TVSquad

(S14E10) "If we keep this thing cranking, we could hit 300. That's quite a milestone." -- Dr. Archie Morris

So, 300 episodes.

No clip show, no big fanfare, no super-humongo guest star (even though Peter Fonda is fairly big). Other than the promos mentioning that it was ER's 300th episode there really wasn't much differing it from episode 159, episode 52, or episode 1.

There were still patients that made us cry a little, doctors that made us laugh, and continuing dramas that, hopefully, came to an end so we didn't end up reaching into the screen and strangling the person causing all of the drama in the first place because she had a chip on her shoulder the size of Mt. Rushmore! Ahem. Like I said...business as usual at County General.

Gallery: ER

Let's begin with drama queen Abby. My Lord, she was totally pissing me off with her holier than thou attitude against everyone. I just could not take it anymore. It's one thing to have a drinking problem, but it's another to yell at a friend concerned about your drinking problem in the apartment that she pays rent on. Abby had no right to do that, even if she was angry at herself for the way she acted.

I was so glad that Julia's little story finally put a chink into Abby's armor big enough to finally admit to Luka that she had a problem. And, once she opened up she really opened up. I was quite surprised that she let her little one-nighter with Moretti come out, even if it wasn't spoken to Luka. It was pretty much implied that she was unfaithful to her husband.

Now, she is off to a rehab center to get better. What this means for her character I'm unsure about. Maura Tierney has said in previous interviews that this season of ER would be her last. To me, this seemed like her swan song. This wouldn't be shocking to me since the show has let go of plenty of characters without a huge send-off. Frankly, I think I need more closure to the whole Abby-Luka-Joe story. However, if this was Tierney's last episode I'd be okay with it.

That's because the rest of the cast can hold up on its own without Abby's actions. All of the main characters -- Archie, Sam, Greg, Tony, Frank, Neela -- have done just fine without Abby and Luka hogging up the screen. I don't feel that anything is missing when neither of them are there, unlike when Ross or Susan or Greene left the show. If anything, Abby and Luka's absences have allowed the other characters to grow a good bit.

Take Sam, for instance. This season Ms. Taggart has taken quite a leap in her adulthood, becoming more responsible and ambitious. Being part of the transfer program and learning all of those new skills has really given her some new found respect in the eyes of her colleagues. Now, all she needs to do is bring home her son. You remember him, don't you? He's the pyromaniac who's holed up in a boarding school.

Another example is Tony. Since his journey into ICU, Gates has become a better emergency room doctor. Yes, he still has a tendency to knock people down to the ground, like he did this week, but those instances are few and far between. That could also be the result of Julia as well as Sarah.

Speaking about Julia, I had mixed feelings about her memorial ceremony. At first, I found the whole story a bit hokey and a ploy just to get the character more screen time. However, as the patient memorial progressed, and the memories of past patients flashed across the doctor's minds, I found the scene touching. I kind of wished that some of the original cast were there in the break room to see what patient they were influenced by the most. I'm guessing that Greene's would have been the pregnant lady who he pretty much killed in the first season, while Susan's would have been Ben Hollander (Bob Newhart).

The big story this week featured guest star Peter Fonda, who definitely looks a bit like his father. Honestly, I didn't find his performance that enthralling. In fact, I found his acting a bit dull. I think you could have hired any number of other actors who could have done a better job. On the other hand, the boy who played Lowell was very good in his portrayal of a son who gained one parent and lost another.

Well, another show ends for 2007. If the writers' strike continues through the winter we may only have a few more new episodes until ER runs dry in February. So, until that time, have a happy non-denominational holiday season.