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Show:		9.0
Picture:		8.0
Sound:		8.0
Extras:		3.0
Score:		8.0

Director(s):	Jonathan Kaplan • Christopher Chulack • Julie Hebert • Richard Thorpe
Writer(s):	John Wells, R. Scott Gemmill, Dee Johnson, David Zabel
Starring:	Mekhi Phifer • Paul McCrane • Noah Wyle • Laura Innes • Maura Tierney • Goran Visnjic • Abraham Benrubi • Alex Kingston • Parminder Nagra • Linda Cardellini
Genre:	Drama • Television
Release Date:	March 03, 2009

List Price:	DVD - $31.99
Amazon:

I have no hesitation in making this decree: from henceforth, ER: The Complete Tenth Season shalt be known as ER: The Season of Death and Ruin. A few years back I decided to get myself caught up on ER. Considering I hadn't watched a single episode all the way through and they were already in their eleventh season - this task was going to take some time. The first season was brilliant - high points and low points with dynamic characters and superb writing; seasons 2 and 3 started to get a little darker; season 4 hit me like an emotional sack of bricks. In short: ER is a draining show. Now, fast forward five years to the future, to me watching the entirety of ER: The Season of Death and Ruin in three days.  Well I'm on the edge, man. I knew ER had a more serious and somber tone than most medical dramas but hell, if I had to choose a word to represent the theme of this season it would have to be "DEATH". Yes, in all caps. For the duration of this season the words "Abandon all hope all ye who enter here" should have been painted in blood atop the main entrance of the hospital.

To start us off we have death: Dr. John Carter (Noah Wyle) returns from Africa only to receive a call that Dr. Kovac (Goran Visnjic) was killed in one of many bouts of political turmoil. To hold us through we have some more death: one of the major staple characters is crushed in an ironic twist from above. And, because things were getting too silly: more death. I know that all seasons of ER aren't this fatal to the workers of that unfortunate Chicago hospital but each season certainly has its share of heart-rending moments. But this time it's different. It just never lets up. A major character either dies or loses someone close every 3 episodes. That's not an exaggeration. That's me re-examining the episodes. In fact, sometimes it's even deadlier. Y'know, we in the TV watching world used to joke about "Unnamed Crew Member #4" getting shot in an episode's showdown - we still apply that joke to other shows with unseemly amounts of violence (hey 24, yes you) - but ER: The Season of Death and Ruin doesn't just take the cake - it destroys the cake like a birthday brat possessed by the spirit of Beelzebub and Ivan the Berzerker's lovechild.

With people dying left and right, the ever-changing cast of ER keeps their performances in the top echelons of television. While they have award-winning scribes to help them out, it's their convincing portrayals that make the show what it is. Noah Wyle was always the worst of the actors on the show in my opinion - at least he was back in season 4 when I last watched. But I've got to admit that in the five seasons between now and when I last watched his performance and character definitely filled out.  Laura Innes as Dr. Weaver was always one of my favorites as she and Dr. Romano (Paul McCrane) had the driest and funniest lines in the show. Other characters like Dr. Greene (Anthony Edwards) would have their moments, but it was Weaver and Romano who always kept it funny (for me). Unfortunately, the events of season 10 have these two characters either sidelined or in an emotional frenzy of desperation - - needless to say the humor they used to bring takes a very large hit. Outside of Carter and Kovac, Maura Tierney has the biggest plot line as Abbey Lockheart who's pursuing a transition from nursing to being a doctor. Beyond this core group, the collection of new and old faces shifts with each episode though keeping steady with the likes of Dr. Jing-Mei Chen (Ming-Na), Frank Martin (Troy Evans), Dr. Neela Rasgotra (Parminder Nagra), Dr. Gregory Pratt (Mekhi Phifer) and Jerry Markovic (Abraham Benrubi). My favorite addition to the ER cast was Linda Cardellini as Nurse Samantha Taggert - she's full of fun sarcasm. Weigh the addition of Cardellini against a brief and annoying stint by Thandie Newton and it's hard to say if you break even. All in all, ER has always boasted an outstanding ensemble cast and season 10 is no different...just don't get too attached to anyone.

DVD Bonus Features

I was honestly quite disappointed with the extras offered by ER: The Complete Tenth Season. Six discs seems like plenty of space for extra features to fit and yet all we get are "Outpatient Outtakes: Unaired Scenes" and "Cutups: Gag Reel". That's it. The deleted scenes aren't all that revealing and the Gag Reel is disturbingly short for being the bloopers from about 16 hours of programming. We really would have appreciated more extras as a pick-me up after ER: The Season of Death and Ruin.

For all the doom of gloom of ER: The Complete Tenth Season, it remains one of those shining bastions of television history. Very few shows can continue so long with such a high-caliber cast and writing staff. With Michael Crichton's passing in the last year, it seems fit to remember him with yet another incredible television season in his medical drama's legacy.