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The Best Episodes of ER Season 8

Every episode of ER Season 8 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of ER Season 8!

Binge this in 16h 22m•Peaking at 9.6/10

ER explores the inner workings of an urban teaching hospital and the critical issues faced by the dedicated physicians and staff of its overburdened emergency room.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    ER Season 8 Episode 21 - On the Beach
    9.6/10(2612 votes)

    S8:E21

    Dr. Greene's final days are spent in Hawaii with Rachel, teaching her to drive and surf. When he suffers a seizure, Elizabeth is called. Mark refuses to go home. He manages to make amends with his daughter before his eventual death.

    Director:John Wells
    Writer:John Wells

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  2. ER Season 8 Episode 18 - Orion in the Sky
    9.1/10(952 votes)

    S8:E18

    As Dr. Greene's brain tumor begins affecting his coordination, he becomes concerned that his fate will be similar to the terminally ill patients he treats.

    Director:Jonathan Kaplan
    Writer:David Zabel

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  3. ER Season 8 Episode 20 - The Letter
    9.1/10(1014 votes)

    S8:E20

    Dr. Carter reads a letter from terminally ill Dr. Green to the ER staff. Dr. Weaver lashes out at a mentally challenged patient. A terminal, homeless man continues asking for Dr. Green.

    Director:Jack Orman
    Writer:Jack Orman

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  4. ER Season 8 Episode 16 - Secrets and Lies
    8.7/10(896 votes)

    S8:E16

    After some staff members are caught going through a dominatrix's bag, Weaver makes them attend a sexual harassment seminar, where they learn about each other.

    Director:Richard Thorpe
    Writer:John Wells

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  5. ER Season 8 Episode 22 - Lockdown
    8.6/10(812 votes)

    S8:E22

    Just when the ER is understaffed and swamped, two children who were brought in turn out to have full blown smallpox. The entire ER must be locked down. The staff needs to improvise while they battle not only the disease but also frayed tempers.

    Director:Jonathan Kaplan
    Writers:Joe Sachs, Dee Johnson

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  6. ER Season 8 Episode 8 - Partly Cloudy, Chance of Rain
    8.5/10(659 votes)

    S8:E8

    When a torrential rainstorm pounds Chicago, patients deluge the emergency room while Weaver speeds to an accident site. There, she finds a pregnant woman, Vicki lying injured inside a wrecked ambulance while live power lines spark. Fourth-year student Michael Gallant makes a dangerous decision in order to help.

    Director:David Nutter
    Writer:Jack Orman

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  7. ER Season 8 Episode 13 - Damage Is Done
    8.5/10(570 votes)

    S8:E13

    An accidental overdose brings Drs. Green and Corday's baby into the ER.

    Director:Nelson McCormick
    Writer:Dee Johnson

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  8. ER Season 8 Episode 14 - A Simple Twist of Fate
    8.5/10(569 votes)

    S8:E14

    Greene confronts Corday when she orders Rachel out of their home; Abby tries to protect a battered neighbor who refuses to press charges against her husband.

    Director:Christopher Chulack
    Writer:Jack Orman

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  9. ER Season 8 Episode 10 - I'll Be Home for Christmas
    8.3/10(663 votes)

    S8:E10

    Benton commits perjury on the witness stand in order to gain custody of Reese. When Romano refuses to give him a more even schedule, Peter resigns and seeks a job at the clinic where Cleo is newly employed. Benton is granted custody of Reese and he and Cleo decide to move to the suburbs together. Meanwhile, Carter's father visits for Christmas with the news that he's getting divorced, Weaver and Sandy Lopez finally go on a date, and Abby catches Nicole in the maternity ward, recovering from an abortion.

    Director:Jonathan Kaplan
    Writers:Meredith Stiehm, Dee Johnson

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  10. ER Season 8 Episode 2 - The Longer You Stay
    8.1/10(541 votes)

    S8:E2

    Carter is overwhelmed by patients from a rock concert riot. Benton's former girlfriend is killed in a car accident. Newly promoted to chief resident, Chen panics and misdiagnoses a patient. Kovac angers Abby by flirting with a waitress.

    Director:Jonathan Kaplan
    Writer:Jack Orman

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  11. ER Season 8 Episode 11 - Beyond Repair
    8.1/10(539 votes)

    S8:E11

    Abby helps a distraught boy whose mother died of a stroke; a man with schizophrenia, who once stabbed Carter and killed a doctor checks into the ER.

    Director:Alan J. Levi
    Writers:Jack Orman, R. Scott Gemmill

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  12. ER Season 8 Episode 15 - It's All in Your Head
    8.1/10(497 votes)

    S8:E15

    After Dr. Corday moves out, Dr. Green fights loneliness and pain by immersing himself into his work. He is treating a father in the ER who severely burned himself while experimenting with illegal drugs. Abby fumes when the man who beat her is released and moves back in next door; the returning Jerry clashes with fellow desk jockey Frank.

    Director:Vondie Curtis-Hall
    Writer:R. Scott Gemmill

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  13. ER Season 8 Episode 3 - Blood Sugar Sex Magic
    8.0/10(600 votes)

    S8:E3

    Greene's daughter comes to live with him and Corday. Carter and Abby become more intimate. Chen must prove her skills while saving a baby. Weaver terminates Malucci after witnessing him having sex in an ambulance.

    Director:Richard Thorpe
    Writers:Elizabeth Hunter, R. Scott Gemmill

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  14. ER Season 8 Episode 4 - Never Say Never
    7.9/10(501 votes)

    S8:E4

    Dr. Susan Lewis arrives, looking for work in the Chicago area again. Greene hires her, over Weaver's objection. Chen nervously attends a risk management review, accompanied by the unforgiving Weaver, to discuss a patient who recently died under Chen's supervision.

    Director:Félix Alcalá
    Writer:Dee Johnson

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  15. ER Season 8 Episode 17 - Bygones
    7.9/10(558 votes)

    S8:E17

    Drs. Corday and Greene are awkward when working together in the ER. Dr. Weaver treats victims of an intense fire that may take the life of a dear friend.

    Director:Jessica Yu
    Writers:Elizabeth Hunter, Meredith Stiehm

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  16. ER Season 8 Episode 7 - If I Should Fall from Grace
    7.8/10(489 votes)

    S8:E7

    A new medical student, Michael Gallant, arrives in the ER. He's supposed to be working under Dr. Carter's supervision but his grandmother is unwell. Elizabeth Corday is convinced that other doctors are refusing to work with as a result of the mysterious deaths.

    Director:Laura Innes
    Writer:R. Scott Gemmill

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  17. ER Season 8 Episode 1 - Four Corners
    7.7/10(548 votes)

    S8:E1

    Weaver returns to the emergency room after a self-imposed sabbatical of three weeks, wondering how her newfound lesbian identity will affect her workplace relationships. Having purposely allowed a mass murderer to die, Greene must keep the secret amidst the scrutiny of his superiors.

    Director:Christopher Misiano
    Writers:Jack Orman, David Zabel

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  18. ER Season 8 Episode 5 - Start All Over Again
    7.7/10(475 votes)

    S8:E5

    Lewis faces a hectic first day back at County General. Benton and Roger become frantic when they can't locate Reese. Carter's grandmother is brought to the emergency room. Carter and Abby deal with inept medical students.

    Director:Vondie Curtis-Hall
    Writer:Joe Sachs

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  19. ER Season 8 Episode 6 - Supplies and Demands
    7.6/10(473 votes)

    S8:E6

    Corday's ordeal, caused by the recent infection-related deaths of several of her patients, worsens when she is closely observed by a stern taskmaster. Corday is outraged when a county investigator accuses her of deliberately euthanizing the patients, who all happened to be elderly.

    Director:Jonathan Kaplan
    Writer:Meredith Stiehm

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  20. ER Season 8 Episode 12 - A River in Egypt
    7.6/10(498 votes)

    S8:E12

    An injured and condemned murderer wants to die in the ER rather than await execution; Abby advises a neighbor to seek shelter from her abusive husband.

    Director:Jesús Salvador Treviño
    Writer:David Zabel

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  21. ER Season 8 Episode 9 - Quo Vadis?
    7.5/10(477 votes)

    S8:E9

    Peter Benton continues his court fight against Reese's stepfather, Roger, who seems to have the upper hand. When a woman is accidentally shot during a gas station robbery, Dr. Corday tries to convince the husband to let them harvest her organs. A 15 year old boxer is brought in with a head trauma after sparring with his older brother. Newlyweds are having trouble when she constantly breaks out in a rash; Carter thinks he knows the cause.

    Director:Richard Thorpe
    Writers:David Zabel, Joe Sachs

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  22. ER Season 8 Episode 19 - Brothers and Sisters (I)
    7.5/10(550 votes)

    S8:E19

    When Dr. Lewis gets a hysterical call from her niece, Susie, she hurries to New York to search for the child and her sister Chloe. The crossover continues on Third Watch S03E19 Unleashed

    Director:Nelson McCormick
    Writer:R. Scott Gemmill

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Season 8 Ratings Summary

"On the Beach" is the best rated episode of "ER" season 8. It scored 9.6/10 based on 2612 votes. Directed by John Wells and written by John Wells, it aired on 5/9/2002. This episode is rated 0.5 points higher than the second-best, "Orion in the Sky".