaking, made even more so by the courage and conviction the boy demonstrated by making the decision not to go on a ventilator. On a much more lighthearted note, I felt like there was a lot of chemistry between Sam and Gates as they butted heads over the ethical handling of the case. I’ve said it before, but I really feel like a Sam-Tony pairing would be an interesting place to go, especially when you think about the kids and the connection they would have there. Come on ER writers, throw me a bone!
As Pratt and Morris opted for a rather nontraditional approach to preparing for their board exams, a new attending came on the scene. I loved Kari Matchett on both Invasion and Studio 60 and I think that as an attending alongside Moretti, she will provide a nice counterbalance to the overwhelmingly youthful staff at County General. Speaking of Moretti, what is the deal with his son, Brian? The kid looked completely strung out and I was confused by Moretti’s somewhat bemused reaction to his son’s incoherent ramblings. Obviously there is more story there, but as of right now, I have no idea where it is going.
I wasn’t the least bit interested in Harold’s quest to learn the secrets of sex from a horrified Neela. I really hope that they'll give Neela something more interesting to do than be followed around by this overeager Doogie Howser. It's going to get tired really quickly.
When she wasn’t busy fighting with Gates, Sam was coming to the aid of abandoned teen Heather. When I first saw the young women, I thought she bore a striking resemblance to Linda Cardellini. Then I realized that it was Mae Whitman, a former child actress who is clearly making the transition to more adult roles. (Her résumé includes roles as the daughter of Meg Ryan and Andy Garcia in When a Man Loves a Woman and Sandra Bullock's child in Hope Floats.) It was clear from the getgo that this teen was seeking attention, but her careless IM clued Sam into the depth of her depression.
Finally, Abby continued her downward spiral, fumbling some cases and even opening up to Pratt about her stress level. (If she fired the nanny, who the heck is watching Joe?) But what I’m not getting is, if she sees the root of the problem, why isn't she trying to help herself? Hopefully Luka will swing back into town soon to get the family back on track.
Need more ER, STAT? Check out the Online Video Guide for interviews and clips.
|
TVGuide Links:
|
|
|
|
Nov 1, 2007 11:48 PM
|
I think that Moretti's son is Bi-Polar. He seems to be in a manic state, i.e. driving all night half-way across the country, self-medicating with alcohol, constantly changing career paths, talking very fast and not letting his father get a word in.
My ex was Bi-Polar. I know the signs.
|
|
Nov 2, 2007 3:01 AM
|
Okay, maybe it was just me, but this wasn't one of the better ER episodes. I did, however, like Harold's quest for the secrets of sex, especially when he originally sought the answers from a woman.
I'm glad Sam got "distracted" with the suicidal girl before she interferred with Gates' patient by putting the tubes in him without the doctor's consent. I understand her point of view about a doctor should factor the parent's wishes when it involves a child, but Gates did the right thing.
Finally, this is the Abby I dreaded -- the one who appeared on ER many years ago like a pathetic "debbie downer" with her colleagues, such as Carter, Luka, her mother, etc. I would have hoped that the writers would have made her stronger now that she's a doctor and married with a child. A person can be a recovering alcoholic who looks at the big picture. She's not looking at the big picture. That is, she could risk her job, her safety and that of Joe's by drinking again. Yeah, I'm sure it's tough raising a child alone, but many women have coped without turning to the bottle.
|
|
Nov 2, 2007 8:10 AM
|
As someone who would crawl across broken glass for Abby, it's more painful to see her falling off the wagon again. I agree that this would appear to be an unlikely point in her life to give in to stress via the bottle, considering her new marriage, her responsibilities taking care of Joe, her respected position in the ER, etc., but I am more sympathetic to her than Spider-Man is in his post. I do not drink, and to my knowledge nobody I know personally is an alcoholic, so I can't claim to know how a recovering alcoholic reacts to stress or what is likely to lead to a regression--probably things that the rest of us don't even think about. It's wrong to expect Abby to just "snap out of it" when she is obviously dealing with the kind of mental and emotional anguish the rest of us with non-addictive personalities can't relate to. But I really don't want to see her spiral out of control. I was hoping she would tell Pratt that she started drinking (he does know about her, doesn't he?).
Luka better get his butt back home soon.
I recognized Mae Whitman right away (anyone remember her on "State of Grace?"). She's getting rather chunky these days, and has been playing very unappealing characters lately--I wanted to see Sam slap her across the face when she mouthed off. The woe-is-me adolescent story rarely wins my compassion, especially when the kid is such a nasty one.
I agree that Moretti's son has some kind of emotional disorder, but Moretti seems to be taking a very passive attitude about it, sort of like, "Oh geez, here comes my crazy son again." I was waiting for Moretti to ask him "are you taking your meds?" or something like that. The son reminds me of Abby's brother when he flipped out.
I'm looking forward to see how Wexler will fit in to the ER (I liked her confrontation with Morris!). She is only a temporary addition?
|
|
Nov 2, 2007 8:46 AM
|
|
Moretti is always trying to control other people, but his son is just out on the loose.
|
|
Nov 2, 2007 9:00 AM
|
Wow good catch on Moretti's son possibly being BP..that didn't cross my mind, I was thinking drugs or something but I bet you're right.. BP or something along those lines. And to me it looked like Moretti knew something was wrong but unaware of any mental illness... I think we would've found out yesterday by Moretti asking about meds or something if he knew.
And Abby....man... I'm so sad she's going down this path again. She needs help big time (in my dream world she needs Carter back  jk). Did you all see the scenes for the next new episode? Looks like she gets really bad and might be even drunk at work or something...
|
|
Nov 2, 2007 9:14 AM
|
I immediately thought Bi-Polar/Manic Depression. I found Moretti's reaction interesting, I wonder where they are going with it.
THANK YOU for clearing up where I knew Kari Matchett (I'm still sad about Invasion)....Mae Whitman I liked in both movies you mentioned but when I looked her up, I realized I remember her best as Ann from another show I'm still sad about- Arrested Development.
I second a Tony-Sam pairing.
|
|
Nov 2, 2007 9:31 AM
|
I def think Moretti's son has some sort of BP disorder. BP, or what they used to call Schizophrenia most commonly present during the ages of 18-22 which could explain Moretti's confusion. This kid is in his firt year of college and this could be Moretti's intro to his son's illness.
I find Abby falling off the wagon disappointing, but completly in character for a recovering alcoholic. The stressors of work, a new baby and an absent husband would certainly be enough to send her back to alcohol. It will be interesting to see how this crop of people, most of whom have never seen or dealt with drunk Abby, handle this.
|
|
Nov 2, 2007 9:56 AM
|
GarryB - You're right... I immediately thought of Abby's brother and BiPolar Disorder when I saw the manic state Moretti's son was in. And I'm glad to see you still have your contempt for mouthy kids! I count on it 
Love Kari Matchett... I've thought she would make a great cast addition since the first time I saw her in the Cube sequel! I've been following her career ever since. She's got great poise as an actress and exudes authority without the "bitch" attitude usually present in female leads.
Anyone else think that Tony walking out on the little boy as he was slipping away just a little cold?
And yes, they are DEFINITELY setting us up for a Sam/Gates pairing. Why not? She's already gone thru almost everyone else on the shift... it was only a matter of time...
|
|
Nov 2, 2007 10:03 AM
|
Kikiki- I can't believe you where the first to mention Arrested Developement. I screamed out "Ann Veal" the minute she came on. Ahhhh, what an awesome show that was. She also did a guest spot on Grey's Anatomy last year.
My immediate reaction to Moretti's son was BP. He reminded me a lot of Abby's brother.
I am not a Gates fan and I never considered a pairing with Sam. Now that I think about it that would be a great direction for his character.
Abby, Abby, Abby... have you learned nothing in the past four or five years. You need to ask for help. There are people around you that would help you. I really like how they are using Pratt as her sounding board. As he said a few weeks ago "you are not alone". Take him up on that!
I also like how they have developed the friendship between Archie and Pratt. What was with the intern telling the new attending it was Morris giving him all the direction/ advice? Did I miss something there?
|
|
Nov 2, 2007 10:12 AM
|
I know they have to use a plot device like Luka's father being ill to explain his absence, but the character of Luka would never be doing this, ill father or not. I don't think he could leave his wife and child for this long after losing his first wife and children to war. He was an emotional basket case for years.
So this whole storyline just irritates me because he's gone for one thing, and because of what it's doing to the family he has left behind. I sensed last night the beginnings of how/why Abby will be leaving.
Daesey, I can see where that might have seemed cold with Tony leaving the dying boy's room, but I've personally never seen doctors hang around a room anyway. Heck, they're rarely in the hospital!! (I'm sure it's different in a teaching hospital)
But, in this case, I think Tony was overwhelmed with the loss of the boy and didn't want to lose it in his room.
|
|
Nov 2, 2007 10:49 AM
|
Since Luka is supposed to appear in only a handful of episodes this season, I think the show is trying to stretch out the storyline of his time away without forgetting about him entirely (which would be an even weaker device). Yes, he should have returned by now, but anything short of killing him off would require some reason for his absence. It comes at an awkward time because Luka has a new wife and son to take care of. And poor Abby is sliding downhill fast!
I'd be happy to comfort her if I could!
|
|
Nov 2, 2007 11:15 AM
|
|
Was ER on last night at 8 pm as I had set the VCR to tape at 9 and when I went to watch this morning, I was watching Grey's Anatomy instead. I was not very happy that I had missed it. Have you decided what time ER is going to be on this season as it was initially at 7, then 9 last week and I'm assuming it was at 8 last night? Please advise. Thanks.
|
|
Nov 2, 2007 11:18 AM
|
Sheila:
I don't know where you are in the U.S., but here on the East Coast, "ER" has been on Thursdays at 10:00 pm for about the past 30 years or so. But it sometimes comes on at 9:59 or 10:01, just to mess with our minds and video recorders.
|
|
Nov 2, 2007 11:37 AM
|
sheilaolson -
Some people may have a unit that was programmed to automatically change its internal time with the old DST dates, now recently altered by a week. We ran into this earlier this week with a tv/vcr combo that does the same, and it started recording an hour later.
However, your situation may be a little more complicated - Grey's Anatomy is on at 9 PM / 8 Central, but on ABC, not NBC.
|
|
Nov 2, 2007 11:54 AM
|
|
|
