Poor Mark!

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I really feel bad for him. It seems like nothing good ever happens to this guy. First, he was saddled with that horrible wench of a wife and the whole aftermath of their divorce. He is consistently overlooked in his career - no one seems to appreciate what a good doctor he is. He was brutally attacked. He has had terrible luck in the romance department (until now). His mother dies and now his father?

I hope they continue the romance between him and Elizabeth. It is good to see him with some happy storylines. Mark has always been my favorite character. He is such a good guy - down to the core. He stands by his convictions, he genuinely cares about people, he is a reassuring presence in the ER. He is an excellent doctor, and yet he is very humble. I've always admired Anthony Edwards as an actor and I think he does an exceptional job in this role. Sometimes I feel that he is not given the spotlight like many of the other characters. Almost like he is taken for granted.

What do you all think? I've seen a lot of posts from people who like Carter, Benton, Carol, Doug, Lucy... Is there anyone else who likes Mark Greene best?

-- Polly (pollywhitaker@juno.com), February 26, 2000

Answers

Mark Greene is up there with my favorite characters, along with Carol, Doug, and Susan.

You forgot to mention the whole ordeal with Susan, which definately changed him as a person, and then the beating a few months later. He must wonder what *would've* happened if he'd expressed his feelings earlier to Susan, etc. Enough of the Mark suffering already!!

Something else to add to Mark's list of personal tragedies is the fact that the closest person to a brother to him (Doug) has left, and another close and long-time friend (Carol) will be leaving in a few short months (though none of the characters know this). His relationship with Elizabeth BETTER work out!!

-- Leigh (WillnGraceNYC@yahoo.com), February 26, 2000.


I love Mark, I even think he's kind of attractive! Am I the only one?

-- Danette (bjpind@televar.com), February 26, 2000.

no your not the only one!!! may he has been through a lot with his parents and stuff

-- rachel (thehilfigergirl@aol.com), February 26, 2000.

No Danette you are not alone. I loved it when he had that little beard!

Lisa

-- (lisayas@yahoo.com), February 26, 2000.


Mark has been my favorite from the first time I ever watched the show. I think one of the things missing from this year is the insight we used to get into Mark by watching him talk casually with his friends -- whether it was Doug or Susan -- while playing basketball or hanging at Doc Magoo's. Losing both characters who used to be friendly talkers cut off a lot of access to Mark's character, and while Elizabeth and his father have contributed some help to this gap, a girlfriend and a father don't really provide the kind of sounding board a friend does. I wish the writers would give Mark a friend around his own age (who doesn't die or leave!)so we can get back into his mind.

-- Chessie King (barrelofcrows@hotmail.com), February 26, 2000.


I wish they all would find love interests outside of the ER. It's getting just a bit too incestuous around there. Carter was running through the med students (Christine Elise, Maria Bello, Kelly Martin) with enough predictability to gain an savory reputation.

-- indira (indira54@yahoo.com), February 26, 2000.

Mark is such a sweetie! After Elizabeth and Carter, he's my favorite. I like him because he is naturally nice, yet he has his faults. Luka's TOO much of a gentleman, its kind of irritating, and Doug could be too much of a player at times... anyway, that's my two cents. I hope maybe Mark's dad will live twelve years like that "poor bastard" he was talking about.

-- Jess (Mei0724@aol.com), February 26, 2000.

I think I read somewhere last year (maybe it was this website) that the romance between Mark & Lizzie was ultimately going to lead to marriage. I hope that is the case. I would like to see Elizabeth have to face the issue of whether or not she is going to be the Asst. Chief of Surgery or a mother. Mark would probably be the type of guy to become a "house-husband" and let Elizabeth shine. He could sort of make up for the absentee father he was to Rachel in her early years. It'd be great to see Mark's adventures on the homefront rather than in the "adrenalin rush hour" all the time

-- Linda (l.brown@mindspring.com), February 26, 2000.

Count me as another one who has been a Mark fan since Day One. He was always the one I cared most about and watched for. I agree that his character has been somewhat neglected this season, and much as I hate to see him put through any more pain. perhaps his father's illness will allow us to see more of him than we have been. But Lisa, I gotta disagree--I HATED the goatee! I'm very glad it's gone.

-- Mary (mslyman@erols.com), February 27, 2000.

I love Mark too!! And I am so glad he's got a happy storyline with Elizabeth. They are a perfect match IMO! He has had a lot of pain and "bad" things in his life, but that happens to people in *real* life also. I am glad that he can grow, change and adapt. I've loved him since his role as Goose in Top Gun. I'm just glad he got rid of those dark rimmed "geeky" glasses from the early years! What a sweetie.

-- Bev (bev.burris@eer-h.com), February 28, 2000.


Mark is my extreme favourite. I stricty avoided ER till last Spring, when I caught a glimpse of A.E. and recognized him from the movie Hawks. Anyone else know it? He is excellent in it, really different from Mark but the same too (watch out sad ending :( ). I completely agree that he is taken for granted. We all, even the people who don't know it, expect him to always say and do the right thing- like when he was out of sorts after the attack and the mood of the enitre ER changed. He's one of those people who affects everyone in a room for the better, they just usually aren't aware of it. And he is usually the imperfect one- or is that just me? He is SO likeable that he is used to show real human frailties that could not be forgiven in other characters- like some racism and his caution of Jeannie's HIV. He has developed more thuroughly and interestingly than any other character (Damn, he *is* just a character, isn't he?) I also agree, and have written in other posts, that there is a terrible void with Doug gone and Carol going. Doug and Mark were effective foils, and he and Elizabeth are in some ways, but the absence of a buddy is really unfortunate. I just hope they get married :D *Danette: Kind of attractive?! He's gorgeous. No one has a right to look that good in sweat pants. *Very interesting idea of him as a house-husband. I love to see him away frm work, but he Loves his work and he would be sad without it. But then, kids give more satisfaction to people like him than work ever can.

-- May Archer (archerl@cadvision.com), February 29, 2000.

I too like Mark. He's a good doctor. I also would like to see Him and Gorday get married. I once before wrote that they don't show much marriage stuff on ER. At least any of the main characters. It's like their against marriage(the writers that is) e.t.c. Even now that Carol is a mom we don't see much of that. It's like happy family life is tabu or something like that.

-- Ina (ifelsch@mail.com), February 29, 2000.

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