Season 8- Episode 21 - On the beach
Just a quick warning before you read this. When I originally posted these comments to a newsgroup, I got a few unpleasant responses along the lines of 'how dare you criticize such a wonderful and moving episode', 'who died and made *you* the ER critic' etc. My response is that as a viewer, I am entitled to my opinions and if people don't like them, then they don't have to read them. So if you're looking for a touching commentary on how wonderful this episode was, then I suggest you go to an Anthony Edwards/Mark Greene fan-site, because I call them like I see them, and I saw a crappy episode.
When you start thinking 'thank God there's only another two
episodes to go', it's definitely a sign that a show isn't holding
your interest any more. When it takes you over a month to get
around to even *watching* the episodes you'd previously taped,
it's an even bigger sign. Although I know that on some level I
was deliberately putting off watching this episode because
watching someone die from a terminal illness is not fun...been
there, done that, bought the wreath. Probably if I'd actually
liked Mark then I might have been shedding a tear at his demise,
but I've despised him since the events of 'Rampage' and all I
could feel was overwhelming relief that TPTB have stopped teasing
us and finally killed him. I only wish that his actions...or
rather lack of action against Derek Fossen had come out, but I
guess that TPTB were trying to give him a hero's send-off and
didn't want to sully his memory.
But anyway...
RTE voiceover dude "An emotional episode of ER as we say
goodbye to Dr. Greene."
Ceindreadh "And about bloody time."
Mark (reading his list) "Have noisy sex in a public place."
Elizabeth "I can help you with that."
Ceindreadh "No need Lizzie, he's already done that with Jen
in Season 1."
Mark "I haven't been a very good father."
You think?
Damn, when Mark said he wanted to jump out of an airplane, he
never said he was going to be wearing a parachute.
Mark smoked pot in his teens? Yeah right.
Mark's Dad stood for "Patriotism, Responsibility, Authority
and Honor." I can see why Mark "I let a patient die
because I didn't like him" Greene couldn't possibly agree
with any of those things.
I'm guessing that this episode took place over the course of a
few weeks...and by God it felt like it.
My Dad watched it when it first aired and commented that it was
the worst episode of ER he'd ever seen. I totally agree with him.
I hardly think that a stick shift is the best vehicle to be
driving when you're having problems using your arm.
If Mark wants to 'bond' with Rachel, then teaching her how to
drive is the last thing he should be doing <g>
And as someone who drives a stick shift, I was always taught *not*
to have the clutch down when turning on the ignition, unless the
car was already in gear, which it's not supposed to be. I was
also taught to have the handbrake on when starting instead of
keeping my foot on the brake pedal.
Mark "I was loaded most of 8th grade." *cough*bullshit*cough*
Elizabeth "Keep your voice down, the baby's sleeping."
When is Elizabeth going to remember her daughter's name?
I can understand what Rachel's going through. It does suck, and
it's no easier at 27 than at 14.
Ah yes, the infamous 'shit' scene. Of course, having just
finished watching an episode of 'Six feet under' before this, I
can't really see any problem with Mark swearing, or why it got so
much attention after the episode aired.
Elizabeth to Mark "So you're not worried?" (about
Rachel and Kai)
Of course he's not worried. After all, if Rachel gets pregnant or
wants to run away to live in Hawaii, Mark's not going to be
around to have to deal with it. It's not *his* problem.
Mark "Something every father should impart to his daughter."
"Generosity...be generous with your time, with your love,
with your life..." And with her E as well?
Mark's last words "Don't cry for me..."
A lot of people mentally finished that sentence with "...Argentina..."
But for me, the first thing that came to mind was "Don't cry
for me...I'm already dead..." (Barney Gumble)
Hmm, I wonder what everybody was thinking at the funeral.
Benton "I can't believe that those TPTB bastards dragged me
all the way back here just for two lousy scenes."
Carter "Crap, am I going to have to shave my head and wear
glasses now that I'm taking over from Mark?"
Chen "Oh well, this is as much screen time as I usually get
in an episode. Guess I can't complain."
Romano "Hmm, should I wait till they lower the coffin before
putting the moves on Lizzie?"
Well that was 42 minutes of my life I'm not getting back.
For anyone who thinks I was a little harsh about this episode,
trust me, I did tone things down a bit from my original comments.
Season
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