So the beginning... ER did a lot of reverse timeline episodes over the years (Four Corners, Blackout, Hindsight), but I think this episode is one of the best. I love how it starts at the end with Luka absolutely worn out (okay, that part is like Hindsight
). But the music when he leaves the ER is beautiful and haunting. It reminds me of Braveheart a little. I love the POV shot of him walking towards the Bishop's room. So trance-like.
"At least that's honest"
"So I should say that?"
"No" - Benton was so brilliant!!
A hectic ER - just how I like it.
The accident scene is so well done. Now I see where ER was putting those $14 million every week... But yeah, seriously, so much work must have gone into the preparation of this scene. No crew like the ER crew!
Oh, - you know that part at the accident site where Luka is running really really fast? Well for whatever reason, I forgot that the scene was in this episode and it used to drive me
crazy every week when I'd see that shot of him running in the opening credits because I could never remember which episode it was from.
Oh man, the start of his flashbacks to his family.
I hate what is coming.
I agree with Ju - it is ridiculous that they sent Elizabeth to the accident scene when she was so heavily pregnant. Plus, it must have been a tricky scene to shoot since Alex was pregnant in real life. They must have had to be so careful.
I don't really understand Mark's test either.
Kerry and Abby are running this trauma in a room full of female nurses. All I can hear after that US Magazine article is Sherry/Julianna/Gloria yelling, "Chick trauma!"
It's awesome seeing Benton/Carter working together again on the amputation, even if it is over the phone.
Can I ask - why did everyone always mention Dr. McLucas when inevitably Dr. Coburn was the OB we saw?
I know she isn't in this episode, but still. It was always Coburn.
So I forgot this girl attempted suicide and that was what caused the crash... I can't imagine the state of mind of a suicidal person to make them do something like that. Carol going into her bathroom in the pilot and overdosing on pills? That is one thing. But parking your car on a train track and not comprehending that many other people will be injured/killed as a result? That is... well I don't know what that is.
Quite cool how this Luka/Abby shot from the beginning is now shown from their right sides, whereas the camera was on their left sides at the beginning of the episode.
I find this moment with the bishop before the flashback to be so serene. I am not a religious person, but I am fascinated with religion as a general concept. The different customs, the strong beliefs, etc.
And now the flashback.
I honestly don't think there is a sadder moment on ER, not when you take yourself out of the show and out of your allegiance to your favourite characters. When you think about a person, A DOCTOR and the fact that they had to sit and watch their ENTIRE family bleed to death while sitting in the middle of a war zone? That is unfathomable and beyond heartbreaking.
The bishop's speech is beautiful and I love how James Cromwell delivers the whole thing. He has such a soothing, but authoritative presence.
The end.