Netflix UK finally drops all 15 seasons of ‘one of the greatest TV shows ever’

Alex Kingston leaning over a bridge in ER, wearing a black jacket
You’ll recognise a lot of faces (Picture: Tv/Amblin Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock)

An iconic TV show is now available to watch on Netflix in the UK, giving viewers 15 seasons of emotional medical drama.

This NBC series premiered in the mid-nineties and ran until 2009, producing 331 episodes along the way.

Early seasons feature Hollywood legend George Clooney starring in the role that helped launch him into stardom.

He plays Dr. Doug Ross in ER from 1994 to 1999 – and now you can binge the beginning of his acting journey on Netflix, which has added the hospital show to its UK roster.

ER was groundbreaking for its time – it paved the way for other medical dramas, and stands alone as a modern classic.

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The first season, which is now over 30 years old, introduces the audience to a busy emergency room where the doctors make life-and-death decisions on a regular basis.

For Editorial Use - Credit Studio Only. Mandatory Credit: Photo by THA/Shutterstock (15072354bh) Film Still from "ER" Julianna Margulies, George Clooney ? 1994 Warner TV Archival Cinema Stills
Clooney was one of the original cast members (Picture: Tha/Shutterstock)
Editorial use only. No book cover usage. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Robert Trachtenberg/Warner Bros Tv/Amblin Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock (5885629af) Alex Kingston, Paul McCrane, Ming-Na, Michael Michele, Anthony Edwards, Goran Visnjic, Noah Wyle, Maura Tierney, Eriq La Salle, Sherry Stringfield, Laura Innes Er Emergency Room - 1994 Warner Bros TV/Amblin TV USA Television
The show remains iconic and a favourite amongst viewer (Picture: Tv/Amblin Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock)

Set in the fictional County General Hospital in Chicago, Anthony Edwards plays Dr. Mark Greene, Noah Wyle plays third-year medical student John Carter, and Julianna Margulies plays Nurse Carol Hathaway.

This high-stakes environment is made more intense with personal struggles and moral challenges that the characters are constantly grappling with.

Other medical dramas to also get your teeth into…

If you’ve watched ER, or you’re looking for more medical dramas to binge, here are five similar shows you might like:

  • Grey’s Anatomy, Disney+
  • This Is Going to Hurt, BBC iPlayer
  • Malpractice, ITVX
  • The Good Doctor, Channel 4
  • Breathless, Netflix

Memorable storylines include one of the staff members learning they have HIV, another dying from a brain tumour, and Clooney’s character dealing with a gambling addiction.

Its fifteen year run saw the show receive 124 Emmy nominations and secure 23 wins.

Editorial use only. No book cover usage. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Warner Bros Tv/Amblin Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock (5885573aj) Angela Bassett Er Emergency Room - 2004 Warner Bros TV/Amblin TV USA Television
ER is known for invoking strong emotional reactions (Picture: Tv/Amblin Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock)

ER is not only critically acclaimed but also adored by fans.

@Vickster51 called it ‘the greatest medical drama’.

And Vicky agreed that the show was the ‘best ever’, after Netflix announced that all seasons were available to stream.

The sentiment is shared on IMDb, where llihilloh said: ‘This show is without a doubt, the best one on television.’

While Clooney might be synonymous with the series, viewers will also recognise a number of other familiar faces who featured at various moments during the series.

Editorial use only. No book cover usage. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Warner Bros Tv/Amblin Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock (5885573ak) Maura Tierney Er Emergency Room - 2004 Warner Bros TV/Amblin TV USA Television
Having run for 15 seasons, there’s plenty to catch up on – 331 hours to be exact (Picture: Tv/Amblin Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock)

Aaron Paul, of Breaking Bad, appears in season nine as a teenager looking after his younger siblings and sick mother.

17 Again star Zac Efron had a role in the show a couple of years before starring in Disney’s High School Musical. His character arrives at the hospital with a gunshot wound after being shot.

Stanley Tucci, Eva Mendes, Ewan McGregor, Alex Kingston, Shia LaBeouf and Angela Bassett all boast roles, and the legendary Quentin Tarantino was a guest director for a 1995 episode.

ER is available to stream on Netflix.

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