Setting the Tone: An ER Retrospective

Setting The Tone

Join Elizabeth, Lauren, and Daniel as we recap our favorite medical drama! We're taking a weekly look back at each episode of the hit TV series "ER". We'll break down every episode, as well as look at how each episode impacts the overall story of the iconic 15 season show. Theme music provided by Andrew Edwards of Blue Police Box Music.

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20 episodes
Updated Thursday
Explicit

Episodes20

Newest first

Thursday · 58 min
S15E9 "Let It Snow"
This week: Morris and Banfield have an evening of drunken misadventures as they get snowed in at an Omaha airport, The interns all kinda hate Neela, Chaz babysits and tries to explain death to what's sure to be this season's shittiest kid, and as a blizzard rages in Chicago, Alex and Sarah get into a car accident that leaves Alex fighting for his life as Sam watches on.
July 23 · 1 hr 4 min
S15E8 "Age Of Innocence"
Content warning: storyline about a pedophile and Brenner's trauma from childhood sexual abuse. This week: Tension is in the air after an alleged pedophile is brought with after a house fire, Brenner has himself a little crashout, Gates finally explains why he cares so much about finding Max, Andrew bounces back with a great save, Morris is caught in the middle of everyone's issues, and Dubenko reminds Neela what she was like when she was an intern.
July 16 · 1 hr 35 min
S15E7 "Heal Thyself"
This week: Past and present collide as Banfield recalls how her son died at County 7 years ago as she, Morris, and Tracy attempt to save a little girl who nearly drowned after falling into Lake Michigan.
July 9 · 1 hr
S15E6 "Oh, Brother"
This week: Morris puts far, far too much responsibility on Chaz during his 1st-year ER rotation, Gates connects with a homeless army veteran, Daria is still acting weird, Neela and Banfield have differences of opinions on teaching methods, Sam and Alex make a big life decision, and Chadwick Boseman guest stars as a boxer who may have taken one too many shots to the head.
July 2 · 1 hr 1 min
S15E5 "Haunted"
This week: It's the show's last Halloween episode as Gates is a real jerk to Sam, Banfield remains her usual curmudgeonly self, a bird gets loose in the ER, Brenner takes issue with a mom's behavior after her son was in a fight at school and stabbed another student with a fork, Daria is acting very weird and flirty, Frank dresses up as Julius Cesar, Morris and Tracy make a great save, and Neela is thrilled when Ray makes a surprise visit to County General.
June 25 · 1 hr 5 min
S15E4 "Parental Guidance"
This week: Gates struggles with parenting after Sarah makes a bold choice on a dare, the interns get paired off with other doctors for the day, Morris is still down on love, Banfield does some digging to find out about a weird family situation that's resulted in multiple injuries, and Brenner does what he can to help a son reconnect with his father after his mom is in a car accident.
June 18 · 1 hr 11 min
S15E3 "The Book Of Abby"
This week: The story of Abigail Lockheart, MD at Country General comes to a close as she fights with Banfield, saves a basketball coach who has been shot, appreciates the good work of Neela and a returning Dubenko, fights for Sam's job, reassures Morris that he is indeed a good doctor, and manages to talk a young man out of killing himself.
June 11 · 1 hr 9 min
S15E2 "Another Thursday At County"
This week: The writers decide to throw FIVE new characters at us (including four new interns), Morris has already had enough of the new ER chief micromanaging everyone, Dubenko's departure leaves Crenshaw massively overworked, Sam contributes to a guy killing himself, and a small act of bioterrorism forces the ER to evacuate while Gates and three of the interns are stuck in the middle of it.
June 4 · 1 hr 26 min
S15E1 "Life After Death"
This week: The ambulance explosion last episode leaves Pratt and Bardelli fighting for their lives, a young girl is in trouble after being trapped in a burning car, and older woman has severe injuries after a fall, Abby somehow only has minor injuries from being near the explosion, and ER composer Martin Davich turns in one of the most impactful soundtracks in the show's history.
May 14 · 59 min
Patreon Preview: S14 Wrap Up
It's that time again! Join the STT hosts and special guest Jake from The Popular Court as we recap all the good and bad that was season 14. Hear our opinions on the season as a whole, what we loved and what we hated the most, as well as some thoughts from your fellow listeners. Want to hear the full episode, including the semi-annual "Tone-y" awards? Support us at the $5 level over at patreon.com/settingthetonepodcast to enjoy that plus over 75 additional hours of bonus audio and video content.
May 7 · 1 hr 27 min
S14E19 "The Chicago Way"
This week: Steve Buscemi guest stars and a mob informant who should never have returned to Chicago, Neela faces the wrath of her colleagues when she presents Sheryl's case at an M & M, Morris does everything he can for a dying asian woman and her daughter, everything seems to be going Pratt's way, Luka punches out Moretti before getting back together with Abby, and Dubenko finally decides he's had enough of County
April 30 · 1 hr 28 min
S14E18 "Tandem Repeats"
This week: Gates and Sam are caught on camera doing it all over the hospital, Neela faces the harsh reality of her job, Brenner continues to be an absolute (insert expletive of choice here), Abby interviews for a new job at a very fancy clinic, and Lizzie is amazed when the show actually does a decent (but not great) job handling a transgender patient.
April 23 · 1 hr 10 min
S14E17 "Under Pressure"
This week: Gates and Sam get caught making out on the roof by Morris, Pratt visits Betina in another hospital, Abby settles into being separated from Luka, Simon continues to be a twat about teaching Laverne and Larry, and a couple are flown in as their jewelry heist getaway goes awry and turns into a desperate hostage situation in the ER.
April 16 · 1 hr 25 min
S14E16 "Truth Will Out"
This week: Luka makes some huge life decisions without consulting Abby, Sam is suddenly super weird about people finding out that she's dating Gates, Brenner is revealed to be a nepo baby, Dubenko gets overly jealous of Skye's friends, Neela is super attached to a patient for some reason, and Pratt attempts to reconcile with Betina.
April 9 · 1 hr 14 min
S14E15 "...As The Day She Was Born"
This week: Neela has a very exhausting first day back in general surgery, Gates fights with Morris about the best treatment of Sarah's grandpa after he collapses, Sam gets some nice roses but continues to be judgemental, Betina reveals a major health problem, Harold quits surgery, and Pratt puts his conflict resolution skills to good use.
April 2 · 1 hr 21 min
S14E14 "Owner Of A Broken Heart"
This week: Abby needs some help from Coburn to get on a plane to see Luka, The writer's strike ends and gives us one of the worst new main cast members ever, a wild new med student appears, a woman is brought in having intentionally sabotaged her transplanted heart, and Pratt shoots Morris with a stun gun.
March 26 · 1 hr 8 min
S14E13 "Atonement"
This week: Julia questions herself after a tough patient consult, Sam and Gates finally kiss, Pratt can't commit, a man with a troubled past saves the life of a young boy who nearly drowned, Skye and Dubenko are rudely interrupted, and a hockey game between the surgeons and ortho docs ends in a good old fashioned 5v5 fist fight.
March 19 · 56 min
S14E12 "Believe The Unseen"
This week: As the rumor mill heats up, Abby reveals to the rest of the ER where she's been the last few weeks, Julia wants to get more serious with Gates, Pratt steps up to lead the team as Skye is out sick, a fire in an apartment building sends multiple foster children to the hospital, Neela has an unconventional first day in orthopedics, Morris has food poisoning, and a disfigured man saves his neighbour after she's been badly beaten.
March 12 · 1 hr 5 min
S14E11 "Status Quo"
This week: A familiar face is brought back after her son is injured, Neela's very flirty cousin is stateside for a surprise visit as she gets a new career opportunity, Pratt's interview for the ER chief job leaves his future at County in doubt, Sam is training for a triathlon, and an injured soldier reveals a traumatic event from her time in Iraq.
March 5 · 1 hr 24 min
S14E10 "300 Patients"
On this week's 300th episode: Morris makes a bet that the ER will take in 300 patients before the next shift comes in, Julia leads the staff in a blessing ceremony, Sam's transport training goes sideways after her ambulance is in an accident, Neela has to swab a camel's mouth after it bites Dubenko, Pratt helps a family after a wife and son are in a bad car accident, and Abby's finally reveals her drinking to Luka as they prepare to go to Croatia.