Does anyone think that we will see any members of Carter's family (that we haven't seen yet) in Season 7 as Carter presumably deals with the aftermath of his drug problem? I wonder if his sister (does she have a name?) will show up in a few episodes, or his parents.

-- debbie (riccardoiii@aol.com), June 12, 2000

Answers

I doubt. They didn't bother visiting him after his attack. So why would now be any different. In fact the person who visited him in the hospital was Lucy's mom. That had to be hard for her to see him and to know that he survived and Lucy died. It was hard for Carter too. But the point is that If Lucy's mom can visit and his parents didn't even bother then they are really bad parents so I doubt they'll visit him. We can hope though.

-- Cammie (rmaelhorn@home.com), June 12, 2000.

I think that Carter's sister's name is Barbara.

-- Casey (steinbec00@netscape.net), June 12, 2000.

Just curious : Where did you learn that Carter has a sister?

-- Manon (brault@saglac.qc.ca), June 13, 2000.

Carters grandma came to visit though, and made up with him, which is something. It's true his parents are crap, especially as travelling expenses wouldn't be a problem for them. I could understand it if they were the other side of the country and hard up.

-- Steph (S.M.Bagstaff@ncl.ac.uk), June 13, 2000.

Has anyone on the show said that Carter's parents have not visited him? I don't think so. We have not seen them, but someone mentioned that he had had various visitors. His parents might have been among those.

-- Driad (botteron@alum.mit.edu), June 13, 2000.

I don't know if we'll ever see Carter's family...they may be doomed to be ever-mentioned, but never-seen characters like other famous never-seen ones: such as Maris on FRASIER and Lars on THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW and PHYLLIS. Though it makes us use our imagination, I hope someday we do see them...or at least his sister. BTW, Manon, his sister was mentioned during an epi though I don't remember which. It's amazing the details some people on this site remember about the characters and plots!!!

-- Diana (dilynne@juno.com), June 13, 2000.

In "John Carter, M.D." Carter mentions that his sister is flying in from France for his graduation.

The references to his parents are inconsistent. At different times during the series he lives at home with them (not with Gamma) - other times he complains about how distant his relationship with his parents is.

-- Beth (Bsmith@internet-95.com), June 13, 2000.

In one of the first episodes of season 5 he talks to his father about his living situation and Gamma being unreasonable. But he loses him and we don't really hear about his parents for a long time. I think the last time Carter lived at home was for a short while in season 3...he moved home because his apartment building was in a fire and then Gant took him in as his roommate. I'm not sure where he was living in season 4, but I think it was an apartment, then season 5 he lived in the dorms, then Kerry's, then I don't know where, because he very easily just moved into Gamma's.

-- Elaine (mrsclooney78@hotmail.com), June 14, 2000.

I don't think it's necessarily inconsistent for Carter to not have a close relationship with his parents, while still living at home with them. Probably the most telling episode about Carter's relationship with his parents (and father) was "John Carter, MD" (end of second season) where he was grumbling a bit about how his father "hates it when I'm late" and about the guests at his graduation party all being his parents' friends.

-- debbie (riccardoiii@aol.com), June 14, 2000.

As I recall, Carter began the series living with his parents and was very excited when he later moved out into his first apartment. I always felt that Carters parents supported him financially but not emotionally. Also, I think that Carter appreciated what little he got from them because he saw them as emotionally sealed off after the death of his brother. His grandmothers accusations of Carter only wanting money from his family always ring so false to me.

-- maryann (map5860@aol.com), June 15, 2000.

I always thought that Carter's income was due to a trust fund that was administered by his GRANDPARENTS. Just because the folks are rich doesn't mean the kids are.

-- S. Trelles (trelles@ix.netcom.com), June 15, 2000.

Carter's father (Roland?) is/was supposed to be one of the richest people in Chicago - there was some episode in season 1 where they treated another really rich person whom Carter knew through family...some benefactor to the hospital??

Season 1 seems a long way away now, so it's a bit hazy.

-- Rosie (happymoron@hotmail.com), June 16, 2000.

I think it would be neat to see his family -- especially his sister (which I didn't even know he had. You guys are good!). I was thinking about this and thought it would be pretty funny for her to show up and have Dr. Dave hit on her. I wonder how Carter would react to that! LOL! Seriously though...it would be great to see him get some support from his family. I know Gamma is there, but he needs more!

-- amanda (amanda.rehm@home.com), June 16, 2000.