This hour felt like days. I think it took a few years off my life. It was perfect, even better than I expected. Didn't we all know Kerry would find them? I hoped so much that she would lose her usual cool and not be able to something, as happened with Paul. She certainly reacted strongly to him, didn't she. *Randy was practically incoherant. *What made me lose it (the second time) was when Peter came tearing down those stairs- that is exactly what I wanted to happen- no elevators for him! *What made me lose it (the first time) was Kerry crying out and the blood all over her jacket. *What I really appreciated was the sublety and solemnity. I've never heard so much silence- when Elzabeth and Robert finally gave up and no one moved or made a sound, the seconds stretched out, I really credit the director for giving us those moments before a commercial invaded. *When Kerry "told" Mark- Wow- their faces! *And the sternal saw! I used to look forward to Kerry struting her stuff with it but no more. *Kerry was obviously angry and Luka happened to be right there- perhaps she made him talk to Paul's wife as a bit of punishment? *Dr Anspaugh made me feel very comforted *Not too much comic relief- thankfully it remained serious throughout *The way Carter knew. Of course he did. The direction was perfect here- no tears or wailing- I don't think anyone cried except the audience. Even Elizabeth, sitting there like she couldn't believe what had actually happened. No tears tonight was real; all I hope is that we see some later, that it isn't all just allowed to fade out. *What really made me lose it (the twentieth time) was when all those guys were at Doc Magoo's, telling funny stories- just like in The Healers with Raul!! *The other patients who kept coming in and how Mark had to keep on going when he wanted to fall apart. When Kerry was yelling about no one seeing Paul and Mark said "Yes, I saw him" I thought Oh no, here comes the guilt. There is going to be quilt all around I think. *"All in the Family" indeed. Everyone had their role and played it. *My nomination for look of the week: Lucy, with the front of her gown all stained, Elizabeth says "I'll get you through this" and Lucy looks as though she is not at all convinced she will make it.

-- May Archer (archerl@cadvision.com), February 18, 2000

Answers

Sorry, one more thing. Wasn't it great to see Kerry so upset? It reminded me of the first episodes when Carter gets sick from seeing a grisly injury. He apologises and Mark tells him never to be sorry for keeping your feelings- he echoed this while talking to Abby on the roof. Yea! Mark was so calm (actually suppressed) the entire time and not directly involved. I found this rather surprising, but it was perfect. I think that he will be more important in Carter's emotional recovery, because they have very much in common as doctors and personality and because of Mark's attack at work.

-- May Archer (archerl@cadvision.com), February 18, 2000.

May May May, I agree!! EVERYTHING you covered -- so many precious moments, all fraught with absolute tension and the knowledge (for most of us) that Lucy was going to die . . . I knew she was going to die and then it looked like she might pull through but be an absolute physical wreck and then when Elizabeth left and she closed her eyes and blinked--it was like she was giving up. Like she knew and she didn't want to fight and it was time . . . My GOD!

I have always liked the show but have never got so involved as I have in the past year or so. Off and on I'd watched it until then and I'd missed all the storylines that really seem to draw everybody together here on alt.tv.er ... But with so many recent, gut-wrenching episodes like this one I feel like I've been here and loved these characters all along . . . and though I never saw Lucy and Carter's relationship, etc., and didn't know her well, I cried SO hard for her as this entire hour went by . . .

You're right, it lasted forever. In a way, when people we care about go, even as they struggle and HAVE to go, we sustain the pain, the limbo, of keeping them. In the real world it was sad to let Lucy go and in the ER world, it was damned painful . . . all the details above you describe above made it that much harder . . . Particularly the silence. I've never held my breath for so long in my life . . .

-- Miriam (thmilin@hotmail.com), February 18, 2000.

Didn't the time drag! I thought Weaver would never find them! We all knew where they were and that it was coming but I couldn't hold my breath any longer until she found them. I hate the fact that Lucy is gone, I hate the fact that she left. But it gave everyone who is staying the chance to show some real emotion. Dr Weaver didn't want to work on a patient? That was new and someting we have never seen, she did an excellent job! Lets hope they keep up the good work!

-- annie (lilannie@uswest.net), February 18, 2000.

Hitchcock himself couldn't have created a more suspensful hour. Brilliant. Tragic. Epic.

-- Lola Bronx (lolabronx@hotmail.com), February 18, 2000.

I had to keep forcing myself to SIT DOWN. I kept finding myself standing in the middle of the room, just WEEPING. This was such powerful TV. I lost my husband earlier this year -- nothing so violent, except (sic) long-term illness. But the emotions of and reactions to crisis and death in this episode were so real and so in character in terms of each individual. The non-verbal cues, the silences, I agree, were particularly devastating and life-like. Things were moving so quickly but the time warp effect was always present. These people are steeped in violence and crisis and yet we got the sense that it all became personal and real. An amazing show. The best one in years, I think.

-- B Banayard (bonnileu@aol.com), February 18, 2000.

on the contrary, the only time that dragged was before they found them. then boom it was 10 oclock for me. when the words popped up after kerry said "i know" i was startled because i didnt realize an hour could go so quickly!

-- dawn stinson (qstnevrythng@hotmail.com), February 18, 2000.

I just watched it again- why do I torture myself?! More details: I loved the Carol/Mark interaction and parallel- they are friends and emotion-hiders and above all healers and they were the ones to move on the soonest. *The flatline effect yikes!

-- May Archer (archerl@cadvision.com), February 18, 2000.

Guys, I was mesmerized the entire hour. Even though I was pretty sure how it would all turn out, the performances were so outstanding they drew me in. The episode was devastating, but I made it most of the way through the show dry. I lost it during the scene when Elizabeth goes home and just sits there stunned and drained. I've always liked Alex Kingston, and she sucked me in this time. What a talent! Alex rocks.

-- Babsy (goodbabs@zdnetonebox.com), February 22, 2000.

I'm so glad I found this message board! I've looked and looked for someone in my office who watches and finally found someone, who had to borrow my tape of both episodes to catch up so obviously not a dedicated watcher. It's great to find people who watch consistently and diligently.

-- Diana (DILYNNE@MINDSPRING.COM), February 27, 2000.