Just as no list of the most 1990s-definÂing filmÂmakÂers could do withÂout Quentin TaranÂtiÂno, no list of the most 1990s-definÂing teleÂviÂsion shows could do withÂout ER. The long-runÂning, award-laden medÂical draÂma made more than a few darÂing moves over its fifÂteen years, not least its choicÂes of guest direcÂtors. EarÂly in its very first seaÂson (which preÂmiered a month before the release of Pulp FicÂtion), ER snagged TaranÂtiÂno to direct the episode “MothÂerÂhood,” which aired on May 11, 1995 — three days before MothÂer’s Day. “The ratÂings for ER, which are usuÂalÂly through the roof, should be through the moon tonight,” wrote the BalÂtiÂmore Sun’s David Zurawik, “And there is enough TaranÂtiÂno to warÂrant a bit of a buzz. One weird scene involvÂing a fight between female gang memÂbers as they are being wheeled into the emerÂgency room might even be conÂsidÂered inspired when judged against the usuÂal stanÂdards of docÂtor draÂma. But be warned: It’s ultra-bloody.”
That quote comes from a roundup of conÂtemÂpoÂrary write-ups of the episode at ChronoÂlogÂiÂcal SnobÂbery, which gets into impresÂsive detail on the stoÂry behind, the plot of, the hype surÂroundÂing, and the TaranÂtinÂian imagery in “MothÂerÂhood,” and it also offers a brief interÂview with forÂmer child actor AbraÂham VerÂduzÂco, who “played Palmer, one of the eight Ranger Scouts with diarÂrhea.” TaranÂtiÂno fans of the type who would freÂquent the Quentin TaranÂtiÂno Archive will have recÂogÂnized VerÂduzÂco from his earÂliÂer appearÂance in Robert Rodriguez’s TaranÂtiÂno-feaÂturÂing DesÂperÂaÂdo. “The episode boasts the usuÂal interÂtwined stoÂries of bleedÂing gangÂsters, relaÂtionÂship trouÂble, famÂiÂly draÂma, pregÂnanÂcies, drug abuse and forÂbidÂden love,” says the QTA. “What makes this episode so interÂestÂing to TaranÂtiÂno fans are all the QT tradeÂmarks that one can spot through the episode.” Some of these, aside from a penÂchant for vinÂtage shades (“Quentin picked out the sunÂglassÂes and was adamant we wear them,” said actress JulianÂna MarÂguiles), include:
- Dr. Lewis wears a Yosemite Sam t‑shirt
- Pulp FicÂtion’s Angela Jones appears as Michelle
- A BeaÂtÂles song (“BlackÂbird”) accomÂpaÂnies a birth
- The Ranger Scouts act like the Three Stooges, and Dr. Carter calls the conÂstelÂlaÂtion of the stars by the names Moe, LarÂry, and Curly
- A girl cuts anothÂer girl’s ear off
And a more than bit of cinÂeÂmatÂic virÂtuÂosÂiÂty comes right up front in the form of the episode’s much-disÂcussed (as recentÂly as last week, on MetafilÂter) sinÂgle-take openÂing. You can see a couÂple segÂments of the episode right here, and for the whole thing — not to menÂtion video qualÂiÂty supeÂriÂor to that which you get above, and for which we apolÂoÂgize — you need only to find disc four of the ER seaÂson one DVD colÂlecÂtion. It makes me wish 1990s teleÂviÂsion had done as much to bring auteurs into the fold at 21st-cenÂtuÂry teleÂviÂsion has; what I wouldÂn’t give for a Hal HartÂley-directÂed episode of SeinÂfeld, say, or a Kevin Smith X‑Files.
RelatÂed ConÂtent:
My Best Friend’s BirthÂday, Quentin Tarantino’s 1987 Debut Film
Quentin TaranÂtiÂno Explains The Art of the Music in His Films
The PowÂer of Food in Quentin Tarantino’s Films
ColÂin MarÂshall hosts and proÂduces NoteÂbook on Cities and CulÂture and writes essays on cities, lanÂguage, Asia, and men’s style. He’s at work on a book about Los AngeÂles, A Los AngeÂles Primer. FolÂlow him on TwitÂter at @colinmarshall or on FaceÂbook.
qt is the most overÂratÂed direcÂtor of all time and this er episode showed that clearÂly.