Pretty good episode. I confused Mary McCormack's name with Mary McDonnell [Carter's mom] during the beginning credits, so I figured Carter was going to do something like donate half of his fortune to build new clinics or something at the end of the ep.

Didn't think he'd stay.

Guess Noah had a movie to film or something..

Oh well. Wasn't surprised that Luka was still alive. Wonder if he'll be the same once he gets back to Chicago. While I did enjoy tonite's ep, i'm glad we'll be back at County next week..even though that means more Abby. She is really annoying. I enjoyed Maura on Newsradio, but she's worn out her welcome on this show with me..

I confused the two Mary's also.

I thought it was one of the better episodes in a while. The stuff at the end with them dragging the men off and executing them was kind of hard to watch.

I think Noah Wyle is taking time off to spend with family so that's why Carter stayed. He's suposed to be back by midseason I think.

I wasnt too impressed with this episode. But at least it looks like these africa trips may be ending.

I was really moved by Luka's acceptance of his fate and the prayer in Croatian. Samuel Barber's Adagio was an excellent choice for that scene. Very powerful.

I enjoyed this African episode much more than the last.

This episode was alright but when we see the soldiers dragging the captives in the tent you knew what was coming to them. Very creepy. But toward the end what did Carter tell Luka to tell Abby. I could barely make it out.

Yes, I liked this episode far more than last season's finale. Very riveting.


He told Luka to tell Abby that he (Carter) was lost, but now he's found. Plus, he gave Luka a note for Abby, which she'll be reading next week.

Honk!

Always enjoy the ER road trips. My favorite is the
Benton ep. But this one a close second.

Carters "I was Lost & Now I am found" reminds me of
Apocalypse Now's Line " Never Get off the Boat"
You leave the good old USA, the rules all change.
That poor geologist was a great example of it.
Can not imagine this series going on without
Carter though. He is the last remaining kindred soul
of the series.

Ewwww. Benton on the Bayou. I always declare it as the worst episode of ER. I'm amazed to hear someone call it their favorite..
To each their own i guess.

I hated this episode when it origanally aired, but after seeing it a couple of times in syndication it is a pretty good episode.

I wish they would revamp the Abby character, as others stated in last weeks ER thread. She really was a good character, then her damn family got involved, now she is just uber-bitch substance abuser.

I loved it when the girl asked Carter if he could afford to put 20k on his credit card.

I highly doubt Carter is going to stay in the Congo for a prolong amount of episodes (this is not to say he doesn't stay in the Congo for a long time, and the passage of time is between 1-2 episodes at best). NBC is paying Wyle good money to show up as Carter on a weekly basis.

Well, I think the point of the salvation of Luka comes from the show of gratitude for his doctor service in the Congo (i.e. the crucifix neckchain given to him by that woman whose daughter he helped) gives Luka another chance at life, even if he has somewhat lost his way, his faith after losing his wife and child(ren). Will this cause an internal change in Luka? I hope so, we'l see. I can't see Luka returning to his midlife crisis from seasons past.

Mary McCormack is making the rounds these days. She's also on K Street, and I saw her in "Dick Robert, Former Child Star" recently.

No, he made an arrangement with them to only work part of the season, as another poster mentioned above.

That kind of stinks.

I thought this was a good episode as well.

Does anyone know that situation in the Congo well enough to know if it is feasable that could brutally murder everyone but save some guy just because he is reciting a prayer?

I know it is just TV and I liked the outcome and the scene, I was just wondering.

I heard on the radio he id going to be off 6 weeks. I don't know if that is 6 weeks of episodes, 6 weeks of filming, or if those two are the same..

It wasn't just because he was praying; it was ebcause they thought he was a priest (the Congolese woman with the injured daughter told them he was a priest). Perversely, despite all the brutality in that part of the world, many Africans hold Christianity sacred and would view a priest as something holy that they should protect, not kill. It seems so foreign to us that they would brutaly murder doctors and scientists and average working men without blinking an eye, but would revere a priest. But that's aparently the way it is over there.

tanman:

Many African societies have adopted Christianity, and in many ways co-opted and morphed it into a zionist/Nationalist religion blended with their particular traditional beliefs. African Christianity has become a powerful component of many cultures there, often inluding prophets who lead their communities towards redemption. The widespread poverty, sickness, and war have fed these trends, and many many Africans have taken their more 'traditional' beliefs and transferred them to a new form of Christianity built upon the word of African prophets/martyrs.

So in other words, yes, that would be entirely plausible that he would be spared if they thought him to be "a man of God." It's an interesting dichotomy that the depth of faith and belief rises in relation to the depth of violence and suffering....a phenomenon not unique to Africa for sure....but interesting nonetheless...

All that said, I really enjoyed this and the last Africa episodes....I thought ER took a huge drop last year, but these had a spark reminiscent of earlier seasons....

Speaking of the "Road Trip" episodes, what did you guys think about the one where Mark goes with Doug to California.

I thought that was a fantastic and emotionally moviing scene. Was that the same music used in Platoon?

I thought this episode was excellent. I know a lot of you guys don't like Kovac, but since Goran Visnjic joined the cast he has been my favorite character, even w/ his downward spiral over the last couple of years. It was good to see the last couple of eps bring Kovac and Carter together since the whole Abby drama kind of drove a rift between the two.

I was very happy to see Mary McCormack in this ep. Big from me on that particular bit of casting.

It will be good to see Kovac back in the ER next week, see the letter Carter sent w/ him for Abby, and it will be great to see a rejuvinated Carter come back in a couple of months - hopefully.

I think the best out of the hospital episode was Dr. Green's ending. With the Hawaiian song at the end. I cried. Damn good episode.

I think when i look back at ER.. THAT is where i'll think the show should have ended.


I'm amazed no one else has mentioned it yet: CARTER WAS DRINKING A BEER

... Pretty sure thats not one of the 12 steps. It may be a plot development, But it may be nothing.

Abby's the drunk, not Carter, who had a problem with prescription drugs a few years ago after he was stabbed (when some freak killed Lucy also).

I thought he was dry too... guess not.

He was dry, I guess the hell of being in that war gripped Congo, and having your "friend" murdered and I guess he felt it was his fault somehow, out weighed his 12 steps. Plus Abby is not around to see and follow him.

Question to the long-time viewrs.

I've been watching re-runs on TNT, catching up on all the past seasons.

How does this Romano guy keep his job when he's such a little prick?

He's racist and he's sexist, he seems to go out of his way to make enemies. I can't think of any business that would tolerate this type of behaviour from someone in a supervisory capacity.

bottom line..?

he's good when it comes to the profit margin..

at the end of the day, when it comes to $$$, they want someone like Romano and NOT a bleeding heart...

[not that I agree..]

I'm going to miss Carter while he's in Africa, but Abby doesn't deserve him at all! He hadn't been home for two minutes and she asked for her keys back, and then got all bent out of shape when he went back to Africa. Of course he went back, I'd go back to if I came home to someone like that! I hope he dumps her ass and doesn't give it a second thought, and hooks up with that new girl in the Congo! As for Luka, I hope he straightens out his act and maybe gets back with Abby. She's boring and depressing, she needs a little attitude adjustment. What does everyone think of Romano this season? Should be interesting to see how he does sans his left arm. Let's hope this season isn't a heart breaker, the first two episodes were more than enough for me!