I know I wasn't the only one bawling during last night's epi... The scene in which Mark realizes his dad died while he was snoozing was so incredibly realistic, and so touching after the story David had related about holding the Navy man as he died last week. There was Mark, doing everything he could, giving of himself emotionally to the point of exhaustion, and yet when the moment of passing actually came, he was not there holding his hand, saying "It's OK, just let go" or some other such thing. He was on the couch, because he needed a break. Life is just like that sometimes. I was glad we were given the "I love you son, you've made me so proud" BEFORE he actually died. The whole thing was just incredibly realistic, and more so for me personally as I was in the precise situation just about a year ago. Death is not always dramatic; it's easy to almost miss it.

Also, everything about the performances was top-notch. It was sad because the actors were able to convey things realistically, not because we were given a Hollywood-esque portrayal.

I've said how I felt about this storyline many times before, and all I can say now is that I'm pleased with how it came out, and I respect the choices the writers made.

-- nancy (ntc72@mailcity.com), May 05, 2000

Answers

I too, am very pleased with the way this storyline played out. I really thought they were going toward a suicide or assisted suicide with David Greene, but the way it was done was very nice. I was in tears and Anthony Edwards and John Cullum were both excellent!! Elizabeth's hug at the end when Mark FINALLY broke down was so touching as well!

-- amanda (amanda.rehm@home.com), May 05, 2000.

I loved this so much! When it first started a few weeks ago, I wished it would hurry up but now I am so glad that it didn't. It gave us a chance to get to know David and Mark's relationship with him and it gave us something to miss. Everything about this was so wonderful. With Mark waking up looking like Hell, probably because he was afraid he would sleep and not hear David calling or even something else. David eating just cuz Mark asked him to, David cutely asking Elizabeth to stay for tea (which I loved, because it proved how much David likes Elizabeth and how he seems to be pushing for Mark and Elizabeth to stay together). And the scene where they said how much they love each other, that was wonderful because not everyone has the chance to do that. It must have given Mark some solace in his father's passing to know he had the chance to say that. And Mark finally breaking down because he can't hold it in anymore and Elizabeth being the one to comfort him and be there.

One thing I incredibly loved about this whole story line was that we never lost David. He remained David Greene until the very end. With his temper, his sense of humor, his real love for his son. He never became too sick to not voice his feelings and I think that made it even better. It was wonderful, and Anthony Edwards and John Cullum have portrayed the whole thing wonderfully. The sound of David's voice cracking as he says how proud he is that Mark is a doctor is still echoing in my head.

-- Joanne (bucklind@hotmail.com), May 05, 2000.

I agree -- this was a wonderfully done storyline. The scenes with Mark and David was wonderfully written and acted, IMHO. Elizabeth was great -- so touching when David asked her to please take his late wife's pearls, and how he said she looked beautiful. So sweet, but not over done. After watching this ep, I had that Simon & Garfunkel tune going through my head again.

Just a brief contrast with the death of David, and Lucy's death. While Lucy's death was very shocking and sad, I personally felt a greater sadness at the passing of David Greene. Why? Because the writers allowed us to get to know the character, to see what he was like as a person, and in his relationships with his family. We never really had that with Lucy, which was disappointing.

-- Michelle (michw_316@yahoo.com), May 05, 2000.

I thought David's giving the pearls to Elizabeth was so fitting. It seemed that she (and her crazy mother) were the catalysts for bringing Mark and David to a place of understanding after so many years. It wasn't long ago that we couldn't have envisioned Mark talking with his Dad about the memory of smelling ivory soap on his mother's cheek when she kissed him goodnight. I think David was recognizing that Elizabeth has been a great friend to both of them.

-- Christy (christy.steele@mindspring.com), May 05, 2000.

I,too, experienced something similar last July when my then fianci's father died of chemo poisoning while battling lung and adrenal gland cancer. I watched him die and it was painful and I knew last night that we wouldn't have to see it actually happen; i was crying and praying that we wouldn't have to watch it. It was touching and true the way it happened though. I wasn't crying for Mark and David, I was crying for my ex and his father. It felt good to bear witness, as it were, to their emotions.

-- Lauren (wardell@tc.gc.ca), May 05, 2000.

I think Anthony Edwards is one of the most powerful actors on the show! We've watched him go through his wife's departure, then discovering she had a lover, then having the caesarian section go south, then being beaten up and having to struggle with the emotional fallout, plus his strife with Kerry, losing his mother and losing his friend and confidant, Doug Ross, over policy and practice issues. The actor has portrayed his character through sorrow, shock, fear, anger and acceptance, and it has been believable and beautifully done.

-- Chessie King (chessieking@hotmail.com), May 05, 2000.

I'm probably going to get chewed out for this, but last night when I first saw the scene at the end with Elizabeth and Mark, I didn't cry, I started to laugh. For some weird reason the scrunched up face that Edwards made, made me laugh. All I thought was that Edwards could not cry. On secound viewing though, I did cry, and I have to agree that Edwards has done some magnificent work on ER, for example the scene where he finds out that Jen has been having an affair.

Amy

-- Amy (areinders@hotmail.com), May 05, 2000.

Okay, Amy, I can't speak for everyone else, but I'm going to let this one pass since you redeemed yourself! LOL

-- Diana (dilynne@juno.com), May 05, 2000.

One thing I thought added just enough of a touch of humor was the scene where Elizabeth is suturing Mark's hand, notices that David was wheezing, asked Mark if he needed another breathing treatment, and David said, "I can't breathe but I can hear every word you say!" I thought that was so cute!

-- M. Swain (smswain@xmission.com), May 05, 2000.

I enjoy all the plots involving Mark (and Elizabeth) and I think that this one has been my favourite of all. It is sad and makes me feels sorry, but it is realistic so I'm not sorry *for* anyone- it's not personnal, death happens to everyone. On a show with so many deaths it is comforting to see one that is calm life-like, with some meaning in the real lives of people. Just think how much this all means to Mark- what a wonderful oppurtunity for anyone to be so close to a parent, or anyone for that matter. I won't go into my many other opinions, I'll just say that the writing and acting were better than usual, John Callum is a incredable actor and I don't want to believe he won't be there next week. All the positive comments please me-I was dreading to read anyone finding it maudlin (i don't find ti so at all). I hope M&E can get closer in their new shared feelings.I've been imagining this time since we found out about the cancer, and I prayed to the gods of tv that Elizabeth would be there and Mark wouldn't push her away. It worked out just as I hoped (which happens so rarely :) ) except I had a picture of E showing up with a casserole. Odd.

-- May (archerl@cadvision.com), May 07, 2000.

I am very relieved that Mark and Elizabeth had their moment together, and that she showed up for that brief moment to be with them before he died. It was perfect. I wasn't as sad when it was happening, but then I remembered the "bringing him to the water" scenes, and I realized that this great character is gone. Too bad he was a recurring character who had to die. It really is too bad they coudln't keep him on longer.

-- Elaine (mrsclooney78@hotmail.com), May 07, 2000.

You know what I realized afterwards? These two have worked together before--on Northern Exposure, where Mark was the guy in the hermetically sealed dome house, and David was, of course, Holling who ran the Brick!! I wonder if that was neat for them, to work together again (obviously in such a different way)--and I also wonder if there was something in their chemistry (if they had any scenes together in N.E.), that producers remembered and wanted to see again. Hmmmm

-- Julia (jrvellno@yahoo.com), May 09, 2000.