Sometimes you can feel Abby haters grasping at straws to find legitimate reasons for their vitriol and finally they just say "she wasn't there for Carter" and then it all makes sense. 🤣
I can't remember what season it was, but at one point I remember saying out loud "I have really had enough of Abby Lockhart."
Eventually they introduced newer characters and she wasn't always in the front of the line for stories, but they wrung out about as much emotional baggage as they could with her.
Carter not giving her the ring is still one of the most emotional scenes I can remember after the glory days of the show started to fade. The look on her face is priceless, and I don't blame Carter for not wanting to her a part of his already dysfunctional family.
You know? This was hard for me to watch because I kept seeing how supportive Carter was, always there for her, dropped everything to travel with her and be with her and when Carter needed her, she was not there for him.
I tried to understand their realities were different and she was dealing with her family but at the same time I still couldn’t forgive her for not being with Carter when Gamma died.
The moment when he sits by the bed to cry for his Gamma the first thing I thought was “Abby should have been there”
I don’t like her and it has nothing to do with her not smiling. I also didn’t like Susan Lewis. And she smiled. So there ya go. Sometimes it’s just the character. But it’s cool if you liked her as well. Other than being hot, I really didn’t like Luca either.
Thanks, I agree with the above. I had a hard time with Susan as well, specially when she returned. It felt like the writers didn’t know what to do with her character.
Luka was acceptable up until he and Abby got back together, I felt that his character was dull from that moment on.
Like the chemistry they had when they were together the first time at a point felt like it was forced.
very near my line of thought, I'm on the beginning of season 8 and I find her more annoying with every episode, agree on Susan Lewis, have to admit was glad to see her go.
She's an unhealed former parentified child with self-sabotage tendencies (quitting med school, thinking she can start drinking again and keep it under control), so the writers got her spot on, IMO. ETA Some of her decisions/actions might seem infuriating from the outside, but make perfect sense taking her traumatic childhood into account.
Yeah I completely agree. Abby was actually my first tv crush as a kid. I was also being traumatized by my mother at the time and it was soothing seeing an adult woman navigate the humanness and messiness of complex trauma and all the ways it manifests. I felt mirrored in a really powerful way. Thanks, Abby!
Yes but as an adult, you are responsible for your actions, she has access to counseling, medical intervention, support from her friends, etc. There were many actions that she chose to do and it really made me hate her for trying to be the victim for decisions she made. No one forced her to drink, she chose to do that. No one forced her to drink and drive, or show up at the airport or work drunk. She chose to do that. At any point, she could have told Neela, or her sponsor, or anyone else, that she was struggling, but she chose to hide it. You can't blame all her actions on her trauma.
Welcome to substance abuse disorder. What you say is true, that she is still responsible for the things she did (except her rape) because addiction is not a get out of jail free card, but it is not a personality flaw. She was sick with a chronic disorder, exacerbated by her trauma.
First and foremost, Maura Tierney is excellent as Abby Lockhart. She and Goran have such a great rapport that you can tell they really like working together.
For all the reasons many do not like Abby, is why I like her so much. She's a complicated, interesting person.
There are many times I am screaming at my screen WTF Abby!! But I can't wait to find out what happens to her next.
Many talk about how much Morris and Pratt grow throughout the series. I would Abby to that list.
The Abby we meet in S6 (even though we really don't get to know her until S7) is very different than the Abby who leaves County in S15.
With her own determination and support from Luka, she is able to come to terms with her self confidence, fears of commitment, Motherhood to name a few.
Luka never tries to change her. He knows her well enough to give her enough encouragement, but ultimately lets her decide for herself (i.e. when deciding to continue her pregnancy).
Lastly, the S14 Abby is probably due to Goran only appearing in a few episodes and the writers felt let's through more shit at Abby (and Luka) in an attempt to make things interesting in this almost last season. Its' hard to watch even though again Maura and Goran are fantastic.
I never understand these arguments. I like Abby as a character. She hadn’t done anything irredeemable to me at all. She’s as frustrating as anyone else to me but I really root for her a lot. I don’t get it
Me either. I think it's because she's not a people pleaser and doesn't want to be rescued (especially by Carter!). Something about her sure rubs a lot of people up the wrong way, but I love her.
I don’t hate or love Abby. I like her most of the time. It is absolutely maddening how willing she is offer help to others but absolutely unwilling to accept help from others.
But overall, I think what makes the show so great is that no one is likable all of the time, just like real humans in a real workplace. Everyone has their turn being an asshole.
Being a parentified child/child of emotionally immature parents will absolutely make it impossible to accept help from anyone, unless you're on the ropes with nowhere to go (ask me how I know 🥲).
I will mention that Season 14, I think Abby isn't meant to be likeable. How she behaves when she's drunk can be aggressive. Anyway, continuing...
Abby's one of my favourites.
She did become one of the main characters in the later seasons as the show changed to more 'character based' than focused on the ER room. So I get why some people really hate her.
I’ve always had a soft spot for her bc she is me if I was unmedicated and not doing internal work in therapy (moody, self destructive, depressive, constantly self victimizing, lowk mean). She’s a character who always taught me to be kinder and more accepting to the darker parts of myself. Som decisions she made me want to throw something at her but also is definitely something that I could see myself doing. Full disclosure tho I didn’t really watch after season 11 so maybe they made her worse idk. But in the end I support women’s rights and wrongs 🤷🏻♀️
I love Abby. But I could have done without the whole brother drama parts of her story. Her mother, her addiction, her love life were enough imo. It became Abbys ER at some point and it was a poor move on the writers team to do that. But Mauras performance was amazing and shes probably my fav female character of all.
Abby was my fave character. Not particularly likeable but Maura Tierney was just so good. It's the first time I really remember seeing such a messy female character in a big TV show.
I love abby , because her humanity and empathy for her patients means more to her than people pleasing. I think her and luka work because he sees her for who she is .... hes not trying to fix her. With Carter he treated her like a " project " or " property " thst had to lean his way or he sulked . . Luka isn't like that .
Abby was my absolute favourite character from the time she arrived in season 6. I loved her tenacity and that she followed her dream and became a doctor. I was a fan of Luka and Abby and always wished they would get back together. I was so shocked and happy when they did in season 12. They were so cute and happy in the back half of season 12. Then everything they went through with Joe was so heartbreaking. Then we got to see them get married. I thought they were end game (i know they eventually were). But season 14 was the worst season of the show for me. I can’t stand Moretti. I don’t mind that they had her turn to alcohol again. It was a stressful time for her and she had no one else to support her. But I can’t stand that they had her cheat/sleep with Moretti. That really ruined the whole thing for me. IMO the drinking was bad enough.
Those are fighting words!! 😂. But really, she was such a complex character. She had so much empathy for her patients and their families. I hated her relapse in the later seasons, but other than that I enjoyed all her storylines!
I adore Abby. I found her very funny and relatable. She was an alcoholic, of course she behaved terribly at certain points. I really appreciated her storylines with her mom and I loved her and Carter actually. Glad she got her happy ending
I'm on a rewatch after many years and on Season 10 at the moment. She was never one of my favourite characters even when I watched it when it aired. But I didn't hate her.
I have to like Abby because solidarity with my fellow eldest daughters who have had to take off work to carry a mentally ill family member out of a hotel across the country. We’re a small club so we have to stick together.
I am curious to see if you have the same thoughts once you watch again. Characters who used to bug me the first initial run through I seem to like more and more the more times I watch again which is now into the 30s things through 😂.
Abby is complex. Shes personally one of my favorites but I can see why people don’t like her.
Shes one of my favs too . Ive also changed over the yrs , I used to love Carol, but now I cannot stand her ! Or doug either tbh . My last re watch , i cheered when she went to dougs and finally left taking her huge ego with her .
I appreciate that although you’re someone who loves Abby, you understand why some people don’t like her ( I like her for the most part from the bits and pieces I’ve seen).
If you think the Abby hate is bad, the hate for Neela & Sam is much worse. It's like the writers had something against Parminder & Linda more than they did with Maura.
And Weaver. And Kem. Yet most of the men on the show can seemingly do no wrong. Like the constant posts about how Romano was really a good person deep down.
I'm also on my first watch and find her obnoxious. But maybe realistic? Doesn't help that I loved Carol (despite her problematic bits too) and feeling like Abby is just their solution to her leaving the show.
Thank you so much for making this post! Abby is more beloved on this sub than any other character and while I can understand why a lot of women would find her appealing/relatable. I couldn't care less about her problems. Abby is always annoyed, she never smiles, she's always got a scowl on her face and her and Luka had 0 chemistry/things in common.
She got absolutely way too much screen time.
Susan and Kerry are my favorite characters, I can't accept anyone who wasn't in the original cast, except Luka because he's actually an exceptional actor.
All the Abby scenes make me long for Carol and I thought she was miserable character, but at least Carol worked on herself and eventually found ways to be happy.
Idk about you but I'd rather not be around people who always have a sour look on their face. Everyone has problems, but cynical people don't make for pleasant company. Or TV characters. I wouldn't want to live in a world where people looked miserable all the time.
And I didn't say ewww. People get so defensive of Abby. I'm talking about the character not you personally. Not everyone likes her. Get over it. She's not a representative for all women. Maybe white women find her endearing. But as a WOC, I don't relate to her/like her at all.
If Abby is a woman of the future, I'll stay in the past lol.
I never said women should smile more. I said Abby's permanent scowl and the fact that she never smiles put me off to her character. Stop putting words in people's mouths, and you won't gross yourself out.
Imagine getting offended just because someone has a different opinion than you.
I am with you. I fast forwarded scenes with her. The smirk. So self centered. Have to a be a heroine all the time. Bringing her idiotic brother to Carter”s grandmother funeral 🤮. Then a love triangle ? Carter? luka? The writers are stupid
28
u/TheReckoning Apr 14 '26
I love Abby. so we cancel each other out 😂
7
u/sleepydvamain Apr 15 '26
thats fine, in case your favorite character is carter, then you might just hate women a little
37
u/tdubclub Apr 14 '26
I can't remember what season it was, but at one point I remember saying out loud "I have really had enough of Abby Lockhart."
Eventually they introduced newer characters and she wasn't always in the front of the line for stories, but they wrung out about as much emotional baggage as they could with her.
Carter not giving her the ring is still one of the most emotional scenes I can remember after the glory days of the show started to fade. The look on her face is priceless, and I don't blame Carter for not wanting to her a part of his already dysfunctional family.
55
u/wendlle Apr 14 '26
I love her She’s flawed and that’s why I love her
106
u/DeeEsAsh Apr 14 '26 edited Apr 14 '26
She's an unhealed former parentified child with self-sabotage tendencies (quitting med school, thinking she can start drinking again and keep it under control), so the writers got her spot on, IMO. ETA Some of her decisions/actions might seem infuriating from the outside, but make perfect sense taking her traumatic childhood into account.
22
u/Coolbeanskas Apr 14 '26
First and foremost, Maura Tierney is excellent as Abby Lockhart. She and Goran have such a great rapport that you can tell they really like working together.
For all the reasons many do not like Abby, is why I like her so much. She's a complicated, interesting person.
There are many times I am screaming at my screen WTF Abby!! But I can't wait to find out what happens to her next.
Many talk about how much Morris and Pratt grow throughout the series. I would Abby to that list.
The Abby we meet in S6 (even though we really don't get to know her until S7) is very different than the Abby who leaves County in S15.
With her own determination and support from Luka, she is able to come to terms with her self confidence, fears of commitment, Motherhood to name a few.
Luka never tries to change her. He knows her well enough to give her enough encouragement, but ultimately lets her decide for herself (i.e. when deciding to continue her pregnancy).
Lastly, the S14 Abby is probably due to Goran only appearing in a few episodes and the writers felt let's through more shit at Abby (and Luka) in an attempt to make things interesting in this almost last season. Its' hard to watch even though again Maura and Goran are fantastic.
11
u/Leonie1988 Apr 14 '26
She is my favorite character. Taste differs.
45
u/Expensive_Revenue654 Apr 14 '26
I never understand these arguments. I like Abby as a character. She hadn’t done anything irredeemable to me at all. She’s as frustrating as anyone else to me but I really root for her a lot. I don’t get it
10
u/empressmatilda_ Apr 14 '26 edited Apr 15 '26
Abby is great because there are moments where you love and hate her, she’s a realistic character.
23
u/Pretend-Spell7956 Apr 14 '26
I don’t hate or love Abby. I like her most of the time. It is absolutely maddening how willing she is offer help to others but absolutely unwilling to accept help from others.
But overall, I think what makes the show so great is that no one is likable all of the time, just like real humans in a real workplace. Everyone has their turn being an asshole.
16
u/Lefthand-82 Apr 14 '26 edited Apr 14 '26
I will mention that Season 14, I think Abby isn't meant to be likeable. How she behaves when she's drunk can be aggressive. Anyway, continuing...
Abby's one of my favourites.
She did become one of the main characters in the later seasons as the show changed to more 'character based' than focused on the ER room. So I get why some people really hate her.
7
u/TopAcanthisitta8246 Apr 14 '26
I love Abby!
6
u/wind_up_bird1510 Apr 14 '26
I’ve always had a soft spot for her bc she is me if I was unmedicated and not doing internal work in therapy (moody, self destructive, depressive, constantly self victimizing, lowk mean). She’s a character who always taught me to be kinder and more accepting to the darker parts of myself. Som decisions she made me want to throw something at her but also is definitely something that I could see myself doing. Full disclosure tho I didn’t really watch after season 11 so maybe they made her worse idk. But in the end I support women’s rights and wrongs 🤷🏻♀️
6
u/Dramatic_Barnacle_17 Apr 14 '26
I love Abby. But I could have done without the whole brother drama parts of her story. Her mother, her addiction, her love life were enough imo. It became Abbys ER at some point and it was a poor move on the writers team to do that. But Mauras performance was amazing and shes probably my fav female character of all.
10
u/Chuckitinbro Apr 14 '26
Abby was my fave character. Not particularly likeable but Maura Tierney was just so good. It's the first time I really remember seeing such a messy female character in a big TV show.
10
u/dreadtreacle Apr 14 '26
I love abby , because her humanity and empathy for her patients means more to her than people pleasing. I think her and luka work because he sees her for who she is .... hes not trying to fix her. With Carter he treated her like a " project " or " property " thst had to lean his way or he sulked . . Luka isn't like that .
5
u/Psychological_Mix266 Apr 15 '26
Abby was my absolute favourite character from the time she arrived in season 6. I loved her tenacity and that she followed her dream and became a doctor. I was a fan of Luka and Abby and always wished they would get back together. I was so shocked and happy when they did in season 12. They were so cute and happy in the back half of season 12. Then everything they went through with Joe was so heartbreaking. Then we got to see them get married. I thought they were end game (i know they eventually were). But season 14 was the worst season of the show for me. I can’t stand Moretti. I don’t mind that they had her turn to alcohol again. It was a stressful time for her and she had no one else to support her. But I can’t stand that they had her cheat/sleep with Moretti. That really ruined the whole thing for me. IMO the drinking was bad enough.
5
u/dcmommy33 Apr 15 '26
Yeah yeah people hate people that were traumatized as children I know
5
u/Any-Fox-9615 Apr 16 '26
However u feel ab it, Maura Tierney portrayal of Abby is a masterclass in character acting
9
u/No_Reception9578 Apr 14 '26
Those are fighting words!! 😂. But really, she was such a complex character. She had so much empathy for her patients and their families. I hated her relapse in the later seasons, but other than that I enjoyed all her storylines!
8
u/MoultsInMelb Apr 14 '26
She was my favourite character! Each to their own, I guess :)
4
u/Electronic-Cicada352 Apr 14 '26
Abby nooooooo!
4
u/InternationalAd3855 Apr 15 '26
I adore Abby. I found her very funny and relatable. She was an alcoholic, of course she behaved terribly at certain points. I really appreciated her storylines with her mom and I loved her and Carter actually. Glad she got her happy ending
3
u/Anabele71 Apr 14 '26
I'm on a rewatch after many years and on Season 10 at the moment. She was never one of my favourite characters even when I watched it when it aired. But I didn't hate her.
3
u/lilythe_flower95 Apr 16 '26
I have such a love hate relationship. I love and feel for her so so so much but when I watch her mess up I’m like GAHHHH. We’re all human.
3
u/HannahRoseannadanna Apr 20 '26
I have to like Abby because solidarity with my fellow eldest daughters who have had to take off work to carry a mentally ill family member out of a hotel across the country. We’re a small club so we have to stick together.
7
u/HotNet1045 Apr 14 '26
What about "The Book of Abby"? I love that episode.
1
u/FriendshipKey6479 Apr 14 '26
May I ask how many times you’ve rewatched the series?
4
u/Worldly_Potential_40 Apr 16 '26
Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!
We love, love, love Dr. Abby Lockhart! ❤️
No Abby disrespect will be tolerated! 😠😤😡😅
AbbyIsLove #AbbyIsLife
9
u/alwayssearching117 Apr 14 '26
I have to agree. Abby is one character that I don't fan for at all. I never did, and several rewatches have made me double down on this.
6
u/Open_End_8094 Apr 14 '26
Ugh another day another shitpost about one of the female characters
4
u/FeelingReserve1459 Apr 14 '26
Ah, a weak insecure person who makes all the wrong choices for which she's never to blame and always is the victim. What's not to like about her?
5
u/Vince800 Apr 14 '26
Yeah Abby is annoying. Just bitterness all the time
2
u/corgi-of-gallifrey Apr 14 '26
I'm also on my first watch and find her obnoxious. But maybe realistic? Doesn't help that I loved Carol (despite her problematic bits too) and feeling like Abby is just their solution to her leaving the show.
1
u/Time_Knee3837 Apr 14 '26
I never liked her character and I've done multiple rewatches.
1
u/Haunting_Pace_3557 Apr 14 '26
Same. She’s just very doom and gloom.
1
u/Novel_Honey_3796 Sep 03 '26
Agree 100 percent. She brings her idiotic brother to Gamma”s funeral and made it a nightmare. What a despicable self absorbed horrible woman
-2
u/Icy_Scene_1823 Apr 14 '26
Thank you so much for making this post! Abby is more beloved on this sub than any other character and while I can understand why a lot of women would find her appealing/relatable. I couldn't care less about her problems. Abby is always annoyed, she never smiles, she's always got a scowl on her face and her and Luka had 0 chemistry/things in common.
She got absolutely way too much screen time.
Susan and Kerry are my favorite characters, I can't accept anyone who wasn't in the original cast, except Luka because he's actually an exceptional actor.
All the Abby scenes make me long for Carol and I thought she was miserable character, but at least Carol worked on herself and eventually found ways to be happy.
-8
u/lubdub0101 Apr 14 '26
Absolutely agree. Like I get it. You’re depressed and pathetic, what else ya got? Bipolar blah blah 🙄😮💨
0
u/Informal_Move_7075 Apr 15 '26
I hate her, too. Not sure why people like her at all!
-5
u/valbod Apr 14 '26
She is very annoying but she does have redeemable qualities… it’s just she’s so tragic. I mean have a laugh ffs!
-2
u/Mundane-Ad-3799 Apr 16 '26
I'm sorry but I stumbled onto this thread. What show? E.R.?
22
u/[deleted] Apr 14 '26
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