It's definitely an eventful Christmas at County this year, as it should be. It is the final ER Christmas ever! Kinda sad when you think about it. 

While Morris is busy dealing with a butt load of his father's things that have been dropped off in front of the ER, Neela and Brenner meet an ambulance carrying Gloria.  She's pregnant and got trampled at an immigration rally.  It seems she has already gone into labor, and although Neela tried to pawn the case off on OB, Brenner forces her to take it.  Turns out, she was much needed.

A winter storm is making things difficult around the ER this week.  Sam had to brave the storm to make it in for the night shift, even though things are pretty quiet.  For now anyway.

After calling Sam to make sure she made it to work safely, Gates is being Mr. Mom, refusing to let the kids go to a party on a Friday night so they can do homework.  Alex and Sarah beg and beg, promising to walk the five blocks to the party.  After all, their homework was done.  

The day starts off good enough for most members of the staff at County.  However, things quickly take a turn for the worse.  No one ends up having a good day in the ER, well, except for intern Andrew who was a rock star!  Good thing too.  After he killed a patient last week, the family has decided to sue County.  Neela in particular.  Looks like Andrew might live to see another week as a surgical intern.

This is shaping up to be one of the best seasons of ER.  I would hope so seeing as how it is the final season, however bringing back Dr. Greene (Anthony Edwards) post-death was the greatest thing to happen on this show since George Clooney was on it.  FYI: rumors are he will be coming back before the show is over.  

We finally see why Dr. Banfield is so cold, while also learning a lot more about her as a person and a doctor.  The show opens with her and her husband arguing about something she refuses to talk about.  It seems the two blame each other for whatever "it" is they are referring to.  While on her morning run, Banfield notices a rescue team heading toward the waterfront.  She runs to see what is going on and realizes a little girl is drowning.  This stirs up some emotions in Banfield, who looks like she has seen a ghost.

Banfield actually has a heart.  Shocking, I know.  The episode opens with her and her husband discussing his parents coming into town for the weekend.  After doing her best to stop it, Banfield accepts that they're coming, but refuses to cook.  Meanwhile, Gates is trying to get Sam and her son to move in with him seeing as how their apartment is deemed unlivable.  Before he gets a chance to ask, they notice a homeless man basically sitting in front of an ambulance, refusing to move.  

It's Halloween in the ER, and Frank (a.k.a reject from Animal House) is taking the holiday very seriously. So is poor intern Blondie, who was told she had to dress up, and arrives at work as a mermaid. Banfield embarrasses her in front of the whole staff and Blondie slowly walks to change her clothes.  Turns out a mermaid costume isn't exactly conducive to the environment in the ER.

The new interns of County are getting royally screwed.  Not only did they almost die last week, this week their performance is being called into question.  So Banfield assigns each intern to an attending, making them report to her daily.  Of coarse hottie Brenner gets the hottie blond, but it's not enough to make him forget Neela.  

Not only are the interns hating life, but Banfield has some reasons to give up as well.  After unsuccessfully trying to grab a cup of coffee, she gets mugged.  Well, sort of.  Since she is such a bad ass, she turns the tables and beats the hell out of her attacker.  Being the good doctor she is, she brings her victim into the ER.

It's Abby's final shift at County, and sadly, no one really knows it.  The episode opens with Abby standing in her empty apartment.  Seems the move is closer than anyone expected.  First day as an attending, last day as an ER doc.

Even with Abby's impending departure, the drama still continues around the ER.  A high school basketball coach is brought into the ER with a gun shot wound.  With him comes his entire team, who refuses to leave his side and promises to find out who did it.  Little did they know how close they were to the shooter.

Things are seriously depressing around County ER this week.  Not only is the staff dealing with the loss of Pratt, but they are also dealing with the, for lack of better term, bitch who took the job that should have been his.  Angela Bassett stars as the new Chief of the ER. And boy, does she have a big chip on her shoulder. 

It seems the new crop of interns are especially pretty this season.  A blond with an appetite for expensive shoes, a Texan with a hot body, and a rather cute couple, one in surgery, one in ER medicine.  They have no idea what they are in for.