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November 16, 2006: Reason to Believe
Tonight’s episode was directed by Ernest Dickerson, who is best known for his work as a cinematographer on a number of Spike Lee films including Malcolm X, Jungle Fever and Do the Right Thing. (This is his third directing stint for ER, having worked on two episodes in 2005.) Mr. Dickerson definitely crafted an edgier, more intense episode than we’ve seen in recent weeks, with cases that were compelling and polarizing.
Tensions were running high on many fronts. Luka and Abby faced off over a possible spousal-abuse case and ran up against their complicated work relationship as he reminded her of her place in the pecking order. “Let’s try this. You be the resident, I’ll be the attending, OK?” Ouch. Of course, his callousness was likely the result of his agitation over the package he received from Curtis Ames. When he pulled the cop aside to ask for his help, his fear for his family was palpable.
Fred Ward has been popping up all over my favorite hospital dramas this season. First we saw him over at Seattle Grace on Grey’s Anatomy as Denny’s father. Tonight, he was Eddie, a barfly with whom Abby connected. I’m not really clear on what his purpose was other than to further stir the pot with Luka. I did find it interesting that she reminded Luka of her status as a recovering alcoholic, and then headed to a bar for dinner. Are they setting up something here?
We got a little more exposition tonight in regard to Tony’s relationship with Meg. It was pretty clear that the romantic feelings were one-sided, that the living relationship had sprung from some sense of duty, and the sex was convenient but unfulfilling. However, I found his bluntness during their conversation a little off-putting. I’m still really on the fence about this character, so it is hard to say if I feel for him or want to smack him. Thankfully, Pratt inflicted some well-deserved pain on his overly confident student. No matter how talented he might turn out to be, Gates has had that punch coming for a while now.
Speaking of Pratt, he had some problems to contend with on the home front as well, as he unexpectedly walked in on his brother frolicking with another young man in the shower. Greg was understandably upset when he realized that he had been misled by Chaz, but I was happy when he relented and let him come back. I am also interested to see what develops with the church and the drug-exchange program. Mekhi Phifer deserves a nice, juicy story line that involves more than yelling at interns or romancing random ladies in his apartment.
To be honest, I’m not quite sure what I thought of the whole story line about Neela as the Blue Lady and the kid with rabies. It seemed a little disjointed, since these homeless kids appeared from nowhere and seemed to pick Neela out of a crowd. And when exactly did Tony come up with the nickname "Mayday"? Has he called Neela that before? I am not a big fan of these stories that are somewhat self-contained and seem completely irrelevant to everything else that’s going on. It was great that the kid overcame the odds, but the story had a mystical overtone that seemed out of place in an episode that was otherwise grounded firmly in reality.
Next week - a Thanksgiving ER “event” that looks like it will focus on Abby in peril. I hope there aren't any helicopters involved.
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Nov 17, 2006 12:26 AM
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What is Denny Crane Sr doing in Chicago???
Glad that at least Luka has figured out what Curtis Ames is doing, but not talking to Abby about it may prove to be a mistake.
Is it just me or does Kerry Weaver have a new potential love interest? Seemed like Michelle Hurd was more than up for a glass of wine and a bubble bath with Kerry. Awesome. About time Weaver started getting more air time AND something interesting in her life.
I agree the Neela/rabies storyline was kinda blah. I never noticed Gates calling her Mayday before tonight.
So, did Gates break up with Meg or not? He seemed pretty sure until she made the comment about how he doesn't want to blow what he's got going with her and her daughter. Playing the kid/guilt card is pretty sad, also pretty realistic. Gates WAS harsh with Meg, but I was thinking, when has a guy ever been that direct and definitive in a break-up? It sucks but was also refreshing at the same time.
Thank god Pratt came to his senses and ran after his brother. I love that this show isn't afraid to let their characters be human, to let Pratt have such a negative reaction to his brother being gay before becoming more accepting. Funny how it's different when it's a member of your own family.
Next week's story looks good but also like episodes past where the on-scene doc is in danger- Doug Ross in the storm drain, Elizabeth Corday in the wrecked train, Carter(?) in the back of the ambulance with the downed power lines or running back into the hospital when it was quarantined, now Abby on a bus hanging over a precipice. Always entertaining, always predictable. Maybe they'll surprise us?
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Nov 17, 2006 2:17 AM
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To answer the question about the 'MayDay' nickname, Gates has been calling Neela that since his quest appearance last season.
I was confused as to the purpose of the conversation between Abby and 'Denny's Dad' also, may they are setting up for something in the future.
All in all, it wasn't one of my favorite episodes, but I liked it. I did miss Ray, though. I hope they give him more to do than they have so far this season.
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Nov 17, 2006 8:07 AM
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There were some underlying themes to this episode that were tremendous.
How interesting is it that while everyone is talking about how contagious rabies is - and to wear protective masks, etc. - that the other homeless child is overlooked and left alone?
That he can go anywhere he wants without being seen?
Interesting way to make this point: we don't want to admit - or see - homeless children who are alone - but they are there.....
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Nov 17, 2006 8:28 AM
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I agree with the weak homeless kid story. And I also agree that Gates'breakup was honest and direct. I love this character!
As for Fred Ward (the barfly), I'm thinking he's in cahoots with Curtis Ames and this was his first attempt at getting close to Abby and gathering intel. Wasn't it a little weird the way Luka said, "We're not married."??Maybe that will play into things later too or maybe I've been watching too much Nancy Grace!
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Nov 17, 2006 9:22 AM
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Anyone ever think that this guy at the bar might be Abby's father. She mentioned him when Joe was born. Also he said that he had two kids of his own a boy and a girl. Just a thought.
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Nov 17, 2006 10:06 AM
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Didn't think about the possibility he could be Abby's dad. Good pickup. I too thought he had something to do with Ames. Especially we he mentioned coming up to see a budy.
I thought the whole Carrie story was random. Also, why not direct people in that cafeteria to get those kids back so they wouldn't have to see what she was doing? Just too coincidental that the kid chokes when she's there.
I enjoy seeing Hope becoming more intergrated into the ER. They went a little over the top in the beginning with her Christianity and it's nice to see it toned down a bit. It just seemed a little far fetched for a doctor to bring that much of her belief system into the workplace and not have faced reprimands for it before.
Also, I agree with the poster regarding the kids. No one bothered to check thse kids even though they lived in the same spot. How come no one called DSF? They call DSF all the time on this show and not a single mention. I enjoyed the kids and the sickness storyline but thought Neela's part was pretty weak.
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Nov 17, 2006 10:24 AM
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I believe when the plane crashed and Neela and Gates(as a paramedic) worked together that night-she used the two-way radio to the hospital and used the words 'mayday mayday' to get assistance helping one of the victims from the crash. I have heard Gates call Neela before last nights episode. Brilliant season! I hope it does not come to an end next year as most of the actors contracts are up. NBC KEEP THIS SHOW ON!
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Nov 17, 2006 10:37 AM
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Smart thought, shelingas_sis. There is definitely something up there and Luka suspects it. That long look at the barfly when Luka left the bar was very telling.
I wish they'd pursued the homeless kids story a little deeper. It was intriguing to me and then it was just dropped. Hopefully it'll be revisited.
I thought Tony's breakup routine was awful. I couldn't get from his "girlfriend" if he's done this with HER since he's been with her, or if she's known him forever that she knows he's done this in the past to other women. I just think he's a sleaze. It's good to break up with the girlfriend, but done in an ugly way.
Luka tells the cop that Curtis Ames had followed his wife and child into the park. Do we know that he knew that? Did I miss something? Abby didn't know who Ames was, how did Lucas know Ames had been there? Just sending the toy is no proof. A little incontinuity there or maybe I DID miss something.
I thought this was the least interesting epi of the season, but, hey, they can't all be perfect.
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Nov 17, 2006 10:39 AM
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I caught the same vibe from Michelle Hurd when she was talking to Weaver - and it seemed that Kerry wasn't quite sure if it was a come-on or not so perhaps her "gay-dar" isn't very finely tuned...I'd like to see Kerry in another relationship again and having the show giving her more to do but aren't there rumblings about the hospital not having enough funds this season and her position might get the ax? Don't know if that means Kerry's leaving or she will leave the hospital for her new TV job.
Good supposition about Fred Ward being Abby's father - could be quite interesting...and maybe a chance for Sally Field to jump over from "Brothers & Sisters" for a short stint again this season...
Where were Sam and Ray last night?
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Nov 17, 2006 11:20 AM
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I think that the guy from the bar is in with Curtis. Didnt think that until Luka showed up. I think Luka said that so the guy might back off Abby since they are not married.
I missed Ray too!
The whole Neela/homeless kids story was blah! I thought it was a little weird.
I still want Neela with Ray!
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Nov 17, 2006 11:48 AM
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The guy in the bar is Abby's father. Remember he was trying to work up the courage to go in the hospital. He said he has a son and daughter. Abby's father skipped town when she was young. I read somewhere that they were going to explore Abby's family more. He is the one family member we have not met.
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Nov 17, 2006 12:13 PM
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Here is a few things that were intriguing to me from the episode.
1. I did think that guy in the bar was up to something fishy, like having something to do with Curtis Ames.
2. It did strike me very soon after Abby began talking to guy in the bar that it could be his father.
3. Why is it that when Luka was talking to Police Officer about getting some protection for his family, that Luka referred to Abby as his wife, and then later denied that they were married at the bar?
4. It was good to see Kerry in action tonight and also possibly spark up a new relationship.
5. Seeing more of Hope's character tonight was good, so now we know she isn't some crazy person, but does really have a heart and enjoys church.
6. I hope that we get more information about the whole Luka, Abby, Baby Joe and random guy in the bar story line.
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Nov 17, 2006 12:22 PM
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I thought I picked up a different vibe between Eddie the barfly and Luka. Luka seemed to look back at him and nod when he and Abby were leaving the bar as if to confirm that "yes, she is the one" like maybe Luka secretly hired Eddie as a body guard for Abby? Maybe because this scene followed the police detective scene with the stuffed animal made my mind go in that direction.
I thought the homeless kid story was excellent in the way it showed how homeless kids are invisible to a lot of people. First when Paulie's friend wandered through the hospital and no one gave him a second look, then later when Neela was chasing the two that ran out of the ER and after the buses passed between them they had just vanished into thin air. I thought it was very creative.
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Nov 17, 2006 12:43 PM
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I, too thought last night's episode was just OK. After thinking about it a while, I realized I missed Archie! Can ya believe it? When he first came on, I thought he'd be just a one-note character, but after last week's revelation that he knew the other doctor's thought he was a joke, I realized there's a lot more there to explore (and he saved Jerry's life too after the shooting last year, gotta give him that!) I agree with most of the poster's who say barfly is Abby's father. I'd rather think (hope) that then he's in with Ames. Loving this season & hope it stays great!
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Nov 17, 2006 12:46 PM
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