ER backdrop
Drama

The Best Episodes of ER

Every episode of ER ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of ER!

Binge this in 10d 10h•Peaking at 9.7/10

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.

Airs on
NBC
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons15

All123456789101112131415

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Click to reveal
    ER Season 8 Episode 21 - On the Beach
    9.7/10(2350 votes)

    #1 - On the Beach

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  2. ER Season 6 Episode 14 - All in the Family
    9.6/10(2315 votes)

    #2 - All in the Family

    S6:E14

    Carter and Lucy are discovered and the staff struggles to save them and go on with normal patient care.

    Director:Jonathan Kaplan
    Writer:Jack Orman

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  3. ER Season 1 Episode 19 - Love's Labor Lost
    9.3/10(1797 votes)

    #3 - Love's Labor Lost

    S1:E19

    A busy Dr. Greene goes all day in solving his patients' problems until he encounters the case of a pregnant woman suffering from complications that threaten both her life and her unborn baby's.

    Director:Mimi Leder
    Writer:Lance Gentile

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  4. ER Season 6 Episode 13 - Be Still My Heart
    9.2/10(1399 votes)

    #4 - Be Still My Heart

    S6:E13

    Dr. Greene and Corday bond with their parents, Lucy cares for a patient with a psychotic break, and Valentine's Day celebrations in the ER end tragically for one of the students.

    Director:Laura Innes
    Writer:Lydia Woodward

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  5. ER Season 15 Episode 22 - And in the End...
    9.2/10(1501 votes)

    #5 - And in the End...

    S15:E22

    As Carter prepares to open a new facility for the underprivileged, some old friends/colleagues gather. Rachel Greene, Mark Greene's daughter, applies for an internship at County.

    Director:Rod Holcomb
    Writer:John Wells

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  6. ER Season 2 Episode 7 - Hell and High Water
    9.1/10(1421 votes)

    #6 - Hell and High Water

    S2:E7

    In the middle of a torrential rainstorm, Dr. Ross stumbles across a child trapped in a drainage pipe rapidly filling with water. Doug does everything possible to save the boy, Ben Larkin. Harper develops a bond with a young girl with separated parents.

    Director:Christopher Chulack
    Writer:Neal Baer

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 WORST Episodes of ER

    READ
  7. ER Season 15 Episode 19 - Old Times
    9.1/10(1047 votes)

    #7 - Old Times

    S15:E19

    Neela and Sam are shocked when they arrive back to the airport with transplant organs only to find that their plane has left them. Dr. Carter gets a surprise visit from an old friend while waiting for his kidney transplant. Dr. Banfield bonds with an abandoned baby boy that is left at the ER.

    Director:John Wells
    Writer:John Wells

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  8. ER Season 4 Episode 15 - Exodus
    9.0/10(1029 votes)

    #8 - Exodus

    S4:E15

    Because of benzene that's been spread, the ER has to close. Weaver gets felled and Carter has to take the lead.

    Director:Christopher Chulack
    Writers:Walon Green, Joe Sachs

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  9. ER Season 8 Episode 18 - Orion in the Sky
    9.0/10(850 votes)

    #9 - Orion in the Sky

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  10. ER Season 8 Episode 20 - The Letter
    9.0/10(901 votes)

    #10 - The Letter

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Jack Orman

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  11. ER Season 11 Episode 6 - Time of Death
    8.9/10(1302 votes)

    #11 - Time of Death

    S11:E6

    The last 44 minutes of ex-con & alcoholic Charlie Metcalf's life are in the ER, as he slowly succumbs to end-stage liver failure.

    Director:Christopher Chulack
    Writer:David Zabel

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  12. ER Season 15 Episode 7 - Heal Thyself
    8.9/10(734 votes)

    #12 - Heal Thyself

    S15:E7

    While out for a mind-clearing run, Banfield encounters a desperate situation and finds herself trying to rescue a young girl from drowning in a nearby lake. Painful memories of her son in mortal danger and Dr. Greene's heroic attempts to save him are triggered during the experience. Meanwhile, Gates attempts to pull some strings to help out a homeless war veteran, and the interns continue to struggle in the ER.

    Director:David Zabel
    Writer:David Zabel

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  13. ER Season 7 Episode 22 - Rampage
    8.8/10(727 votes)

    #13 - Rampage

    S7:E22

    The ER is flooded with foster care home residents, attacked by a shooter bent on tracking down his son, who , with the help of Dr. Green, was put into the foster care system amid allegations he was being abused by his father.

    Director:Jonathan Kaplan
    Writer:Jack Orman

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  14. ER Season 12 Episode 22 - 21 Guns
    8.8/10(806 votes)

    #14 - 21 Guns

    S12:E22

    Chaos reigns in the ER when two prisoners are brought in for treatment, but instead plot a violent escape. Their desperate actions place one doctor in harm's way, and forces one nurse to become a tool in their plan.

    Director:Nelson McCormick
    Writer:David Zabel

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  15. ER Season 1 Episode 10 - Blizzard
    8.7/10(1088 votes)

    #15 - Blizzard

    S1:E10

    A severe blizzard leaves the ER utterly devoid of patients, leaving the staff free to goof off. In the middle of their fun, a call comes from dispatch, informing the ER of a 40-car pile-up with dozens of casualties. The ER goes from being deserted to capacity. All surgeons are called in. Bob surprises everyone with a quick and life-saving decision. A new doctor, Angela Hicks, arrives just at the right time. Ross and Linda return from the Caribbean just as Carol makes a surprise announcement.

    Director:Mimi Leder
    Writer:Paul Manning

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  16. ER Season 2 Episode 16 - The Healers
    8.7/10(854 votes)

    #16 - The Healers

    S2:E16

    Shep and Raul respond to a massive fire without proper equipment, risking their lives to save addicts and their children. Shep will be okay, but Raul has third-degree burns covering his body; it's only a matter of time. The ER is flooded with burn victims. Chloe returns to Chicago. Doug is stood up by his father for a basketball game.

    Director:Mimi Leder
    Writer:John Wells

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  17. ER Season 6 Episode 22 - May Day
    8.7/10(681 votes)

    #17 - May Day

    S6:E22

    As the result of a school shooting, Kovac and Benton care for the gunman and his victims. Abby discovers that Carter has been illegally injecting pain relievers. Greene and Weaver confront Carter about his problem, and Weaver orders him to enter a drug rehabilitation center or leave the hospital permanently.

    Director:Jonathan Kaplan
    Writer:Jack Orman

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  18. ER Season 8 Episode 16 - Secrets and Lies
    8.7/10(786 votes)

    #18 - Secrets and Lies

    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:Unknown
    Writer:John Wells

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  19. ER Season 11 Episode 22 - The Show Must Go On
    8.7/10(610 votes)

    #19 - The Show Must Go On

    S11:E22

    Casualties of a disaster flood the ER, which is short-handed because everyone is at Dr. Carter's going-away party because he's leaving the ER after 11 years. Dr. Pratt looks for the courage to confront his father, Charlie.

    Director:John Wells
    Writer:David Zabel

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  20. ER Season 1 Episode 1 - 24 Hours
    8.6/10(2813 votes)

    #20 - 24 Hours

    S1:E1

    A day's worth of trauma takes its toll on the men and women of the ER. Dr. Greene looks into leaving the ER and joining private practice. Among other events, multiple casualties are brought in when a building collapses. New medical students report for duty, including Dr. Benton's new trainee, the young and inexperienced John Carter.

    Director:Rod Holcomb
    Writer:Michael Crichton

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  21. ER Season 2 Episode 18 - A Shift in the Night
    8.6/10(793 votes)

    #21 - A Shift in the Night

    S2:E18

    Mark finds himself manning a very crowded ER on his scheduled night off, filling in while Doug is out with whiplash and Susan meets with her lawyer. He tries to juggle hunger pangs, 40+ patients in the waiting room and a never-ending stream of traumas.

    Director:Lance Gentile
    Writer:Joe Sachs

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  22. ER Season 5 Episode 15 - The Storm (2)
    8.6/10(692 votes)

    #22 - The Storm (2)

    S5:E15

    Greene assists paramedics in treating injured children at a school bus accident. En route, Doug and Jeanie survive their own accident. Kerry stops Doug from treating Jeanie...or any other patient. Doug decides to resign and leave Chicago for the Northwest and asks Carol to come with him. She decides against it, but he leaves anyway. Carol steps down from running the clinic so that Anspaugh will keep it open. Jeanie discovers she may have contracted hepatitis. Hospital janitor Mobalage's wife is stabbed.

    Director:Christopher Chulack
    Writer:John Wells

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  23. ER Season 6 Episode 8 - Great Expectations
    8.6/10(644 votes)

    #23 - Great Expectations

    S6:E8

    On Thanksgiving Day Carol goes into labor. She's able to get to the ER only thanks to Luka's help. She delivers the first baby in the ER, but the second causes some trouble. Greene leaves Elizabeth to deal with his father and daughter, as he rushes to assist Carol.

    Director:Christopher Misiano
    Writer:Jack Orman

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  24. ER Season 6 Episode 21 - Such Sweet Sorrow
    8.6/10(803 votes)

    #24 - Such Sweet Sorrow

    S6:E21

    Greene prepares to bury his father. Chen worries about Carter's mood swings. After witnessing the interaction between a dying woman and her family, Hathaway realizes she wants her family together and flies to Seattle to join Ross.

    Director:John Wells
    Writer:John Wells

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  25. ER Season 8 Episode 22 - Lockdown
    8.6/10(730 votes)

    #25 - Lockdown

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

Best Episodes Summary

"On the Beach" is the best rated episode of "ER". It scored 9.7/10 based on 2350 votes. Directed by John Wells and written by John Wells, it aired on 5/9/2002. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "All in the Family".