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Season Finale: The Chicago Way
The scheduling conflict continues tonight, but I would love to hear your thoughts about tonight's finale.
As the 14th season comes to a close, guest star Steve Buscemi wreaks havoc on the ER and Luka finally confronts Moretti.
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May 15, 2008 9:47 PM
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OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Okay so i was crying my eyes out with tears of happiness and then OMG!!!!!!!!!
I can't even write...i'll say more later..
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May 15, 2008 11:00 PM
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AHHH!!!!!!!!!
I hate season ending cliff-hangers!!!!
Must wait ALL summer to find out who went...kaboom!? Ahhh!!!
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May 15, 2008 11:06 PM
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I doubt that Pratt or Sam was in the ambulance. Something probably happened and neither one could go. Pratt's brother on the other hand was in the ambulance and went kaboom
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May 15, 2008 11:25 PM
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I don't care what anybody says about ER. I still love this show and watch it religiously. Abby and Luka? FINALLY!!!! but geez that ending! I have my personal suspicions about who's in the ambulance, but I'll wait and see if I'm right.
I loved how the stress of Buscemi character's life was starting to affect Pratt and how he manhandled the new tech.
Loved Luka decking Moretti and saying "thanks for dropping by".
Loved Luka waking up Walter when he thought he had died.
Sam and Tony? meh, but what about Dubenko? And what about Neela and Brenner? I don't buy it, but you knew it was going to happen. I'm rambling, I know...anyway I'm glad the season ended with Abby and Luka reuniting. I'm looking forward to the next and final season.
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May 15, 2008 11:27 PM
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say it ain't so! say it ain't Greg who was on that ambulance. Say it ain't so!!
Like another poster I too went "OMIGOD! OMIGOD!" during the last 5 seconds of the episode as i watched the ambulance go up in flames. Greg Pratt, as played by Mikkei Pfeffier is one of my fave characters and actors, respectively. I just hope he's not being killed off since I believe an Ausiello scoop hinted one of the regulars won't be making it through the summer. I'm on edge through September!!
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May 16, 2008 12:03 AM
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say it ain't so! say it ain't Greg who was on that ambulance. Say it ain't so!!
Like another poster I too went "OMIGOD! OMIGOD!" during the last 5 seconds of the episode as i watched the ambulance go up in flames. Greg Pratt, as played by Mikkei Pfeffier is one of my fave characters and actors, respectively. I just hope he's not being killed off since I believe an Ausiello scoop hinted one of the regulars won't be making it through the summer. I'm on edge through September!!
BTW - when did Abby and Moretti sleep together?
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May 16, 2008 12:03 AM
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Arrgh, ok quick rant, I have see some awesome season finales this past week and I come to the water cooler to read the blogs on them. What the french toast? There are none. I would love to write a blog for this site, I'm fed up with not being able to read about CSI: Vegas or NY, Law and Order:SVU, Ghost Whisperer, and especially ER! Bring back our show blogs! Whats the point of coming here if there is nothing to read and post on?
Ok, rant over, sorry..
ER's ending was slightly predictable, but there's alot of questions unanswered and yes, who was in that ambulance and was Abby hurt since she walked past it merely seconds before it blew? And don't get me started and Neela, love her but bad taste in men, I never liked the thought of her and ray, and he was a bit immature to get drunk, fight with tony (another bad choice) and walk in front of bus, and to blame neela, no no no. I hope he comes back to make peace with her but thats it. For some reason I have attached myself to Lucian, he would be a good match for her. He's smart, sexy, and sweet as hell. So Im not happy that he walked out tonight. As for brenner, I groaned when they started making out. For a moment I thought, "heh, the two of them and their two strange accents mingling might be cute" but then reality kicked me in the face and I was backed to not liking him. I kind of wished he'd gotten on that ambulance for some reason. Maybe that's too harsh, hope he grows his character if he's going to stick around County General. *steps off soapbox*
Overall my jaw was hanging open at the end when they didn't reveal who got on the ambulance.
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May 16, 2008 12:14 AM
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Tonight's episode starts with Samny (reminder to Wheezy: that's "Sam" and "Tony"...  ) on the El headed into work. They sweet-talk each other into missing their stop. Tony suggests "We're getting into trouble, here..." Sam didn't take that the way I think he meant it.
Abby opens her apartment door and bursts into smiles at the sight of Joe and Luka. One slightly awkward exchange later, Abby's sitter arrives. Luka timidly offers Abby a ride to work.
Scenes from the admit desk (has this always happened this way and I'm only now seeing a pattern?): Archie (Yeah, I'm still liking him) asks a well-dressed Pratt how his ER Chief interview went. He feels it went quite well (and we all cheer) until Brenner the Twit chimes in that his own interview lasted longer. Frank informs Greg that Samny is running late due to El troubles and Archie grouses over their cuteness. Greg and Frank covertly discuss "that guy about that thing..." (I could guess here, but I'm way too busy.) Archie grumbles about being down on love and Neela voices her agreement. Brenner informs her that she's getting major hits at an online dating site. Laverne tells her not to bother, that online dating "blows" and that (aimed at Brenner) she's totally over it. The police come in escorting our major patient-of-the-week, played nicely by Steve Buscemi. He clearly seems altered and swears he has to "keep movin' or I'm dead." In the process of telling everyone that they really don't want him to be there, he injures himself. Naturally, he's not going anywhere. Cue opening credits...
Luka is driving Abby to work as they enjoy a tense silence. When they arrive, Abby hands Luka a newspaper and informs him that it is an appropriate first anniversary gift. Abby gets out of the car and watches Luka drive off to his new job.
Frank is on the phone, presumably with "that guy." The cop informs Greg that his patient is to be kept there at the hospital. Our guest had just come from his mother's funeral, where he suggested he'd been followed. While taking the patient's history, it appears he's been in witness protection for a while. Frank interrupts Greg to tell him that all systems are go and Mr. Patient (we still don't know his name and it seems we'd have no way of knowing if it's real or not anyway) winks at Pratt that they both have secrets.
Dubenko is giving Neela some patient instructions when Brenner the Twit chimes in with another inappropriate remark. Neela snaps at him before we discover that there's an impending M&M (presumably over Sheryl from last week).
Archie calls Abby to join him and Laverne to work on a freshly wheeled-in Lupus patient who is having seizures.
Sam, Pratt and Mr. Patient agree that none of them want him to be there. He asks Sam to remove the "coconut sack" attached to his arm. Sam questions "banana bag?" I laugh. He wants to be arrested and taken away. He tells Sam to let his wife know about his account in the Bahamas and that he's sorry should something happen to him.
Abby is having a hard time stopping the seizing patient. Brenner the Twit offers to help. I swear I heard eight people say "no." After the patient mercifully passes out, Archie orders a prudent set of tests; though Abby concurs, Brenner takes the daughter aside and tries to talk her out of the tests on her mother. Even the daughter is too smart for Brenner; she wants the doctors to do whatever they can. Chuney comes in and delivers more bad news: she just saw our missing slimeball Dr.Moretti at the admit desk. Where's a really large ax when you need one?
More scenes from the admit desk: Sam and Tony greet Moretti., who it appears is merely there to tie up some loose ends. Greg asks a goon-looking fellow who just arrived if he can help him; he states he's looking for an "Art Masterson": that would be Mr. Patient. Goon approaches Art and draw his curtain, Pratt gets suspicious...
Pratt finds Goon garrotting Art and struggles to pull him away as the police join in to help. While being dragged away, Goon shouts out that Arty should have stayed away. Art asks Greg "Now do you believe me?" Sam attends Art's new wounds, tells him to rest and says she'll check on him later. He says to call him Arny. I knew this would happen.
Moretti congratulates Greg on his impending Chiefhood, then asks Frank if Abby is on duty...
Our Lupus patient lady is now conscious and alert (albeit groggy). Turns out her daughter is her primary caregiver. Tests so far look normal, though Archie wants to run a few more. Abby wants to try a few different tests, but Archie (politely) insists. Archie notes that the daughter is nursing a sore shoulder and offers to check it out.
At the M&M, Neela presents her case. It turns out she made a questionable, possibly wrongish call during her solo moments of the surgery. Debenko tries to divert questions that would implicate him in having left Neela alone...
A new guy comes to visit Artny (get over it); I'm guessing that new guy is a US Marshall. Artny starts to crash.
Abby scans the halls, sees no Moretti and ventures out. She asks Chuney to add her tests to Archie's orders. (I've got a sawbuck that says Abby's call will be the right one. Any takers? Didn't think so.) Abby spies around the next corner when she's surprised from behind by Moretti. He wants to talk to her and she really doesn't want to talk to him. He follows her up the stairs where she informs him that her marriage is over. Outside (he obviously convinced her), he apologizes about what happened, claiming to have had no knowledge of her and Luka. (Maybe so, but we still hate him anyway.) Dr. Dim Bulb tries to explain why he left (we don't care) and that every couple has problems (shut up and go away) and Abby has enough of it and goes back inside, leaving Moretti behind.
At the nursing home, we see Luka visiting Walter, the elderly patient beautifully portrayed two weeks ago by Hal Holbrook who helped him decide to take this job. Walter tells Luka that he has a nephew coming to visit. He laments never having had kids of his own. Predictably (though happily), in doing so, he gives Luka some food for thought regarding his own marital issues...
Pratt and Sam get Artny back, though not completely out of the woods; he's still having a heart attack. The Marshall wants to take him away, but Pratt fears for his patient's health if he leaves. The Marshall insists that Artny and everyone else at the hospital are in danger. Pratt manages to get him upstairs anyway. Samny has an awkward exchange. Tony tells Greg that he's concerned that things are going too well. Morris agrees, again spewing distrust in love. Greg tells Tony to hang in there, that it can be worth it. Frank asks Pratt if he's heard of Arny Markowitz. He turns out to be a mob informant. Yep, that's out Artny.
Daughter tells Archie about caring for her mother. Daughter confesses that her true profession is an "escort." Oddly, during this discussion, we get a whiff of chemistry between the two. A nurse bursts in and tells Archie that Mom lost her pulse. They all rush to her room, where Chuney is performing CPR. Archie prepares to intubate.
Pratt visits Artny. It turns out he did questionable lawyering for the mob. As they talk, we see a sinister figure come silently into the room (cue suspense music). Pratt confronts the intruder, who actually turns out to be a new hospital employee. False alarm.
Back at the M&M, Neela concludes her account of the surgery. Brenner slithers in. Dubenko continues to try to deflect certain questions, before going into a rant about the inadequacies of the hospital's staffing that led to Neela being alone in the surgery. Yes, he finally manned up and took the hit. I'm proud of Lucien for that; he was starting to get a little smelly.
Abby has taken over compressions on Lupus Mother. She's going downhill fast. Archie gently urges the Daughter to say goodbye. Archie stops the staff and the daughter tearfully complies.
Moretti confronts Luka. What a turd. He tries to apologize and offer Luka advice. Luka slugs the immortal crap out of him, knocking him to the ground with that one punch. I think I heard Angel's singing. I know I heard the rest of you do so... Luka thanks Moretti for stopping by. I cheer for about ten minutes.
While traveling back to the ER, the Marshall still wants to take Artny away, but he isn't yet stable enough to go anywhere. Chaz stops in for a surprise visit to ask Greg to join him and their family for a special dinner to celebrate his entry into medical school. Greg congratulates his half-brother and promises to come by. Greg returns to the trauma room to hear the Marshall explain to Artny why he needs to remain in the witness protection program. Greg agrees with the Marshall, in an effort to protect his staff.
Luka opens the door to Walter's room to find an empty bed. Another false alarm. Walter has reached his six-month limit at the facility and is going to go live with his nephew. They say a respectful, touching goodbye. Luka wordlessly thanks Walter.
"That guy about that thing" shows up. An old jeweler brought a couple of cases of rings to show Greg while Frank looks on. The old fellow does a great job of selling, but alas, the secret is out as the nurses respond to the smell of diamonds from rooms away. (Sorry, Ladies, but you know I speak the truth... )
Greg tries to share his happiness with a worn-out, unwilling Abby ("and you chose *me*?"). She confesses that she truly *is* happy for him and he reassures her that things will work out between her and Luka. Speak of the devil... Pratt greets Luka in the hall, a spot of mannish small talk ensues and Greg points Luka toward Abby...
The Marshall is now getting really insistent with Sam that Artny be released to him as Greg wanders into the conversation. The Marshall explains to Greg how the "extraction" will take place. Greg and Sam each offer to go along with Artny to keep him healthy, but the Marshall says no.
Dubenko fishes scuba-diving Barbie out of his aquarium (if you missed the breakup with Skye a few weeks ago, you have only yourself to blame). It seems that this is part of packing up his office to leave the hospital for good. He and Neela argue about his rash decision. He wins. He walks away as Brenner oozes up to Neela. He offers seemingly sincere concern, much to her resistance. He retorts that he's tired of being treated like a cad. (How stupid *is* this guy?) They argue a bit, during which he tells her she needs to "get laid." She kisses him. I vomit a little. They start tearing at each other's clothes. I hurl. Pardon me while I go gouge my eyes out...
Luka and Abby are walking through a park and he talks sweetly to her. They discuss *them*. They profess their love and kiss. Cue the sunset and a moment of tender music... (My stomach feels a little better now; I guess I'll spare my eyes for a little while.)
In the ambulance bay, Greg and Sam wheel Artny out on a gurney to a waiting rig. Greg pleas with the Marshall once more to allow one of them to go with them to keep Artny healthy. The Marshall concedes and asks for a volunteer... (We don't get to see the answer.)
Abby is walking along the river and through the park back toward the ER. She passes by an ambulance with American flag decals on its sides. The ambulance explodes rather impressively... Roll closing credits...
This was my recap for the week. A review will likely follow.
Enjoy.
Steve
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May 16, 2008 1:15 AM
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Amen to what olivia_j and redthegirl said! Oh my gosh!
Double Amen to what Rhoda Charles said--I, too, have watched this show from the beginning and have NEVER missed an episode, no matter that I have 3 shows that I watch at the same time now.
And kitten72581, I hear ya! I am just dying to talk about CSI (all three versions) and I can't find anywhere nice to visit and comment on them. I would love to be able to come to tvguide.com and do so, but no such luck!
On to the show, Steve Buscemi cracks me up! Did you hear his joke about North Dakota? (Fargo, anyone). I felt sorry for him. I am hoping maybe that they noticed something strange and ended up putting him into a different ambulance.
I can't believe that anything has happened to Abby--I won't believe it! It's just NBC/ER TPTB jerking our chains, like always. Both Maura, Goran and some ER bigwig said that their story did NOT have a tragic ending. Her getting killed right after they got back together would most definitely be tragic!
On the other hand, they probably did kill someone, but who, not sure.
Neela and Brenner! Yuck, yuck, yuck! And I can't believe that they told us that the wonderful patient of Neela's died, just like that--during a whatyoucallit conference. I thought for sure she wouldn't die after last week and the believing in miracles speech she gave to Neela. Man, sometimes this show makes me so mad!
Anyway, at least we have one more season of this show. And I don't care what anyone says, I would rather watch ER than any stupid reality show (and that includes the "good" ones like Amazing Race and Survivor--if I had to choose I would pick ER or CSI or even Law and Order over a reality show everytime!)
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May 16, 2008 1:52 AM
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Loved Luka and Abby! They looked like they were freezing while shooting the scene. What a great kiss!
I'm sad about the giant kaboom! SPOILER ALERT -
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Who knows for sure, but I couldn't resist looking on the ER boards and the general consensus is that the person whose named includes the same letters as "trapt" won't be around next year. That makes me sad as I've enjoyed that character's growth and I'm disappointed at the thought of not seeing them around for the final season.
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When it's all said and done, as long as I get a "happily ever after " ending for Abby and Luka I'll be able to live with whatever else they do.
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May 16, 2008 2:00 AM
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I'm annoyed the whole Steve Buscemi thing was SO predictable. I called that he was in witness protection about 3 minutes after he took the spill off of the gurney when he announced they didn't want him there.
Different ambulance because the alterantor on the old one was bad? Uh yea, even before they panned over to the Winston Wolf wannabe looking dude, I predicted a bomb in the ambulance.
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May 16, 2008 3:09 AM
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BIG HUGE thanks to Steve!!
if we were a couple, we could be Steezy
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May 16, 2008 3:53 AM
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Um... Wow.
I think I can almost breathe normally again...
First of all, a half-hearted apology for the even-more-long-winded-than-last-week recap. I have three things to say to that: first, a whole lot happened this week and I didn't want to gloss over anything. This was an intricately-wound episode and it needed the detail. Second, as I discovered last week, there are actually readers of these recaps who, through no (or little) fault of their own, actually missed the episode. I chose not to shortchange this group. Lastly, this *was* the season finale. Admittedly, I can probably shorten my content by altering my writing style. Okay, I'll work on that.
Now on to the review.
Neela? Have you lost your ever-lovin' mind? Did you lose a bet with the Devil? Why, sweet little Neela, why? Yeah, something got blown up this week; big deal. Neela doing it with the purest scum ever to darken the ER halls is what's truly disturbing.
There's a crack appearing in my Samny. Tony, you've got a really good thing going with Sam; please don't backslide into your relationship-phobic bad habits.
Greg Pratt, I have a sick feeling that you were in the ambulance. Between early rumors I heard that it was Mekhi's last season and Ausiello's report that a regular cast member was possibly due to expire, I'm not feeling hopeful. Comment's made by Linda in the cnn.com story I read earlier in the week about ER's upcoming (and officially, dammit) final season lead me to believe that Sam was not on the rig, and I don't think Chaz rates as a series regular. You've grown so much this year as a leader, a loyal friend to many of your co-workers and a real *man* to Bettina. If I'm right (and I fear I am), you will be sorely missed.
Neela?!? Why!?! (sobbing...)
Moretti, I'd be really happy if you and Brenner would take a typical, infamous ER-style helicopter ride together, like, real soon. Alright, in all fairness, Stanley Tucci has done an outstanding job portraying this wonderfully loathed character; I couldn't have hated Moretti enough had he not been acted so well.
There've been a few comments regarding how predictable certain elements of the Steve Buscemi character's story played out. I prefer to credit most of that to an unusual amount of spoilery content that has circulated recently in assorted media regarding this penultimate season's finale. The rest of it was a simple matter of storytelling. Artny wasn't overly secretive about who he was and why he had to leave, the Goon telegraphed his intentions like, well, a Goon, and a US Marshall was an expected, necessary ingredient to the tale. Predictable or not, for whatever reasons, this thread was nicely knitted into this amazing episode and I applaud Mr. Buscemi's work.
Ah, my beloved Luby. The happy ending we've been promised finally came to be. (I know Maura will be back next season for at least a few episodes, so we already know she wasn't killed by the explosion. Injured, maybe; that might provide for Abby's eventual final exit.) The scenes between Maura and Goran were tense, tender, thoughtful and totally in character. And the Glorious Punch: that is one I'll tell my grandchildren about. I also enjoyed all of the strange Angels (Pratt and Hal Holbrook's reprised Walter, whoever sabotaged Abby's car, even Moretti, in spite of himself) that came together to move our wayward lovers back to each other.
Wheezy, thank you! Based solely on the laugh I enjoyed from your proposed 'shipper name, I think I'm in love...
Some pre-final thoughts (I'll be back later at least once to answer a few posts):
1) Calling All Fans! I'd like to hear from as many ER-philes as possible about this week's offering, right here in this blog. I want us to break tvguide.com's new servers. I want our activity here to call big attention to our beloved show. Post early, post often.
2) These final three episodes of the season have been almost perfect (take Brenner out of the mix and there's no "almost" about it). Our staff has become competent, confident and credible as a team, reminiscent of ER's early, glory years. If the show's ptb's weren't already dead-set on 15 being the end and turned this conviction into continuing to produce equally good episodes and character development as we've been recently so gifted with, Law & Order wouldn't be the only show threatening Gunsmoke's record.
3) Hey, TV Guide: I love ya! Most of us do. A lot. But the TV Show Blogs section of your site has suffered from a little neglect lately. Major shows are just plain missing (such as the just-mentioned, wildly-resurgent L&O *just* to name one) while other rotting, dead things (Journeyman, Kathy Griffen) simply linger. Please pay us a little more attention. I said Please...
3a) Trish, I'm not faulting you in any way; I totally get your conflicted schedule. I also love Lost and I'm glad someone with your talent and experience is covering it. However, if the coming last season finds you equally cornered on Thursday nights at 10, call me; I'd happily throw my hat in the ring. 
4) Mindi, because of what you did, I'm sending you the bill for my pepto...
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May 16, 2008 5:47 AM
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. The ending was not a shocker since the prior events gave hint to that the patient would not make it at the end someway. I just hope Pratt and Sam are alive sine their storylines were really getting good and I felt they were at a happier place compared to prior seasons. ![]<img border=](http://community.tvguide.com/images/emoticons/devil.gif)
">. I hope next season Neela and him don't become an item becuase I think she is too good for him. I prefer her with Ray or at least that guy from the Ortho dept. who she played hockey with (name I can't remember??) If they do become an item it will probably be just for the physical enjoyment and nothing more.
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