Ep 20. The Letter

The Letter is the twentieth episode of ER's eighth season. The episode revolves around a former medical student, Emily, who had been working as a prostitute to pay for medical school fees when she gets admitted to the hospital for an acute respiratory illness. During her treatment, she discloses that she has a letter addressed to Dr. John Carter, a former mentor, and colleague of hers from medical school. Emily had idolized Dr. Carter, and it's clear from the way she speaks of him.

Dr. Carter is curious about the contents of the letter, but Emily is reluctant to disclose its contents, leading him to worry about his former protégé's well-being. When Carter finally manages to get hold of the letter, he finds out that it is Emily's eviction notice and that she has nowhere else to go. Emily's letter stirs emotions within Dr. Carter, who then decides to take a personal interest in helping her out.

The episode also follows the receptionist, Lydia, who has been working at the hospital for years with a brusque attitude and a no-nonsense approach to work. Lydia is a character the audience has come to love, and this episode is the one where we delve into her personal life. Lydia's teenage son gets into a fight at school, and she is called into the principal's office. The principal tells her that her son has been in trouble for multiple infractions.

Lydia is devastated by the news and spends the rest of the episode introspecting about where she went wrong raising her son. This subplot showcases the motherly side of Lydia, which is a refreshing change from her usual characterization.

Lastly, the episode also highlights Dr. Greens' character growth. Dr. Greens has been struggling to get over his affair with a resident, and it's starting to affect his ability to focus on his work. To make matters worse, his ex-wife has been appearing in his dreams, making him question his current situation.

Dr. Green's colleague and friend, Dr. Corday, witnesses his struggles and offers him some comfort, acknowledging the pain he's going through. Dr. Corday continues to check up on Dr. Green throughout the episode, providing a new perspective on their relationship.

Overall, The Letter is an episode that offers growth and introspection of the characters the audience has come to love. It is an episode that doesn't shy away from challenging character arcs, lending itself to emotionally satisfying character development.