(S03E18) Greetings and a myriad of salutations to all. I'll be covering Grey's Anatomy from here on out as Joel was recently pushed into a large body of water by a careless, mute child. He's currently residing in some sort of "not quite dead yet" limbo and from what I've been told, the internet access sucks. So you've got me in the meantime and after what we saw last night, it looks like Grey's is back on track following the conclusion of the "Meredith can't swim" story.
It was a very good episode I thought, but as with any Grey's installment, there were plenty of pros, plenty of cons, and plenty of things that just made no sense whatsoever to me. First off, and no exact time frame was mentioned, but does anyone else think that Meredith came back to work too early? We know she at least had time to have her mother's body cremated, but it felt like it had only been a few weeks since the ferry incident. If I were in her shoes, I'd be milking this for all it's worth. Sick days. Personal Days. I Almost Died Days. I'd take 'em all.
So the big three things the episode offered up was essentially the deterioration of all the relationships in the show - from three angles. We saw George and Callie reaching a tipping point. She's loaded apparently. "An heiress" as George called her. The family has quite the bank account and Callie just gets $2,500 a week for... whatever. That must be nice. It seems what most people (including Izzie) have predicted is playing out - they rushed into the marriage too fast. Of course the big bombshell was Callie's revelation to George regarding Izzie: she hates me because she wants you. Internet buzz travels fast and I believe people are already calling it "Gizzie."
Well it happened at the end of the episode. Izzie needed a release after her heart-to-heart with "bullet in my shoulder" man. George needed to feel good about himself. So they got drunk and had sex. As far as crazy episode endings go, this one wasn't all that surprising to me. We saw them getting drunk and you sort of knew what it was leading up to. It would have been smarter to just show George coming over with the booze, skip the getting drunk scene, then jump right to the empty bottle and the two of them in bed. It would have been a little more shocking I think. Anyone else notice the bottle of whiskey George had? It was a bottle of Knob Creek, but rather than endorse the brand, the art department got a little creative and gave it a fake label with a fake name: Door River. Hilarious.
Elsewhere, as the battle for Weber's approval grew, all the attendings got a little crazy. I like the addition of Roger Rees as Dr. Colin Marlowe, but I feel like he's playing the same character that he played on The West Wing (Lord John Marbury). Just a cocky, know-it-all Brit. Being an attractive male on Grey's Anatomy allows you the earning of a nickname though and while Marlowe's doesn't start with "Mc," he'll have to settle for The Cardio God.
As far as finding out that Cristina dated him for three years while she was his student? It's believable, but I'm not sure it's the act itself that matters. They could have done anything. It is, however, the first real roadblock faced by Yang and Burke. She likes fooling around, leeching off men with authority and knowledge. That and she hates marriage. I'm happy with this storyline though. There needed to be some tension between those two and this is the conduit for that to happen. The fact that Marlowe is a bit of an icon to Burke does makes it more compelling too.
Other things that caught my eye:
-
The guest stint from Shohreh Aghdashloo as one of Derek's old colleagues from New York. I think we were supposed to really feel bad for Helen and what she was going through (brain tumor), but it didn't come across. She was just like any patient and the fact that her and Shepard shared a bond was lost in the fold I think.
-
When the power went out during dinner at Meredith's. This was something little, but I liked it a lot. Derek and Thatcher were both in the laundry room and Thatcher had just flipped the circuit-breaker, turning the lights back on. Derek's beeper went off and Thatcher sort sarcastically said, "Gotta go back in?" You have to wonder, even though beepers weren't around yet, how many times must he have stood in that room with Ellis, heard the phone ring, and said those same words?
So as I said earlier, I was very satisfied with this episode. There were a few things I was hoping for. I don't think we'll be seeing any more Alex/Addison sparks with the spin-off on the horizon. But I did like his progression with Jane Doe. It's just going to be interesting to see what becomes the big story for the end of the season. Because right now, it's feeling strangely similar to the end of the last one and they can't have everyone just get in a fight or whatever and break up again. I don't want to go into the hiatus wondering who Meredith will choose or will Izzie be able to find herself again. It's a medical drama. ER and St. Elsewhere both balanced all the pieces when they needed to -- give me something serious with heart and I'll be happy.
Andy Richter: The TV Squad Interview
Have any questions for Vik Sahay of Chuck? Ask them here!
Mike Henry and Daryl Hall on a Cleveland Show Thanksgiving
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-16-2007 @ 9:50AM
RedStarRevolution said...
George and Izzie, gross.
That's like having sex with your sister, your really hot sister, but nonetheless, your sister. I did not like this storyline, if you couldn't already guess that.
Gizzie (yes, I'm using the term), has always had a real sexless, lustless relationship, and now, notsomuch.
George...drunken, mistake sex...uncomfortableness abounds, doesn't this remind anyone else of George and Merideth from last yr?
I dunno, maybe I'll grow to like this, but for now, givin Shonda a big thumbs down for the Gizzie turn of events.
Although, as a quick note, Georgie is really becoming the mack daddy of this little group, lol, watch your back Cristina...
Liked the Mer-Der storyline, with her new 'family', but did anyone else find it weird that Mer and her stepmom were walking out of the house arm in arm, when no more than a few eps back, Mer was telling them she doesn't know them and they aren't her family, etc etc. I know her mom died, and that can change things, which is what I think they were going for, but it all seemed too quick for me.
And yea, it does look like the Addy/Alex storyline is dead now. Woulda been nice to have some sort of resolution (Sexy resolution?) But instead, I guess Addy's horny over the glasses look will have to be reserved for Taye Diggs...
Reply
3-16-2007 @ 9:50AM
Heather said...
Normally, I disagree with a lot of what Joel says that's negative about certain episodes. I was thinking this morning, "maybe I'll finally agree with him for once!" But now Jonathan is here, there's a positive review, and I have to say... I disagree with it!
This, as far as I can remember, is the first episode of Grey's Anatomy EVER in the three seasons that I haven't been at least somewhat satisfied with. Sure, there were some nice things going on... a reconnection between Meredith and her dad (I liked the scene with the swing), progression of the bond between Alex and Jane Doe... but the rest of it? BORING. I don't think I ever even laughed.
First of all, I know that "some time has passed" between Meredith's near-death episode and this one. But I couldn't help but feel like (even after they stretched it all out over the three episode "arc") it was all unfinished. I think it was the wrong choice to skip so much time. I think there could have been something different... the way this was written, it seemed like the writers just wanted us to forget what had happened altogether. There was maybe one reference to the fact that Meredith had almost died. If I could have had it my way... I would have done away with the uneventful filler second episode of the arc, and added an episode between "Some Kind of Miracle" and "Scars and Souvenirs."
I'm not amused by this new British guy showing up. At this point, I feel like we have enough core characters to concentrate on that we don't need a new one showing up. And to say that this is the first roadblock that Cristina and Burke have faced in their relationship is a bit of an understatement. Does Burke's "tremor" ring a bell? I thought we might actually get a little bit of a calm period with these two, but no... they're back at it (fighting, that is).
And my god, for the love of all things that are holy... can we have ONE set of friends on this show that DON'T sleep together?!
Reply
3-16-2007 @ 9:54AM
courtney said...
Given that the character of Addision is leaving to do a spin off of Grey's - it makes sense that they would bring in a new character now - I love this actor - I remember him from his stint years ago on Cheer's.
Reply
3-16-2007 @ 10:06AM
Porchland said...
Heather, you mean misstatement, not understatement.
I didn't really think about it while watching the episode, but I guess we are more or less finished with Addison and Alex. That's a shame; I would have liked to see some kind of awkward/funny scene where they try to hook up and it just doesn't (or does, whatever) work out to put some closure on it. Maybe we'll still get something like that.
It's hard to tell after one episode, but Cardio God seems like an out-of-place afterthought. It felt artificial in the way the introduction of Paolo did on "Lost."
I think Alex is the most underused character on the show, and I hope next season will belong to him.
Good episode overall.
Reply
3-16-2007 @ 10:21AM
Cat said...
I definitely liked this episode solely for the fact that it's getting back to the Grey's we know and love... not an over-dramatic rescue/near-death experience ER rip off.
What I am pissed about is George/Izzie. Grey's is turning into the ER of relationships, ie, no couple can ever be happy. And they're all screwed up. I'm pissed that the writers are proving Izzie right about George's marriage, pissed that Callie can't let up on George, and pissed that George seems to drunkly hook up with all his girlfriends. ARGH!
In the meantime, I like Marlowe, tho he's a bit creepy for sure. It surprises me a little that Cristina would sleep with a professor because it might look like she hadn't gotten where she was on her own, but at the same time, I can see her wanting *everything* so it's not so surprising.
Overall, I definitely liked this episode more than the ferry wreck arc.
Reply
3-16-2007 @ 4:56PM
FP said...
I bought into this show as a medical drama, more comedic and less bloody than ER, filled with interesting characters whose quirks (and passions) filled up the screen and the hospital. It was sooo good.
Grey's has completely given up on that and turned into a nighttime "days of our lives" or "young and the restless": who's screwing who's brother, ex-girlfriend, best friend, next door neighbor, professor, and how does that change the oil company, fashion company, hospital. YAWN.
It used to be about a group of interns and senior docs and their personalities and relationships, and their quest to be good doctors. Now its about how their sex lives and their feelings about others sex lives and how other sex lives affect their career. YAWN.
Am I wrong? Wasn't that (easily telegraphed) ending something straight out of dynasty/general hospital?
Have they really run out of ideas already?
Reply
3-16-2007 @ 4:56PM
BigTed said...
I was too taken aback by the sheer amount of alcohol that George and Izzie consumed to care about whether or not they had sex. We saw that the full-size bottle was unopened when they started and just about empty when they stopped -- meaning that they each had the equivalent of more than seven drinks apiece.
Instead of focusing on their feelings, maybe the show should have cared a little about the people these fine surgical residents were going to operate on the next day, sleep-deprived, still half-drunk or at least with debilitating hangovers.
It's bad enough that the doctors on this show are constantly having inappropriate relationships with each other, which would clearly distract them when they're supposed to be focusing on their patients. But the amount of alcohol abuse we've seen since the beginning is also pretty staggering. (Yes, some surgeons behave badly in real life, too -- but inevitably their work suffers, and eventually their careers do too.)
I know that this is just a show, and everything is overdramatized. But how can we accept the show's premise that these are competent, even excellent doctors when their behavior constantly says otherwise?
Reply
3-16-2007 @ 4:57PM
Patti said...
In regards to the amount of alcohol ingested, do you really think they had sex at all? They could have just started the whole thing, then promptly passed out. Izzie woke up with nothing on, wondering what happened, assuming they 'did it'. I'm sure in the weeks to come we will find out for sure. Also, men don't tend to perform too well while under the influence.
Reply
3-16-2007 @ 4:57PM
Barney Girl said...
Completely wrong to have George and Izzie have sex. The great part of their relationship is (was) that they were friends, not lovers. Friends is the stronger of the bond. Shame on the writers for letting a great relationship go bad!
Reply
3-16-2007 @ 4:57PM
CaliberSRT4 said...
This was a great episode! But I would say that anyways because I have missed so many episodes; or there was re-runs. I wonder if Dr. Marlowe will be the new Chief? It looks like George and Cristina are having relationship issues...I hope George and his wife get back together (she is hot!) And it's pretty funny that Cristina "sleeps her way to the top." I like how they have given Alex a softer side...He's always trying to get in some girl's pants, but he seems to really care for Jane Doe; it surprises me he has a softer side. I will have to record next weeks...darn.
Reply
3-16-2007 @ 8:34PM
Courtney said...
Heather no kidding, that's what I thought too, every friendship on this show they end up sleeping together. Apprantly no one at Seattle Grace can keep their pants on. I miss season 1 and 2, so far I have been waiting for season 3 to pick up and it has not.
Reply
3-16-2007 @ 4:57PM
Bebop said...
They've all slept with each other now. (if you go by a sort of six degrees of separation thing).
I'm think the writers pretty much suck at this point since the only means they use as a catalyst for changing relationships is sex, that's it....very weak.
Reply
3-17-2007 @ 5:32PM
crispy said...
Dr. Marlowe=McWrinkly
Reply
3-17-2007 @ 5:32PM
slutty_whore said...
It seems as if since TR Knight has come out of the closet, they are trying to shove down our throats the idea that George is some sort of a stud. Whatever! Come on! This is BS. And so is the show.
Reply
3-17-2007 @ 7:03PM
Nurse Ratchet said...
Hmmmmm...teaching hospital+horny interns= inappropriate sex. I am not surprised....
I work at a small teaching hospital and everyone is either hooking up with each other, coming out of the closet, or trying to hook up with anything that has genitalia.
Hehehehehehe...Gizzie is gross, and I do hope they didn't actually do "it", but I find it totally believable!
Great Episode!
Reply
3-18-2007 @ 12:40PM
Kendall said...
The show has gotten to be terrible. If they slept together(which I'm not going to watch next week to find out if they did) it was all WAY to obvious. The problem is the characters are so horribly written now, the few characters that are actually written well get the least screen time(bailey and the chief, also Addison), and then you're left choking down all the horrible dialog,
He's my person? Your person? Yeah my person.
It stops being cute when it replaces actual dialog and character development. Also, they should have killed Meredith. Title be damned. This show has jumped past sharks and has moved up to jumping grey whales. "ER" balances between personal relationships and those people actually being doctors. Something Grey's has stopped doing. I'm not sure who annoys me more, Blondie mcwhines a lot, or blondie mcwidow/whines almost as much.
Reply
3-18-2007 @ 12:40PM
Brent McKee said...
I guess I's the only one who not only thought that George and Izzy was inevitable but that it wouldn't be such a bad thing. I did love Izzy's facial reaction in the morning (somewhat better than Meredith's reaction to waking up with George) which was essentially, "Am I naked? Oh God, I hope I'm not naked. I'm naked!" Now is anyone taking bets on whether Izzy is on the pill?
Reply