Jo
Junior Member
Posts: 69
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Post by Jo on Apr 1, 2009 14:45:44 GMT -5
Awwww . . . Susan was always one of my favourites. She was nicely scripted in the early seasons. I liked the 'little crush' that Carter had on her. I liked some of the Carter/Abby L stuff but I didn't like the way it ended up so it always feels a little sour. Much preferred Abby K.
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Post by darksparrow on Apr 2, 2009 6:55:39 GMT -5
The addiction storyline was a shock to me, because like everyone, I watched the episodes leading up to May Day knowing that something was off, but I was sure they're take it in the PTSD/depression direction. And then May Day felt pretty abrupt, like they just decided to do the drug addiction thing in the spur of the moment. But when you think about it, we really DID get all the signs in the episodes leading up to it. I mean watching those episodes now it's actually possible to spot the signs- the too quick recovery, moodswings, even the smoking segment at the beginning of Such Sweet Sorrow. It could be interpreted in a million different ways, and it wasn't obvious, but that's what made it so real- because we would never ever suspect Carter or anything like that. And so his friends didn't, either. It was shocking, sure, because it's the last thing you'd expect from a character that you're used to seeing as the naive, innocent, smart one. But again, it makes total sense in Carter's arc and there was even some foreshadowing. I loved that storyline. The way it was written, the way it was executed- too bad they seemed to drop it at some point in early season 7. They could have done a lot more with it than use it as an excuse to set Carter up with Abby. And now that I think about it, we got some awesome Carter/Benton scenes from that storyline. Even in season 7- remember when Benton tries to step in for Carter because he thinks Weaver's "got something against him", because of all the limitations with the narcotics even supposedly being clean for so long? There was one of the most awkward scenes there when Carter tries to explain to Benton about his "slip", but it then led to the beautiful "I'm a drug addict" scene with Chase that we all remember... Anyway, I'm just saying... I don't know what. But I'm getting a strange urge to rewatch seasons 6 and 7. Also, Carter's conversation with Lucy's mother is one of those scenes that I'll never be able to forget. Brilliant acting.
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Post by claired80 on Apr 2, 2009 8:41:59 GMT -5
I really like all you say about the addiction story line. It's true we were given many signs, and it was indeed very beautifully written, that even with all the signs, many of us didn't 'go there' (as Mark put it... ). And yeah, too bad it was dropped quickly in season 7... I love that scene with Chase at the end of Surrender... And it's very true that Benton's reaction in the lounge is probably what triggers Carter to go back to Chase. That scene is really so beautifully shot. Chase's face dropping in the foreground when hearing Carter was shooting up, and with Carter and his body language so strong in the background. Noah's acting is so perfect. The fast pace of his monologue, and then slowing down, leading to "I'm a drug addict"... awwww. I want more of that . And you see that the directors/writers know and trust that he can do perfect. They never hesitate to have long close up on him... and to shoot things just through his eyes and face. And since we are talking about season 6, the stabbing is really a fine example. We never see the knife, hardly see Sobriki, hardly Lucy... It's all shown through Noah's acting only. And it's extremely powerful! One word comes to mind... Genius ;D
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Post by darksparrow on Apr 2, 2009 17:56:11 GMT -5
Found it! this clip has the shot of the socks Kem's wearing back in season 10- and it's definitely the same socks that Carter is wearing in Old Times. Nice, writers, nice. Also, happy!Carter and happy!Kem are so much more adorable than the mess they made out of them later on. And I love that she made him shave because of the picture she saw- I didn't remember that part! Definitely makes me appreciate her a bit more, lol... ANYONE who contributes to making the beard disappear earns points by my book.
The bit with Weaver at the end is a little heartbreaking. When she's showing him the pictures of Henry and Carter says "he's got his own personality" she says "they all do. You'll see." but of course, he doesn't, does he.
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Post by Raffy on Apr 3, 2009 2:34:12 GMT -5
They WERE sweet and in love. Grrrrrrrr
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Post by darksparrow on Apr 4, 2009 9:51:03 GMT -5
I'm continuing my season 2 marathon, and rediscovering so many great Carter scenes... Can't resist sharing: The Ruby saga (some scenes, at least. Man, what a beautiful storyarc)- Carter's treating Mrs.Rubadoux... and it's getting a little bit too demanding. So, when all Carter's efforts to help the old lady fail, he consults dr.Vucelich who advises him to stuff her full of meds that will improve her condition in the short run, and discharge her. She'll relapse in no time, but, as Vucelich says, it will no longer be their responsibility. Carter's on board with that. When she's back in the ER again after having suffered a minor stroke, Carter's less than thrilled. And again, he's trying to shake her off. And again, Ruby's being a bit demanding. Ruby finally hears the truth. Several episodes later (and after the conversation with Susan which you'll see if you scroll down a bit), Ruby's back in the ER. Mrs.Rubadoux has died, and Ruby invites Jeannie to the funeral. Carter overhears. He's determined to try to make amends. Speaking of Ruby, did I see him rolling into the ER in the retrospective? That must have been in one of the later seasons, because Neela's there. How did I miss that and what happened there? Anyway. This is from "The Right Things". Carter's acting like a jerk all episode because Benton had kicked him to the ER with no apparent reason (actually, it's because Benton's in trouble with Vucelich, but Carter doesn't know about that.) until he finally takes it out on two drunk patients. Off topic, Sherry's not doing a very good acting job here. (wow. it took me three days to get the videos uploaded. Talk about slow internet connection.)
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Post by claired80 on Apr 4, 2009 11:34:37 GMT -5
Thanks!!! I spotted the two first you uploaded on YouTube (not knowing it was from you...) and saved them right away ;D. I was so happy to see that ;D. I was thinking about those scenes with Ruby not long ago and I don't have season 2 with me right now. Big big big thank you! It was indeed a very beautiful story arc, very realistic. You can blame Carter, you can blame Ruby (who really doesn't want to hear the truth at first...). And when they brought him back in season 11, it was the same perfectly realistic dynamic. Ruby was a bitter old man behaving horribly with Abby and others... and Carter first was letting all the responsibility of dealing with him to the interns. Both to be blamed again. And their finale scene together is so poignant. Perfect acting... wow... That show could be so darn good. Oooops...
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Post by darksparrow on Apr 4, 2009 11:45:09 GMT -5
So wait, Ruby's back in season 11? How on earth did I miss that? Yay, I'm glad the time spent uploading wasn't completely wasted... You're welcome. And really, as much as I love the later seasons, it's always fun to rewatch seasons 1-4. I'm working on aquiring the third season now. it's going painfully slow, but what are you gonna do when your country doesn't sell ER dvds...
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Post by darksparrow on Apr 4, 2009 18:48:43 GMT -5
Oh, and Claired80 reminded me that I wanted to post another thing- in season 2's "John Carter, MD", there's actually a cute story leading up to that beautiful scene with Carter and Benton that I already posted. In the beginning of the episode, Carter's inviting Benton to his graduation party and Benton blows him off, telling him to stop brown-nosing him. Then, Morganstern asks Carter about surgical teams for next year and offers him a prestigious spot in the red team. That's the "classy" specialties, and Carter is very lucky to even be considered... Carter accepts. But at the end of the episode, he actually asks Morganstern to switch to Benton's team- that's ER, general surgery and proctology. And here's something I never noticed: right at the end of the episode, Carter picks up his new lab coat, which was left for him by... Benton. (I'm going to think of the finale every time I see Carter in a suit now) Man, I'm going to miss this!
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Post by Raffy on Apr 5, 2009 3:04:45 GMT -5
I'm going to miss ER and Carter!!!! Fortunally there's still Noah And I loved the season 2 finale and the scene with Carter and Benton was so good!!! Me too. And every time I see the finale I'm going to think how good he always looked in a suit ;D
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Post by claired80 on Apr 5, 2009 5:00:53 GMT -5
Awww that's a classic! I'd have to search quite a lot more, re-watch all s1 and s2, but I think that gesture and that episode, with Benton telling Carter in the end to "take care of himself", is the first one with real signs of how much Benton cares for Carter. Thanks for posting all this ;D!! Ah.. and Carter in a suit! And Jerry tells him it's a nice suit... and Carter answers "Hugo Boss...". Jerry was already hitting on Carter . Maybe that's another possibility for a Carter ever after... And I forgot it was in that episode that Carter mentioned "his sister".
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Post by darksparrow on Apr 5, 2009 6:38:26 GMT -5
I think it was as early as season 1 that we really get to see the first cracks. When Benton tells Carter that he'll make a good doctor, and when Benton invites Carter to thanksgiving dinner after Carter's transvestite patient jumps off the roof, and when we get to hear his evaluation of Carter... But this is one of the first times Benton lets his guard down this much. And season 2 is full of small significant moments between these two that are just pure joy to watch. Oh wow. So I watched the season 11 Ruby episode, which I never even knew existed. Somehow I managed to miss that one entirely.(Might be because I was so frustrated with ER I didn't bother watching most of season 11) and, well, I still have goosebumps from the last scene. I can't believe Carter didn't remember Ruby... Maybe he repressed it. I know I would. Anyway, because I absolutely refuse to do any studying (and this is for a good cause- who knows how many more people never got closure on the Ruby storyline and didn't even know it? ), looky here, clips.
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Post by claired80 on Apr 5, 2009 7:30:33 GMT -5
Thank you!!! ;D Acting is really superb in that second scene. You can really tell the exact second when it downs on Carter that he is responsible... wow... and that last scene. Genius . I think on the deleted scenes on the DVD there's an other scene after where Mr. Rubadoux tells Carter "Call me Ruby", but I'm glad they chose to finish with that one...
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Post by Raffy on Apr 5, 2009 7:42:48 GMT -5
OH, thank you, ANna! I was looking for the second one because I wanted to post it here. Besides the Ruby part which was really great I love the part where Carter gives Ray a real roasting too .
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Post by darksparrow on Apr 5, 2009 9:59:47 GMT -5
You're welcome, guys. Both Noah and Red Buttons are fantastic in that scene, and I can understand how Noah always talks about how amazing Red was to act with. And yeah, I'm glad they ended it with that last scene. Ruby's been bitter for 10 years, it's not going to change overnight, no matter what Carter says, and "call me Ruby" would be too easy. I would love to see that scene, though. *goes hunting for it*
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