Last night on Grey's Anatomy, karma was
biting everyone back. And I know most of you feel so badly for George, because Meredith used him, because he's the
victim. And you're feeling bad for Izzie. She's the one who walked in on Alex with Olivia, so she deserves the
sympathy, right? And Addison. Everyone loves to hate Addison, who cheated on her husband, who's been approached by Sexy
McSteamy, her old love interest, and you know what we're all thinking: is she going to sleep with him
again?
You've got all this righteous anger, against Meredith over her treatment of George, Alex over his romp in the hospital bed with the hottie nurse, and Addison for just being there. And if you're anything like me: your anger pulled a switcheroo on you, diffusing, spreading out over the whole cast until it wasn't anger any more, really, but sympathy and sorrow and this little, sad hope.
But before we continue on with the major themes of the show I have to send out a hearty, loud, mama-rific cheer to the writers for their portrayal of Bailey. Oh how I love you, writers. You made her leak. As I'm deep in the throes of my second experience with breastfeeding, I've had those twin milky spots on my nice work shirt oh, so many times. And the way she plays it is priceless, in an especially emotional conversation with Addison: "Please don't cry! You're going to make me... (holds breasts in a motion to which I totally relate) lactate!" I would have jumped off the couch and done a little dance of joy over this realistic and funny portrayal... but I was breastfeeding my 10-month-old.
When I saw all the previews for this week's episode, somehow I knew that George would not be the one for whose feelings I most mourned by the end of the show, and boy, was I right. You all are saying things like, "Meredith's a predator" and throwing around a word that starts with "s" and ends with "lut."
But I think we know differently, now. Meredith: she doesn't deal with sex appropriately. But really? It's not totally her fault. Abandoned by her father and raised by her workaholic mother (who, she just learned, cheated on her dad brazenly until he was forced to leave while he still had an atom of manhood remaining), she doesn't have great dealing mechanisms. And so she turns to sex to staunch her pain, setting up a scene that - unless you lived a perfect life never sleeping with anyone but your spouse - I know you relate to, as well. And George? Well, he didn't exactly respond with compassion when Meredith started sobbing in the middle of their lovemaking.
He was complicit. He came at her with the puppydog love, saying the "perfect things," making Meredith feel like the best thing in someone's life. She hasn't felt like that, much, ever. And by the time she realized that sleeping with George was terrible, awful, hurtful - it was too late. She could either (a) hurt George now or (b) hurt George later.
George, you could have listened to her instead of rushing to conclusions, instead of running away, instead of yelling at Meredith in the hospital hallway. You could have held yourself back, not jumping into her bed so eagerly when you knew she still pined for McDreamy. You could have... waited until another hot doctor came along, instead of setting your sail toward Meredith, who's just way too complicated right now.
When we all learn that Addison got poison oak from peeing in the woods (not from romping with Mark there), when we discover that Izzie is now treating Alex badly, when we see George on Burke's living room couch, the sadness trips, falls, and dumps itself in sharp little droplets of pain all over everything. At the end of the episode, everyone is wrong, and has been wronged, everyone is caught up in this spiral of sexual misdeeds and the far-reaching impact of poor judgment.
The writers may not be surgeons themselves, living in fabulous old Seattle houses and mod waterfront apartments, but you know that they've lived and loved and done much of it wrongly. They're bringing these stories to us, from real life, and I feel them keenly. I understand everyone, and hate no one, and hope against hope that there will be some way out of this mess.
It's
not going to happen without a lot more hurt feelings. It's not going to happen without all of us hanging on every word,
every tear, every one-liner. See you all next week.
Giveaways reminder: Office, Eli Stone, Supernatural, South Park
Giveaway Thursday: Tickets to the New York Television Festival ... all of it!
I miss the media-friendly John McCain - VIDEOS
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-27-2006 @ 1:58PM
Richard Lawler said...
I gotta wholly disagree (I've been trying to quit this show, they're gonna revoke my man-card, it's all pregnancy, marriage hormones repeat), this episode made me hate Meredith's character even more.
She rolls up to her Dad's house for the first time since the series started, no hi, no how are you, just "let me further emasculate you based on my mother's infidelity and then leave". Plus, now George gets a fat chick as a consolation prize? (ok, not fat, shes actually hot, but looked kinda big.)
blahhh. I'm never watching this show again.
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2-27-2006 @ 2:18PM
e said...
This ep did nothing as far as my dislike for Meredith goes, but I loved that she wasn't in this ep as much as usual and we got to see more of the others (who I like much more). Overall, a terrific episode and one of my favorites.
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2-27-2006 @ 2:19PM
gubby said...
Ok...I dislike where it's going with Mer and McDreamy. I gained a new respect for the self-flagellation of Addison and her dilemma on how to gain ground on that seriously damaged excuse for a marriage. But I'm with Alex on Izzie's sympathy for her heart corpse. I mean, ok...he did stray. But then they got it on. Now where is this going? And go George on the no meds relocation...um OW. But give him a big hunk of steamy love already, pulease!
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2-27-2006 @ 2:32PM
J said...
Is it just me or is the actress that plays Meredith the worst actor/actress on the show. She's the only person that seems like shes "trying" to act. Everyone else makes it seem natural. Like even when she was crying it felt so contrived, not at all real.
I'm not sure if anyone else gets this vibe but please confirm my thoughts if you do.
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2-27-2006 @ 2:46PM
Dorv said...
J: I definately see where you're coming from in that crying scene, but I've liked her performance otherwise. I mean, I think she's written right now as that character you're supposed to hate, but at the same time, be enough room for doubt for people like myself and our blog poster that say, "You know, she's had it rough, too." I think she plays both sides of that very well (But you're right, that crying bit sucked).
I do think that her character shines the most when she's on screen with McDreamy, and that their chemistry is what hooked me to this show at the beginning (And George... And Izzie... And Burke... Ok, there was a lot) ;)
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2-27-2006 @ 3:03PM
Sy said...
I gave up on this show last week. I fear Meredith with make her rounds and sleep with everyone on the staff before the show gets canceled ...well she slept with half of Seattle already. The nerve of calling her mother a whore with her affair with ONE man! I am not enamor with shows with unlikeable main character.
At first I thought the show was well written but it progresses, the writers make all the doctors look like over-sexed teenagers. Can you believe they made a patient lectured a doctor the problem of having 7-8 uncontrollable orgasms a day? I realize there is an element of humor in this but I am sure they could find another way to bring this about besides making Izzie looked utterly moronic.
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2-27-2006 @ 3:06PM
Walt said...
George is a beta-male. It's certainly interesting how they've managed to keep him in character, and I appreciate that. So, hurray for the writers!
Yes, Mer (or "Meh" depending on how you see her) is being played as someone who's been a bit dead inside - but is that the actress or the part she's playing? I realize the actress could pass for an Ally McBeal clone, but the role calls for someone who's had their heart ripped out, and pretty much continues to live a bit dead inside and a lot overworked. So, for now, I give the actress and the role a Pass for now.
I DID like the "reveal" where most of the audience was asking "What the hell happened when they did it?", saving it for the end of the show. Almost like a "LOST" flashback.
You women might have related to the lactation scene, but trust me, memories of a night with a whacko girl who goes from one emotional extreme to the other (and not in a good way) between the sheets makes us men shudder just a bit when viewing George's flashback.
That made me wonder how much of Mer's character is actually related to her mother's past behavior.
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2-27-2006 @ 4:01PM
Norma said...
Meredith is hurting a lot right now with Dr. McDreamy around for her to see everyday. George is just as much to blame for the situation as Meredith. George knew the facts and shouldn't have left the house. Meredith shouldn't have let it go that far. She also should NOT be meeting Dr. McDreamy in the park. Dr.Mrs.Shephard is showing a side of her that isn't so stiff and more fun. Bailey is great! Her character is so real. I am stuck on the show and will continue to watch it!
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2-27-2006 @ 4:41PM
FX Viewer said...
Hottie Nurse? What the hell are you talking about??? She isn't a hottie! She fugly, very fugly! No upper lips and sicky looking skin tone. UGH!
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2-28-2006 @ 3:43AM
Tim said...
A lot of people are writing about how Meredith/Ellen Pompeo seems to be a little "dead inside". As I was watching this episode, I kept thinking- yeah, Meredith, snap out of it. I doubt its the actress' acting (although the crying post-coitus bit was just on this side of Rob Schneider-bad). I think Meredith could do with some happy pills.
I think they're playing Meredith's character as seriously, emotionally and psychogically messed up- and severely depressed. just stop to think about it. Depression might explain a lot of her poor choices- including her sexual excesses. Her mom hates her even in her mean states, her dog never liked her, her dad abandoned her, her boyfriend dumped her for his wife that he never told her about, she's working a high-stress job, no-thanks job where she sees a parade of unhappy endings. Who wouldn't want to stay in bed and cry all day if they had this going on?
Its too bad she's the titular character of this series, because I think the rest of the cast is stellar.
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2-28-2006 @ 5:27PM
Molina said...
I didn't like the "victim" George, please!! , can't he get over it, Mer loves somebody else and you new it, so why did you go and told Mer nice things ( I will always love you, yeah, always was a very short lived always).
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3-01-2006 @ 12:10PM
ivy said...
WHY WHY WHY dont women wear breast pads????!!!! this is exactly what they are for. HWY LEAK WHEN YOU DONT HAVE TO. GET A CLUE!!!!
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3-05-2006 @ 2:00PM
V said...
Well I for one love this show and all of the characters in it. Addison is growing on me but I still think her and McDreamy need to split up. George is great but I really have no sympathy for him. He knows how Mer feels and after talking the good talk walks out on her in anger when she needed his friendship the most. I mean I understand it must be hard on a guy in love when something like that happens, but he said he would never hurt her..... Izzy was charmed by the patient and feels some sort of connection with him. I think after all the games Alex played with her he deserves to wait in the background to see if she'll come back to him. Maybe the patient guy is going to die... We just don't know yet. I just don't understand why everyone is so hard on Ellen Pompeo for her portrayal of Mer or for her acting skills. I think she's great.
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3-19-2006 @ 11:38AM
Yolande said...
I absolutely LOVE this show! I think they are all great actors/actresses and I do feel for George, he's a sweet heart! Don't give me that crap about Mer not knowing he liked her, come on, she's a supposedly 'brillant' surgeon, even my blind cat can see George liked her. But now, as love always go,
A loves B who loves C who is madly in love with A. And to ivy at #12, hun sometimes even when you double up on the breast pads, they can soak right through. Trust me I know!
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