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January 11, 2007: A House Divided
In one of his well-known speeches, Abraham Lincoln declared that “a house divided against itself cannot stand” — a sentiment echoed in tonight’s episode title and story lines. And boy, all of our favorite ER docs and nurses were definitely facing some sort of domestic or personal turmoil that spilled over into the workplace. And isn’t that just the way we like it?
But first (how very Julie Chen of me), let’s start at the ending. I nearly jumped off my couch when Forest Whitaker turned up in that apartment. Talk about a bad day. After a shift-long snipe fest with Luka, Abby has to say goodbye to her friend and mentor Kerry (more on that later), then finds out that mystery patient Eddie (Fred Ward) is actually her long-lost father (we’ll also come back to that one) and ends her day by coming home with her infant son to an over-the-edge stalker. It certainly puts my “it’s 11 pm and we are out of milk” crisis into perspective.
Though no one who reads the comments on this blog was surprised by Eddie’s paternal link to Abby, I did find one thing a little disconcerting. As he confessed, he mentioned that he had spoken to Maggie and gotten an update on Abby and her brother. Is it wrong of me to think that most mothers would have alerted their children to the fact that their absentee father had suddenly come out of the woodwork? Doesn’t she ever call to check in on baby Joe? I know Sally Field is busy playing matriarch over on Brothers & Sisters, but come on people, improvise!
Back at the hospital, little Alex continues to go all troubled teen while Sam slides into another ill-timed romance with a coworker. Hey, so far, Ben has given us very little reason not to trust him, and I am still hopeful that he will turn out to be a good guy. As a matter of fact, I nearly broke into applause when he grabbed Alex by the back of his jacket for his “tour” of the hospital. But does this girl learn nothing from past mistakes? Maybe you should try to take this new relationship slowly, considering the fact that your sullen, smart-mouthed, identity-stealing kid is now slapping old ladies around and playing Firestarter in your living room.
The case with the two stepbrothers injured in the bobsled accident provided yet another opportunity for Tony and Ray to butt heads, something that I am starting to find very tedious. Speaking of tedious, the Tony/Meg/Sarah situation continues to escalate. What happened between the time she left the hospital and the panicked phone call? Had Meg actually taken something prior to getting into the car with her kid? The lady is certainly not going to win any parenting awards as she continues to use her daughter as a pawn in her dysfunctional relationship with Tony. And can someone please explain to me what Neela could possibly still see in this guy? She is way too smart to be putting up with this crap. (Spoiler alert) For anyone who is curious to read about what’s in store for Neela and one of her men, click here and Michael Ausiello will enlighten you.
I don’t know what to say about Pratt and his drug-exchange escapades. Now he is in jail on a felony charge and that clueless minister is still going to continue the program, even after receiving an order to cease and desist. I can’t imagine how Greg is going to be able to get out of this mess right now. Between Luka’s malpractice case and this, the ER docs are certainly keeping the hospital lawyers occupied.
Finally, tonight was Kerry’s swan song. For anyone who was still in denial that Laura Innes was really leaving, her heartfelt goodbyes definitely sealed the deal. (For more on what’s in store for the actress/director, click here for her interview with TV Guide’s Ileane Rudolph.) The scene between Abby and Kerry was just as emotional and bittersweet as I hoped, and her parting words to Luka — “A good hospital is about people and medicine” — were ironic and hard-won for someone who had spent so much time mired in the bureaucracy of health care. Personally, I am very sad for this particular departure — even sadder in many ways than I was when Noah Wyle took his leave. Though not an original cast member, during her nearly 12 years in the role, Laura Innes brought intelligence, charm, fire and wit to a challenging character. She was never easy to like but always hard to hate, and I think the ambivalence that people feel about her character was born out of a realistic, textured portrayal. A little piece of ER history walks out the door with her. Actress and character will both be missed.
Unfortunately, there will be no new episodes for the next few weeks, but let's keep things lively anyway. What do you think Ames has up his sleeve? What will happen with Eddie and Abby? Will Ray ever lose the 'stache? Comment away!
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Jan 12, 2007 12:28 AM
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im sorry --
but i missed last wks episode
i didnt realize it was a new one
could some one pls fill me in
on what happened ??
or at least what happened to weaver
and
why she left to nite
thanks yall !!
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Jan 12, 2007 1:16 AM
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shan28:
If you look on the left-hand side of this page you will see ER in the alphabetical listing. Click on that, then click on the blog/review for the date of Jan. 4. There you will find the review of last week's show. Way easier than trying to tell you here.
Liked the show this week, didn't like the Tony and Ray show, or really anything having to do with Tony. Hope that goes away soon. I thought the fire in Sam's apartment was bad enough, but when Forest Whitaker was sitting there in Abby's living room, I nearly screamed! I didn't want this particular storyline to come to fruition, but it surely did grab my interest. WOW.
And nothing better happen to that family is all I can say!
Goodbye, Kerry. I know not many liked this character, but I did..even when I didn't, I did. 
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Jan 12, 2007 1:39 AM
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I can understand how many of you do not like Tony but I am somewhat impartial. I have to agree that he might be playing both sides of the fence with Meg and Neela but Meg is definitely holding on for dear life to someone that obviously does not feel the same way. I think one of the reasons I kind of enjoy Tony's character is the fact that Ray is such a panzy. I mean first there is his god-awful pornstache that many of the bloggers have commented on, but most importantly grow some damn balls and be more confident. Many of you think they are a match made in heaven but do you think that maybe the reason Neela is attracted to Gates is his bravado? Even if it is a little much at times? Yeah he's no Doug Ross but come on... Ray has been a little bitch almost the entire season.
On a separate note I as well hope that Sam has found her Mr. Right with Ben but being that this is ER, no one can be happy for more than a 3-4 episode span... EVER.
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Jan 12, 2007 2:13 AM
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hi --
i all ready read the commentary
for last wks ep
i just couldnt find the specifics
as to why weaver isnt at the hospital
any more
some thing a bout not wanting to
tread water ... ??
im sorry -- i just didnt under stand
what that meant
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Jan 12, 2007 2:26 AM
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omg what a cliffhanger, between curtis ames in abby's apartment, lil alex very bad decision with playing with matches, to sara and megs crisis. i cant waite until the next episode.......when ever that will be.
anyway i knew that was going to be abby's father. i also knew that ames was going to be in the apartment. when i saw forest whitakers name in the credits, and we didnt see him in the whole episode..i said he is going to show up in the apartment and i was right.
i really dont care for the tony/alex/meg sl. i just dont care for tony all that much. and im more surprised that ray still has his pornstache.
gonna miss laura innes as dr. weaver. however im a lil disappointed in her final episode. but i did like the scenes with her and abby and then luka.
i also cheered when ben grapped alex by the coat for the tour. but i defiantly cheered when gracie slapped alex and told him dont ever hit a woman or ill break every bone in your body.
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Jan 12, 2007 4:17 AM
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shan28 - Kerri is leaving to take a job in Miami. Luka had to make budget cuts so he was going to let her go. She had a job offer in Miami that she was not going to take. She decided, after Luka told her that he had to let her go to resign from county and move to Miami.
I so hope that Ames doesn't do anything to baby Joe and to Abby. And talk about a cliff hanger of an ending...having the screen go black and all you hear is that beautiful baby crying. UGH!
I am one of the people that could do without Tony Gates. I still don't like what this character brings to the ER. I hope he is gone soon. Everything with him is all about confrontation - and butting heads. That gets really really old.
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Jan 12, 2007 4:22 AM
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I agree with you JackBauerRulez- I am more impartial to the Tony character, I want to see where they go with it. Do people really have that much difficulty understanding why Neela would be attracted to him? Come on! Almost every woman can recall a time where they liked a guy who was not the best for them! I know I can...
When Abby first got in the apartment I was looking at the background and thought- is that a person? and sure enough there was Ames. I don't know if I can stand the wait to find out what happens!
Finally- Kerry you will be missed! Though at least there is the opportunity for guest spots since they didn't kill her off. Thank god.
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Jan 12, 2007 9:10 AM
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Another great episode in a great season (probably the best season of "ER" that I can remember), but also disturbing...
I really, really want to see Alex die a horrible death. I know it would be hard on Sam, but that kid has become so despicable, I would think she'd be relieved. What a monster! I was hoping for him to leave the apartment in the middle of the night and promptly get run down by a passing truck. I would have jumped for joy I absolutely hate him. I don't care how young or disturbed he is--I'd kill him with my bare hands if I could.
As for Ames, this story really needs to close--I assume it will, one way or another, in the next episode. I was VERY surprised to see him waiting in the apartment (I didn't notice Forrest Whittaker's name on the opening credits). Talk about someone I'd like to see dead! Sorry about all of this rage, folks--I guess I'm more emotionally invested in the show than I thought! But it's better than watching an hour of TV and then thinking "ho hum" at the end. I briefly saw a figure sitting on the sofa in the background, but I thought it would turn out to be Eddie somehow.
That wouldn't have been too cool, either, but at least Eddie isn't a menacing psychopath.
The Neela/Ray/Gates issue should also be resolved before much longer. I think the only quibble I might have about the show at this point is that some stories are allowed to drag on a bit too long. But it's a minor quibble.
I was sorry to see Kerry leave, but I'm glad she and Abby had a proper good-bye. Abby was one of the few people who brought out Kerry's softer side--remember, Kerry asked Abby to take care of her baby in case her hip operation somehow went horribly wrong.
And why won't we see a new episode for another few weeks? I know the February sweeps are coming, but it seems like there have only been 2 or 3 new episodes since the last string of reruns. Very aggrivating!
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Jan 12, 2007 9:43 AM
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I really do not like John Stamos' character at all. I wish he would be 86'd. If not, then at least give him a razor because the beard is really disgusting. I do not like Neela either. Maybe I'm just in a contrary mood today but I really don't like either of these characters and could do without them both. As to the rest of the episode, Forester Whittaker is about to go off the edge but I don't believe he intends to hurt Abby or Luka or the baby. I think he's going to kill himself in front of them. If someone else said that, I don't mean to steal your thunder. I don't always remember everything I've read.
The fire was a mistake. He will pay dearly for it as his grandmother will likely die as a result.
Farewell to Laura Innes. She became likeable at some point and now I'm sorry to see her go.
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Jan 12, 2007 10:46 AM
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Why did Abby not just run out when she saw Ames. Not like she couldn't get to the door and get Joe out. Stupid.
Feels like after making some progress in the fall, ER is slipping back into zone of everyone-must-be-miserable. All we need now is a February bus crash, er, I mean a helicopter wreck, er, make that a apartment fire, no, a plane wreck. Maybe NBC could do a crossover between ER and that horrible 10.5 movie and have an earthquake hit Chicago. There's a faultline somewhere around there, right?
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Jan 12, 2007 10:48 AM
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Also not a huge fan of Gates but how funny was it when he was channeling "Uncle Jesse" in that scene with Sarah?
I screamed when I saw Ames in Abby's house. They better not let anything bad happen to baby Joe.
GarryB, I agree that Alex is becoming really unlikeable. Not quite sure I want him to die, but I LOVED how Grandma gave it to him about hitting a woman!
So long, Kerry Weaver, great character and wonderful actress.
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Jan 12, 2007 11:35 AM
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Just an FYI: the "House Divided" quote didn't originate with Lincoln, but with Jesus (Mark 3:25 and Luke 11:17).
Thanks for the thoughtful commentary on a classic show!
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Jan 12, 2007 12:08 PM
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I thought i saw someone sitting on the couch and then when it revealed to be Ames my body went numb. Abby certainly was calm! I would have screamed bloody murder or passed out! I hope he doesn't do anything to Abby or Joe. I will miss Kerry - her softer side of late has been nice. Can't wait for a new episode.
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Jan 12, 2007 12:29 PM
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I'm with MOambo, I think he is going to try to kill himself in front of Luka & Abby...but they are actually going to be able to save his life.
I'm with the majority in not liking Gates. I don't agree though that Ray has been whimpy this season. I think he is just in love but cares more about hurting Neela then anything else. They where friends first. I can't wait till the next new episode! And the spoiler alert about Ray and Neela was great! I hope it's worth this LONG wait.
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Jan 12, 2007 12:43 PM
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