This landmark hospital drama, on the air for 15 seasons and totaling 331 episodes, began here with this movie-length pilot. It's a great example of storytelling much like what I've seen on 'Hill Street Blues' as I work my way through *that* series. We have many sequences of intense chaos, as the ER doctors, nurses and others here move from one patient to another, and yet much humanity is shown in the quieter and more character-driven moments. We see how dedicated these individuals are, even as stable family man Mark Greene (Anthony Edwards) briefly considers a slight career change in order to spend more time with his wife (Christine Harnos).
We do get to see some of this chaos through the eyes of a new intern, John Carter (Noah Wyle), who has a *very* eventful first shift. We also see that Carter is all too human, as a particularly stomach-turning case is brought before him, and he has to head outside for a brief breather. (I love the little pep talk that Mark gives him.)
Doses of humor here and there help to take some edge off all of the mounting drama. We're introduced to Doug Ross (George Clooney) as he pretends to be ill before his shift starts.
The most serious development occurs as one of the main characters is brought back into the ER as a *patient*, and one is hopeful for a happy ending in that case. Of course, we know that a number of these cases won't have happy endings, but such is life. Despite the best efforts of these medical experts, they can't save *everybody*.
There is a most impressive roster of familiar guest stars, but I just want to single out an especially touching (yet uncredited) Miguel Ferrer as a family man who learns that he has cancer.
In the end, there's an appreciable cyclical quality to the story, as the pilot opens and closes with Mark trying desperately to get some sleep.
Written by series creator / co-executive producer Michael Crichton.
Eight out of 10.