A few random comments on Such Sweet Sorrow and characters

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I have a few more comments I wanted to make that I think no one made yet, and I couldn't figure out how to fit them into other threads, so I just started my own.

First, about Carter, I thought it was strange that he would admit to Dr. Dave that he wasn't sleeping...do you think he told him for the soul reason that he knew Dave wouldn't think much of it? I mean, he wouldn't say that to Jing-Mei or Mark, but he told Dave right away. I wonder what his reaction will be to Carter acting out next week. *Also, I read on the Daily News site something that I really enjoyed...one of the writers was commenting on Mark and Jing-Mei's conversation about Carter. He said that it was like the shock to ER fans of Mark's words earlier about Doug seeing the girls, but this time is was: "We know Carter is having a hard time and he's feeling guilty about Lucy"..."REALLY, you know!? Could have fooled us!" I just posted this part somewhere else, but I'll put the address on again...http://home.twcny.rr.com/edgerton/er/index.html I was very grateful that they felt this way too.

And about Carol...first, most of you know that I LOVED this ending...absolutely beautiful. After reading the review for this, I admired how the reviewer ignored the baseball bat wake-up call to Carol and saw the raw goodness of it all. Yes, some comments were way too cheesy and not too subtle, but it WAS for those of us who know the characters of Doug and Carol and the inside memories/themes of these two. One thing that bothered me though was Kerry's "if you can't follow my authority don't work here." This seemed like it was only there to impact the intensity of the show...Kerry ordinarily would never say that to Carol, no matter how pissed she was. Does anyone agree? *And finally, Carol and Luka...yes, he was finally seeing that he was losing her to Doug, and was backing off. I did not like her taking advantage of him...not to mention her abrupt comment to him "they haven't had a chance to say goodbye to her dying mother"...I agree that what she did was a good thing, but she knowingly chose a weak spot in Luka that would make him do what she wanted. Just a VERY trivial complaint, I still love Carol! I hope they don't forget to mention them this week. I was really looking forward to Mark's reaction to their reunion.

-- Elaine (mrsclooney78@hotmail.com), May 15, 2000

Answers

It seems to me Carol was so adamant about the O'Brien children saying goodbye to their mother because she was not given the chance to say goodbye to her father (and it haunts her to this day, as we learned in that very beautiful "Of Past Regret And Future Fear" scene). We also know how the broken home vs. big happy family thing was beginning to affect her, and does anybody remember that male patient from "Of Past Regret And Future Fear"? The one who was dying of chemical burns and wanted to say goodbye to his six and a half year old daughter -- who he hadn't seen in six years. Carol tried and tried to get the mother to agree, but she wouldn't, and the man died without seeing his daughter again. That's another "deja vu"-ish moment.

-- Arianne (CarolRossSusanGreene@yahoo.com), May 15, 2000.

Re: Abby and Dave; what her reaction told me was that she had no respect for him. This was borne out later by her attitude when she shoved the chart at him and told him to sign it. I honestly don't think it would've turned out any differently, as far as Cathy's diagnosis and treatment went, if he had seen her-- he told Abby he would not have recognized Cathy's condition "if it bit me on the a**", but they did both act unprofessionally. Abby's contempt of Dave is proof that Elizabeth spoke truthfully when she said the staff didn't think he was "much of a doctor," although I think in her case it started when his clumsy attempt at a pass at her was interrupted by Jing-Mei in a cocktail dress ("Excuse me, you're drooling on my chart." "Oh, sorry. So, what about that drink?" "You're kidding, right?"). (How's that for a run-on sentence?)

-- Felicity (felicity08@juno.com), May 15, 2000.

I just finished watching the episode again (for the 50th time! :o) and each time I see Carter crying in the stall, I can't help just feel literally sick to my stomach. I rarely have a show or movie have such an effect on me, but this one really did. Why can't they see what is happening to him? Besides Jing Mei (sp?), no one seems to notice the anguish and suffering that is going on with Dr. Carter. And it really annoys me. What is more frustrating, is the fact they are going to try to help him this Thursday, but I don't think it is going to matter. What I mean is, we won't know until next fall what is going to happen and I don't think I am liking that too much. (As I have said in previous threads a million times!!) I want to know now!!! :o)

As for Doug and Carol it was all done beautifully!! (Besides the cheesy hints from the patients). It was worth waiting for and speculated about! I just loved it. I, also, hope that they will mention it in next weeks episode, which seems to be a very busy one. But they have said in the past that Carol Hathaway will say good bye twice, so maybe next season, she will make a visit to the hospital and to give her farewells to everyone. Wouldn't that be nice?

-- Paula (pbranden@dwave.net), May 15, 2000.


Regarding Carter telling Dr. Dave about his problems:

The way I saw it was that Deb was the first one that day to ask him if he was allright: he brushed it off. He probably thought no one else would ask again. So okay. Then Dave asks. I think Carter was probably a bit surprised that so many people have been asking him, so I think he just came up with some light-sounding excuse so Dave wouldn't be worried, and tell someone like Mark. We know how Carter doesn't want other people to know what he's feeling.

The other thing is that it's easier talking about your problems to strangers. Okay, him and dave have been working for months now, but they probably don't know each other as personally as Deb did. If Deb knew he wasn't sleeping right, and knew that he was far from his usual self, she would be more worried (as shown) than Dave, who would readily buy the lie that he was just having trouble sleeping. In this way Carter can unload some of the problems that he has while at the same time not causing anyone much alarm.

-- samira (matb_west@chickmail.com), May 15, 2000.


I've already said this, but I like saying things over. The bathroom stall scene really got to me too. I mean physically, and I asked the same question. "What is going on with you? Why can't anyone see how much pain your in?" I still hold onto the fact that people haven't had the time to worry about Carter the way we as fans do. I certianly hope they get the chance.

As for Malucci, he's just , I don't even know a good word to describe him. I think Carter mentioned his problems to him because they're buds. Dr. Dave didn't seem to think anything of it.

-- Joanne (bucklind@hotmail.com), May 16, 2000.



The other tidbit I noticed was the big, obvious way Abby tied her hair back- for all those who have been wishing fo that :) *I completely agree about Kerry's comment. It seemed out of place (tho quite true, don't hit me!) and put in just for drama, especially since they have always shown mutual respect and Kerry being so kind last epi. BTW, I was expecting K and Carol to end on better terms after that, but no, it was important to be like Doug for this plot. That's okay too :). Thought the same thing about what Carol did- I was really shocked she would take advantage like that, tho I see why for the plot. I bet that if this hadn't been her last show, people would be a bit more upset about that- it was *good* but wrong at the same time, just like Doug :) I agree with you about what MArk said, but really, what more culd they do, all sit in the lounge and talk about Carter and what they should do? Hey, maybe they should do that :). But really, I *personally* think that all of this isolation of John is done completely on purpose to make it worse for him and the story more interesting, extend it. If he went to the shrink and talked to Mark and Gamma, and didn't take his happy pills (theory), then we wouldn't all be so concerned. And I'mreally enjoing being concerned.

-- May (archerl@cadvision.com), May 16, 2000.

Joanne, I liked your comment: "how come people can't see how much pain he's in?" because it is so poignant the way he was very smooth and casual (after "accidently" yelling at Deb...that obviously slipped and he didn't want to appear shaken) with Deb and Malik, and then runs off and cries his heart out.

Which brings me to May's comments, which I enjoyed reading. YOu're right, I hate to admit it, but this would not have built up as well as it did if everyone had sat around and discussed him. Because he has been so good at hiding everything up until now, and I DO think they will sit around and wonder what to do on this next episode. I am in so much anticipation!

-- Elaine (mrsclooney78@hotmail.com), May 17, 2000.


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