Season 8 saw a significant drop-off in story quality from the previous seasons. Seasons 1-4 were pure gold. 5 and 6 were still very good. Season 8, as a whole, almost seemed largely experimental; that the writers were trying to find a good central story to go with.
Benton gives his "curtain call" in the last episode, and it's clear that the writers were scrambling to put something together.
Carter and Lewis still makes little sense. Especially after seeing them in the first three seasons. As friends, it makes sense. As a romantic pair, not so much. It makes even less sense the Lewis seems to have no concern or sympathy upon finding out that her patient is Paul Sobricki. What's more, Lewis ends up going to a hockey game with Malik?!? No scenes of her checking up on Carter? That made no sense at all. Even as a friend, I would think that Lewis would have at least checked in with him. The writers had a brain freeze with this one.
Meanwhile, Abby comforts a boy who's spent the night in the ER because he lost his mother. Another story that makes little sense. Nobody notices a little boy this whole time?
Eleanor Carter's scenes would have been better served with a much better set-up than what we got. This is only the second time we've seen her, and we're supposed to connect with her feelings? Mary McDonnell has always been a rock-solid actress, and she does the best she can with what little she's given. It was still a good scene between her and John, but frankly, we deserved more.
And, of course, we have the extremely inept Greene as an incompetent father. Greene is as brilliant a doctor as he is clueless as a father. Rachel walks all over him and he sputters and stammers like a kid acting like he got caught doing something wrong. Being a parent isn't about being a friend. It's about doing what's best for your child, even if your decision is an unpopular one. Greene, who's always been very anti-confrontational is pathetic, indeed, as a father. And it's sad and irritating that Rachel has become the little monster that she is.
Still, the best scenes involve Carter and his reaction upon finally seeing Sobricki. The look on his face is a mixture of confusion and sheer horror. Noah Wyle was absolutely brilliant, and frankly, it's hard not to feel what Carter's feeling at this point as everything comes rushing back to the point where even the music from that fateful evening is blasting. I really wished that this story had been the central focus rather than on Abby.
Overall, ER has always had pretty darn good writing. Not in this episode.
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