Finally watching the episode, and I'll comment as I go along.
Also, I'm fast forwarding through all the Gates scenes because his face makes me want to punch a wall, so if I miss something there... oh I don't care.
-I'm loving Scott Grimes more and more by the minute. Morris has really become quite awesome in the few years I haven't been watching. "I mean it, right in the face" XD
-having Rachel Greene come back as a med student just so there would be a dr.Greene for the finale is actually pretty touching.
-I really like Alexis Bledel as an intern. She should have joined sooner, it would actually be interesting to see her on ER.
-When I say I want to hear more details about Carter's recovery, "no complaints from the plumbing" isn't quite what I had in mind.
-That was NOT a newborn baby they handed the woman.
-Ghandi, the cancer guy, saying "I should have died with all my friends back in the 80's...I've been trying to live for them, keep their memories alive, but I've had my time. No regrets" Did anyone else think they might be making a point about ER? Anyone? It's like they're saying "yeah, we could probably make it last a couple more seasons. Maybe do a spinoff. But really, it's time to go." If that was intentional, then nice touch.
Also noticed when he was naming his dead friends he says "little Bobby". Just a little something to see if we're paying attention, I guess.
-There's a shot of Carter waving goodbye to the webcam Neela that I'm pretty sure was meant just to make us notice the ring. They all but had a flashing arrow pointing to it.
-I loved Carter's speech. I wasn't bothered by the choice of words... "small tragedy" doesn't necessarily mean "insignificant". In fact it's pretty easy to see how much it still hurts him to talk about it. But the point that they're trying to make, I think, is that all the cases and all the people who come into the hospitals are "small tragedies" when viewed from the side, and they might just be giving us the reason Carter's doing this. Weaver talked about redemption, but what I get from the speech is this: Carter's really trying to help others, because he's seen himself as one of these others, and he that maybe this way he can somehow help himself. It's beautiful and I really think it sums up everything that Carter's been through with the Africa and baby storyline.
-Apparently all I've ever needed is a simple "you've done good, Carter" from Benton. It's not much, but it's finally that approval he's been looking for, eh?
-Carter's talk with Kem... I don't know, I may be an optimist, but it felt like there was possibly a tiny bit of hope there. I didn't think Carter's plea for lunch was out of place or insensitive. It sounded desperate, if anything. Like he's saying "yes, I know, we need to finally talk about that, give me the chance to do that someplace else." I didn't get the sense from Kem that she was giving up or b****y or cold or anything. Just really unsure and hurt. Oh well, I wish them luck.
-I love the "reunion" scenes, even though they're a bit awkward and you can see that Carter's feeling... nostalgic? lonely? I can't put a finger on it. But I also think it's very appropriate that Carter's finally shown as a "colleague". If you think about it, isn't that what he's been craving for so long? Being accepted as a colleague? at least with Benton he's got there, which in itself is a happy ending.
-And Benton initiating a hug. Now I've seen it all. ;D
-it kind of pisses me off that Banfield is acting like Carter's some sort of a nuisance, but it's occured to me too that he really shouldn't be there. And definitely not treating patients. Especially not after having had, presumably, at least one drink. Still, I thought Jerry's "uh, because he's a DOCTOR" really sweet. Take
that.
-I liked the ending. Chuny handing him the robe and gloves. Carter's quietly jumping right back in there. and again, at the risk of sounding like a hopeless optimist... it seems that Carter's staying in the ER. "Carter, you working?" "Absolutely". That didn't seem very open ended to me. Maybe because I don't want it to be.
References to the pilot that I was able to spot (and I saw the pilot maybe six years ago, so there are not that many):
-Lydia coming in on a snoring Morris.
-Obviously, the delivery scene- when the woman crashes and the intern has to do what Carter did 15 years ago, awesome.
-"watch out for the guy in three, he's a grabber" sounds familiar. Or am I imagining things?
- Brenner giving the intern a pep talk...
-"there's a spirit of comorodary here, that's sort of what makes the place work"
-Carter teaching Rachel how to insert an IV... exact same lines, right?
I know I'm missing a ton more, because I don't actually remember the cases from the pilot... anyone?
Bottom line: I figured out a way to enjoy the finale, guys. Here's what you do: Watch it at three in the morning, with
the lowest expectations possible, and after you'd had a day to process the fact that you're not going to get the closure you so definitely craved. Fast forward through all the Gates and the Sam, and try to focus on the fact that it's still a pretty good episode, Carterlessness aside (yes, that is now a word)... You know what? I kind of liked it. There was so much more they could do, so much more I wanted to see. But I didn't find it all that bad. Not enough, but definitely not bad. And it might be the exhaustion, but yeah, it made me cry. I mean, ER is gone.
OT: I just typed b****y and it replaced it with "pregnant doggy". LOL