TVSquad

(S14E05) Let's start this week's review of ER with a few introductions and welcomes.

First, we welcome Harold Zelinsky to the recurring character list of ER. Harold is Neela's new surgical intern and he is a bit of a mystery. He says he's twenty-five but the ER staff at County General isn't convinced. Only a pissed-off Abby can find out how old he really is, which is nineteen. This child prodigy began college when he was only twelve after getting a perfect score on his SATs. If that isn't a ringing endorsement of home-schooling I don't know what is.

Gallery: ER

While Harold is extremely smart he's still young enough that the part of his brain that usually stops someone from putting their foot in their mouth hasn't developed yet. This means Neela is going to have her hands full trying to put a good spin into anything he says -- as was apparent in this week's episode. I already have a feeling I'm going to like the young Zelinsky boy.

Next, we welcome a new chaplain to County General (whose name escapes me at the time). While the meeting between her and Tony Gates may seem insignificant, now she will be having a powerful impact on Tony's life as she becomes his love interest (as told to you in our post about what to expect this season on ER). I would have previously said Gates would have never gone for someone like a chaplain. However, with his world turned so upside-down last season I think he's looking for a stabilizing influence to match his quiet fire.

By the way, welcome Tony back to the ER. Dr. Gates impressed the heck out of the new ICU chief. So much so that Moretti wanted him back down on the floor as soon as possible (even after Tony rattled off all of the mistakes that took place while on ICU rotation). Now, instead of locking horns with Moretti he is now doing so with Pratt. Wait, didn't Gates lock horns with Greg before he was moved to the ICU? Never mind.

Gates' attitude towards diagnostic medicine has radically changed in his weeks up in the ICU. He no longer has an ER mentality of stabilizing them and letting the specialists take over. He is now taking extra care with the ER patients. That's getting him into some trouble with Pratt and other doctors like Cardiology chief Kayson. To give Tony credit his arguments to Kayson concerning a patient with unusual heart activity were very well thought out. He didn't even punch Kayson in the face (like we all have wanted to do at one time or another).

Speaking about Kayson, I wanted to welcome him and Dr. Coburn back into the recurring character list on ER. Other than nurses Chuny and Lily, Drs. Coburn and Kayson have appeared on the show since its start in 1994. Kayson really hasn't changed in his attitude towards the ER docs. Obviously he forgot about his heart attack in season one that Susan Lewis helped him survive. Janet Coburn hasn't changed that much either; yet, there is one new thing that we learned about her this week: she's been Abby's AA sponsor for several years now.

With that, I welcome back Abby to the edge of alcoholism. It looks like the temptation of the drink was too much for Abby to bear last episode, and we find her nearly passed out on the couch after barely drinking any wine. At least she knew she made a mistake. But, in typical Abby fashion, she decided that she could handle the drinking all on her own. Luckily, thoughts of young Joe pushed through the stubborn part of her brain and she ended up attending an AA meeting. One more thing about Abby ... is it me, or did her hair style change between her time in the ER and her time on the subway?

Now we'll say hello to Luka. Hello, you stupid, stupid, yet much thinner man. Kovac's been gone for awhile now (in show time) and I think it's time for him to get back home and help out. Abby is strong but, as we saw last episode, she does have a breaking point. I'm sure Luka's concerned about his father, but he also has a brand new family that needs his attention as well. While remaining on the subject of Luka and Abby I thought the scene of their phone conversation was interesting because I had never seen a split-screen scene on ER before.

Finally, I want to give a warm welcome back to the very silly side of Archie Morris. Morris' scenes were the funniest of the entire episode. Sure, the plot was as old as television is, but Scott Grimes made it work so well with his mannerisms and facial expressions. You know, if I were the producers of ER I would certainly consider giving Morris a spin-off of his own if (when) the medical drama ends this season. By the way, the whole 'ring on a finger attracts the ladies' thing is just an old wives tale. The only people that were attracted to me after I put on my wedding ring were the representatives of the credit card companies who wanted payment for my honeymoon expenses.

Next week ... my wedding anniversary, Pratt and Morris take their medical boards, we meet Moretti's son, and Sam does something heroic.