ER - where to start?

[LitteRedSparkle]

Ok - am a long term Greys Anatomy fan, and need some more things to watch - i tried season 1 of ER, but couldnt get into it....

so the question is, do i abandon my 'always start at season 1 episode 1' stance and jump in on season 4(or which one is the best)? or keep trying, or give up?

[confusionis]

Greys anatomy is the poor relative of ER.

[MadameJosephine]

Keep trying, it'll be worth it. I watched every episode while I was on maternity leave with DD. She's 3 now so I might start all over again

[EverySongbirdSays]

Greys anatomy is the poor relative of ER.

Not so. Grey's Anatomy effectively killed ER off. Towards the end of its run, ER was copying a lot of what GA was doing, and directly referenced it at least once.

ER is really, really worth persevering with and yes from S1, to understand the relationship dynamics. Jumping in at S4 would be like jumping in to Greys at S4 and not knowing about Addison.

It does (ER) come across as dated now, and Grey's is now where ER was in its last years and needs to be put out of its misery.

I recommend Scandal, from the same stable as Greys. It depends what your best things are about Grey's for me to know what else to recommend.

[Frazzled2207]

In its heydey ER was really superb. Keep with it.

[ElspethFlashman]

I loved ER during the Benton years. Clooneys character was a complete man child who I kinda hated but at least he was easy on the eyes.

Sadly it went down the pan once Clooney left as they started to bring in a revolving door of young perky ER interns and started phasing out Elizabeth and Romano and all the surgical stuff. After the infamous "the helicopter returns to finish the job" episode I never watched it again.

But I would definitely re watch the early seasons.

[ElspethFlashman]

Actually it started to get a bit wearing once Abby entered the show. The fans called her Crabby, and with good reason as she was utterly joyless. I don't think I'd re watch much of her, tbh.

[furryleopard]

I don't like early ER either, I watch from about series 3 if I rewatch. And I adore Abby - she is one of the most well defined, flaws and all, female characters I've ever seen on telly.

[SalmonMaki]

Just started watching ER and Grey's from the beginning and the styles are so different. I loved ER when it was first on, and I'm already wobbling a bit knowing what's to come for some of the characters. I think I gave up after Luca left, when it was first on.

Grey's is just fluff, albeit entertaining fluff.

[ElspethFlashman]

But but but....Remember that time they snuck away to have sex in the afternoon and she started singing Afternoon Delight but she still looked miserable? ?? Oh she did my bloody head in, she did.

Mind you, Maura Tierney isn't exactly a barrel of laughs in any role so I don't think it was the writing, more the actress.

[EverySongbirdSays]

For me, it had gone downhill when the main characters were like Neela and Pratt, and the guy who was played by John Stamos, and the woman played by Linda Cardellini whose characters names I dont even remember and Carter came back but no-one even remembered him by that point (in the hospital ) and that guy who was going out with Neela who loses his leg and I cant even remember the name of him or the character.

I liked the ginger with the Sperm donor kids though, again name escapes

Romano was the best

[EverySongbirdSays]

Abby and Luca/Abby and Carter I liked

but

Sally Field as Abby's bipolar Mum really got on my tits

[bruffin]

Er was far better than Greys Anatomy, never got past season one in GA and watched both as they were originally broadcast.
Er survived the cast changes surprisingly well, Romano was my favorite.
Chicago Hope almost came nesr to matching ER but have never managed to watch it properly as BBC changed the time every week, ling before cable or tivo.

[Tootyfilou]

Oh keep going!! Its the best best best thing!
It was groundbreaking in the way it was shot and it still standa the test of time.
Much better than Greys Anatomy... Better actors, scripts and stories. Even the last few series are worth watching.
Its a total cry fest though.
' you set the tone now Carter'
😰😰😰😰😰😰😰😰😰

[diddl]

I thought that ER was great.

Dr Greene-fabulous!

[AintNobodyHereButUsKittens]

I found George Clooney's character incredibly resistable, and his relationship with Hathaway didn't do anything for me, but Corday, Benton, Carter, Weaver and Romano were brilliant. I do think you have to watch from the beginning, because so much gets built up over the years.

[UmbongoUnchained]

Start from season 1 the episode called Blizzard. That's one of the best ever episodes and where it all starts to kick off really. Love love love ER. I usually watch it from the beginning up to about season 11.

[Stokes]

I'm mildly obsessed with Grey's, but ER was better. Grey's is soapy, ER was a quality drama. Stick with it. The Carter/Greene years are the best.

[ElspethFlashman]

Yes! Romano was amazing! He gave zero fucks.

[bruffin]

The young romano was in Fame
m.youtube.com/watch?v=8PyZSkHZGGE

[EverySongbirdSays]

Yes Greys is terribly soapy NOW but it got off to a cracking start

For me it goes south around Season 7

ER goes south after Greene and Romano are gone and even more so post Carter

[OddBoots]

Have you seen Private Practice?

[Micah]

Yy to chicago hope. Started at the same time as er and was less soapy, so lost the ratings war.

Dated now but great tv.

I watched st elsewhere recently too, tgat was pretty groundbreaking for it's time. It's also very interesting to go back 30/40 years and see the storylines- aids, people refusing to be treated by N*** doctors, general racism and sexism that wouldnt be seen now.

[TwllBach]

Ohhh go from the very beginning!! There was a period of time when Sky Atlantic showed two episodes a night and it was glorious!

[Hillfarmer]

What was the episode in Season 1 where Doug Ross saves a stuck kid in a storm drain?

I always called it "Doug and the Drain" (coz I am very witty), but that's a good one. I loved all that 'will they/won't they' stuff between Ross and Hathaway. He was a surefire dreamboat from the start, oh yes.

[Xmasbaby11]

Is ER on Netflix or anything? I used to love it but only saw episodes here and there. I'm having an operation in a few months and need something to get me through recovery!