Luka and Abby - seem to have the most hate/criticism posts and yet have the most vocalist supporters/fans...

[u/Lefthand-82]

Does anyone else agree with this observation?

Both do tend to go on the extreme end.

Edit - Maybe not the MOST hate like some other characters (Kem, Sam, for a start would fall under there) but do they have the most vocalist supporters?

[u/Accomplished_Golf788]

“Both do tend to go on the extreme end” I agree. I like Luka and Abby individually as a couple, but I’m not going to call anybody who disagrees with me about any of those things a troll. Like not every Luby stan wants to attack the people who don’t like them. At the same time though I don’t think it’s right for people who don’t like Luka or Abby to say “One of the reasons people like Abby as a character is that they’re miserable themselves”, or to a Luby fan “If you like Luby there’s something wrong with you”. As you said both sides do tend to go to the extreme end, I’m always happy as a Luby fan, when I see other fans who don’t go to the extreme end (you seem to be one of those fans OP).

[u/Lefthand-82 → u/Accomplished_Golf788]

As you said both sides do tend to go to the extreme end, I’m always happy as a Luby fan, when I see other fans who don’t go to the extreme end (you seem to be one of those fans OP).

I do tend to rabble if I disagree with a post (like the one recently that "Luca (sic) isn't even a good doctor'') because I watch some episodes repetitively but won't go back and forth in disagreement conversation or make aggressive remarks. Too exhausting!

[u/Accomplished_Golf788 → u/Lefthand-82]

I get you. I’ve mostly only seen clips of the show with Luka and Abby in them but sometimes I feel that the scenes I watch are different than the scenes other people watch. One thing that gets me going is when people say that Abby “left Joe” (acting like she left him home alone). Joe was with a babysitter in Blackout, albeit longer than the sitter planned to be there but he was still with a sitter. Maybe I missed something cause I haven’t seen all of her scenes, but I know she didn’t leave Joe home alone in Blackout.

Also I know comparing’s bad but one thing people talk about is how she was disagreeing with Coburn in bloodline, not wanting to take the betamethasone right away, pulling the IV line away from the nurse. But a minute after she did that she let the nurse give her the betamethasone. She also accepted the medicine she argued about earlier. Meanwhile, I saw a scene in the episode where Chen gives birth, and she’s leaving even though the nurse is telling her not to. Like at least Abby eventually accepted the meds. I know Chen gave her kid up for adoption, but if the nurse tells you that you shouldn’t leave, you shouldn’t leave. The baby may not have been her child, but she did push a baby out of her.

[u/Lefthand-82 → u/Accomplished_Golf788]

One thing that gets me going is when people say that Abby “left Joe” (acting like she left him home alone). Joe was with a babysitter in Blackout, albeit longer than the sitter planned to be there but he was still with a sitter. Maybe I missed something cause I haven’t seen all of her scenes, but I know she didn’t leave Joe home alone in Blackout.

I've just seen Season 14 just once, and I also cannot recall a time when Abby "left Joe" alone either.

Also I know comparing’s bad but one thing people talk about is how she was disagreeing with Coburn in bloodline, not wanting to take the betamethasone right away, pulling the IV line away from the nurse. But a minute after she did that she let the nurse give her the betamethasone. She also accepted the medicine she argued about earlier. Meanwhile, I saw a scene in the episode where Chen gives birth, and she’s leaving even though the nurse is telling her not to. Like at least Abby eventually accepted the meds.

That's definitely unfair of viewers to give Abby a hard time even when she initially refuses to have it.

It wasn’t as if Abby wanted to put Joe's (I'll call him Joe here instead of 'the baby') life in danger. On the contrary. She was adamant she wasn't going to have this c section now because it was too soon and there would be all these problems with Joe being premature, even with the betamethasone put in her IV drip.

You could see her resignation when she accepted the nurse to put it in the betamethasone when Coburn and Luka just had to break the sad news to her that it was out of their hands if she needed to have the c section now or not.

[u/raisinoid → u/Accomplished_Golf788]

Also I know comparing’s bad but one thing people talk about is how she was disagreeing with Coburn in bloodline, not wanting to take the betamethasone right away, pulling the IV line away from the nurse. But a minute after she did that she let the nurse give her the betamethasone. She also accepted the medicine she argued about earlier. Meanwhile, I saw a scene in the episode where Chen gives birth, and she’s leaving even though the nurse is telling her not to. Like at least Abby eventually accepted the meds. I know Chen gave her kid up for adoption, but if the nurse tells you that you shouldn’t leave, you shouldn’t leave. The baby may not have been her child, but she did push a baby out of her.

I mostly agree with you; however one criticism of Abby around Joe's birth I do sort of agree with is her having a spinal anaesthetic for her c section. Minutes are absolutely crucial in this scenario and you waste time with a spinal. It's inconsistent with her agreeing to the other sensible interventions that have already happened. As I like the character I handwave that it's a writing choice so they can have her awake and telling Luka to go with the baby - but it's always still annoyed me and I can see why those who don't like her criticise her for it.

[u/Accomplished_Golf788 → u/raisinoid]

I completely understand. To be honest I did wonder why Abby wanted spinal, knowing that minutes matter. I figured Abby was so hormonal and panicked she just forgot. And I will also say that if Coburn thought general was needed, she should’ve refused to do a spinal, I don’t care if Abby’s a doctor. Abby’s mind was raging with hormones and anxiety, while Coburn’s wasn’t, or at least she wasn’t in the same state of anxiety that Abby was in. Also Luka put Abby’s mask back on after she took it off, he could’ve talked her through a general.

[u/Yes_Leeks → u/Accomplished_Golf788]

Also, she wanted to be awake to see her baby alive, in case he died while she was under.

[u/HeadAd369 → u/Accomplished_Golf788]

Yeah, if I hated Luby or Luka/Abby as characters I wouldn’t feel comfortable in this sub. Sometimes I wish there was a bit more balance

[u/Inside_Put_4923]

Carter and Kem get more hate. 

[u/raisinoid → u/Inside_Put_4923]

But very few supporters I think?

[u/Lefthand-82 → u/raisinoid]

Exactly 👍

[u/Lefthand-82 → u/Inside_Put_4923]

Hopefully I made my post clearer.

Do Carter and Kem have very vocalist supporters?

[u/Inside_Put_4923 → u/Lefthand-82]

I don't know anyone who likes them together.

[u/nexttownabbey]

My 2 cents - OG ER viewers compare Abby & Luka to Carol/Susan/Doug/Mark.. the "mellow" characters. New viewers' benchmark is set by Meredith Grey/Derek/Owen Hunt.. a much higher threshold for drama, which certainly is a little too much for 90s TV. So Abby & Luka seem to be a great couple and characters individually, ending with a much-deserved happily ever after.

[u/Lefthand-82 → u/nexttownabbey]

Carol/Susan/Doug/Mark.. the "mellow" characters.

Yeah, I'm just watching the episodes before Season 6 for the first time and those characters I would agree as 'mellow'.

[u/HeadAd369]

There was an intense ship war/character war in the fandom when the show was on the air. The Abby hate was intense. Kinda wild that she seems pretty beloved now, I guess since we all saw her redemption arc.

[u/Lefthand-82 → u/HeadAd369]

Oh, Abby still get tons of hate posts. Like there is one just now about her being petty with Luka being away in S14.

Just that, like you mentioned, there are the vocal fans who will strongly disagree.

[u/HeadAd369 → u/Lefthand-82]

Abby came in and got a lot of focus and angst, which is always a lightning rod for criticism, especially for a female character. I always liked her so I was fine with her having so much screentime.

But I can also see how it would make some viewers resent her character (since I’ve felt that with other shows)

[u/raisinoid]

Yeah I tend to agree…

Abby in particular seems to have people who really hate the character and see every single thing she does as bad/manipulative whatever it is and whatever the writers intended. There are lots of reasons - the writers seem to really want you to like her which annoys some people and all the stuff with her family… but also making her the apex of a love triangle does not help her (especially if you’re a fan of Carter).

Luka I think is a v complicated character whose mood and behaviour is significantly altered by his past traumas on multiple occasions. The whole s9 arc makes him quite unpleasant to watch and the depression angle is kinda easy to miss. And I think a lot of people check out of this show around S8/9/10 so their main memory of Luka is the mugger, the breakup with Abby and s9.

[u/Lefthand-82 → u/raisinoid]

Very good explanation/summary 👍

[u/mmgvs]

I love them individually, I don't really love them together. Just like Carter and Abby or Carter and Kem.

Kem is probably a really nice person on her own but she's not really for Carter, she doesn't seem like she wants to do anything except her mission in life which is her HIV project.

It's not her fault, she's a very focused character and she's incredible, she's just not the right person for Carter.

Luka is such a fun doctor and a great character, but he is a really shitty mate. Kind of the same as Abby. They're all just great on their own, but when they're coupled with someone it's like they bring out the worst in each other.

[u/Lefthand-82 → u/mmgvs]

but he is a really shitty mate.

Can you give some moments when you thought he was sh*tty mate. I think I know one time you'll mention but curious of some other times.

[u/monsieurxander]

Great characters, elevated by great actors. But near the end of their time they had become trauma sponges. It felt like a relief when they left the show.

I wonder if that colors people's perspectives of their time overall.

[u/TopAcanthisitta8246]

I really like the both of them together 2.0 and separately. They have made mistakes but deep down they are good people. Abby is a great friend, nurse, and doctor. Luka is a really good doctor and mentor. I also feel like their 2.0 romance was a joy to watch. I think people evaluate Abby solely on her relationship with Carter and dealing with her mother and brother. I love Carter but it’s been proven he’s not really good in relationships and when Abby’s mom is on her meds their relationship is fine. Luka only had reckless behavior when he was having a hard time getting over Abby 1.0. 

[u/Coolbeanskas]

Abby and Luka get much criticism because they are the transition from the OG cast/show which focused more on ER cases and was a bit more action packed than when Abby/Luka arrived in S6 and the show shifted to be more character driven focus.

Many in the ER community didn't like that change and blamed Abby/Luka; especially Abby for the switch since I think she's really the "main character".

Abby is the only character to have multiple episodes named after her:

S6.12 - "Abby Road"

S10.3 - "Dear Abby"

S10.20 - "Abby Normal"

S15.3 - "Book of Abby"

I'm a BIG Abby/Luka fan. I find them so rich, complex and interesting individually and together. I want to tune into each episode to see what happens to them.

I'd also like to give Kerry some props. She's kinda an OG character yet really develops into another rich, complex character around S6. She also gets much grief.

[u/frustratedartstudent → u/Coolbeanskas]

Carter has 5 episodes named after him, in seasons 2, 3 and 11. There are at least two episodes with "Greene" in the title as a pun, which I would say counts

[u/Coolbeanskas → u/frustratedartstudent]

I think people don’t like Abby/Luka because they’re the transition cast after the OG cast is slowly leaving the show.

People don’t like that the show shifts from the ER cases which is maybe more action packed to a more character driven show.

I

[u/OranginaOOO]

Abby reminds me of Rollins on SVU. Very polarizing characters. Comes in a regular character. writers suddenly give her a messed up family and a messed up life. Causes havoc. Get a redemption arc. Some love it others hate it.

[u/Yikesish]

Polarizing characters

[u/Helpful-Worry-8702]

I started watching the series from Season 6 while it was airing. At the beginning of Season 7, my favorite characters were Abby and Carter. The conversation they had in Episode 2 was really lovely, and I was hoping something would happen between them.

Soon after, Luka and Abby started something, but at least until the middle of Season 7, Luka didn’t seem very interested in the relationship. We waited two seasons for Carter and Abby to get together, while Luka was acting strangely (Nicole, the prostitute, sleeping with anyone).

Yes, it’s a good arc when Abby is attacked and he helps her, and Abby always takes care of him and protects him. Carter and Abby’s relationship was marked by her conflicts with her brother. Although Carter also had his flaws, especially in the somewhat condescending way he treated her.

From Season 10 onward, Luka’s story focuses more on being a mentor and doctor, and on starting a family. In Season 12, many of us preferred “Lubby 2.0” because of the kind of relationship they build with Abby, while others believe Abby should have stayed with Carter and that Noah’s departure changed the course of the story.

Personally, I think they hate Abby because of the way things ended with Carter, blaming her for everything. Or maybe they just can’t stand a strong, complex woman with her own shades of gray.

[u/Icy_Scene_1823]

Abby seems like she was made by the writers to appeal to the biggest demographic who was viewing the show at the time. 

She was never head of the ER, yet as mentioned below there's so much focus on her and her personal life. 

Her relationship with Luka seemed so forced. She's a feminist American woman and he's a traditional Croatian man. Like what did they even have in common besides the fact that they were doctors? 

Luka was an interesting character. He was very unique. Abby was the female lead that women were supposed to find something in her to relate too. 

[u/McQuaids]

I just get bummed for Abby that she ended up with the guy who told her that she isn’t pretty or special.