ER (season 15)

The fifteenth and final season of the American fictional drama television series ER premiered on September 25, 2008, and concluded on April 2, 2009, in a two-hour episode preceded by a one-hour retrospective special. It consists of 22 episodes.

ER
Season 15
DVD cover
Starring
Country of originUnited States
No. of episodes22
Release
Original networkNBC
Original releaseSeptember 25, 2008 (2008-09-25) –
April 2, 2009 (2009-04-02)
Season chronology

Plot

The final season opens up revealing Gregory Pratt is the victim of the ambulance explosion. Despite the rallying efforts of his workplace colleagues, he succumbs to his injuries and dies. The season introduces Cate Banfield as new ER chief, a woman with a seemingly mysterious past with County General. Luka Kovač and Abby Lockhart leave for a new life in Boston, Brenner must deal with issues surrounding his childhood, and he comes to a crossroads in his relationship with Neela, Samantha Taggart and Tony Gates' relationship suffers a major setback after an accident involving Alex Taggart while Neela Rasgotra is forced to make some tough decisions, both personal and professional.

To mark the end of the series after 15 years, several former cast members make a return to the show. Mark Greene and Robert Romano appear in a flashback episode that explores Banfield's history with County General while John Carter returns to work at County although, unbeknown to his colleagues, he is in desperate need of a kidney transplant. Peter Benton, Doug Ross, Carol Hathaway, Susan Lewis, Elizabeth Corday, Kerry Weaver and Ray Barnett return in various episodes. The series ends with one final multiple casualty incident that brings multiple patients to the ER, and shows that life goes on at County General.

Cast

Main cast

Special appearances

The final season included special appearances by departed main and recurring cast members:

Returning recurring characters

Supporting

Notable guest stars

Production

Crew
  • Christopher Chulack – Executive producer
  • Michael Crichton – Creator/Executive producer
  • John Wells – Executive producer
  • David Zabel – Executive producer
  • Joe Sachs – Executive producer
  • Janine Sherman Barrois – Executive producer
  • Lisa Zwerling – Co-executive producer
  • Tommy Burns – Producer
  • Wendy Spence Rosato – Producer
  • Charles M. Lagola – Production designer
  • Arthur Albert – Director of photography
  • Martin Davich – Music
  • Randy Jon Morgan, A.C.E. – Editor
  • Mimi Leder, a frequent director during ER's first two seasons, returned as a director for the episode "A Long, Strange Trip"
  • Rod Holcomb, the director of the 1994 pilot episode as well as several other early episodes, returned to direct two episodes in this season, among them the series finale
  • Paul McCrane, recurring cast member seasons 4 and 5, and series regular seasons 6–10, continues his affiliation with the show as director of two episodes this season

Episodes
See also: List of ER episodes
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code		US viewers
(millions)
3101"Life After Death"Christopher MisianoJoe SachsSeptember 25, 2008 (2008-09-25)3T71018.03[23]

Gates hurries to the scene of the ambulance explosion after learning it was Pratt, not Sam, in the ambulance. Pratt is rushed back to County suffering from blast injuries, where the ER staff work to stabilize him. Eventually, a carotid tear develops, and despite the rallying efforts of his colleagues, he dies. Meanwhile, Abby misdiagnoses a patient, and talks about her plans to leave Chicago to start a new life with Kovač, while Morris must pick up the pieces after Pratt's death.

NOTE: Final appearance of Dr. Greg Pratt.
3112"Another Thursday at County"Paul McCraneLisa ZwerlingOctober 9, 2008 (2008-10-09)3T71029.41[24]

A new batch of interns as well as the new head of the ER arrive for their first day at County. While adjusting, a bio-terrorist with a bag full of Ricin is admitted with a broken leg.

NOTE: First appearance of Dr. Catherine Banfield.
3123"The Book of Abby"Christopher ChulackDavid ZabelOctober 16, 2008 (2008-10-16)3T71038.96[25]

Abby gets a job in Boston and tries to leave County General quietly, but the staff makes it known how much they will miss her. Abby says goodbye and leaves for Boston with Kovač and her son.

NOTE 1: Final appearance of Dr. Luka Kovač and the final regular appearance of Dr. Abby Lockhart.
3134"Parental Guidance"John GallagherJanine Sherman BarroisOctober 23, 2008 (2008-10-23)3T71048.82[26]
Dissatisfied with the interns' performance, Banfield decides to start a new system. Each intern gets a mentor with daily two-way crits: Daria is paired with Gates, Ryan with Morris, and Tracy with Brenner. Brenner tells Tracy how he wants to proceed, but she insists on doing things her way. A girl comes in with a broken leg which may be caused by a severely mentally ill family member.
3145"Haunted"Christopher ChulackKaren MaserOctober 30, 2008 (2008-10-30)3T71059.19[27]
Sam's time is taken up by her studies for a pharmacology exam, leaving Gates feeling neglected. A school fight results in a stabbing, with Brenner treating the victim and trying to uncover the truth behind the story. Morris has a surprise for Neela. Gates gets locked in a stairwell with a quiet young boy on Halloween night.
3156"Oh, Brother"Stephen CraggVirgil WilliamsNovember 6, 2008 (2008-11-06)3T71068.61[28]
Banfield is upset when her husband Russell (Courtney B. Vance) insists on a visit with his parents; Morris treats a young boxer (Chadwick Boseman) whose father (Carl Weathers) wishes him to quit, during treatment Morris favors Chaz over senior interns, resulting in trouble; Gates asks Sam and Alex to move in with him and treats a war veteran.
3167"Heal Thyself"David ZabelDavid ZabelNovember 13, 2008 (2008-11-13)3T71079.90[29]

Banfield must deal with the ghosts of her past when a critically ill child arrives in the ER. A past encounter with Mark Greene helps her diagnose and confront her own problems. Neela's intern loses his first patient, and struggles to cope.

NOTE: Final appearance of Dr. Mark Greene and Dr. Robert Romano.
3178"Age of Innocence"Paul McCraneJanine Sherman BarroisNovember 20, 2008 (2008-11-20)3T71088.88[30]
A man acquitted of child molestation comes into the ER with his wife, who was injured when their house was set on fire, drawing Brenner's hostility. Later, the man's interest in a young girl leads his brother-in-law to beat him, nearly blinding him. When Brenner becomes emotional while the man is treated, Morris confronts him, leading to an emotional revelation about Brenner's past. Neela's frustration with her intern reaches the boiling point, and Dubenko teaches her a lesson in the importance of teaching and mentorship. Gates continues his search for the missing veteran.
3189"Let It Snow"Charles HaidJoe SachsDecember 4, 2008 (2008-12-04)3T71098.20[31]
While snow strands Banfield and Morris at a doctors' conference in Omaha, Gates is left in charge of the kids. He allows Sam's son Alex and Sarah to walk through the blizzard to a nearby party. Driving a friend's car after the party, Alex is gravely injured as he crashes in the storm. Sam goes ballistic.
31910"The High Holiday"Lesli Linka GlatterShannon GossDecember 11, 2008 (2008-12-11)3T71109.04[32]
Morris receives an unwanted package from his father at the ER doorstep. Sam is anxious about getting Alex off of the ventilator after his accident. Meanwhile, a pregnant woman with a high-risk pregnancy is in danger of getting deported. Sam tells Gates that she and Alex are moving out.
32011"Separation Anxiety"Terence NightingallVirgil WilliamsJanuary 8, 2009 (2009-01-08)3T71117.34[33]
The ER treats two brothers who are shot during a drug deal. Banfield and her husband continue their quest to restart their family. Sam and Gates argue while treating patients.
32112"Dream Runner"Andrew BernsteinLisa ZwerlingJanuary 15, 2009 (2009-01-15)3T71126.95[34]
Neela has a series of three dreams where the outcome of the lives of two patients depend on her decisions. In the first two dreams, she makes either of two choices, but each one kills the patients. In the third dream, she makes a new choice, saving the lives of two patients as well as sleeping with Brenner. In the end, it is revealed they were all dreams. Meanwhile, Banfield and Morris are still at odds and Banfield goes home.
32213"Love Is a Battlefield"Richard ThorpeKaren MaserJanuary 22, 2009 (2009-01-22)3T71137.65[35]
Morris treats a youngster who was hit while riding her bike. Meanwhile, Gates has trouble distancing himself from Sam; and Neela's nerves take over when she learns Brenner has returned from Australia.
32314"A Long, Strange Trip"Mimi LederJoe SachsFebruary 5, 2009 (2009-02-05)3T71147.25[36]

Dr. Morgenstern visits County General upon learning a former mentor is seriously ill. Meanwhile, Sam's sister (Shannon Woodward) drops by unexpectedly; Gates and Morris treat an elderly man (Rance Howard) who was assaulted on the street; and Brenner is shocked by a patient's diagnosis.

NOTE: Final appearance of Dr. David Morgenstern
32415"The Family Man"Eriq La SalleAndrew FashFebruary 12, 2009 (2009-02-12)3T71157.24[37]
A mother is severely injured by a car accident in the ambulance bay; an insurance company frustrates Morris and he gets a major surprise; Neela tells Brenner about her offer in North Carolina. Meanwhile, a man refuses treatment and Gates and Neela try to get him to consider treatment.
32516"The Beginning of the End"Jonathan KaplanDavid Zabel & Lisa ZwerlingFebruary 19, 2009 (2009-02-19)3T71167.51[38]
Valentine's Day in the ER sees Neela and Brenner growing closer. Banfield tries to convince her husband to go along with her new plan to have a baby. Gates treats a patient who may have ingested a toxin while "mushroom hunting" while Neela performs surgery on a young girl's mother. Morris and his girlfriend clash when he suspects her fellow officers physically assaulted a badly injured patient. Carter returns to the ER for a visit, gets the OK from Banfield to do some shift work at County, and is seen on hemo-dialysis in the final scene.
32617"T-Minus-6"Rod HolcombDavid Zabel & Lisa ZwerlingFebruary 26, 2009 (2009-02-26)3T71178.72[39]
The Banfields explore their options with an adoption agency. Carter struggles with the new procedural and technological advances made to emergency medicine since he has been gone. Brenner confronts Lucy's foster family about his concerns. Morris treats a couple who takes his advice too far. Sam is shocked when her mother is brought into the ER. Neela makes a decision about her future at County. Banfield discovers Carter's medical condition.
32718"What We Do"David ZabelDavid ZabelMarch 5, 2009 (2009-03-05)3T71188.71[40]
A camera crew shooting footage for a documentary descends upon the ER. Detective Claudia Diaz is brought in with life-threatening gunshot wounds. Neela is perplexed by the lack of communication between her and Brenner. Sam struggles to reconcile with her mother. Carter's condition suddenly worsens.
32819"Old Times"John WellsJohn WellsMarch 12, 2009 (2009-03-12)3T711910.86[41]

As Carter awaits his kidney transplant, he gets a surprise visit from Benton. Meanwhile, Ross and Hathaway must receive consent for organ donation from a woman who is grief-stricken over the sudden death of her grandson, but Sam and Neela are stuck at the airport with the transplant organs in hand. Banfield bonds with an abandoned baby. Brenner continues to care for a little girl whose mother is awaiting a heart transplant.

NOTE: Final appearance of Dr. Doug Ross and Nurse Carol Hathaway.
32920"Shifting Equilibrium"Andrew BernsteinLisa ZwerlingMarch 19, 2009 (2009-03-19)3T71209.47[42]

Neela clashes with Dubenko on two surgical cases and looks to prove her worth as attending material before she leaves County for good. Brenner looks to gain some insight into his abusive childhood.

NOTE: Final appearance of Dr. Lucien Dubenko and Dr. Abby Lockhart.
33021"I Feel Good"[43]Stephen CraggJoe SachsMarch 26, 2009 (2009-03-26)3T712110.36[44]

A woman returns to County to claim the baby she had abandoned there. The ER doctors and nurses assist at a camp for children recovering from open heart surgeries where Morris proposes to Claudia and Brenner befriends a kid who does not want to join in with the activities.

NOTE: Final appearance of Dr. Ray Barnett.
33122"And in the End..."[45]Rod HolcombJohn WellsApril 2, 2009 (2009-04-02)3T7122-2316.38[46]
Series finale. A new medical facility for the underprivileged funded by Carter is opened and old colleagues return to show their support. Gates treats a teenager with alcohol poisoning after she and her friends play a drinking game. Sam is surprised when she receives a special gift for her birthday. This two-hour episode was preceded by a one-hour retrospective special. At the end, a multiple casualty incident brings multiple victims to the ER and County General is seen for the final time.

References
  1. Episode 7
  2. Episodes 16–19, 22
  3. Special Appearance in Episode 7, Main Cast in Episode 22
  4. Episode 19
  5. Episode 22
  6. Episode 3
  7. Episodes 1, 3, 20
  8. Episode 1
  9. Special Appearance in Episode 12, Main Cast in Episode 22
  10. Episodes 19, 22
  11. Episodes 5, 20, 21
  12. Episode 7, Main Cast in Episode 22
  13. Episode 12, Main Cast in Episode 22
  14. Episode 14
  15. Episode 6
  16. Episode 13
  17. Episode 15
  18. Episodes 15, 16, 17, 19, 21
  19. Episode 16
  20. Episode 17
  21. Episodes 19, 21
  22. Episode 21
  23. "Weekly Program Rankings (Sept. 22-28)". ABC Medianet. ABC Medianet. September 30, 2008. Archived from the original on May 29, 2009. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  24. "Weekly Program Rankings (Oct. 6-12)". ABC Medianet. ABC Medianet. October 14, 2008. Archived from the original on May 29, 2009. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  25. "Weekly Program Rankings (Oct. 13-19)". ABC Medianet. ABC Medianet. October 21, 2008. Archived from the original on May 30, 2009. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  26. "Weekly Program Rankings (Oct. 20-26)". ABC Medianet. ABC Medianet. October 28, 2008. Archived from the original on May 30, 2009. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  27. "Weekly Program Rankings (Oct. 27-Nov. 2)". ABC Medianet. ABC Medianet. November 4, 2008. Archived from the original on May 27, 2009. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  28. "Weekly Program Rankings (Nov. 3-9)". ABC Medianet. ABC Medianet. November 11, 2008. Archived from the original on May 30, 2009. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  29. "Weekly Program Rankings (Nov. 10-16)". ABC Medianet. ABC Medianet. November 18, 2008. Archived from the original on May 29, 2009. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  30. "Weekly Program Rankings (Nov. 17-23)". ABC Medianet. ABC Medianet. November 25, 2008. Archived from the original on January 18, 2009. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  31. Seidman, Robert (December 9, 2008). "Top NBC Primetime Shows December 1-7, 2008". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on February 26, 2009. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  32. Seidman, Robert (December 16, 2008). "Top NBC Primetime Shows December 8-14, 2008". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 7, 2012. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  33. "Weekly Program Rankings (Jan. 5-11)". ABC Medianet. ABC Medianet. January 13, 2009. Archived from the original on March 29, 2012. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  34. "Weekly Program Rankings (Jan. 12-18)". ABC Medianet. ABC Medianet. January 21, 2009. Archived from the original on May 30, 2009. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  35. "Weekly Program Rankings (Jan. 19-25)". ABC Medianet. ABC Medianet. January 27, 2009. Archived from the original on January 31, 2009. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  36. "Weekly Program Rankings (Feb. 2-8)". ABC Medianet. ABC Medianet. February 10, 2009. Archived from the original on February 20, 2009. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  37. "Weekly Program Rankings (Feb. 9-15)". ABC Medianet. ABC Medianet. February 18, 2009. Archived from the original on May 14, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  38. "Weekly Program Rankings (Feb. 16-22)". ABC Medianet. ABC Medianet. February 24, 2009. Archived from the original on March 11, 2015. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  39. "Weekly Program Rankings (Feb. 23-Mar. 1)". ABC Medianet. ABC Medianet. March 3, 2009. Archived from the original on September 25, 2012. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  40. "Weekly Program Rankings (Mar. 2-8)". ABC Medianet. ABC Medianet. March 10, 2009. Archived from the original on March 29, 2012. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  41. "Weekly Program Rankings (Mar. 9-15)". ABC Medianet. ABC Medianet. March 17, 2009. Archived from the original on April 5, 2012. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  42. "Weekly Program Rankings (Mar. 16-22)". ABC Medianet. ABC Medianet. March 24, 2009. Archived from the original on April 5, 2012. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  43. James Brown's song "I Feel Good" is performed during the episode.
  44. Seidman, Robert (March 31, 2009). "Top NBC Primetime Shows, March 23-29, 2009". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 10, 2009. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  45. Cf. the lyric "And in the end ..." from the Beatles' song "The End", the last song on their last recorded album, Abbey Road.
  46. "Weekly Program Rankings (Mar. 30-Apr. 5)". ABC Medianet. ABC Medianet. April 7, 2009. Archived from the original on April 5, 2012. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
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