I am so so so impressed that the writers did not play the cheap cliffhanger card and end the episode with Carter gone missing, a rape with an unknown main-character-perp on the loose, or any other inane soap-opera/action/thriller nonsense.

The storylines right now -- especially Carter's -- are wonderful and rich and textured and compelling. There's a lot to care about, and there have been months of terrible pain -- so much that it's overwhelming and time for some healing.

I'm very impressed that the writers had the courage to count on that to bring viewers back next fall, rather than try to create some superficial suspense around some gratuitously life-threatening issue. Awesome!

-- Elizabeth (ebs42@yahoo.com), May 19, 2000

Answers

Response to Kudos to the writers for showing some restraint!

Elizabeth,

I totally agree! Thanl you to the writers! They didn't need all that stuff b/c they knew that the true fans of the show would stick around next season to find out what happens to one of their favorite characters!

-- Cassie (samper0812@yahoo.com), May 19, 2000.

Response to Kudos to the writers for showing some restraint!

I agree! Thank you NBC for the lack of cliffhangers! (I watched Friends last night too, even though it's getting pretty pathetic) The whole epi was excellent from beginning to end, and I'm so glad we had some closure with Carter. I don't think I could have stood waiting 3 mo. to find out what was wrong with him! And, much as I hate to say it, I barely noticed Carol's absence. (Not sure if that's good or bad-she'd been drifting away for a while)

-- Rubi (BayerFamily@Juno.com), May 19, 2000.

Response to Kudos to the writers for showing some restraint!

I agree about the no cliffhanger thing. They are kind of cheap and insulting. er has really always been pretty good about no cliffhangers. They really seem to do a great job a giving charectors momentum for the nest season.

-- Cara Noblitt (cnoblitt@usa.net), May 19, 2000.

Response to Kudos to the writers for showing some restraint!

ER does do cliffhangers only they do them the right way. We all want the summer to rush by so we can see what kind of person, what kind of doctor Carter will be after his "trip to Atlanta". This is so much more interesting and satisfying than waiting to find out if two characters dated over the summer or if someone committed suicide.

-- maryann (map5860@aol.com), May 19, 2000.

Response to Kudos to the writers for showing some restraint!

I agree too. Even though it was a sad day with Luka and Carter, I think the break will provide time for healing and hopefully some happier story lines!

-- cherry (hoffner@mail.icongrp.com), May 19, 2000.

Response to Kudos to the writers for showing some restraint!

We've been pretty hard on the writers here the past few weeks and it's wonderful to say that they were right on target the past couple of weeks! I am in awe of last night's epi. They were especially good at showing an addictive personality and intervention. I think it's great that the other characters...and the audience...couldn't figure out what was up with Carter's erratic behavior and had all kinds of theories. That's the way it is for addiction in real life too..baffling, confusing.

-- Diana (dilynne@juno.com), May 19, 2000.