If I were going to introduce someone to "St. Elewhere, I would probably use this episode. As a standalone episode, it's phenomenal. Yes, it relies on Judeo-Christian interpretations of the afterlife, but that suits Fiscus's character. He's at a crossroads in his life. He distracts himself with sex, fireflies, and other temporary passions. But in this episode, he sees what becomes of people who made bad choices or no choices. He makes the viewer realize that life is temporary and we need to do all we can to accomplish what we set out to do. And, yes, the efforts to save him bring out the best in several characters.
3 Reviews
Peter's last appearance
jarrodmcdonald-115 January 2023
Warning: Spoilers
This was the last episode in which Peter White appeared. St. Elsewhere featured memorable final episodes for all of its most popular younger characters.
These residents died during the show's run: Wendy Armstrong -- committed suicide at the end of season 2; Peter White -- murdered at the beginning of season 3, then appeared in hell with Wayne Fiscus in this season 5 episode; Bobby Caldwell -- diagnosed with AIDS in the middle of season 4, then he went to California to work and live at an AIDS hospice, and was reported to have died from AIDS off screen in the middle of season 6; and Elliott Axelrod -- heart attack at the end of season 6.
These residents left: Annie Cavanero -- was not seen again after season 3, with no explanation of where she went; Phillip Chandler -- went to Missouri in the middle of season 6 for management training, and came back for a few episodes near the end, then he then gave up his career as a doctor and joined his girlfriend in Mississippi in the penultimate episode; Jack Morrison -- went to live with family in Seattle in late season 4 after the rape at the prison, but came back at the beginning of season 5 to finish his residency, then returned to Seattle at the end; Wayne Fiscus -- left for Nicaragua in the last episode, because he felt there were a lot of emergency cases he might help with in a third-world country.
These residents stayed at St. Eligius: Dr. Jacqueline Wade -- continued as surgeon, promoted to management; and Dr. Victor Ehrlich -- also continued as a surgeon.
These residents died during the show's run: Wendy Armstrong -- committed suicide at the end of season 2; Peter White -- murdered at the beginning of season 3, then appeared in hell with Wayne Fiscus in this season 5 episode; Bobby Caldwell -- diagnosed with AIDS in the middle of season 4, then he went to California to work and live at an AIDS hospice, and was reported to have died from AIDS off screen in the middle of season 6; and Elliott Axelrod -- heart attack at the end of season 6.
These residents left: Annie Cavanero -- was not seen again after season 3, with no explanation of where she went; Phillip Chandler -- went to Missouri in the middle of season 6 for management training, and came back for a few episodes near the end, then he then gave up his career as a doctor and joined his girlfriend in Mississippi in the penultimate episode; Jack Morrison -- went to live with family in Seattle in late season 4 after the rape at the prison, but came back at the beginning of season 5 to finish his residency, then returned to Seattle at the end; Wayne Fiscus -- left for Nicaragua in the last episode, because he felt there were a lot of emergency cases he might help with in a third-world country.
These residents stayed at St. Eligius: Dr. Jacqueline Wade -- continued as surgeon, promoted to management; and Dr. Victor Ehrlich -- also continued as a surgeon.
Same Old Christian Archetypes
Hitchcoc29 March 2022
I enjoyed all the efforts to save Fiscus's life. The hard work of the doctors. Meanwhile, Fiscus is running around in a world put together by people who have read Dante. It's all fundamentalist Christian fiction. I know it's just a show, but it seems about as boring as anything imaginable. Heaven is a bunch of dull people, playing games and walking in the sunlight.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
