(S03E16) Oh, for Christ's sake.
I thought this arc was going to go somewhere. I figured that last week's episode was good, so the middle of the arc was going to ramp up the drama. I also heard that someone was going to die, and I spent the entire episode wondering who Shonda Rhimes would knock off.
And, to be honest, all I got was a bad cross between, ER, Emergency!, and Magnum, P.I.
Come on, people! You know and I know that Meredith isn't really going to die. Sure, she's all blue, her temperature isn't coming up, and she's seeing visions of Denny Duquette and Dylan the Bomb Squad guy. Clinically, she may even be dead, in that "you were dead for two minutes!" kind of dead.
But we know Ol' Mer isn't quite all the way gone yet. She's just in "Limbo."
Remember that episode of Magnum? The producers weren't quite sure the show was going to be cancelled at the end of the seventh season, so they have Magnum get shot and spend an episode in "limbo," seeing dead people and trying to help the living from afar. The episode shows Magnum walking off into the clouds; when CBS brought the show back, ol' Tom was called back from the clouds and miraculously brought back to life.
Putting characters in limbo is a device as old as TV itself; heck, it's even older, as we see every Christmas when we watch It's A Wonderful Life. So, even though Rhimes has said in the past that she intends to turn the usual TV conventions on their ear, it really doesn't look that way to me. I mean, what's next week going to be? The entire SGH staff gnashing teeth and rending garments while Meredith gets taught Life's Big Lessons by Denny and Dylan? Then at 9:59:30, Meredith comes back amongst us, worse for wear and more aware of the big picture. Oh, and I'm sure Derek will ask her to marry him.
None of this episode surprised me, to be honest. I mean, it was cool that Izzie got to drill burr holes into the mechanic's head with an ordinary drill, but we also knew that it meant she was going to get her full status back. We also knew that, once the little girl pointed out to the water when Derek asked her about where Meredith was, Derek was going to do whatever he could to rescue the love of his life. We also knew that Izzie rocking her new status and Burke and Yang arguing over who told who about their engagement first was going to look extremely petty compared to what those waiting families in that clinic were going through. And we also knew Syndey the annoyingly chipper resident was going to be annoyingly chipper.
Most of the interpersonal stuff took a back seat this week, which was actually kind of refreshing. But as I said, once that stuff came up, it felt out of place in the grand scheme of things. For instance, I was all ready to buy into Izzie's speech about believing in Meredith and knowing she was going to pull through, until she decided that it was the perfect time to tell George that he made a horrible mistake in marrying Callie. Nice. Only in the world of SGH do people's brains work this way. Izzie just saved a life and got her career back, her friend is hovering near death, and her mind goes right to what she thinks is George's "sham" marriage. Yikes. Does Shonda have that dim a view of humanity?
Some mildly interesting things happened tonight: we saw more of a connection between Alex and Addison -- "I would have noticed you were missing." I liked Yang's description of how Meredith is her "person": "If I murdered someone, I'd call her to help me drag the corpse across the room." That Cristina can get so mushy sometimes. I liked the nice "there are more important things going on" bonding between Mark, Addison, and Derek while Meredith was being worked on. And, it's too bad Alex and George didn't find the body of Joe the bartender or something when they were looking in the morgue. That would have been a lot more of a surprise than what we got.
I'm really sorry I'm being so cynical this week, folks, but this episode was a big disappointment for me. The way the season had been building, I was expecting a whole lot more than what I got. Maybe it's the bad feeling that I've seen all this before, or maybe it is just the fact that saying someone's going to "die" and then have it be your title character -- a character you know isn't going anywhere -- just makes this feel like one of those ol' switcheroos that TV dramas pull on their viewers all the time. It's too bad Shonda didn't have the cajones to really kill someone off. I would have had a lot more respect for her if she did.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
2-15-2007 @ 11:13PM
Jason Elias said...
The only thing about killing off a main character is you can't go back and the chemistry is totally alerted. That happened with thirtysomething. Sure, they got a shock, more story--but the show was never the same. If they did kill off Meredith, the subsequent shows would be too odd. Really, she's the only character that can maybe "move on and leave" but die--nah...
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2-15-2007 @ 11:22PM
Kat said...
See, it doesn't bother me that I know she's not going to die. For me, it's about seeing how everyone else deals with it. The characters don't know she's not going to die, so their reactions are what's important. I loved Addison's "Don't do this Meredith", and that little moment between Mark and Derek. But yeah, Izzy's speech blew chunks. It started out OK, and I was really happy for Izzy this eppy, and then she had to say that to George, and all I could think was "you bitch!".
But yeah, to me, the whole Meredith thing is like reading a romance novel. You know it's going to have a happy ending, because they all do, but what happens before that, the journey (to get all cornball on you) is what makes it worth watching.
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2-15-2007 @ 11:25PM
shanno said...
Does anyone else think that Burke was a little too sensitive when Cristina said she'd call Mer to help drag her dead body. What a whiny baby!
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2-15-2007 @ 11:30PM
K.R said...
I've been doing a bit of searching and apparently someone else dies and out of the two of them one of them will actually stay dead. could ABC be playing a bit of a bait and switch game and be killing off Isiah Washington or T.R Knight?
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2-15-2007 @ 11:35PM
Kandace said...
Why, oh why do TV writers feel the need to do this?! I mean, this is the best drama on TV and they decide they need to add this out of body near death experience twist! I think they should just stick to what's been working, not try to do something new, or wait, maybe it's old and irritating. I really thought I was watching Grey's Anatomy, not General Hospital. All I know is that Grey's Anatomy would be really weird without Grey.
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2-15-2007 @ 11:53PM
Randall said...
I want Meredith to die more than anything. If ABC just canceled the show without telling anyone I would do backflips.
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2-15-2007 @ 11:55PM
Anna said...
Ok, ok. . . so the "limbo" thing is an old trick. Well, that's good because I actually think it's a good 'ol trick. It's fun. We get to see Denny again and that other guy from the bomb ep. who just disappeared from his own existence. I'm sure somewhere in "storyland" somewhere he probably had a life going on as well. And I like those life lessons! They help keep me sane. This is a show that you can honestly watch epsiode to ep. and be like wow, I know the whole ins-and-outs because I've been with these characters the whole way of their journey. ::Lol:: I totally just defended something here and that's a first for me. Thanks for listening guys.
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2-16-2007 @ 12:08AM
Mike said...
I couldn't agree with you more. This is to far fetched.
As a member of the medical field, I have to keep reminding myself that this is television. Forget authenticity...it wouldn't fit the story line.
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2-16-2007 @ 12:31AM
Jake said...
Wow this episode sucked. How ridiculous was it that every freakin' doctor was focused on Grey in the middle of a crisis. I hope I don't have a serious injury near Seattle Grace. And the fact that she wont die just makes the episode a cheap sweeps stunt.
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2-16-2007 @ 12:38AM
Anna said...
Haha! Yeah, I wouldn't really want to be treated at their rendition of Seattle Grace. hee-hee. I would be like "hey, dude can I have a drill or something so I can cut my own head open and get some oxygen flowin' already?" Ok, j/k.
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2-16-2007 @ 12:38AM
Lennie Martin said...
Well, Meredith will come back. She has to to keep the show going. Remember its' "Grey's Anatomy!" But I think George is going to go. He's been through a lot personally, and it doesn't sound like it was handled properly. I really dig Christina, and Burke is beginning to show in a bad light, so I think we're being prepared to lose either George or Burke. They may choose or the producers may do it. About Izzy-there is a gal who can ACT! She's going to be a major star. Her "Switch" to George on the Meredith death scene was bizarre, but she pulled it off. This show may not be correct medically, but they've got it right with all the emotions. Great job.
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2-16-2007 @ 1:26AM
Cat said...
Izzie's speech was horrible. All of it. I totally predicted the words that would come out of her mouth. And bringing up George and Callie's marriage? Tacky. Way keep morale up, Izzie.
I know Meredith probably won't die, but episodes like this make me worry just a little. Altho, I'm liking this limbo thing with Denny and Dylan. I wonder who will 'save' Meredith? Christina, maybe? Addison would be a nice twist.
I was really hoping George and Callie would work past the 'don't bring home to work' thing but I'm starting to think this marriage is doomed.
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2-16-2007 @ 1:35AM
Tammy said...
You might get a kick out of the column that recently ran in the Seattle Times ... with possible scenarios for the Ferry episodes ... They're a LOT funnier than what the writers of the show came up ...
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=wrjudd04&date=20070204&query=grey%27s+anatomy
Plus, you can tell the show's writers have absolutely no bloody clue as to what happens with the Seattle - Bainbridge ferry when the fog rolls into the Puget Sound ...
I know they're trying to make "Seattle Grace" be a mirror to the real Harborview Medical Center (in Seattle) ... I'm just glad "Seattle Grace" doesn't exist ...
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2-16-2007 @ 1:45AM
Steph said...
I am a bit disappointed in the story tonight. This show has based its success on drama, but with some degree of reality. I have been a faithful Grey's fan since the start, but this was too soap opera-ish for even this drama lover to handle.
I love Meredith's character. I will be disappointed if she dies, although I can't see that happening. Grey's wouldn't be the same without her!
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2-16-2007 @ 1:49AM
mh said...
I stayed engaged throughout the whole episode, and there were a few scenes that really got to me (Izzy's drilling was intense, all of the scenes with Alex's detail were heartbreaking). But I was arguing with my roommates the whole time that there is no way they will kill off Meridith (although they are completley convinced the writers are going to). It would be a complete jump the shark moment. However, I do think it will be interesting to see how the other characters react while they are trying to save her. The fact that they have to be the ones to save her with their emotional attachment will give this storyline a compelling edge. On a negative note... I also was very disappointed in Izzy's speech. I get that she doesn't like Callie, but definitely not the time to bring it up.
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2-16-2007 @ 1:52AM
Krys said...
You know the thing that keeps worrying me is- ABC already likes the whole dead voice-overs thing. Meredith already does the voice-overs, so exactly how would killing her keep her from fulfilling this *vital* role? Just wondering...
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2-16-2007 @ 1:55AM
Rich said...
Get off your high horse. It's entertainment!! Look around at all the "reality" crap, and the "laugh a minute" comedies(?) and how can you dis this show? In todays TV land, this show is tops, not perfect, but, always ENTERTAINING!
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2-16-2007 @ 2:21AM
shawn said...
when 24 kills a character, they are rarely mentioned again.
look a curtis. boy did he die like a punk. hah
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2-16-2007 @ 3:17AM
Stephanie said...
um if they kill Mer. I will seriously KILL the writer. well not really but i am very angry right now. Ive been yelling since the show went off. you cant kill the main character after we have grown to love her so much throughout the show. i mean COME ON> what the hell? im just hoping that Mer will talk to Denny in her libo state and he will teach her how to deal with her "issues" i mean its not like she couldn't swim, she chose to go back under to water.. stupid idiot.. make us freak out like that cause she has mommy issues.. Christina needs her and so does DREAMY... please god dont ruine this show for me too... they already killed off Marissia on the O.C. now the show is canceled.. shows you what a good decision that was!! From searching on spoiler sites i saw that Mer's mom is the one who dies not our MER so im hoping that site was right!.. who cares about Mrs. Grey.. shes half gone as it is.. sorry thats mean. but im MAD!!
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2-16-2007 @ 3:19AM
Melissa said...
The funniest part of this episode was when Derek carried Merideth out of the water and up the stairs, and it looked like he was riding an escalator.
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