(S12E22) I was sort of dreading this season finale. All week I had been seeing the coming attractions, and there was going to be yet another melee in the ER. Shooting, maybe an explosion or something, couldn't tell. This particular emergency room seems to get as much action as the front lines of a war.But this episode was actually one of the better season finales the show has ever had. A bit crazy, but well done and rather suspenseful, with more than one plot twist I didn't see coming at all.
While Pratt and Neela attend Gallant's funeral, Sam is showing the ropes to a new nursing student, her ex-husband is brought into the ER yet again, along with another prisoner he had gotten into a fight with. (I think I actually groaned out loud here - I mean, the ex-husband shows up yet again?). The two prisoners are in separate rooms, taunting each other. Sam and the new girl and a cop are with the other prisoner while other docs tend to her ex. Sam leaves to go talk to her ex in the other room, leaving the new girl and the cop in the room. As Sam is treating her ex, we see that the new girl has pulled out a rag and placed it over the cop's mouth! (I didn't see that coming at all, I thought this new person was going to be a new character on the show next season or something.) The prisoner grabs his gun. The new girl goes into the other room and holds a gun to everyone while the other prisoner unlocks Sam's ex.
Just then, Luka comes to the door, wanting to get in. The new girl tries to lie to him to get him to leave, but he insists on coming in. He comes in and, well, gets a gun pointed at him. But Luka decides to play hero (bad idea, Luka), and the new girl jams a needle in his back, and he falls to the floor. She gave him vex (I think that's the name), the stuff you give a patient when you need to put a tube down his throat. But she gives him, like, 9 million times the dosage, and he's paralyzed and he'll stop breathing if they don't intubate him.
Sam convinces her ex to get Luka on the table. After several nerve-shattering tries, she finally gets the tube in him, but is dragged out by her ex and the other guy (disguised as a cop) so they can leave the hosptial.
If you've seen the promos, then you know what happens next: Gunfight at the OK Corrall, as Abby notices something wrong with the way Sam is leading her ex out in the wheelchair and asks two cops to investigate. The entire ER and waiting room is in a hail of gunfire: people are diving behind desks, cops are shot in the elevator, patients cover themselves with chairs, glass shatters everywhere. Since this is ER and since it's the season finale, you know that someone important is going to be shot here. I thought it would be Morris, since it's his last day, but it turns out to be ... Jerry! He covered a young boy from the shots and was shot himself.
The crooks and Sam get outside, and Sam pleads with her ex to not go, to "think of Alex." And he says to her, "I already did!" And he opens the van and Alex is there bound and gagged! Sam jumps into the van.
Back in the ER, the gang is working hard to save Jerry, who takes a turn for the worse after looking OK at first. (Nice to see some real emotion here by Kerrie, who almost starts crying when she sees Jerry.) Abby isn't feeling well, but continues to work. She needs something from the hallway and goes to get it. She starts to feel dizzy, and then notices that she's bleeding. Her hand is full of blood, and she reaches for the window to steady herself, but she falls, and blood splatters the window.
Meanwhile, Luka sees all this happening and knows that something is wrong with Abby. He's shaking the table he's on, but can't move because he's intubated, and no one knows he's in this room!
So, as the season ends, we have Jerry dying from a gunshot wound on the table (hope he makes it - though I think he is starring in a new show this fall), Sam and Alex kidnapped by escaped cons, Abby on the floor down the hall, bleeding, having trouble with her pregnancy, and Luka all alone in a room and he can't move or yell for help (one of my nightmares). Yikes!
Earlier this week I said that I was going to stop watching ER next season because it had gotten too boring. Now it looks like I'll have to tune in for the season opener at least. Damn it.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-20-2006 @ 11:42AM
Joel Keller said...
Apparently, Abraham Benrubi (Jerry) will be in that new Anne Heche show, "Men In Trees." The last time he left "ER" to do a new show, the show lasted about a month, and he was back behind the desk as Jerry before the season was out. Why would they close that option for him this time? He's one of the few people still left from Season One (unless you count those Carter-in-Africa episodes).
I mean, how much time does it take to do a take that says "radiology on line one, Luka", which is pretty much all Jerry says in most episodes...?
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5-20-2006 @ 12:21PM
Brent said...
Who directed the last 20 minutes of the show? It seems like Guy Ritchie decided to direct the end of the show heh.
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5-20-2006 @ 1:48PM
Tammy said...
I was pretty shocked with the kidnapping of Alex and Sam. I just sat there with my mouth open when he opened the van, very unexpected. Figured there would be something with Abby's pregnancy and how sad to watch Luka, bound to the table and unable to do anything to help her.
I agree, a very decent season finale for an okay season. Next season we get John Stamos back as the EMT guy. Will he continue to flirt with Nella now that her husband is gone? hmmmmm
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5-20-2006 @ 2:57PM
purpleslog said...
I liked how the intial pre-seconds of the gunfight were in slow motion with a long-distance camera angle coming out of the vending machine. Very nice.
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5-20-2006 @ 6:01PM
diane said...
I wil hope that if jerry dies..they will {the powers that be } let him come back . I think th ewriting here has suffered for several seasons , but it is still a great show, with great characters , like Jerry. I miss the old days .. but am warming up to the new guys, who have been actually a few years. Sams character is wasted i think , and I am okay with all of the final show this season except the ex husband plot .. which doesnt make any sense..
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5-20-2006 @ 6:09PM
diane said...
I must say i think the show is a great one , even when it is not up to its own standards . I also think it is the characters that have been on for so long that seem to keep me interested..like jerry and the nurses, and frank ..Where is that tall black guy .. malik ? i think ? he has been around for ever in the background and is he off the show ? I believe he was a nurse ...and I am also beginning to warm up to neela and we love pratt now.. this is a well devolped show ..but the plot with sams ex husbans seems a bit phoney .. but I guess it was done for some effect ....hey did anyone see Intervention onA and E? they had a woman who was on this show as a nurse many years ago , 3 seasons I think .. she was /is a compulsive shopper . Nothing to do with anything , just thropwing it out there ....and .. dont you think when the show is finally cancelled , that it would be cool if all the old castmates came back .. I am so corny huh .. but they could have a plot line where say , the hospital is sold and closing . .. stupid I guess..
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5-21-2006 @ 1:33AM
Jen said...
I've probably only watched a small handful of episodes this season and don't feel out of the loop on any storyline what-so-ever. I didn't think the season finale would be all that great and then of course, I was completely wrong. It was pretty damn good.
When they showed Alex in the van I actually let out an "OhMyGawd" and I also liked the filming of it.. slow/drawn out.. very cool. I'm looking forward to the next season now!
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5-21-2006 @ 9:34AM
scott mclendon said...
Sorry that little shrew Neela wasn't there to get blown away.Her shreiking at Michael's father was embarassing.
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5-21-2006 @ 9:34AM
Jimmy said...
I agree with your need to groan at the idea of yet another gunfight in this ER! However, the gunfight is really a secondary plot; although, a big one with major upheval. I guess Jerry had to be the one to die so we can have -- boo! hiss! -- John Stamos join the cast next season. Because, as we all know, John Stamos is quite the ratings superstar. I will admit he had great chemistry with Parminder Nagra. How about Parminder Nagra! She definately deserves some Emmy love for these last two episodes. Loved her takedown of Michael's father.
Well, there's not much of a cliffhanger with the whole Abby plot since Sally Field has been talking up her guest stint next season for the birth of Abby and Luka's baby, so we know at least she'll be back.
This has been a tough year for ER. The writing has been mediocre and even the actors seem bored in their roles. Next year might mean a return of ER greatness, however, since Without a Trace will be moving to Sundays. Hopefully the show can regain some of its former greatness.
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5-21-2006 @ 6:05PM
Chris said...
I had been seeing the previews for the season finale all week. And I must say, this seasons ender was absolutely one of the great ones. There were twist around every corner and it was just too good after a season that kinda lacked the blood and excitement of an ER. I always like the very last minute or so of the season ender with the music and things are kinda in slow motion. But, OMG! the student nurse, the kidnapping, Luka bound, Jerry shot, and Abby passed out pregnant on the floor.... SUCH AN EXCELLENT SEASON FINALE! finally props to a GREAT episode!! Can't wait til next season!
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5-21-2006 @ 6:07PM
Rachel said...
It was episodes like this that make me happy that I have not given up on "ER." I did not see one of those cliffhangers coming...
I was so sick of Steve -- and Alex for that matter, but man! I can't wait to see what happens next. I am twice as excited knowing that there will be no repeats next season.
I also noticed that the guy that played Steve's partner was the same guy that abducted David in "Six Feet Under." Can't that guy get any "nice guy" roles?
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5-27-2006 @ 9:19PM
Angela said...
Now i am one that has watched ER since the begining and yes it has lost a little somehitng the past couple weeks but i LOVED the finale it was the best one i have ever seen. I love Jerry and hope he does not die. Now i heard sam is coming back and she will have legal prob's.. And last but not least i want Abby to be ok because i have seen her go thru sooo much and i think she deserves to be happy and in a relationship. All in All GREAT finale and i hope there are more twist and turns next season.
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6-10-2006 @ 7:39PM
Ian said...
Can anyone tell me what the music was that was playing towards the end of the episode 'twenty one guns'?
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7-11-2006 @ 12:21AM
Nicole said...
The group is Snow Patrol, the song is Open Your Eyes.
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