ER: The Complete Sixth Season

Not for those with weak stomachs, ER follows the personal and professional lives of a Chicago county hospital emergency room's doctors, nurses, and medical students. Running since 1994, it's become one of the most well-known series on television, and has definitely set the bar for television shows made since. Having a reputation for its fast-paced action, its well-developed characters, and its tendency to have actors coming in and out of the show like a revolving door at a New York City Starbucks, the show has gathered a huge following. ER: The Complete Sixth Season does not disappoint, as it's just as nerve-wrecking, and in one season alone we have an influx of newly arriving characters, and both happy and sad departures.

I have to admit I was never an avid ER viewer. I'm guilty of in my mid-90's junior high glory turning on the television, flipping through the channels, seeing George Clooney's beautiful mug, and staring, transfixed, at the television while completely ignoring the medical mumbo-jumbo. I prayed that my family would move to Chicago and I'd sprain my ankle so that I'd be taken to County Medical and Dr. Ross would heal my wounds.

Those days are behind me now, and thankfully I have much more self-control. Yet along with the self-control I've also become a lot more critical. So I figured I'd give ER one more sporting chance.

Immediately I'm pleased, because although half the time I have no idea what in the world anyone is saying in the operating room, I have absolutely no trouble following the storyline; it's as though I've been watching since the first season. Being very squeamish, I squirmed my way through the first few heavy operation scenes, but I plowed on. Let me just say that by Episode 14 I was nonchalantly eating my lunch while watching a patient being cracked open (I apologize for the graphic description, but they crack people open all the time on this show!). Also, my knowledge of medical jargon has greatly improved.

Apparently, the fifth season leaves us guessing after Dr. Doug Ross (George Clooney) sadly departs, and Nurse Carol Hathaway reveals she's pregnant with his babies shortly after; Dr. Peter Benton (Eriq La Salle) decides to resign his prestigious surgery gig, to pursue a trauma fellowship, and later finds out his ex is planning to take his son (or is he his real son?) to Germany, where her new boyfriend has a professional opportunity; Dr. John Carter (Noah Wyle) is working steadily through his residence, supervising sweet as pie Lucy Knight; Mark Greene (Anthony Edwards) and Elizabeth Corday (Alex Kingston) have sparked a relationship; and Robert Romano's still the biggest jerk of all time.

In season six we basically tie up all the lose ends from last season. Most despicable man-on-earth Romano (Paul McCrane) is appointed Chief of Staff

in the ER, after the unpredictable Dr. Kerry Weaver (Laura Innes) agrees to back up Greene when he decides to fight the decision, and sells him out at the last minute.

In Episode 1 we meet hot foreigner Luka Kovac (Goran Visnjic), who from the beginning shows an interest in Nurse Hathaway, who's pregnant with the absent Dr. Ross' twins (Curse you for leaving George Clooney"¦). Yet we have no time to reminisce about the past, as there's a new twosome who takes over the cute couple spot. Dr. Greene and Dr. Corday continue their relationship, as both their parents come into town and decide to begin a love affair of their own. We also have the beginning of a very steamy romance between Dr. Benton and the beautiful pediatrician, Dr. Cleo Finch (Michael Michele). We watch Dr. John Carter's mental health deteriorate, and we welcome the arrival of Nurse Hathaway's twins! We also welcome Nurse Abbey Lockhart (Maura Tierney) who helps deliver Hathaway's twins, and then returns later in the season as a resident. One departure that made me a little sad was that of Gloria Reuben as Jeanie Boulet. She was absolutely wonderful in this role, and I was upset to see her go so early in the season.

Alright, now that we've got all the catching up out of the way, can I just say something? This show is CRAZY. The episodes in Season 6 are extremely intense, which is pretty much what did it for me. Trucks crashing into buildings, people being resuscitated on helicopters, stabbings, shootings-all make for a heck of a show. Yet the tender moments such as the episodes where Greene takes care of his ailing father, and where two children are left orphaned after their parents both die on the operating table, are absolutely heartbreaking. Episodes 13 and 14 are my personal favorite, as two of County Medical's own are threatened by death.

I have only two small, tiny, little qualms with ER. After watching a few episodes, you could always count on one predictable thing: Someone will be brought in with a headache and end up being diagnosed with either an incurable illness, or be told he or she has an hour left to live. Needless to say this cured me of my longing to sprain my ankle and be treated by a cute doctor, in fear that I may be diagnosed with a rare bone marrow disease in the process (I'll heal my own wounds, thank you very much). Also, they tend to leave a lot of loose ends untied. This is where the DVD scores big time, as for nearly every episode they have 'Outpatient Outtakes' where they tie up all the loose ends for those who are sticklers for that kind of thing. Aside from the outtakes, the DVD also includes a gag reel.

The

camera work on ER: The Complete Sixth Season, is what stands out the most in my mind, as while watching this show I witnessed some of the best camera work I've seen in my life. Some of the scenes are extremely long, without cuts, as the camera weaves in and out of operating rooms, through hallways, and after stretchers. This is all done so naturally it's almost like watching a perfectly choreographed dance.

All in all, I started out as a skeptic. Now I've become desensitized to blood and guts, and have an improved vocabulary to show for it. Ahh"¦the joys of American television.

Season Grade: A-

DVD Features Grade: A

Overall Grade: A-

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