A Step Too Far for Ethan? Episode 34 - Review

Due to the Eurovision Song Contest's annual extravaganza filling the nation's screens last night, it meant casualty lovers like myself were left doing the unimaginable - having to wait yet another week for a much needed dose of the highs and lows of Holby's finest ED. Whether you missed last week's episode or just want to relive its best moments, here's our review of Episode 34.

Following Ethan Hardy's resignation towards the end of Episode 33, it's fair to say that as far as clinical leads go, he's had one of the toughest experiences we've ever seen on Casualty. From Alicia Munroe's secret blog scandal, to the all too real situation with cuts to NHS resources, it was about time the ED was saved from a disaster - and who else to take it up than the ED's very own iron lady? The introduction to the episode clearly showed viewers that Connie meant business and that her close encounter with cancer only made her come back stronger. Avid Casualty fans may remember Michael Jordan (played by EastEnders star Michael French) having a similar experience back in Series 27. Resilient and mercilessly making herself a new parking permit to replace Ethan's one, Connie had already made a mark before the episode even began, foreshadowing her wanting something even bigger to her name (namely a new, on-site operating theatre in the ED).

Connie Beauchamp, played by Amanda Mealing has returned as Clinical Lead of the ED, stronger than ever before.

Following her grand entrance back to the ED, viewers saw a compassionate and medically-driven side to Mrs Beauchamp, as the focussed ex-surgeon dropped her coat and handbag, only to dive straight into Resus and take over Elle's stab victim patient, having to rip open his chest to perform a cardiac massage and stem the arterial bleed. Visibly confused and shaken, Connie's disappointment for not being able to save the patient is arguably the reasoning behind wanting the new operating theatre. But was this emotion, or a sense of responsibility for being in charge again, and for losing her first patient on the job? Later in the episode, Beauchamp explains to Charlie that the idea is not "a matter of legacy, but one of patient care", but it's questionable why such an idea would be put into practice right now, especially as the idea has been tried and tested before. It might also be argued that Connie's later justification for making the call on building the trauma theatre as being an opportunity to prevent deaths like Cal's is a glossing of the truth of whys she wants to build it… Let us know what you think in the comments below!

For most of the episode, Connie is oblivious to the day being the anniversary of the death of Cal (Ethan's brother)

One thing's clear and that's that Ethan's really over-done it with his developing relationship with Leigh-Anne Carr, the ex-girlfriend to Scott Ellison, who murdered Caleb Knight (Ethan's brother) exactly a year ago on the day of this episode. From the overnight stay by her baby's bedside and promising them a lift back to their home, not to mention Ethan ensuring they had somewhere to stay in the first place, Ethan's intervention in what was simply a 'normal' case in the ED a few episodes ago has turned into a very difficult case indeed.

Leigh-Anne quickly changes from simply being a patient to a case Ethan has to make his own business.

Is Ethan doing it as a matter of guilt, for not intervening when Scott was choking earlier in the series, or this a means of dark revenge by taking both Scott's girlfriend and child? For me, the latter doesn't really fit in with Ethan's strong sense of morals, which have been put to the test over the last few years. He's grieving and more than anything else, confused, which for me somewhat justifies his actions. Given this is a character who was so passionate to being integral and even being prepared to give up being a doctor, handing himself in by revealing to Connie last year what he had done to Cal, I find it hard to believe that it is dark revenge, but more confusion with the moral duty which Ethan has to Leigh-Anne and her baby, to try and give back the life that was taken away from them. We see Ethan going out of his way, trying to unite mother and child after the conditions of their accommodation drive Leigh-Anne to breaking point, attending their social services hearing and, in the final scene of the episode, forming a romantic relationship with her.

Ethan Hardy attends to defend and help Leigh-Anne Carr (played by Cassie Bradley) to keep her child after leaving her alone in an ambulance

In the words of Ethan, his day "has been extremely trying", and you bet it has! What's even worse is that whilst it is the anniversary of Caleb's death, Alicia coincidentally arranges a party for the rest of the ED. Throughout the episode we see her, and particularly the likes of Elle, Noel and Louise concealing information about the party from Ethan. Although it's debatable whether Alicia should have organised the party on that particular day in the first place, it's warming to see Ethan's reaction when she is forced to tell him about it.

Alicia Munroe (played by Chelsea Halfpenny) tells Ethan about the after-shift party, which happens to be on the anniversary of his brother's death.

Ethan's acknowledgement and wishes for the party to still go ahead, but without him, helps break the tension between Munroe and him, especially after the online blog scandal made him determined to "never like" Alicia again. Will further bridges be made? Only time will tell!