DVD Reviews

ER: The Complete Thirteenth Season – DVD Review

By June L. Jul 20, 2010, 14:29 GMT

$Shaking things up: Former paramedic, now intern Dr. Tony Gates arrives with a straightforward attitude and a complicated personal life. Except for his devotion to healing, he\'s Gallant\'s opposite: brash, cocksure, with a bad-boy past - and maybe he\'s the right prescription for Neela\'s broken heart. Really shaking things up: Contentious Weaver leaves County General for a career move you wouldn\'t expect. And the profound dramas of the outside world$

Shaking things up: Former paramedic, now intern Dr. Tony Gates arrives with a straightforward attitude and a complicated personal life. Except for his devotion to healing, he\'s Gallant\'s opposite: brash, cocksure, with a bad-boy past - and maybe he\'s the right prescription for Neela\'s broken heart. Really shaking things up: Contentious Weaver leaves County General for a career move you wouldn\'t expect. And the profound dramas of the outside world ...more

The 13th Season of television’s ER is now on DVD for fans to collect and to enjoy watching. This acclaimed and beloved series follows the work and lives of health care personnel who staff the Emergency Room of County General.

Although they are facing turmoil or troubles in their personal lives, every one of these people is dedicated to saving lives, easing pain or giving solace to those who are beyond help.

Each season of ER that comes out on DVD reminds us of the fine and entertaining nature of this hospital drama. Through years of traumatic events on screen and cast changes never before seen in popular series, the program rolled on. It never failed to deliver the extra chill of trauma or thrill of seeing miracles happen.

There were also great moments of tenderness, that brought tears to the eyes, and equally fine bits of comedy that were rehashed the next day at work. Both of these elements the result of a powerful combination of good writing and skillful acting made the characters very real to the viewers.

And the messages of hope and perseverance were delivered by people who spent their lives trying to help others, making audiences care even more about them and their quest for healing.

Season 13 begins with the aftermath of an event that has Dr. Abby Lockhart (Maura Tierney) wounded and bleeding, concerned for the safety of her unborn child, and Dr. Luka Kovac (Goran Visnjic) strapped to a gurney helpless to offer any chance of rescue. In episode two Sally Field makes an appearance as Abby’s Mom Maggie, a determined and annoying grandmother.

There are changes afoot in the ER, Dr. Kovac must deal with a patient suing him for malpractice, who turns stalker threatening Abby and baby Joe. Nurse Samantha Taggart (Linda Cardellini) and her son Alex are threatened by her psychopath husband, and dire actions are required in order for them to escape his clutches. Dr. Kelly Weaver (Laura Innes) is offered a job in another venue, and newcomer Dr. Tony Gates (John Stamos) has to pay his dues as he makes the transition from EMT to intern.

Dr. Neela Rasgotra (Parminder Nagra) is dealing with a broken heart, and may find a cure for herself. There are kidnappings, deaths, rescues and there is even a wedding, but like all things in ER, it is anything but ordinary. Even second time around, these stories have the ability to entice the audience into the world of ER, and to be eager for the next installment of action and emotion.

ER: The Complete Thirteenth Season is presented on six discs housed in a keeper case. An inserted brochure illustrated with stills from the season has episode synopses and production information. Running time for the episodes is 1012 minutes. There are special features of “Outpatient Outtakes” which are unaired scenes for many of the episodes.

This is a fine set for ER fans, another season of fascinating stories of life and death, and of the people whose lives revolve around their oath to “first do no harm.”