TVSquad

(S13E07) Hey there! Before I begin I want to thank Jen Creer for filling in for me last week while I was out. You da, er, woman, Jen! And now, let's begin.

I'm not a big fan of the 'one patient' episodes that ER gives us a few times each season. Personally, I love the breakneck pace of seeing a number of patients that the show has been famous for. But, this time it was different. Most likely because it was the doctor who was treating the patient . . . Archie Morris. After wishing for a focus piece on our selfish, red-headed doctor after seeing him at work in the season premiere we finally got one this week.

Because, let's face it, Archie has been portrayed as a pretty big prick since he came on board around season 11. He hasn't really showed himself as a competent doctor; he liked the role of administrator and task master more. So, whenever we have seen him he's been an embarrassing joke. Even early on in this episode we saw that same type of persona as he tried to compete with Kerry Weaver to obtain a spot as medical correspondent on a Chicago television station.

But something changed. That little bit of Morris as a real doctor that we saw in the first episode of the season (while trying to save Jerry's life) finally came out. He became a real medical professional who was actually concerned about his patient's care. That was due to the fact that the patient had all of the signs of Dissociative identity disorder (DID), what we used to call Multiple Personality Disorder, and he was having a devil of a time trying to save his life from a crippling heart condition.

Luckily Samantha believed him, and worked through the patient's personalities to get consent to perform the necessary procedure. I wonder if Sam would have been written as so charitable if Morris continued to be written as a pompous ass. Luckily, this was a more serious side of Morris who wanted nothing more than to see his patient leave the hospital a healthy individual. There was even a third side of Morris we saw at the end of the episode. The patient exhibits another personality, one of a little boy, who is quite afraid of everything that has happened. Morris stays with the patient, talking about Hot Wheels cars, until he is admitted. It was actually quite a sad ending to a very satisfying show.

So, after writing all of that, I say this to the producers and writers of ER: I want to see more of this Dr. Morris. We already have a big idiot as chief surgical resident. That's enough people to hate this season. You can continue to give Morris some embarrassing situations, but I want to see Archie do more than just whine.

Right. Let's see what else happened this episode:

• Here's my pet peeve for the week. The scene where Abby and Luka interview for a new nanny came straight from a sitcom. How many times have we had to watch a couple with a newborn baby interview a hot nanny, an Eastern European nanny, and an idiot nanny? Really, the writers couldn't think of anything original?
• Recognize the reporter that offers Kerry a job at her network? That's Michelle Hurd, who played Detective Monique Jeffries for the first few seasons of Law & Order: Special Vicitms Unit.
• There's a nice little love triangle between Ray Barnett (who needs more screen time), Neela, and Tony Gates. Neela and Gates get it on in one of the hospital's auditoriums while Shane looked on (pervert). At first I thought it was another sexy dream Neela had. But, it turned out that it was real. It will be interesting to see when Gates tells Neela who he lives with.
• What is going on with Forrest Whitaker's character, Curtis Ames? You see him watching Luka and Abby from across the street, and then he's there at the park almost stalking Abby. I'm not too sure what his intentions are. Please, ER producers and writers, I beg of you not to make Abby sad again by having Curtis harm the child.

That's it this time around. See you in seven days or so.