2 CC’s of Awesome, STAT!

When I mention the show ER most people ask me why I still watch the show. For a while I really didn’t know why, I think it may just have been force of habit. But as the show is coming to an end (only 2 episodes left) they seem to have pulled their act together.

The show has been on for about 15 years with a great cast and supporting cast, changes, and countless intermingling storylines. The show has been through a lot and the last couple of years haven’t been so stellar. The writing became sloppy, convoluted and new characters weren’t given much depth. It became hard to care about the show when the people you cared for were leaving and there was no reason to care for anyone new.

It was hard to give up the show because I had already invested so much time in it. I started to haphazardly watch episodes, I missed a few, I left the country for 5 month then came back and it really didn’t seem like I missed anything. It was like one of those really bad movies where you just wanted to see how it ended but you really didn’t care what happened before then. But this was a whole lot longer obviously.

At the beginning of this season it was clearly different. We all knew it was going to be the last season and someone clearly wanted the show to go out with a bang. Watching I could tell they were trying. They must have brought in new writers (or some of the original writers) to get a new perspective and liven it up a little. The show has made me remember why I liked some of the characters that have been there for a while and like some of the new characters that they introduced so late in the game.

They are also on guest star overload. There have been appearances by old cast members, Noah Wyle, Anthony Edwards, Julianna Margulies, George Clooney, Eriq La Salle and Alex Kingston. As well as appearances by Garry Marshall, William H Macy, Louis Gossett Jr, and Susan Sarandon. Each star added to the show but did not overwhelm the overall story at any point.

Even though the show is ending I was really sad to see one of my favourite characters leave. It was Neela’s last night on the show. She was played by Parminder Nagra for the last 6 years with flair and intensity. Her farewell was emotional but not overly dramatic (she ended up choosing RAY! I was so happy about that). Now I just have to wait and see what happens to my other favourite, Archie. That guy started out so annoying but he just grew on me.

I have to say I really wish they had stepped up their game a little sooner. They would have kept more of their audience and maybe have pulled in more viewers before they ended. But I am glad they took the initiative to go out fighting instead of just dying off.

Tra