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Original poster

ER - where to start?

65 replies

LitteRedSparkle · 08/05/2016 11:22

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?

OP posts:
Donatellalymanmoss · 09/05/2016 22:48

How far into season 1 did you get? I remember watching the very first episode when it started and was totally hooked. It was just so much better than casualty!!

It is much less polished than greys though. There is an episode called love labours lost (I think) that has Josh from the west wing in it that totally drew me in for life though. I think it was about half way through the first series.

Donatellalymanmoss · 09/05/2016 22:52

When I say less polished, I mean that the ER setting is much more
gritty and much less glamourous than greys, the acting, writing and directing for ER was great.

Although I do think Shonda Rhimes,

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es · 09/05/2016 22:52

Stick with it. I started watching around Season 3 (the episode where Ewan Macregor holds Carol hostage in a corner shop) when it was first broadcast and got addicted very quickly, it did lose the way as PPs have mentioned around the time all the young interns became the central characters and Kovac started shagging anything that moved, but it turned things back around for the final season or so and went out on a huge emotional high.

I only watched the first seasons a couple of years ago when it was on Sky Atlantic and it felt weird seeing them for the first time after the run had ended, but it was great to see how it all started.

And yes to Doug and the storm drain, heart wrenching stuff.

LMGTFY · 09/05/2016 23:00

I watched it from start to finish as it ran, I rate it as one of the best series ever. I had noah wyle's posters everywhere. I would not recommend starting watching it now, you'll just make comparisons, judge the standard of accuracy and spend half the time spotting 90s stuff (ooh look at that cell phone!), I did this with the sopranos.

Donatellalymanmoss · 09/05/2016 23:02

I thought I'd deleted my half finished sentence about Shonda, apparently not.

If anyone cares, I think she puts together very exciting shows and I like how with both greys and scandal she manages create universes and characters that are both thoroughly believable whilst being totally farcical.

Donatellalymanmoss · 09/05/2016 23:04

LMGTFY I watched it on maternity leave and was totally agog at a baby being put in a forward facing seat in the front of a car!

GingerAndTheBiscuits · 09/05/2016 23:13

Oh Luca. Luca Luca Luca.

Off to google where he is now...

Griphook · 10/05/2016 00:03

How are you watching er? Where I mean!

UmbongoUnchained · 10/05/2016 00:04

griphook Putlocker! Will be your new best friend :)

Glitteryfrog · 10/05/2016 07:43

I watched all of it when it was shown on sky Atlantic.
Brilliant tv, not too hard work. Dr Greene and Carter.
It does look its age and I can't imagine someone in their 20s watching it. It's nostalgic.

Lweji · 10/05/2016 07:48

Yes, Luka.

I last saw him in Crossing Borders, playing, iirc, an Italian (!) rough cop. 💕

I liked ER and watched the whole thing again recently.

Ireallydontseewhy · 10/05/2016 07:51

Shocked that nobody has mentioned susan lewis so far! Her first seasons were superb. Haven't seen it for ages - would be interesting to see if it is still so 'powerful' - can't think of a better word really.

madamginger · 10/05/2016 08:14

Er is much better than GA.
For a start the characters weren't shagging in the on call room every five seconds Hmm
It was groundbreaking in its day, and it wasn't afraid to show the blood and guts of the patients, And quite a lot of GA storylines are nicked from ER.
So sad when Lucy got shot, poor Carter and the episode when Greg Pratt died, I proper sobbed, he knew he was going to die.

ElspethFlashman · 10/05/2016 10:19

Oh Susan Lewis. She was amazing.

But it reminds me of a problem with ER. They had these interesting characters with acerbic personalities like her and Romano, and we never learnt a single thing about them outside of work, cos they werent the "sexy" ones. I think Susan eventually got a bit of back story several years in but Romano never did. We never found out a single thing about him, really.

DoItTooJulia · 10/05/2016 10:26

Huge ER fan here. I wouldn't let my DH (then boyfriend) in if he called between 9 and 10 pm on a Wednesday. You either come before ER or after. Never in the middle.

I've got the entire lot on DVD. Might dig it out seeing as it's raining....

Looly71 · 10/05/2016 10:38

Love love love ER

EverySongbirdSays · 10/05/2016 11:37

Susan got the backstory of the annoying sister quite early on season 1 or 2 and also that arsehole psychiatrist she was with

Lweji · 10/05/2016 13:07

I actually liked how Dr Weaver evolved. She could be both a bitch and lovely.

Lweji · 10/05/2016 13:11

Susan Lewis had an acerbic personality?
I think you mean Kerry Weaver. :)

Kerry had her lesbian story, plus a visit by her mother at some point, and her pregnancy and her son.

Susan got married and had a baby. Her "love" story was quite cute. She got married in Vegas, got divorced, then they decided they were the loves of their lives.
And she rescued her niece to "lose" her again later.

ElspethFlashman · 10/05/2016 16:12

Ah shit, I DID mean Kerry Weaver, good catch!

For a second I was like "....she had a sister? ?" I had completely forgotten the real Susan Lewis existed! I remember her now. Wow, has that actress been in anything since? Totally dropped off the radar.

Whereas I know both Weaver and Romano went on to become full time directors. Romano guy Paul McCrane does shit loads of top shows, I'm forever seeing his name in opening credits.

Lweji · 10/05/2016 16:19

Weaver had been adopted, I think, and she housed Carter for a few episodes. Her birth mother had rejected her for her disability and then rejected her lesbianism.
She also got pregnant and lost her baby. Sad

There was quite a lot about her, actually.

Original poster
LitteRedSparkle · 15/05/2016 10:20

quick update: I've started on Season 2, as just couldnt get a hold on S1, i will probably watch it when i get to the end - but this is working from me

OP posts:
LittleRedSparkle · 15/05/2016 10:23

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

This was in Season 2 (I know, because i've just watched it)

I wasnt keen on Private Practise, tried to watch it twice, not sure what I like about GA - maybe because the characters are not nice to each other, a bit like Seinfeld was. I loved Sopranos

Cleebope · 15/05/2016 21:25

The characters in ER were so diverse and convincing, it was such an intelligently crafted series. But if I see episodes now they don't hook me. Very much of its time so I think if you don't get into it right away you may be wasting your efforts. But I absolutely loved every episode.

tropical1 · 15/05/2016 22:31

I still can't watch the final episode with Dr Green in without a tear in my eye, don't want to say anymore as don't wantto spoil itShock

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