Exodus

I am not going to rate the episode. I cannot do this. But I am chemist, and I do know the effects of benzene. Sure it is hazardous, but on this episode it feels like we are in Chernobil!! In no way this is plausible. My suspension of belief did not work, and I could not stop laughing with the non-sense here. Which was too bad... Carter has a good here. But guys, benzene vapours are too volatile to even make it up to the ambulance. At the hospital, they were gone, no benzene left to contaminate anything. It is impossible with the laws of physics. Details about benzene can be found easily. I was exposed several times to benzene, and in petrol stations everyone is exposed anyway. This is not radioactive contamination or antrax: it is just a solvent that evaporates very fast.

Benzene or no benzene, it was the catalyst in a fast moving episode where the ER had to be evacuated. Kerry passed out from fumes and Carter took command along with the fire department. Everyone is put to the test, and, of course, there are critical patients that need to be dealt with, particularly a young girl.

While this is transpiring, Elizabeth, who went on a ride-along, ends up under a collapsed building trying to save the life of a man covered in debris. It is one of those gut wrenching rescues where time is of the essence. She is lowered down and has to perform a surgical procedure to save his life. She returns to the ER in the middle of the craziness.

Of course, Carter doesn't get the credit he deserves because he didn't follow the emergency handbook (which no one could find anyway until after it was all over).

This episode is tantamount to the events of season opening shows.