OK. Someone said that Carter was supposed to have flash backs. Well, the preview from last night didn't suggest that! Also, I am starting to doubt if George Clooney is coming back. And I would really appreciate it if they would stop showing Cleo and Benton together! It makes me sick!! I almost threw up in "Viable Options"! And one more thing, what in the world does dervish mean? If you could help, I would be very appreciative!

-- Stephanie (Looney425@aol.com), April 21, 2000

Answers

A whirling dirvish is an Indian (from India, not America), Eastern world religion. They spin around to induce visions. I think they are a sect of Jainism, but it could be another Indian religion.

-- Rachel (rachelrr@ivillage.com), April 21, 2000.

The previews often don't show all the details of the entire episode. :-)

George Clooney probably isn't coming back. He has said he wants to come back, but recently also said he would understand if the producers didn't ask him, because they've worked hard during the past season to rebuild the show without Doug and his coming back might take away from that.

-- debbie (riccardoiii@aol.com), April 21, 2000.

I haven't yet caught the preview from last night, but this is what the spoilers have to say about Carter:

In "The Fastest Year" (4/27 epi) Carter is "tormented by visions of his recent brush with death" and in "Loose Ends" (May 4) he turns into a "Whirling Dervish".

So he's going up & down, up & down, up & down. If this isn't a plot bat, I don't know what is-and I don't like where it's headed!

-- (trelles@ix.netcom.com), April 21, 2000.

I looked up Dervish on MS word's thesaurus and it's respond to that word was: Evil spirit, Demon, Fiend, Devil, Monster, Barberian and Brute. So I guess Carter is gonna turn kind of evil in the near future. I understand from what it sounds like, that he's gonna be busy running around in circles being evil to everybody. That's just my guess. It's gonna be interesting to see, that's for sure.

-- Ina Felsch (ifelsch@yahoo.com), April 21, 2000.

No, no, no, no... the term "whirling dervish" does not mean someone is evil or mean. It's simply a popular phrase to describe someone who is really hyperactive and trying to do 1,000 things at once. My best guess is that Carter is popping amphetamines already (to keep himself awake during his shifts, since he can't get to sleep when he's OFF his shifts).

-- debbie (riccardoiii@aol.com), April 21, 2000.

I wonder what this title means? A fast year for Carter because of everything that's happened? A fast year for Carol because of everything that's happened? Or Mark, because of what's happened with his family over the past year? It's got me curious, but it's probably none of the above. LoL.

-- Arianne (CarolRossSusanGreene@yahoo.com), April 21, 2000.

Stephanie--I was wondering about that too, since it was full of "hope and magic", but in the SPOILERS (do not read if you don't want to know) it says Carter will be tormented by visions. I am just guessing they are letting the viewers (those who DO NOT read this forum) be surprised about Carter's increased issues, because the source of the spoiler information has never proven to be wrong. It was good to see a smile from him again, but I do want to see him deal with the attack first, it is only natural.

As for the whirling dervish, I am interested to see this too...it says he will be taking over even other doctors cases...this sounds a bit along the lines of forced bipolar tendencies (seeing visions one week, an anxious, out of control perfectionist the next) and I hope that they do not develop this idea from just these two incidents, because it just isn't enough. But you never know what they will do.

-- Elaine (mrsclooney78@hotmail.com), April 21, 2000.

I think all of this is in line with Carter suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Survivors guilt. All the symptoms go hand in hand with that and somone who is trying to gain back control alone, but is unable too. I think it is possible Carter is trying to take uppers to keep him awake since he has major insomnia.

-- Brenda (jckwfan@aol.com), April 22, 2000.

I found some info on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder on the web. I said that many people with PTSD relive the experience by having recurrent dreams about the trauma or having flashbacks of the trauma. Carter appears to have these symptoms. Some of the symptoms Carter appears to have are : sleeping difficulties, feelings of detachment, irritabilty or outburst of anger, exaggerated startled response, sense of guilt about event , flashback episode, and recurrent distressing memories of event.

Carter being overly active is not a symptom listed . I think it is Carter's way of trying to deal with it . It may also be side effects of Carter trying to medicate his problems with pain and/or staying awake while at work. I also thinnk it goes hand in hand with Carter perceived guilt over Lucy'd death and not wanting anyone else to die while he is there.

-- Brenda (jckwfan@aol.com), April 22, 2000.

I think Carter's just working 24/7 is to keep his mind off things. Usually when people suffer traumatic events, be it to themselves, or if a loved one died, etc, they often work non-stop so their minds can be occupied elsewhere. I'm also assuming that with all the dinner parties that Carter's grandfather is throwing about, that home isn't exactly the number one place he wants to go to. ANd he probably doesn't want to be at his home alone, so work is probably the best alternative.

I hope they chalk his "whiring dirvish" behaviour to as his way of dealing with things... because if they simply make Carter do a million things at once, he'll probably just come across as a nosey jerk who wants to do everything and anything.

-- samira (matb_west@chickmail.com), April 22, 2000.

I was wondering about the title too. I mean looking back on it, how much has happened since May of last year? Carter got injured and possibly tormented, Lucy got killed, Carol got two baby girls, Mark got a dying father, Benton got a new girlfriend, Elizabeth got a promotion, all in one year. It's a lot to deal with and a lot to happen in such a short amount of time. Happened kind of fast.

As for Carter, Entertainment Weekly said he is tormented by flashbacks of the attack, which should be very interested. I can't help but be a little excited. We all know how Carter gets when he gets in charge!

-- Joanne (bucklind@hotmail.com), April 23, 2000.