This show has had a significant impact on me over its fifteen-year run, coinciding with major events in my life—starting during my first year of medical school, continuing through my father’s passing in the seventh season (which also marked Dr. Green's death from a brain tumor), and ending with the loss of characters I believed would always be present. The initial seasons focused on tracking the experiences of those …

The final episodes didn't quite hold up, so let’s not dwell on the portion that devolved into melodrama. It began wonderfully... my ten-star rating is really for those early seasons that I can enjoy beyond just fond memories. The narrative was superb, and the characters felt genuine; they behaved like ordinary individuals. It had been a captivating and enjoyable program.... ...but around season 98 or 99, it …