After six seasons, which finale has been the best (or your favorite) and why? I haven't seen them all, but would be curious to hear.

-- Jane (lc@centuryinter.net), May 19, 2000

Answers

My favorite so far is last night's. I like knowing that Carter was going to get the help he needs and that Benton was with him. Mark and Elizabeth are still going strong, I like that too, Mark deserves to be happy. The epi's ending had kind of a closure, didn't leaves hanging, wondring and suffering. I can't wait until next season!

-- Nica (NicaMom@excite.com), May 19, 2000.

I've been watching since the first epi aired and last night's was the best season finale ever. I've never been so psyched for the next season to find out what happened to Carter while he was at rehab, etc. Someone on another thread said they hoped it picked up where it left off, but was doubtful because ER usually ends in May and begins again with the summer having passed. That's exactly what I'm hoping happens, and expect to, because then Carter will be back (or coming back) and we won't miss him in any epis. "May Day" was so great!

-- Diana (dilynne@juno.com), May 19, 2000.

I have not seen the finales from Seasons 2 and 3 yet, but I think this was the best. It was so intense and interesting. Season 1 had a good finale too, but this one has to be my favorite so far.

-- Melanie (msintn@hotmail.com), May 19, 2000.

I was wondering if this would be brought up...

I still say season one had the best finale. We spent the whole season watching smart-but-not-too-bright Carter struggle through, and the final shots of Carter turning around and looking at the entrance as if to say "Wow, what a great year..." That just killed me. Kinda like the last days of school, when you suddenly realize the year is over already.

I think the show is missing a Carter-type character now (I know he's still on the show...you know what I mean.)It seems like their students or younger doctors are too wise about things in the hospital. It was fun to muddle with the young John.

Having said all this, last night was pretty good. I think this season has certainly ended on a good note. Poor John. Poor Luka. Great to see Peter step in with John.

-- Kevin (Desjy@canada.com), May 19, 2000.

No, ER does not normally start with the summer having past. It has very much been summer when Er premeires the following September.

EXamples: (1) season two premeires start with Mark's first day as an attending. Mark finished his residecy in June. He became a sttending immediatly.Kerry became chief resident for the year. ER residency program runs fron July through June. So it was July when season two premeired. (2) Season three premeired with it being Carter'd first day of his surgical residency which started on July 4 , 1996. (3) Season five started before Doug's one month punishment fron the Baby Josh incident was over. Season fout ended around late may. So it was somewhere around late June when ER premeired. I believe it was summer when season four premeired as well. I think this season was the only year that ER appeared to premeire in early fall.

I believe that season seven will take place on Carter's first day back at work some 1-3 months after the finale depending on how long Carter's inpatient rehab is. I still thing we see the show concentrate on Carter's recovery through Nov sweeps when Carter is fully recovered and back to full responsibilies at work. It is fine with me because I don't want them to spend the whole year showing Carter's recovery. I want to see him recovered so they can give him other storylines dealing with his professional growth and seeing him complete his residency. It won't happen if Carter is not recovered. I'm ready to see Carter finish his residency and become either a fellow or an attending. I also think we will see Carter become more active in the community. I'm think he will take over the clinic Carol started and run that while still working in the ER. I think he take an more active role in the Carter foundation and help people. He can't do this if they are still concentrating on his recovery. That's why I want his recovery complete by November.

-- Brenda (jckwfan@aol.com), May 19, 2000.

I'll have to look at the summaries but I thought season 2 began with Carter coming back from his summer vacation and the semester starting. I think I remember everyone asking how his summer was. He said he'd spent some time at a clinic or something and then five weeks on an island. Something like that. I guess I consider the time they usually come back, for real and on the show normally (but you're right, not always)...late August/early September, when school starts, as the fall.

-- Diana (dilynne@juno.com), May 19, 2000.

Maybe there is a discrepancy in the season two premeire in regards to the time. They clearly mention it being Greens first day( maybe first week) as an attending and they hire Kerry chief resident. We know the residencies run from July through June so Kerry would not get hired in August or September. I doubt Mark took more than a few weeks off after completing his residency in June. Also since this is a teaching hospital they do not go by normal school dates that we are used to for grade school and college. After the second year , I imagine they go by the residency program year which is July-June. When Carter started his sub I maybe he was off from mid may to mid july and they were a little late in hiring a chief resident. ER has gotten their dates mixed up. However, the secong or third episode of season two was called Summer run. I still believe that at least halh of ER's premeire have ocurred sometime around July.

-- Brenda (jckwfan@aol.com), May 19, 2000.

This is a tough one to answer. I felt the season finales of seasons 1, 3, and 4 were hard to beat. Season 4, especially, because it ended with Mr. Nabel's bloody rampage upon his family, Mark and Doug, Doug and Kerry, Kerry and Mark, arguing. There was anger, dissention, finger-pointing. We talked about those last two episodes for weeks on end. Couldn't wait for the season premiere ... and then got "Day for Knight." Sigh. For personal reasons, season 3 was the best for me, ending on the porch kiss and Benton holding Reese, but for pure excitement and drama, season 4 wins in total.

-- Phyl (erfan@flash.net), May 19, 2000.

I liked the Season 4 finale too for the same reasons, Phyl, but I guess it was tainted for me since we NEVER had closure on the family and what happened to them. I can't help it, show me something that major at the end of a season, I want closure!

-- Diana (dilynne@juno.com), May 19, 2000.

Well, this finale has been the most touching and anticipated, season 3 had a very nice surprise (the kiss), and season 1 was greatest for the comeraderie aspect (though this season's was pretty good too). I don't much remember season 2 or 4. The only good thing about season 5 was everyone surprising Carol that they knew about the babies; Carter hugging her that she's having twins, and Malik offering to be the lamaz coach. I hope next season starts out during summer too. I doubt Carter will be gone all summer (poor guy!) and I don't know why they wouldn't take advantage of having the first show be Carter's first day back. He is obviously popular. The 4th of July epi for season 3 was great. (maybe he could have a month to prove that he could be chief resident...I know, wishful thinking; I think later in the season he'll regret that he was unable to get it)

-- Elaine (mrsclooney78@hotmail.com), May 19, 2000.

They could call the first epi of next season "Welcome Back Carter II." That would be neat since the first epi of Season 2 was "Welcome Back Carter."

-- Diana (dilynne@juno.com), May 19, 2000.

My favorite season finale was "Everything old is new again.". I was glad that Carol didn't marry Tag and that Carter got to stay at County General.

-- Carin Haseltine (cdenisehaze@usa.net), May 19, 2000.

Up until Thursday, I would have said without hesitation that Season 1 had the best finale. Carol's almost-wedding and the gang rallying around her at the "reception" at the end still brings tears to my eyes every time I watch it. But this year's is sure giving it a run for its money. I think someone on another thread hit on why--it's because these are shows where they are acting like a family.

-- Mary (mslyman@erols.com), May 19, 2000.

i really liked"getting to know you" the best. i guess its because im the biggest mark/liz fan.

-- rachel (thehilfigergirl@aol.com), May 21, 2000.

Well, I'm not sure which I liked BEST (either 1, 3, or 6), but I can tell you unequivocably (sp?) which was the WORST--season 5 (AKA "Getting to Know You"), hands down.

-- joy (joygirl01@yahoo.com), May 22, 2000.

Best season finale

1. Season 1 -- Chloe leaving Susie to Susan, Carol's wedding with Tag, Doug's lingering looks at Carol, Peter's grief over his mother. 2. Season 3 -- Greene's downfall, Carol and Doug's kiss, Jeanie's relationship with Al, Carter changing specialty. 3. Season 2, possibly tie with Season 3 -- Shep's downfall, Carol's breakup and quitting, Susan's rejection of chief resident and friendship with Mark, Carter graduating. 4. Season 4 -- Anna's relationship with Carter and Max, Corday's problems with Romano from relationship with Peter, tensions between Mark, Kerry, Doug, Ross. 5. Season 6 -- confrontation between Carter and the staff, Luka's problem with Peter. 6. Season 5 -- Most disappointing although enjoys Mark and Corday's relationship and finding out about Carol having twins.

Best season premieres 1. Season 3 -- Carter having a tough time, Susan, Mark, Carol and Doug attending the baseball game, Peter and Jeanie deal with the aftermath of their HIV tests. 2. Season 2 -- Possibly tying with Season 3 -- Carter starting late, introducation of Harper Tracy, Mark hiring Kerry, Susan dealing with little Susie. 3. Pilot -- Carol's suicide with Doug's guilt, Mark's problems with Jen. 4. Season 6 -- The excitement with the crash and everything, Kerry betraying Mark and backing Romano, Corday's relationship with Mark. 5. Season 4 -- Didn't like the live thing, but some nice scenes. 6. Season 5 -- Concentrate too much on Lucy and no Jeanie.

Best seasons 1. Season 2 -- Shep/Carol, Doug/hospital/father, Mark/Jen, Carter/Harper, Jeanie/Peter, Susan/Susie/Chloe. 2. Season 3 -- Jeanie/AIDS/Al, Carol/friendship/Doug/OD, Mark/Beating, Carter/Gant/Doyle/Keaton, Peter/Carla/baby, Susan/Mark. 3. Season 1 -- Carol/Doug/Tag, Mark/Jen/hospital, Susan/Susie/Chloe, Peter/mother/Jeanie, Carter/Deb. 4. Season 4 -- Carter/Anna/Chase, Doug/Carol/Powell, Peter/Carla/Corday/Romano, Mark/Cynthia/parents, Jeanie/Scott/Kerry. 5. Season 6 -- Lucy/Carter/stabbing, Abby/ethnics, Mark/Elizabeth, Deb/Carter, Carol/babies/Doug. 6. Season 5 -- Not much to say.

-- Tri Bang Tang (TBTang2000@aol.com), May 24, 2000.

I think season 4, I loved "A Hole In The Heart"

-- Teddy (richarr@earthlink.net), August 08, 2001.