TVSquad

(S14E14) Welcome back!

We haven't seen each other for awhile -- January 17th, to be exact -- so I thought I'd bring you up to speed about what's happening on ER. Apparently, all of the main characters that started on the show are gone and have been replaced by a younger, more horny group of doctors and nurses who tend to whine a lot. Oh, there's also blood, burns, life, death, sadness, joy, naked doctors, doctors having shock treatments, alcoholic doctors who have had extra-marital affairs, blah, blah, blah.

I kid, of course (except for the horny part). If you've read any of my reviews over the last two years you'd know that I'm pretty pleased with the way the show has re-energized itself with new characters and a focus back into the happenings of the emergency room. True, there are some things that still annoy me, like the never-ending curse over Abby Lockhart, but they can be managed because there are other good things about the show.

So, I guess the only question right now is if I enjoyed this week's episode. Well, read on to find out.

Overall it was a fairly good episode. Frankly, I thought it was going to be a bad one with the cold open featuring County General's new physician, Simon Brenner, sleeping with two beautiful girls (I know, how can you hate that!), but the show improved shortly after. That's because we fans now have a new person to hate.

Its been a few months since we had that type of person on ER. A good many of us disliked Dr. Weaver for many years, until she became a mother and softened up. Earlier this season we found a new hate thanks to Kevin Morretti. However, he left the show too early to really lather up a good anger. Now we have Dr. Brenner who is, to put it mildly, a randy little git. From his little swagger, to his 'my doo-doo don't smell' attitude, to his failure to not teach the med students in a teaching hospital, Simon has "wanker" written all over him.

What really irks me is his position towards Greg Pratt. Even though he isn't the Chief of Emergency Medicine at County General he's still the senior Attending down in the emergency room. That should amount to something. However, Brenner doesn't think so. In fact, all that Brenner thinks about is himself and how much work he can accomplish. Oh, he has the good looks and the bedside manner that the former librarians-turned WWE wrestlers fall in love with, but that's just a lot of smoke and mirrors. When it comes down to it he's not any better than the other ER docs on the floor right now. Well, I guess a few episodes will determine how good he really is.

Onto Ross and Hathaway Tony and Samantha. Now, who really thought they wouldn't be getting together after the kiss Sam placed on Gates in the last episode before the strike? Too much alcohol indeed! Please, they work together, they have something in common because they are both raising rambunctious teenagers, and they're both pretty darn cute. I'm surprised they didn't get together right after Neela dumped Tony. We will have to see how their relationship progresses starting with next week's episode. From the last few minutes there's a chance there could be good bit of passion between these two kids. By the way, it seems that Room 4 has been designated the "Sex Room" by the staff at County General. How many docs and nurses have gone into that room for more than a nap? Oh, if the walls could talk.

Moving on to, sigh, Abby. Well, the good news here is that she stopped drinking. The bad news is that she started smoking again (I wonder if there have been any studies done about how many alcoholics turn to cigarettes after they become sober). It looks like she is finally trying to get her life back together again after she messed it up...again. We've been through this song and dance before: Abby gets better, does something to mess her life up, and works to get better again.

At least she has help this time around (Oh, she had help before in the form of Carter. But, that was only because he wanted to be in her pants) in the form of her sponsor, Dr. Janet Coburn, and her husband, Luka Kovac. Unfortunately, Luka is a bit miffed at her because of the little secret that she's keeping and the lies she has told. The lies have been happening for a long time, so he should be used to that. She hasn't slept with too many people while in a marriage, though. Which means she could be in a heap of trouble pretty soon.

Is this the last we've seen of Abby Lockhart on ER? It certainly seemed so with the little Friends-like montage they showed featuring the relationship between her and Luka. Frankly, I think it would make a great ending to both of the characters' runs on the program. Almost a sense of closure as she and her husband hugged in reconciliation. But, it looks like she comes back in two weeks with the same unanswered questions for Luka that he had in this week's episode. Sheesh, be done already!

Two other points of interest. This week's medical storyline was interesting, but very predictable. The friend/boyfriend seemed a little creepy to just be someone the patient met at a cardiac recovery meeting. When the patient made the reveal to Gates and Sam I wasn't very surprised. However, why the patient would stop taking rejection medicine to die after she worked so hard to get the transplant in the first place is beyond me. If I had a heart transplant I'd be trying every single treatment possible to keep me going.

Finally, the comic relief this week was courtesy of one Archie Morris. I. Love. Morris. After getting a bit serious over the last season, which I enjoyed, Morris has definitely been the light in this gloomy little city ER. It was inevitable that he would become the test subject that the taser would strike. His reactions to being shocked, especially when he slams into the glass door and you hear the squeaking, was the best part of it all.

Next time -- Tony and Sam get serious, and the spotlight is on Neela.