"On the Beach" is the 178th episode of the NBC drama series ER

ER (TV series)

ER is an American medical drama television series created by novelist Michael Crichton that aired on NBC from September 19, 1994 to April 2, 2009. It was produced by Constant c Productions and Amblin Entertainment, in association with Warner Bros. Television...

. It chronicled the last days of Dr. Mark Greene as he died from a brain tumor and marked the final performance of Anthony Edwards

Anthony Edwards

Anthony Charles Edwards is an American actor and director. He has appeared in various movies and television shows, including Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Top Gun, Zodiac, Revenge of the Nerds, Northern Exposure and ER.-Early life:Edwards was born in Santa Barbara, California, the son of Erika...

 until his return in a flashback during a Season 15 episode.

Synopsis

Dr. Greene has resigned his fate and decided to forgo his remaining chemotherapy treatments, choosing to spend his remaining days in Hawaii with Elizabeth and Rachel. He creates a "bucket list", detailing everything he wants to do before he dies, with one of the items being to fix Rachel.

As his health deteriorates, Greene makes amends with Rachel and gives her some last advice: "be generous with your time, with your love, with your life." Rachel puts a pair of headphones on him and he listens to "Over the Rainbow

Over the Rainbow

"Over the Rainbow" is a classic Academy Award-winning ballad song with music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg. It was written for the movie The Wizard of Oz, and was sung by Judy Garland in the movie...

" as we see him walk through the empty hallways of the ER (his entrance into heaven). The next morning, Elizabeth discovers that Mark has died.

Reaction

Most fans consider Greene's death a major turning point in the series, and "On the Beach" is still considered a classic episode.