I wished that Dr. Ross would have found out that the kidney went to Dr. Carter - it would have given the story more depth and it would of been great if they went off to see Dr. Carter

I loved it.  Plain and simple.  I know and wish there would have been more of Doug and Carol but it was what it was.  The only part of the show that I didn't like, and it was mentioned before, I wish Doug & Carol would have known the kidney was for Carter, I think it would have added a different element of ugency especially with Doug dealing with the grandmother (and huge KUDOS to Susan Sarandon playing the grandmother, I cried too!) and even Sam not inquiring about Carter when she dropped the kidney off!  I wish there would have been more but I still love it!

I enjoyed it.  I know people are griping about it seeming anticlimactic due to the hype, but please remember that hype is the job of the network not the show.  I think the fact that the writers did a brilliant job.  It gave us a window into the lives of some characters who have moved on to pacify longtime fans.  It was done in a realistic way as opposed to having everyone end up in Chicago again to say good-bye like some cheesy sitcom.  People will always be there to gripe, but to this fan, I think the writers, producers, and actors did a brilliant job.  

The episode styaed very real. Neela and Sam didn't know it was for Carter so they wouldn't be relaying that to Ross and Hathaway. I think it was correct to keep them as secondary players as their characters aren't on the show anymore. It was appropriate.

MMM...he looked fabulous.  I was pleased with this episode.  His part could have been more dramatic, but overall, it was fine.

The organ donor program is done annonymously.  Every where I look I see stupid people.  I loved the fact that last night's episode was done realistically.  Why did we need to see some silly reunion type thing?  Final closure?  Oh please people get real!  I will miss ER immensely.  I"ve been a faithful fan for all 15 years.  It will be like losing my best friend.

I didn't expect more than a 2 second walk on so I enjoyed it. However, there was several commercials shown on NBC over the past 2 weeks that kept teasing "They're all coming home" so.....I kinda expected them to all be at County.

I really enjoyed Benton.....too bad Dr. Greene passed away...would be awesome to have him back as well.

It's called PATIENT CONFIDENTIALITY!  Dr Ross does not work at County (and even still he would have to be directly involved in the case), therefore he could not be told who the patient was that was getting the kidney and they could have been fired for disclosing that information to him.  The show got it right - if they had showed up in Carter's room he could have sued the hospital for a breech of patient confidentiality (hence Benton NOT contacting Carter's wife or family after Carter told him straight out not to contact them).  While I understand that this is just a television show and how nice it would have been to have everyone all together again, they still must be real to what is law.

great story. very realistic. the writers could have written a scene with Doug, Carter, Benton & Carol altogether in one scene, then it would have turned out so corny..so glad they didn't do that. thank the actors for not being too melodramatic. this is why i watched this show until Dr. Greene died & its reruns.

I thought it was just as it should be - Ross and Hathaway were perfect together as ever- How great to be sure they stayed together. Benton and Carter were a pleasure to watch again and I thought the chemistry between all was still there.

I agree with those who brought up the cast as an ensamgle.  Besides a little George Clooney is better than none at all. I loved it!

I watch ER every week and have been an avid watcher since the beginning.  I'm really going to miss it.  I was watching the beginning last night and noticed George Clooney's name in the credits, so I knew this was the night we've all been waiting for.  There WAS NO HYPE!  It was just the opposite.  I just wish you all wouldn't pick it apart until it's in shreds.  Try, if you can, to NOT be so critical.  It was fun to see all the old characters, even if just for one episode.

Doug and Carol did not know who the kidney went to because Carter was at Northwestern, not County.

When organs are donated the process in which they are surgically removed is called organ PROCUREMENT, not harvesting.  

I've read all these blogs about the show and all the actors coming back to make an appearance before the show ends (which I think is very sad).  Susan Sarandon was also mentioned regarding her grandson, but nobody mentioned Ernest Borgnine.  Has he been out of movies for so long that one one recognizes him? He is a brillant actor, along with Doug, Carter, Benton and the rest of them with alot more experience.  I'm really surprised he wasn't mentioned.  I apologize for peoples ignorance.  

I was kind of hoping to see Dr. Ross and Hathaway back in Chicago at the ER.  What would have been effective was if Ross were to visit the burial plot of Dr. Greene.  The chemistry and camraderie between the two of them have never been duplicated since on ER.

The organ donation segment was done realistically.  Although it would have been nice for Ross/Hathaway to know that it went to Carter, it makes sense that it did not.  It may still come to light for Carter to know that they played a hand in it.   I loved the interaction between Benton and Carter, it brought tears to my eyes to see that same connection remain between the two.  This homecoming of characters has brought back many memories for an ER fan that has strayed from the show the last couple of years.  It was like seeing what happens after the "happily ever after" when the characters left the show the first time.  You see that their lives continued on and that they remained the same to the core.  Kudos go out to the writers and the actors for doing an awesome job of conveying this to me at least.

Someone asked what happened to the chemistry between Dr. Ross and Nurse Hathaway? Simple. They got married.

I have been a faithful watcher since day 1 of ER. Even through the worst and dark seasons.  THe return of Benton, Ross and Hathaway was great last night.  I also have to say, that the way the writers are closing all gaps of the past 15 years in this season has been great to watch.  I am grateful for all past cast members that have come back, all in classy ways.  As far as Clooney and Marguiles return last night, that was great!  His body language towards patients and Carol were like he never left the show.  I am going to miss this show very much, I lived for NBC Thursday night, ER!

I agree with the person who wrote there was no chemistry between Carol and Doug! I was thinking the exact same thing last night as I watched the show. The writers could have expanded some on Doug and Carol-would have loved to see the twins! I thought the scenes with Carter and Benton were well worth the wait though. It really surprised me that Benton wasn't running the ER. It was almost sad that he is doing general surgery when he fought so hard to be the best surgeon at County. I honestly thought the doctor wouldn't get there in time and Benton would have to perform the surgery to save his friend. I am relieved that the little girl's mother/aunt was saved in the end. All in all, I thought it was a good show but I wish the writers would have gone deeper into the lives of the previous characters.

I thought it was fantastic and not overly hyped! For those of us who have watched 'er' since it started in '94, it has continued to compel and exite. Even if some of the characters havent been on in 9 or so years it still is great to watch. Hathaway/Ross, to me, havent/hadnt changed a bit...was great to see them again!! Kudos!!!

While I was a little disappointed that they didn't know it went to Carter - it made sense and was kind of funny.  Also was a little disappointed that they did not get to interact with carter or benton.  I would of liked them to be in the show more, but that's just because they were always my favorite part of it - and I understand why they weren't - I really thought it was PERFECTLY done.

happy to see they have there happily ever after - i assume they were married - they could of made that more clear - like when she answered the phone at the end - she said Carol Hathoway - could of said "Carol Ross"  But love them, and loved the show last night. It was like they never left - did a great job of stepping back in to those characters.

also thought the Carter/Benton stuff was GREAT!  

it was strange that when Dr. Ross was talking to the girls from County that Carter wasn't brought up since he did just come back - but that would of got in the way of the storyline with the donor i guess.

Good job ER - thanks for the peak into Doug&Carol's happy life :)

LOVED THE ELLEN PART!

I think the episode was great, and generally, I think all the "returns" have been great (I especially love having Jerry back in the ER). I suspect the "didn't live up to the hype" complaint has more to do with the ham-handedness of the hype (which I attribute to the network rather than the show's producers or creative personnel) than with any fault of the episodes themselves. Look at it as storytelling, rather than the circus parade the promos seemed to promise, and it stands up very well. A couple specific points:

1. I'm shocked that only a few commenters have mentioned Susan Sarandon's work in this episode. She was frickin' brilliant; if there's any justice in the world, she'll get an Emmy nomination for that turn. (And BTW, doesn't she look fabulous for her age?)

2. I couldn't disagree more with the people wishing Ross and Hathaway had learned it was Carter who got the kidney: I LIKE the fact that they find out it was "some doctor" but DON'T know it's Carter, and the fact that Ross goes through that list of names with Sam and Neela and doesn't find anyone (other than Anspaugh) they have in common. All this gives the story a piquancy and emotional depth that a bunch of "old home week" glad-handing and chatting could never have matched. The distance -- in space and time and emotion -- between the current denizens of the ER and the "originals" IS the story here... it's echoed in Carter's amazement that Reese (or is it spelled "Reece"?) is 13: A sense of how much time has passed since we first met these characters is what this whole season is about.

I'd love to see Luka and Abby one last time, and Susan Lewis, and Jing-Mei (Deb) Chen, and maybe a non-flashback appearance by Kerry Weaver, and hopefully we'll get more of Kem than Carter's side of a cellphone call... but if any of those things happen, I hope they JUST HAPPEN; I don't want to see them pimped in endless breathless promos.

Having flown more organ harvesting flights than I can count, I can say that the way things were handled in Seattle was very typical of a real organ harvesting mission. The near total lack of curiosity about the organ's recipients is typical and in no way surprising. The thing that absolutely grated on me was the "oh your airplane left, it couldn't wait any longer". Sorry dudes, it does NOT work that way. Ever. The airplane would have still been there when Neela and Sam returned.

I also was hoping that they'd all land back at County General for more of a reunion!  And I kept waiting for more but then they never brought Dr. Ross back.  And exactly, Carol Hathaway's character should definitely know how to pronounce Spokane - I can't believe that it wasn't caught before the show went on!

I liked the show and was glad to see them all again.
I have been watching from the beginning and am very sad to see it come to a end. But all good things have to .. I liked how the story line show what happen to
Benton ,Carter , Ross and Hathaway..
For me it didn't have to be a story line of rush rush in the ER to be good..

I wish all the people of ER, the very best on there next shows.

I loved the episode. ER is about the storylines and not who is showing up. There was a nice intersecting of stories that didn't seem forced. And Susan Sarandon was heartbreaking. I cried during that scene like I cried the first season when Dr. Greene tried unsuccessfully to save the pregnant woman. ER is best when it focuses on truth and life/death/opportunities rather than soap.

I do think it would have been great if Hathaway had questioned who the recipient was since she would have known many Chicago docs, but I thought it also kept the credibility of the anonymous organ donation (remember the kidney was going to someone else who had developed a fever?) You wouldn't want any appearance of it going to someone they knew... And the Spo-CAIN thing killed me. I am a transpant to Seattle and it is always Spo-can... that was sloppy...

I liked it, it was very well integrated to the show.  Its better than dropping a helicopter or some over the top stunt to bring them back.  The only thing that bugged me was that they didn't find out Carter was getting the kidney.  
Loved Benton - he was the still himself, and loved that he was in the operating room and looking out for Carter.  And that he was right.  
Also, with the "oldies" on tonight...really shined a light on how weak the current crop are.   Pale imitations.  

I loved loved the show last night!!!!  It was well scripted and it tied everything together by the end of show.  If anyone notice, Dr. Ross knew that Dr. Carter needed a kidney he just couldn't let on.  Remember it's a conflict of interest if anyone was to find out that Dr. Ross knew Dr. Carter personally esp the grandmother(Susan Sarandon). Even when they received the phone call from "Cindy" and didn't say the Dr. name, it was a clear indication they knew- the writers wanted everyone to figure it out esp if you were an ER fan from the early episodes with the original cast memeber.  Dr. Ross, alway flew under the radar with the code of ethics to save someones life. Think about it peoples!

Eriq LaSalle coming back was a treat and the storyline there was awesome!  

Last nights episode was perfect. According to national doner laws, the doctors (or others working with them) who harvest the organs  DO NOT know the identity of who is getting what organ. They just know that a "Kidney is going to Chicago for a 35 year old doctor" No names are ever exchanged unless the person who got the organ can track down themselves. It is completely anon!

As for Dr. Ross and (former) nurse Hathaway performances. it was very nice to peek into their lives in Seattle, WA. Dr. Ross does what he does best, help people and explain the situation. He always has the key role to play with his patients. It was a very nice way to wrap up their storyline.

Over the next few episodes, I am sure we will see of the former cast gather one last time for the swann song. Remember when Carter walked bu the Joshua Carter center? Things have yet to play out with that :-)

Overall I gove the show a 7.5 out of 10. Not the best ever, but certainly not bad either.

Clooney bored me to death.  His return was typical hype leading to a huge letdown.  Why was I not surprised?  Eric's role was super interesting and enjoyable = perhaps he should have gotten the hype given to Clooney!

Seeing George as Dr. Ross made me remember all of the reasons I fell in love with him years ago.  That final scene with Doug and Carol was exactly what it should have been--two people happy and together, a normal life.

I also enjoyed Benton and Carter.  I'd love to see both return to full time positions at County in the final episode--Carter running ER and Benton chasing his surgeon dreams.

Actually, aren't there laws that prevent Neela and Sam from mentioning who the organs are going to? I know, I know... they might anyway. Someone mentioned it was surprising to see how Benton handled the surgery. By the time Benton left the hospital, we knew how much he cared for Carter, so it did not seem at all surprising to me. Nice to see Doug and Carol and get an idea of what life is like for them. That was all that was necessary..

The storyline with Carter and Benton was more iteresting than with Ross and Hathaway. The writers could have written a great storyline about Ross and Hathaway finding out that the liver needed went to their old friend Dr. Carter.

I'm 24 and i've been watching this show since I was 9, i was a mature 9 year old.  Most everyone here is talking like that was the very last episode....its not.  I did like last nights episode, the relationship between Carter and Benton has always been one of my favorites.  It makes some sense that if Ross had inquired about Carter too, that may have made the donor storyline unrealistic, since organ donation is anonymous.  It would have been nice if they had known.  I still feel like there are some loose ends, all in all, and thats why i'm glad we still have a couple episodes left.    Also,  Ive lived in MISSOURI my whole life and so many life long  missorians pronounce it MISSOUR-AH.   Spo-kan
spo-cain, so what.

I too haven't watched ER in quite sometime if anything I'd watch maybe the first few minutes then turn it because I'll be honest I missed Carol, Doug, Benton, and Anthony Edwards' Character.  I do believe it should haven't been canceled a long time ago when all these characters.  HOWEVER, I really enjoyed last night.  It was perfect it wasn't like this usual predictive episode when everyone just returns to gather for Carter's funeral (just a very common thought I had before watching the show last night).  I actually liked a lot...I loved Benton and loved the difference when the very first pilot episode aired Benton was a jerk, never taught carter, and was a mess figuring out he was a single dad...and as the show continued he's character did too which i loved about benton;  But in that episode he was this very thorough, friend, mentor, and very concern about Carter, but at the same time taking the time out ot TEACH.  That really got me.  I loved how they updated us on the kids because I really was wandering how Reese was doing when I heard Benton was returning and I was wandering would they even put something in the episode to tell you.  I did like it how Carol and Doug "returned", they weren't focusing on an episode of their romantic life, but that they are stil together, obviously still very much in love, and to me seemed like a great acting of understanding that this couple is still and always will be together - because I was explaining the difference to a friend about the pilot episode was carol over dosing and doug being this extreme womanizer who always cared for her...i liked it.  I really liked it.  I actually thought last night was the final episode, which is another reason why I watched.  I'll be honest I was ready to turn the channel if it wasn't as good as it was I probably would have never watched more than 5 minutes.  Anyway, I liked it a lot I also thought there was a recollection of Carter's transformation since the pilot here he was from a very well to do family, very smart, and has these very strong morals and seems like has everything together ...now he is the one with a lot of issues with his family (which he always kinda did, but still), his love life, etc. never had kids ...I thought that was interesting just shows you that life is not always a written book, and I liked how they wrote it made it seem so much more realisitc.  I LIKED IT.  lol.

Sam & Neela couldn't tell Dr. Ross what they didn't know. Yeah, they knew a kidney was being sent to a transplant patient at Northwestern and maybe could have put two and two together but odds are, Carter wasn't the only person in that hospital waiting for a kidney. Understated episode showcasing old friends but not at the exclusion of the current docs & nurses. I liked it and will be sad to see the show end

I enjoyed this episode.  I think this season is the best ER has been in years.  George Clooney, Eriq LaSalle and Julianna Marguiles slipped right back into their roles.  I do wish that Doug and Carole had been told that the kidney was going to Dr. Carter. All in all it was a good episode.  One thing though:  I work in a Surgery department and the woman who had the heart transplant would have been on a ventilator and all kinds of IV' and lines post surgery.  All open heart patients come out of surgery that way.  

I, too liked the Carter-Benton scenes a lot more than the Hathaway & Ross part. It's good to see that they're still together, but I agree it's unrealistic that they wouldn't have had any contact with their Chicago colleagues, at least Christmas cards, in all this time. Ross's conversation w/Neela & Sam sure emphasized that there's a generation gap; other than the nurses, Carter is really the only link between the early stars and the current group. Get you hankies out for Neela's departure next week!

I can't believe the mispronunciation of Spokane! I was born in Tacoma, but have lived all over the US and have never heard anyone say "SpoKANE"!

How amusing.I am a 26 yr veteran ER nurse who coincidently started my career in the state of Washington.Working at Harborview and Sacred Heart (which by the way is in Spo-CAN)I was interviewed once by our local TV producers when ER first came out as my impressions as a charge nurse in a tauma center.My response the medicine is right but the drama is way off often misses the humor that is very prevalent in an ER.My wife loves the show but I hardly ever watch it.As the saying goes among ER nurse and paramedics "Why Watch ER I Live It"

I think it was weird that Dr. Ross asked about everybody but Carter.  Without getting all misty...I think they should have known the kidney was going to Carter.  Benton, who was never a favorite, was still nice to see.

I thought Ross and Hathaway's return was exquisitely well done. Their storyline wove into the existing one in a way that was natural and made sense.  I also liked how their chemistry has mellowed into that peaceful familiarity of a couple that’s been together for years.  What a great episode!  

At least Hathaway didn't try pronouncing Puyallup, Tukwila, Steilacoom or Mukilteo.

It could've been worse. George could have returned as Batman.

As a long time watcher of ER I totally got the episode.  It was great to see Dr Ross again and I was thrilled to know that he and Hathaway and their girls were one big happy family.  Peter Benton's return was my favorite part and when he teased Carter about marrying a "sister" I almost cried.  I thought Benton's showing during Carter's surgery was over-playing his ususal superior attitude but I guess the producers wanted to remind us that lives are at stake when doctors cut corners.
Others may be disappointed that Dr Ross did not know that the kidney was for Carter, but I thought that was poignant.  It dosen't matter whose live is on the line, doctors should do their best and that's the message that ER has always made clear.
I loved it, and while I am sad that the show is ending, I can wait to see the final episode.

Dr. Ross rocks!

As a resident of Spokane (Spo-can, not Spo-cain), Washington, I wasn't annoyed by Carol's slip-up in the pronunciation, it happens all the time and it's not a big deal.  Organ donation is anonymous, there's no way Dr. Ross or Carol would ever know that the kidney went to Carter, nor would the Chicago doctors ever share that information, especially since it seemed in the episode that they didn't know it was for Carter, either. Clooney's and Margulies' return to the show was exactly how it should have been and Drs. Benton and Carter together again was great.  And Susan Sarandon proved, as always, why she's such a great actress. Someone please give John Stamos another show!

I was not surprised to see how Dr Benton watched over Carter during his surgery and afterwards. Have you forgotten how he got Carter on the plane and flew with him to rehab? He always had a vested interest in his student. And wasn't it great to see Earnest Borgnine and Susan Sarandon in great characters? I loved seeing Carol and Doug again too.

Yes, yes, yes - Clooney was worth the wait! It was nice to see that he and Carol Hathaway have created a nice life for themselves. There was always so much drama with them, and when they left it was to settle down and raise their girls. So it was nice to see that realized.

I really liked the interaction between Benton and Carter as well. Although, I too wanted Ross and Hathaway to know that Carter was one of the organ recipients.

I wondered how they could get all the old-timers back without a revolving door at County - and make it believable. This story line did it for me for sure.

Now I want Neela to go to Ray.

I also think that it is a testament to these actors skill, that after so long they can come back and pick up the characters and have them be so believable. Everything that they did was so in character with how they would have behaved in the old days.

I am going to miss ER so much!

The show fell way short.  There was very little emotionally.  Here's what the ending should have been - The rosses find out that the heart worked but the kidney didn't, then they discover the patient was Carter, who died.  This is followed by another reunion show at Carter's funeral.  Remember the best ER ever was the one when Dr. Green died.  

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):