The essential episodes of ER
Watch these 15 in order and you've got ER — each pick states its reason.
- 01
A typical day filled with traumas packs the ER. Under pressure from his wife, Chief Resident Dr. Mark Greene considers leaving County to join a private practice that would give him a much higher salary. When a building collapses, multiple casualties are brought in. New medical students start their ER rotation, among them John Carter, an inexperienced third year student. As the day continues, Dr. Peter Benton operates on a patient with an aortic aneurysm, a procedure normally performed by senior staff; and charge nurse Carol Hathaway is brought into the ER after a suicide attempt.
- 02
A case of apparent spousal abuse is not what it seems. Deb outshines Carter after he is up all night preparing for a presentation. Benton informs Jackie he's hired a helper for his mother. After Kayson's reprimand against Susan is denied, she has a chance to prove herself when he is brought in as a patient after suffering a heart attack. Doug meets Diane Leeds, who works in the hospital's Risk Management division, and her son, Jake.
- 03
A routine day filled with ordinary traumas becomes nightmarish when a distracted Mark critically misdiagnoses a pregnant woman's delivery complication. A teenager is brought in after being accidentally poisoned. Benton grapples with his own demons in the wake of his mother's collapse.
- 04
The ER treats victims of a gang shootout. Carter arrives late and unprepared for his new position. Mark learns all about being an attending, including senior staff's habit of bad mouthing the residents, particularly Doug Ross. Mark hires a new Chief Resident, Kerry Weaver. Third year med students arrive to complete their ER rotation
- 05
Luka's carefully arranged formal dinner for the ER staff gives Abby the surprise of a lifetime when she discovers the real reason for the evening. Luka finds himself dealing with Abby's reaction, but love prevails, and in the end, events come off as planned. As the celebration continues, Pratt plays an important role with a bit of panache, Morris and Hope find themselves with an opportunity they can't resist, and Neela finds herself the center of all manner of unexpected attention.
- 06
Moretti's first day is challenging as the ER is inundated with casualties from the peace rally - including Neela. Dubenko faces a crisis in surgery. Abby, Pratt and Morris conspire about how to deal with a shared problem. A new intern arrives unexpectedly, and Gates is reassigned.
- 07
There's been a jewelry robbery in town, and Neela finds out that one of her patients might have had something to do with it. Pratt makes an effort to save his relationship with Bettina, and Abby worries about her marriage, sensing that Luka may have given up on it.
- 08
Neela's aortic rupture patient is in need of yet another follow up surgery, and they are starting to take a toll on her. Morris talks with a shrink about his experience with the jewelery thieves. Abby needs to make a tough decision when a new opportunity is presented to her.
- 09
Abby awakens after the ambulance explosion and rushes to check on Pratt; Sam and Gates rush to the scene; Morris and Neela struggle to keep up with Pratt's injuries; Abby treats a young girl injured during the blast.
- 10
When a gunshot wound victim arrives, the new chief and Abby butt heads on how to treat the patient. Abby comes to Sam's defense when she goes before a nurses disciplinary board.
- 11
While out for a mind clearing run, Banfield encounters a desperate situation and finds herself trying to rescue a young girl from drowning in a nearby lake. Painful memories of her son in mortal danger and Dr. Greene's heroic attempts to save him are triggered during the experience. Meanwhile, Gates attempts to pull some strings to help out a homeless war veteran, and the interns continue to struggle in the ER.
- 12
Neela has recurring dreams about trying to save a girl with sickle cell anemia. In them she also goes to an attending interview and sees an old colleague, has conversations with Ray, welcomes Brenner back from Australia, and assists Gates and Banfield in trying to save a "dream runner" who jumped out of a window during his sleep.
- 13
A camera crew shooting footage for a documentary interviews members of the ER staff. Detective Claudia Diaz is brought in, critically injured with gunshot wounds. Neela laments the lack of communication between her and Brenner. Sam struggles to reconcile with her mother. Carter's condition worsens quite suddenly.
- 14
A girl drops off a sick baby at the ER and then leaves; Carter may get a kidney transplant; Gates and Daria care for an elderly woman with multiple sclerosis; Neela and Sam are in Seattle to transport a heart for Joanie Moore, while Doug and Carol are concerned that the donor's grandmother might not consent.
- 15
Gates works on a young teen brought in with alcohol poisoning after playing a deadly drinking game with friends. Dr. Carter opens a new medical facility for the underprivileged in Chicago and some old friends from County General all come to show their support. It's Sam's birthday and Alex and Gates surprise her with a special gift. Meanwhile, Carter works with an intern to save a mother in labor with twins.
Shows like ER
The closest matches on shared genres, ranked by match strength and popularity.
- 01Drama·Medical·RomanceThe essential episodes of Grey's Anatomy2005–present·ABC
The doctors of Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital deal with life-or-death consequences on a daily basis -- it's in one another that they find comfort, friendship and, at times, more than friendship. - 02Drama·MedicalThe essential episodes of Chicago Med2015–presentSame network — NBC·
- 03Drama·MedicalThe essential episodes of The Pitt2025–present
The Pitt is a realistic examination of the challenges facing healthcare workers in today's America as seen through the lens of the frontline heroes working in a modern-day hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. - 04Drama·Medical·CrimeThe essential episodes of Bones2005–2017·FOX
F.B.I. Agent Seeley Booth is teamed up with forensic anthropologist Dr. - 05Drama·Medical·MysteryThe essential episodes of House2004–2012·FOXSink your teeth into meaty drama and intrigue with House, FOX's take on mystery, where the villain is a medical malady and the hero is an irreverent, controversial doctor who trusts no one, least of all his patients.Dr.
- 06Drama·Medical·ComedyThe essential episodes of Scrubs2001–2010·ABC
Fresh out of medical school, new doctors John "J.D.
