The fifteenth and final season of the American fictional drama television series ER premiered on September 25, 2008, and concluded on April 2, 2009, in a two-hour episode preceded by a one-hour retrospective special. It consists of 22 episodes.
Plot
The final season opens up revealing Gregory Pratt is the victim of the ambulance explosion. Despite the rallying efforts of his workplace colleagues, he succumbs to his injuries and dies. The season introduces Cate Banfield as new ER chief, a woman with a seemingly mysterious past with County General. Luka Kovač and Abby Lockhart leave for a new life in Boston, Brenner must deal with issues surrounding his childhood, and he comes to a crossroads in his relationship with Neela, Samantha Taggart and Tony Gates' relationship suffers a major setback after an accident involving Alex Taggart while Neela Rasgotra is forced to make some tough decisions, both personal and professional.
To mark the end of the series after 15 years, several former cast members make a return to the show. Mark Greene and Robert Romano appear in a flashback episode that explores Banfield's history with County General while John Carter returns to work at County although, unbeknown to his colleagues, he is in desperate need of a kidney transplant. Peter Benton, Doug Ross, Carol Hathaway, Susan Lewis, Elizabeth Corday, Kerry Weaver and Ray Barnett return in various episodes. The series ends with one final multiple casualty incident that brings multiple patients to the ER, and shows that life goes on at County General.
Cast
Main cast
Anthony Edwards as Dr. Mark Greene (in flashback only) Noah Wyle as Dr. John Carter Laura Innes as Dr. Kerry Weaver George Clooney as Dr. Doug Ross Julianna Margulies as Nurse Carol Hathaway Sherry Stringfield as Dr. Susan Lewis Goran Visnjic as Dr. Luka Kovač Maura Tierney as Dr. Abby Lockhart, Attending Physician Mekhi Phifer as Dr. Greg Pratt, Attending Physician Alex Kingston as Dr. Elizabeth Corday Eriq La Salle as Dr. Peter Benton Parminder Nagra as Dr. Neela Rasgotra, Third Year Surgical Resident John Stamos as Dr. Tony Gates, Third Year Resident Linda Cardellini as Nurse Samantha Taggart Scott Grimes as Dr. Archie Morris, Attending Physician David Lyons as Dr. Simon Brenner, Attending Physician Angela Bassett as Dr. Catherine Banfield, Chief of Emergency Medicine
Special appearances
The final season included special appearances by departed main and recurring cast members:
Shane West as Dr. Ray Barnett
Laura Innes as Dr. Kerry Weaver
Paul McCrane as Dr. Robert Romano (in flashback only) Alex Kingston as Dr. Elizabeth Corday