(S03E17) So, I'm watching this climactic ferry-accident-arc episode, and there's a lot of stuff going on. Meredith is still cold and dead. She's also dealing with patients from her past in some sort of afterlife, all of whom are encouraging to fight for life. Izzie and her passive-aggressiveness is called on the carpet yet again by Callie. They start a bypass on Meredith to warm her up, since according to Webber, she's not dead until she's warm and dead. She's still in limbo. Derek is yelling at, then trying to save Ellis. At one of the commercial breaks, I thought to myself, "Whew. Glad this is almost over."
Then I looked at the clock on my microwave, and it said it was 9:38.
This was not a good thing.
I'm just going to say this right now: This did not need to be a three-episode arc. Not at all. Two episodes would have been more than enough to show this major transition in the lives of Meredith and the rest of the crew at SGH. Making this arc two episodes would have saved viewers from what a lot of them thought was a drawn-out disaster scene in the first episode (though I actually liked that one), and the drawn-out mess that was this third episode.
But, of course, Shonda wanted to get the discussion going, didn't she? I mean, the buzz this past week was strong:
They wouldn't kill off Meredith, would they?
Did she purposely go under?
Why did Izzie say that to George at that time?
The answers to these questions were all provided:
Of course not.
Yes.
Because Izzie really needs to be less of a self-absorbed runt (fans of 30 Rock will know what I mean).
The "limbo" sequences, with Dylan, Denny, Ellis' dead scrub nurse, and Skewer Girl were boooooorrrrrrinnnng. I mean, they were endless. Why? Well, because we knew how they were going to turn out. The patients of Meredith's past (and Doc the dog) were there to try to make her realize that a) she stopped fighting in that bay, and b) she needs to go back and fight and live the life she deserves to live. Now, the alpha-male banter between Dylan and Denny was pretty funny. But it was all too brief. The rest.... ugh. I just don't even want to go into it any more, because writing about it is going to put me to sleep.
Well, let me say one more thing about it: if this is what it takes to make Meredith into a less whiny, mopey character, if this cuts back on some of the "dark and twisty," I think fans of the show will have thought that the limbo episode was worth sitting through. At least that's my hope. "I had intimacy issues, which seems so stupid now," she says to her guardian "angels." Now that she realizes she has things to fight for, and that she no longer has to fight for Ellis' approval, things might start looking up in her life. I mean, I'd much rather see Ellen Popmeo's smile than her frown, wouldn't you?
Oh, and Ellis... her death seemed inevitable. It was good that Derek was actually able to get things off his chest to her, then distract himself by trying to save her. But, it was no big surprise when Meredith saw her mother wandering around in her limbo world. And, whether Ellis' spirit actually told Mer that she was anything but ordinary or if it was just all in Mer's head, it doesn't matter; Mer has been set free. That was a very gratifying scene to me. So was the scene where Webber talks to Ellis' body, even though it was a bit creepy that she would still be lying in her room hours after she died.
The best part of the episode was how everyone else reacted to Meredith's situation. It was all authentic, all of it. Derek is so distraught he sits with the other victims' families for a while. Makes sense, since that was what he was at the time. Webber, Burke, and Bailey keep trying and trying, because this was more than just another patient on the table. George tells Izzie that he needs her, for getting through this and for getting through his sudden marriage. Addison realizes that what Derek and Mer have was nothing like what she and Derek had, prompting her to tell Mark that if he's serious about being serious, he needs to refrain from sex for 60 days. More on that later.
But if any Emmy nominations come out of this episode, there has got to be one for Sandra Oh. Seeing tough, unfeeling Cristina dealing with the prospect of losing "her person" was fascinating. She runs away and buys out the 99-cent store. Then she gets drunk. Thankfully Burke got her to come back. And the look on her face as she stood at Meredith's feet, mentally urging her to fight was a remarkable piece of acting, as were the tears she shed when Mer finally woke up and tried to say something.
Alex is starting to bond with pregnant Jane Doe, isn't he? Wonder where that's going to go. Also, it seemed weird to see Addie and Mark having that sex discussion after all this intensity and trauma. But it was funny when Mark said that Addie should also refrain, to which she said, "who am I going to have sex with?" Cut to Alex. It was almost like a Lenny and Squiggy moment right there. I wonder if we're starting to see the setup for the Addison spinoff episode we're going to see in May.
So what we have here is half of a good episode, stretched out into something that was hard to sit through. Was it worth it? Maybe, if the Izzie-Denny cosmic shoulder brush in the final scene gave you the same chills that I got. But I'm not really sure all of this hullabaloo was really necessary. If this is a true turning point for the series and its characters, it'll be considered a landmark episode. If the characters go back to their annoying selves, it'll just be yet another "title character goes to limbo" snoozer. I hope it becomes the former.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
2-22-2007 @ 11:10PM
nina said...
I agree...i feel that with all the buildup, trauma, and such they shouldn't have ruined the whole episode with a last minute save--they should have just killed her or have done a better story arc. That made me angry and again...i get derek and meredith have a connection, but i mean you can't be married for 11 years and not have a "connection"
Also, you didnt mention that George finally grew a backbone and stood up for his wife...finally
i didnt like this one that much
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2-22-2007 @ 11:09PM
Phish said...
i didnt catch the episode, did Meredith die or not??
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2-22-2007 @ 11:13PM
Joel Keller said...
Phish, read the review. But here's a clue: the show's called "Grey's Anatomy." 'Nuff said.
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2-22-2007 @ 11:18PM
Ashley said...
I liked the episode, it wasn't as good as last week. But i'm interest to see what comes from Derek thinking Meredith purposely tossed herself in the drink
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2-22-2007 @ 11:31PM
ooda said...
When Nate Fisher "died", it had me at tears. When Tony Soprano "died", I was genuinely interested. When Meredith Grey "died", I didn't care.
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2-23-2007 @ 12:50AM
Tim said...
I'm calling this the 'Flatliners' Episode.
One throwaway line by Denny illuminated so much about Christina and now I understand why she's so driven to be the best doctor she is.
"And Christina? When she was 9, she was in a car accident with her father and he bled out right in front her while they waited for the ambulance."
I wonder if this "after-death" experience is fugue brought on by Meredith's mind, or if she really did not know what happened to Christina as a child. Given how intensely private Christina is...
I agree with the comment that Sandra Oh was the emotional core of this episode. I believe she's the best actress on this show and she consistently delivers even in an implausible script.
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2-23-2007 @ 1:05AM
ooda said...
On a side note, the whole Christina sitting in a car next to her dying father was a bit "Dexter" for me, especially in that it has made her somewhat of a robot.
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2-23-2007 @ 1:29AM
Cat said...
"But it was funny when Mark said that Addie should also refrain, to which she said, "who am I going to have sex with?" Cut to Alex."
I totally knew it was coming, but I still chuckled when it happened. While the switch was a little weird, it was nice to have a little levity with all the dying going on.
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2-23-2007 @ 3:28AM
Liza said...
This episode rocked! It was an intensely emotional ride. Talk about character development and depth! Shonda, you are the best at knowing what to do and where to take your characters. Not only to we have a greater understanding of where the characters come from but we have a life changing experience that has changed each one of them. More, I am sure, will be revealed as each one deals with life post traumas.
Grey's is the best! Right on Shonda.
Liza
Seeing Denny and Izzie make connection in the hospital was SO moving. Who hasn't felt the intense presence of a deceased loved one, SO real that you could reach out and touch them. That scene blew me away.
I am so glad that Ellis and Meredith had some closure. I DO believe that it wasn't in Meredith's head, that it DID occur. It healed both Ellis and Meredith.
As for Izzie and George...give Izzie a break. Change IS hard. And Callie was cold telling she will have no one because, of course, as "Callous Callie" tells Izzie, "Your friends are all dropping [dead] around you." THAT was a shitty thing to say, Cal.
Izzie does need to keep quiet and let things go or george will no longer be her friend or in her life. Funny thing when your best male friend has a relationship, you as a friend, better be supportive of your friend (even if you KNOW the relatinship is a disaster) or you WILL lose him. LOVED George telling Izzie that she needs to be on the DL about Callie because he needs her support AND if it doesn't work out, he will need her support. LISTEN UP, Izzie!
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2-23-2007 @ 3:37AM
justvic said...
I too just loved the scene with Izzie and Denny, but wouldn't it have been GREAT if Izzie would have decked Callie for that "your friends dropping around you" comment.
THAT would have been the frosting on the cake!
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2-23-2007 @ 3:47AM
tv junkie said...
Hate the episode. hate the whole 3-life-changing-episode-arc-in-febuary-sweep-so-we-gotta-do-something-big-to-get-attention-stunt.
I miss back in the days when Grey's was all about the life of the interns and the patients' stories...the sweet feeling i used to have after satisfying episodes on Sunday nights.
Instead, all we get nowadays are these ridiculous and huge over-the-top "the biggest most amazing episode YET" stunts that Shonda Rhimes constantly trying to push to prove how an amazing writer she and her people is. lzzie's ludicrous and uncalled for "I believe..." speech last week and the dead people's preaching "you have to go" this week are just a bit too much.
i can't wait for the lives in Seattle Grace to get back to normal now that Feb sweep is nearly over.
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2-23-2007 @ 6:19AM
Tracy said...
This was all just to get Denny back. The whole 3 episode arc was to appease the fans of Denny since Grey's had him kick the bucket last season.
They could've done a lot more with that character and I think they have been kicking themselves ever since they wrote him off the show.
And although Sandra Oh did a wonderful job as Cristina, Jeffery Dean Morgan gave a great performance as well.
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2-23-2007 @ 6:22AM
radwimp said...
the only way they could of lived up to the "hype" is to actually kill her off. instead they kill off her mother? sigh, we can wish i guess...
(props to sandra though, she really shined in this)
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2-23-2007 @ 7:12AM
Jessica said...
This episode was not horrible but it wasn't the best ever.
The only thing I really liked about it was Denny. The last part between him and Izzie KILLED ME.
I agree that Sandra Oh did an amazing job.
For the rest of the episode...meh.
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2-23-2007 @ 7:24AM
Alicia said...
I agree with all of you, Sandra Oh ROCKED IT!!
I *loved* this episode. It's not very often that a show will move me to tears. In fact my husband got a pillow to the face for calling me a girrrrrl.
I knew Mer gave up. I told everyone that she gave up, and no one wanted to listen. HA!
I liked the fact that we did learn more about Denny and his love for Izzie. I always felt as if it was more her that him. To me the end, where they passed each was frosting on the cake. Maybe next time if she mentions him I won't roll my eyes.
And I think it's great for George to finally tell Izzie all about it. It'll be extremly interesting HOW that will play out.
To me all 3 episodes in this arc were great. With the writing being superior on this show, I don't think that it was wasted. I think we will start to see a more mature group of interns.
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2-23-2007 @ 8:43AM
Danny said...
I was very disappointed in this episode. But at least now we all know what the after-life is like thanks to Shonda. I can't believe no one ever thought to ask her before.
As I watched I kept thinking that the only way to get out of this arrogant piece of writing would be to have Meredith die. Or at the very least allow it to be just Mer's brain playing tricks on her. But for her to see her mother at the time she died was ridiculous.
I also didn't like the fact that Christina was so drunk that she couldn't say the word "sodoku", but 5 seconds later she's speaking perfectly clearly to Burke.
Oh, and those SGH Dr.'s had better plan on spending an extra 3 - 4 hours trying to revive every patient that appears to have died, or they're gonna be in for some huge malpractice suits.
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2-23-2007 @ 9:12AM
Heather said...
OK, now that the three-episode arc is complete, I feel like I can look back and assess the whole thing. I agree with Joel... I think this thing could have been wrapped up in two episodes. There were many pointless, dragged out scenes that could have been shaved off (mostly in episodes 1 and 3), that would have narrowed this down into two episodes. But hey, it was a sweeps stunt and they did what they had to do to get the ratings.
As for last night's episode... it was everything I *didn't* want it to be. I was dreading the whole "floating around in the after-life" scenario. But, something unexpected happened... I LIKED it. I thought that for the most part, it was well done. I didn't really get the point of having Ellis's old scrub nurse there, and Bonnie, the "Into You Like a Train" patient. But I guess it didn't make much sense to have Denny or Dylan there, either... so they might as well throw in as many dead people as possible. I thought they kind of ruined Bonnie a little bit for me, though. "Into You Like a Train" was a beautiful episode and a lot of it had to do with the fact that Bonnie was so... I don't know, gracious?... when she was dying. Having her yell and scream and bust a hole in her gut were two of the scenes I thought could have easily been left out. But whatever.
The real reason to talk about this episode at all revolves around two people: Sandra Oh and Jeffrey Dean Morgan. I thought they both did an outstanding job. Watching Cristina "coping" at the dollar store and at the bar were some of those filler scenes that I wasn't quite sure we needed, but the payoff came when Cristina returned to the hospital and stood at the foot of Meredith's bed. And when Meredith finally managed to squeal out the word "Ouch," I thought the way Sandra played Cristina's reaction was wonderful. Cristina is a doctor through and through--she's not the kind to believe in miracles. But by the way she responded to Meredith's "first word"--you could tell that she was thrilled... and amazed. I thought the scene was very touching.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan was the only one in the whole "after-life" scenario that made me feel emotional about it. I liked the scene between him and Meredith when they were sitting on the floor in the hallway. "Don't tell anyone, OK?" And then when he was talking about Izzie and the mere "moments" you get with the people you love after you die. And the scene to end the episode with Izzie... I didn't see it coming and I LOVED it. LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it. I thought the way they used the camera rotation was just an awesome way to depict that encounter.
This "devastating" arc was tolerable because it actually resolved some things. We were given a little bit of closure for Denny's death, Meredith was taught life lessons and may not be so "dark and twisty" anymore, and Meredith's mom died--and in that short scene in the after-life, Ellis seems to have resolved a lot of Meredith's issues. But we'll see the real repercussions of that in the episodes to come.
Very serious episode, though. Only time I really laughed was when Doc popped into Meredith's after-life. And that was only a little chuckle. I'm ready for the funny Grey's to come back.
So what... two weeks from now? Three?
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2-23-2007 @ 9:30AM
dianna said...
i think they should bring denny back for good kind of like when they bring the soap opera stars back from the dead
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2-23-2007 @ 10:01AM
Cyndi said...
Am I the only one who got the Lame Wizard of Oz references?
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2-23-2007 @ 10:32AM
aspasm said...
I don't know that I can express how much I hated this episode. I had a similar experience to Joel in that I was convinced at the 20 minute mark that 45 had actually passed. I was pretty close to turning off the PVR and just reading a recap of the episode today but Sandra Oh came on and as usual, blew me away. She and Jeffery Dean Morgan were the only reasons I didn't turn off the tv last night.
I get what Shonda and Co. were trying to do but they failed miserably. The episode somehow managed to be both boring and annoying and my dislike for Meredith grew. Somehow, I don't think that's what they were aiming for with this episode.
"Almost dead/Limbo" episodes are pretty common in television and very rarely done well. I think my sister perfectly summed it up last night when she said "I know David Chase and you Ms. Rimes are no David Chase."
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