(Season 15, Episode 10 – “Let It Snow”)
Christmas is an unusual time for ER. Instead of piling on the doom and gloom that is the normal status quo of County General, the annual holiday episode tends to give the viewer a sense of hope and good cheer. Usually there is a baby involved, or a patient who gets a special gift, or a staff member gets a bit of the Xmas spirit. And, without fail, there is a moment where you just happen to tear up.
With this being the very last Christmas episode of ER, I didn’t expect anything different than the norm. There was a baby involved, a patient did get a special gift, and I teared up at the very end of the episode. Overall, a win for this long-running series. So, let’s take a look at the final holiday episode of ER.
Sam and Alex: Well, damn glad that this turned out okay. There was a bit of worry when Alex fought the removal of the breathing tube. Sam to the rescue, though. Using the skills she had learned in her classes she was able to convince Dubenko (who was all over the place this episode) to remove the tube earlier than expected. Good news all around for the Taggarts.
Not Tony and Sam: Not so good news for Tony. I had a feeling this was going to happen after Tony revealed he was the one that let Alex and Sarah go out. Despite calming down, she was downright enraged by Tony’s actions last week. They were just simmering there until Alex was revived. Then, it was just a matter of time until she decided to say “adios.”
I know people have different feelings, but I want this relationship to survive. I think both Tony and Sam have been hurt so much that they are the perfect fit for each other. Also, they really need to settle down and establish some kind of normal life. Hey, ER producers, see if you can work on keeping these kids together. Okay?
A good day for Neela: Finally! She was ripe for a day where everything seemed to fall into place. First the baby she helped to deliver survived, then the malpractice lawsuit was dropped. Her success in getting the baby’s mother, who was being hunted by Immigration officers, out of the hospital, was just the cherry on top. Now, maybe she can stop feeling sorry for herself and get back to some doctoring.
The return of Max: Another storyline closed (for the time being). I didn’t think that we would see a return of the homeless vet with Alex in so much peril. Yet, there he was, and he was ready to let someone help him get better. At least Tony didn’t screw this up like Sam thought he did with Alex.
Welcome back, Jerry: First, nice reference to Abraham Benrubi’s role on Men in Trees. Second … Jerry’s back! Plus, Dr. Banfield hired him right on the spot. Why? Because, he’s Jerry — the greatest desk clerk before Frank. Glad to see that he’ll be hanging around at some point before the show ends in March.
Banfield wants to start another family: Whoa! That was out of left field. For months she was nothing but a bitch due in part to her son’s death. I guess the emotional release she got rescuing that child a few weeks ago has opened up her emotional flood gates.
Archie’s life, told via a storage cabinet: Archie gave us the “Tearful Moment of the Night,” thanks to a project he made when he was nine years old: a portable and permanent set of milk and cookies for Santa. Why his leaving that on the table near the baby that Neela helped deliver made me tear up just a little bit is unknown to me. It was just another piece in the puzzle that is Archie Morris. I think it’s time to start petitioning the creators of ER for a spinoff that would star Archie. It would need to air on one of the other networks, of course, because of that stupid Jay Leno thing on NBC at 10:00 PM.
Mrs. Garrett bakes pot brownies: Man, I guess all of those years working in the kitchen at Eastland Academy really paid off. No wonder Natalie was so fat; she had a case of the constant munchies.
That’s all for ER in 2008. Thanks for hanging out with me. I’ll see you again on January 8th when we round the bend for the final few episodes of the series. Have a happy holiday.
Clacked by Richard Keller 
on Dec 12, 2008 @ 11:00 EST5EDT
Accidents happen. Sam’s reaction to all this doesn’t even feel stupid.
It comes across as totally retarded.
And that fake milk and cookies schtick they did was just cheesy and idiotic. Archie remembered things about ALL the items in that trailer and therefor he had memories about them, and he just gave them away.
What was so special about that one thing he made? Those fake milk and cookies, which actually were braindead if you ask me… you know, you leave those cookies and milk because you want to thank Santa for bringing the gifts and if you think about it this basic little costs-nothing gratitude from a kid is what the parent gets for buying presents, pretending that they are not from them but from somebody else. The only thanks they get is replaced by a FAKE version thats not edible, making it not only kind of understandable but totally logical that Archie’s father would say that the fake m&c are a stupid idea. Which at first is shallow but a reaction that is heart-on-sleeve, just the way his father was. Archie not getting that is mind-boggling, especially because in the end he also GAVE IT AWAY TOO. Jesus. That gesture towards the child was therefor worth nothing at all. Getting REAL milk and cookies would’ve at least been an effort.
Sorry for ranting this much but the writing on this episode was complete and utter crap. The writers should be ashamed of themselves. There is so much more I could talk about, especially characters acting against their previously established behavior, Jerry’s comment about Alaska et cetera but I don’t really think I should put more effort into my comment than the writers put into this episode.
I hated it.
It doth sucketh big time.
Honestly, if you hate ER so much why don’t you stop watching. I can’t understand all those haters out in the world that spend their time complaining about a show, and threatening to never watch again, when all they do is continue watching and continue with the whining.
Yeah yeah I know, this is a democracy so you can write your stupid and brainless comments on here, unfortunately.
I loved the epi, as I love all epis on ER, as a true fan. I felt sorry for Tony, good for Neela, I think Sam over-reacted with the ‘it’s over’ just like that, and I thought Archie was the cutest thing, giving that baby the one thing he did for his Dad that ‘he thinks his Dad didn’t care about’ (which he probably did) and that was the part of magic and believing in Santa that all children have and we all end up loosing. It was like a gift to that baby, a wish for him/her to start life believing in magic and good things – it made me tearful too. And good for Alex that he’s back and healthy.
LOVE ER!