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ER - why could they never let Carter be happy. SPOILERS

136 replies

Fifireee · 31/08/2023 20:10

SPOILERS I’m rewatching ER for the billionth time. I need a portable c spine, Chem 7 and an intubation kit.

Why could Carter never be allowed to be happy?!
Why did they let Mark die (sob).
Poor Carter.
I have an irrational dislike of Thandie Newton because she (I know she didn’t really) broke his heart and he never found love again.
I’ve got to series 10 so it will start to get rubbish soon.

OP posts:
Original poster
Fifireee · 31/08/2023 22:05

@hexsnidgett Mark!!!

@TheLovleyChebbyMcGee Exactly.!

I also wonder how they got away with all the crying babies. They always swwmsws to be torturing babies!

OP posts:
WobblyLondoner · 31/08/2023 22:19

TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 31/08/2023 22:02

Mark was my favourite character, and I like that he was flawed, it made him balanced and more real.

Its funny how my opinions on the characters changed though from when I first watched it at aged 14 to when I rematch it aged approx 37. Doug became an arsehole and Kerry became totally reasonable!

So so true!!

tigger1001 · 31/08/2023 22:38

TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 31/08/2023 21:36

I love er!! Its really held up well given that its almost 30 years old. It tackled a lot of heavy subject matter when Friends was getting laughs from Ross's gay ex-wife. The main characters had story lines with gay relationships, a doctor who had HIV, racism profiling by the police, addiction, suicide, still birth, and then all the patients story lines that covered too many issues to list!

Absolutely this!

The show wasn't scared to tackle the heavy issues of the day, but, to me anyway, did it in a non-preachy way. Something Grey's anatomy has tried to copy but failed to for me.

In er the main characters had flaws. They weren't perfect. Struggled to deal with some of the things that they saw. They just seemed real. Whereas greys anatomy is more soap opera like.

tigger1001 · 31/08/2023 22:40

Fifireee · 31/08/2023 22:00

@Humidititties Archie was so good because he was so useless when he started and the episode with the tank was very funny.

Yeah Archie really grew up and it was good to see him mature.

OnTheBoardwalk · 31/08/2023 22:42

Just rewatching the stabbing episode now

Mark and Kerry proper fighting at this stage but the look she gives him when she can’t cope when Paul comes in and he steps into the situation gets me every time

biscuitdunkerette · 31/08/2023 22:53

I’ve wondered about watching it with the DC. Suitable for 13/15 year olds, or no way?

NotMadeOfStone · 31/08/2023 23:01

I was 15 when it came on so I say yes.

There's little/no swearing or sex, it's just medical stuff, a wee bit gory maybe but nothing awful.

Now I'm getting all nostalgic. You set the tone! 💔

Doormatnomore · 31/08/2023 23:10

I was a hardcore ER fan and yes Carter was the first time I searched for an actor on the internet to see what else I could watch him in (spoiler nothing else any good). But my died died practically the same week as Mark and was so raw I never watched it when I was rerun in case it was anything about that story line.

i also base all my medical knowledge on it (thankfully never actually required to crack a chest). Probably ready for a rewatch now.

Strictlyfanoftenyears · 31/08/2023 23:10

Yes, I loved Archie. He came on to do an impossible role really but was brilliant. Hated Pratt though, he spent too long being a pratt imo.

NotMadeOfStone · 31/08/2023 23:12

Oh I reckon I could reasonably crack a chest after watching it so many times 😁

CuriousGeorge80 · 31/08/2023 23:18

Totally agree with the pp who said they age changes your views - I hated weaver when I was a teenager and then rewatched it a few years back and totally understood her.

God I loved George Clooney and Doug Ross. Hell and Higg Water my favourite TV episode ever.

Doormatnomore · 31/08/2023 23:21

@NotMadeOfStone and have a go at internal compressions - i do hope that happens as much in real hospitals

RedHelenB · 31/08/2023 23:22

Fifireee · 31/08/2023 20:54

@Spareincoming I loved Abby and I loved Luka but not together. She deserves better.

Correction , he deserved better she was hard work.

MrJollyLivesNextDoor · 31/08/2023 23:25

When Susan Lewis had to give baby Susie back to her deadbeat sister 😭

Dogsitterwoes · 31/08/2023 23:26

I loved ER but it jumped the shark for me when Romano was killed by a helicopter crashing on him in the street, a couple of seasons after his arm was chopped off by a helicopter. I mean, come on, had he offended the god of helicopters or something?

therealpumpkinbumpkin · 31/08/2023 23:27

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the request of the user.

Bluebellsbells · 31/08/2023 23:28

Romano!! I loved to hate that guy! He was infuriating then every so often you saw a softer side and thought oh he's not that bad after all! Like when he brought his dog to the ER to have surgery, or the times he helped Elizabeth because he absolutely loved her but wouldn't let anyone know.

Mark was the soul of ER it was devastating when he died.

When Pratt, Luka and Carter went to Africa.

ER is just the absolute best thing ever been on TV. Over 300 hours of epic television.

Tilllly · 31/08/2023 23:30

Romano had the best one liners

NotMadeOfStone · 31/08/2023 23:37

Romano when he secretly signed something to Rhys behind Benton's back!

Needmorelego · 31/08/2023 23:50

@Fifireee the Susan crossover episode was the show Third Watch. It was shown in the UK (Sky One and Channel 4). Unfortunately not at the same time so it was years before I saw the two episodes together. Third Watch was fantastic. Only had 6 seasons. Their 3rd season had to be changed because of 9/11 (it was about New York firefighters, paramedics and police. The first episode of season 3 was changed and was set on September 10th so we (the viewers) knew what was about to happen. It was unbelievably emotional.

Spareincoming · 01/09/2023 00:24

@Needmorelego Third watch was so good too. I also fangirled that one and bought the DVDs when I lived in Canada, I still have them and will never part with them, but have nothing to play them on as they’re old skool regional and my laptop doesn’t even have a cd drive!

Needmorelego · 01/09/2023 00:44

@Spareincoming you could only get the first two seasons on DVD (in the UK) and the rest were never released. It's not shown on any streaming channels either. Some weird thing to do with copyright issues over the music apparently 😕

colouringindoors · 01/09/2023 00:47

Such, SUCH an excellent series. I do wish Carter had found someone with warmth to be with, Kem always felt distant to me.

Loved the Carter/Benton dynamic especially on that plane to rehab...

So wish Lucy hadn't died, I liked her sparkiness.

Loved Susan, she stood out to me on the last rewatch.

It's one of those quality programmes with well written characters that you get something different from when you watch at different times in your life.

The Dr Ross and Nurse Hathaway dynamic is annoying but also eminently believable...

Unmatched.

colouringindoors · 01/09/2023 00:52

I also think it's had such an impact for so many because there aren't actually many happy endings or storylines, compared imho to many US dramas now. There was lots that was sad, which we as viewers get, and make us feel for the characters more.

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