(S03E14) As I listened to the suddenly-lucid Ellis Grey yell at her daughter Meredith, telling her how ordinary she's being and how being in love is making her soft, all I could think of was: "Boy, what a bitch!" I mean, she "wakes up" after five years, and she's already berating the only person who took the time to take care of her?
But then I saw the scene where Webber comforts Ellis and tries to tell her what their life together would have been like -- even though he knew it was never to be -- I could see where that disappointment came from. She wanted to be "ordinary" in the way her daughter was. But because she was more Yang and less Meredith, it just was never going to happen that way. This episode brought a bunch of relationships into focus, but the main one here is Meredith's "gift" of getting Ellis back, if only temporarily.
Before I go on, I just need to ask this: Did Ellen Pompeo have some work done? Lately, her face has been looking different... fuller, maybe a little smoother. For all I know, she decided to start eating again, or engagement agrees with her. Maybe it's because her character, Meredith, isn't frowning all the time and I forgot what a non-scowling Pompeo looks like. But she just seems different-looking somehow, and it's been distracting me for the last few episodes.
Moving on... remember when we left things off last week with two proposals? Looks like they both took, one more than the other. "Dude, she's Callie O'Malley!" grunted Alex when Callie and George ran into the new Denny Duquette Clinic and told everyone they got married in Vegas. Good for them! Man, does Callie look so much better when she's smiling instead of scrunching her brow in consternation over her squirrely intern/boy toy.
But she's still a bit touchy, isn't she? Not as much about George's "weird, judgy friends;" she's right about them.... God, are they catty. "So, are you moving in?" Izzie so tactfully asks her. But she's also touchy about the littlest anti-relationship reaction from Georgie boy. George gets sick from the patient with toxic blood, but because he at first thought it was an anxiety attack, she gets all pissy about it. But George saves the day by telling the judgy ones that "you can drive her away; you're good at that. But I'm going with her. She's my wife." The kid's got a sack on him after all. And now he knows Callie's middle name (can anyone spell it properly?).
As for the other couple, it took a while for Yang to figure it out, didn't it? Only she would take a proposal "under advisement." But Ellis was lucid long enough to set her straight, telling her she can have it all. It was nice to see Ellis acknowledge that she didn't try hard enough with Meredith's dad, even though she didn't acknowledge that to Meredith (by the way, I can't imagine how Ellis and the phumphering, clumsy, stuttering Thatcher ever got together... do you?). And, even though Cristina "doesn't do rings," she should still hold on to that thing; it was huge!
By the way, I want to heap praise on Kate Walsh for the second week in a row: no one on TV right now does the "horny look" better than Kate. Peering over the reading glasses, with her index finger perched on her lower lip... my, my, my. Callie was right; Addison did look at Alex like he was a turkey leg on an island full of coconuts, didn't she? And I guauran-freakin'-tee you that when she sexed up Sloan at the end of the episode, she was thinking of her own intern/boy toy and not the dingleberry that was in front of her.
Speaking of Sloan... what a weasel. Every attending -- and possible Chief candidate -- does their part to deal with Toxic Blood Girl and almost get poisoned as a result. Heck, Derek and Burke even donned space suits and did abdominal surgery -- not either of their specialties -- to keep the woman alive, and Addison and all the interns took their turns in there without protection. Sloan? The emeffer begs off. What are the odds that he's going to become Chief, by the way? Maybe Sloan and Dwight Schrute can get together and compare ass-kissing notes.
So, now we have the Duquette Clinic. How are the writers going to deal with this new setting? I mean, it was funny when Alex and Izzie tried to persuade an ER patient to come over to the clinic -- "Are you flirting with me?" the patient asked a too-smiley Izzie. But is Bailey now going to just hang around the clinic, talking to motherless girls about the perils of teenage sex? It's good to see this dimension to Bailey, but we need to see a balance of caring doctor and "Nazi" surgical resident. Right now, it veers back and forth too much. Don't get me wrong, though; I'm quickly becoming a big Chandra Wilson fan, because she's done a fantastic job with everything the writers have thrown at her this year.
What a strong, emotional episode. Can you feel it building? Just like last year, we're starting to see the writing tighten and the stories become more focused as we make the turn into February. And now that we have definitive closure to the Izzie/Denny story (she cashed the check and funded the clinic. There. All done), it's no longer in the writers' way. The next three weeks promise to be a heck of a ride, judging by the coming attractions. Looking forward to it.
Best line:
George: She's toxic.
Olivia: Callie? Yeah, that's how a lot of us feel.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
2-02-2007 @ 12:22AM
BC said...
Iphigenia
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2-02-2007 @ 2:44AM
Audge said...
I've wondered the same thing about Ellis and Thatcher - how did they ever get together??? And how funny that Ellis was the one to help Christina decide to marry Burke...
Kate Walsh was totally lusting over Alex - too funny!
http://audgepodge.blogspot.com/2007/02/quick-thoughts-greys-anatomy-toxic-girl.html
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2-02-2007 @ 4:18AM
radwimp said...
this was a really good ep, you can definitely feel it building. next weeks looks really big as well.
"callie o'malley" was the best line of the show by far, lol. speaking of that, i love addison's and callie's friendship. kate walsh is the best.
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2-02-2007 @ 8:23AM
laura said...
Efigênia
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2-02-2007 @ 9:32AM
Alicia said...
Was anyone else shocked that Callie said yes???
I really like the fact that is seems that GA is back to it's usual form. I really liked the idea that the clinic was empty.... but I want my Nazi back too.
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2-02-2007 @ 9:37AM
Heather said...
I think Ellen Pompeo went darker with her hair. That is the only difference I have noticed, but the color of someone's hair can usually influence the way their face looks (Exhibit A: Britney Spears. Exhibit B: Cameron Diaz. Exhibit C: Well, the list could go on and on). Perhaps that is what is causing the different look you can't quite put your finger on?
I loved this episode, and I can't wait until next week. It looks like we have an exciting three weeks coming up and I am excited to see what plot twists and turns the writers are going to throw in there this year. I was waiting for "THE" arc to come this season (like "The End of the World" and "(As We Know It)" last year). Now that it's February sweeps... it's here!
Loved "Callie O'Malley" - leave it to Alex. I also loved the scene when Cristina, Izzie and Meredith were watching Burke and Derek's bowel surgery from the gallery, and then they both passed out. Instead of being overly concerned significant others, Cris and Mere just stand there, and then finally, Cristina just says, so simply: "Oh. That's not good."
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2-02-2007 @ 10:02AM
Skipper2myLu said...
No...it's not that complicated. It was actually Mrs. Doubtfire's first name. Love that movie.
Mrs. Euphegenia Doubtfire
Mrs. Callie Euphegenia O'Malley
I can't believe no one's commented on Izzie's ring bash:
"Awwww...I love small diamonds, they're so cute and you don't ever have to worry about anyone stealing them."
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2-02-2007 @ 10:58AM
Jimmy said...
What a great episode. I hope the Callie/George relationship is the one that lasts; I just love those two characters and actors together. The best part of this whole episode was when George told off the group; man, the Izzie character can be a real judgemental bitch! It's interesting to watch how the George character has changed since the beginning. Of all the doctors on this show, it seems like George will be the best of them all.
By far, the stand-out of this episode was Kate Burton's performance as Ellis Grey. The way she could go from interested, smart mother to the reincarnation of Joan Crawford was simply beatiful acting. And that scene with her and the Chief -- wow! Burton makes everyone around step up their acting, including Pompeo who does her best work when she's toe to to with Burton.
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2-02-2007 @ 11:35AM
whawha said...
Effenvagina.
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2-02-2007 @ 11:47AM
Danny said...
"'So, are you moving in?'" Izzie so tactfully asks her."
I thought she said "You're not moving in, are you?" which is pretty nasty.
I understand Callie being upset that George thought it was anxiety over the marriage causing his condition, but she thought it too, so she really shouldn't have been too upset.
Also, why didn't the interns just wheel in some oxygen with them into the OR so they wouldn't have to hold their breath?
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2-02-2007 @ 1:08PM
Krista Evans said...
I'm pretty sure that Ellis was referring to Weber when she said she didn't try hard enough to have it all...especially after their scene imagining their family, house, etc.
She doesn't care at all for Thatcher.
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2-02-2007 @ 3:14PM
Erika said...
I thought Ellen Pompeo looked great - her face filled out - her pink lipstick was ugly though, and now Kathryn Heigl's face looked too skinny!
I wasn't surprised that Callie said yes - remember, George is her McDreamy. I loved that Cristina said yes, and I LOVED their happy reaction!!
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2-02-2007 @ 3:25PM
David said...
Was I the only one bothered by many aspects of this show now:
-Alzhiemer's patient don't just wake up and remember things - even suggesting it on TV can do damage to the thousands of people suffering with loved ones and the disease wondering if this will happen to them
-Surgeons are surgeons - they don't work in free clinics in the hospital during regular hours
-Where are the other Drs?
-For Sloan to even be a possible Cheif cantitade is ludicris - HE IS A PLASTIC SURGEON - The show has such a complete lack of reality in that all these different specialists are interacting in that way...the attendings are an OBGYN, a Neurosurgeon, and a Cardiotharacic-Surgeon - these are all unique specialties...but a Plastics Man is a different thing altogether and to even imagine him as being in charge is laughable
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2-02-2007 @ 10:07PM
Tim said...
I think you forgot the best line...
"Lines of Deliciousness"...
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2-03-2007 @ 12:42AM
Tim said...
I like to compare Ellis and Thatcher with Christina and George.
That is, I think Thatcher was totally George when Ellis and Thatcher were young. Cute, boyish and full of charm. The episode where George finally slept with Meredith and confessed his love? The catharsis that split up George and Meredith probably never happened with Thatcher and Ellis- so they stayed together despite the wrongness of their relationship. Would that make Webber as Ellis' McDreamy?
Ellis was such a bitch to Meredith. I kept thinking, "This is what Christina could grow into if she doesn't find a way to not focus so much on her work." While I can't stand Isiah Washington after his misbehavior, his character brings a foil to Christina's obsessiveness.
Is it just me or is that all Burke brings to the show right now? As a way to soften Christina?
I digress. Ellis' inability to seemingly care for her daughter's happiness. Perhaps she sees too much of herself in Meredith? The softer side that she quashed when Burke left her to go back to Adele.
There's so much more I could go on about this wonderful episode, but I'll leave it at that. I love this show!
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2-03-2007 @ 12:46AM
AlanVD said...
Her name is Καλλιόπη Ἰφιγένεια, to which the standard English spelling is Calliope Iphigeneia. In Greek mythology, Calliope was the muse of epic poetry while Iphigeneia was a daughter of Agamemnon about whose death/sacrifice several plays and tragedies were written
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2-05-2007 @ 5:55AM
KC McG said...
The best line was Callie: "I embrace the trashy" ...
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2-03-2007 @ 6:08PM
whawha said...
#16...like I said: Effenvagina!
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2-07-2007 @ 10:06PM
Melanie said...
I thought Issie acted out of character in this episode. Her insults to George and Callie didn't seem like the sensitive and compassionate Issie I know from previous episodes. This really bothered me because she is my favourite character.
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2-03-2007 @ 10:12PM
Samsara said...
I wonder if Ellis would take Christina over Meredith. Probably, but the actress did a great job of being the mother of all high expectations.
Regarding the Alzheimer's, I remember thinking about the conjoined twins they did a few weeks back and I thought, I don't think that many surgeons even do separations on adult conjoined twins. If they do, the patients primarily die.
Anyways, I guess in soap opera land, antying is possible.
If McDreamey puts a severed head back on a body, then I'd say for sure the show has jumped the shark.
And what's with the women being so catty to Callie, gees...talk about high school behaviouir.
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