(S03E21) "There's no fish in my hoo-hoo, but it's certainly not an easy ride." - Meredith
At first I'm not sure I liked this episode and so I did something I don't usually do. I watched it again as soon as I was done viewing it the first time. After that? Wow. For all the naysayers that have been arguing that Grey's has become too soap opera-ish or has lost what it had in season one, this episode has to make you think otherwise. The writing, the intricacies of the plot lines, and the characterization really are still there. It's almost scary how well conceived this episode was because it sets up everything for the final installments of the season.
Something that I think had been lacking was the attention paid to certain characters. This was proof positive that decent chunks of time can be spent on everyone while still maintaining a balance over the course of a whole episode. So while the interns are studying, Weber can be pondering his future, Callie can be doubting her husband, Burke can be fixated on his wife-to-be, and Derek can be losing his focus on Meredith.
So then... where to start, because there really are a lot of things I want to talk about. I think first up is the Addison/Alex/Sloan/Ava angle. The one gripe I think I've had with this is something that Addison put her finger on. It's feeling like Denny Duquette all over again. Not necessarily because Alex is falling for Ava (he isn't), but because she's been a steady fixture in every episode. We need some new patients.
Moving on? Addisex. It finally happened and I know initially there had been some speculation that the idea was introduced and then scrapped since Kate Walsh was getting the spin-off. Well, it came back and was used perfectly as the catalyst for her temporary (or will it be permanent) exit. She wants more and neither Alex, nor Sloan, nor Seattle Grace seem to be giving her that.
She isn't the only one though. George's decision to transfer to Mercy West (that's the hospital Dr. Hahn works at), was definitely a surprise, but it makes good sense. He still feels a devotion to Callie and he knows he can't keep working with Izzie if he wants to save his marriage. When the chairman's wife told George "the wife always knows," the look on his face said it all. So the real question is does this fuel the speculation of TR Knight wanting off the show? It would in no way be the same if both Addison and George were gone, so I hope that isn't the case.
But where does Callie go from here? Sooner or later she has to figure out that George slept with Izzie. It wouldn't surprise me at all if she ends up back in bed with Sloan. With Addison gone and his reclamation of "man whore" status, he's going be looking for someone with a pulse.
While I enjoyed the Burke/Cristina wedding cake fiasco, it wasn't a huge source of conflict and they did both end up agreeing on the Red Velvet. So, happy ending. Not all around though. Derek and Meredith have finally hit the roadblock that seemed inevitable. They couldn't stay happy forever, right?
It seems like Weber's words from last week's episode have really gotten to Derek. He's been analyzing the relationship and now seems unsure that he wants to be in love with someone who may be suicidal. He still brings up a solid point though if you ask me. Why would someone who can swim, not swim? I'm actually happy with the way this has progressed because I could see myself making the same decision if I were in his shoes. So they're on the rocks now and I doubt Mer will be doing any more of her "communicating" from here on out.
Other thoughts:
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The candirú fish scares the hell outta me.
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Is just me or does Mitch Pileggi seem incredibly old since his days as Skinner on The X-Files?
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So is Weber staying or isn't he? After this episode, I get the impression he might stick around as chief. His whole reason for wanting to retire was family. Adele is gone now and he is still younger than retirement age. I like that he tried to make that argument about family to an unresponsive Bailey.
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I hate Sydney. She bugs me. Way too chipper.
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What the heck was so special about Callie's flash cards? When Cristina was looking at them, they seemed pretty run of the mill to me. Word on one side, definition on the other. That qualifies as "legendary?"
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I love that Izzie spilled to Preston.
So there we have it. Lots to digest (although not as much as Izzie with all that cake she ate), but it all flowed together so well. I had those few gripes, so I'll go with a 6 out 7. Next week is the Addison spin-off episode. 2 Hours! Don't make plans.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-27-2007 @ 8:30AM
radwimp said...
Almost worth watching just for the "VIPenis." Good to see Mitch on TV again as well.
Plus Addisex is always a great thing. I'm looking forward to the spin-off.
There were minor-annoyances (per usual), but this was a solid ep I thought. Hope it continues to the finale.
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4-27-2007 @ 8:30AM
BC said...
Mitch looks a lot more studly on "Stargate: Atlantis", so I think here the makeup artists were at work conveying his illness. You don't pee for three days, you start building up some toxins.
You're supposed to hate Sydney. Although this episode was a bit different; before I thought she was just one of those annoyingly upbeat, always look on the bright side people who tortures everyone around her with her optimism. Now it's clear that she also misunderstands Miranda's motivations, considers her to be a threat, and is malicious in return. Also, she was right about not sending the patient with the runny nose home, although for the wrong reason.
I thought the parallelism of Mitch's character's triangle with George's was a little too obvious, with George always in the right place at the right time to learn each tidbit of the story; although TR did seem to be playing it like he recognized that whole morality play was for his benefit.
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4-27-2007 @ 5:05AM
BC said...
Your comments: Mitch looks a lot more studly on "Stargate: Atlantis", so I think here the makeup artists were at work conveying his illness. You don't pee for three days, you start building up some toxins.
You're supposed to hate Sydney. Although this episode was a bit different; before I thought she was just one of those annoyingly upbeat, always look on the bright side people who tortures everyone around her with her
optimism. Now it's clear that she also misunderstands Miranda's motivations, considers her to be a threat, and is malicious in return. Also, she was right about not sending the patient with the runny nose home, although for the wrong reason. Kali Rocha is a good actress; on "Law & Order: SVU" she played a Nancy Grace clone who accuses the mother of a kidnapped baby of murdering her child and drives her to suicide, and was just chilling.
I thought the parallelism of Mitch's character's triangle with George's was a little too obvious, with George always in the right place at the right time to learn each tidbit of the story; although TR did seem to be playing it like he recognized that whole morality play was for his
benefit.
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4-27-2007 @ 8:30AM
Duane said...
The writing this week was a bit of a hammer as it seemed that every storyline was saying just the right thing for the wrong person to overhear. Meanwhile, every high school boy in America learns about the candiru fish (because it's one of those things that it too nasty to imagine existing), so I don't believe for a minute that all the brainpower in that room didn't think of it from the minute the guy said Amazon.
"You didn't swim" is becoming this weird euphemism for "tried to kill yourself" reminiscent of how back on Dirty Dancing they never said "pregnant" but always "in trouble." It was good writing the first couple of times they used it, taking something the audience could have seen as a plot hole ("Aw come on, she was right next to the dock!") and making a character development out of it. But now every time I hear it I think, "Oh, we're back on the whole not swimming thing again?"
I don't think Burke and Christina are going to make it down the aisle. I can't see a single reason why they should.
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4-27-2007 @ 8:31AM
justelise said...
When Burke tells Izzie that no one tells him anything -- I can't help but to think that it's a reflection on Isaiah Washington's bad rep and its effect on the set. That line just struck me as interesting considering the hot water he got himself into.
Anyway about this episode. Yes it was good, but I think that it's hard to forget the string of episodes leading up to this one that made me feel like the writers were just flailing about. The penis-fish case was interesting, but what about some more ordinary cases? Every case doesn't have to be a super-rare ultra-weird infliction. Interns in a normal hospital don't get to see a lot of these sensational cases that we've seen thus far like penis-fish, separating conjoined adult twins, and pregnant men. It would be more realistic if we saw more of the normal tortures that interns go through and everyday patient care.
I thought that all of the acting on the show was on point. Addison needs a hug. Meredith needs therapy. George finally grabbed himself a cup of common sense. It took a long time for these characters to realize that there were real problems in their lives/relationships which makes for more anticipation of the next episode.
This episode did break a really bad streak, but right now I need to see the next episode (at least) to decide if the show really has taken a turn for the better.
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4-27-2007 @ 10:43AM
Lyn said...
I am glad Derek is having second and third and fourth thoughts about Meredith. She is my least favorite character. He was right...she could swim, and she chose not to. Instead of fighting for her future...for him, her career, and everything else, she chose to try to take the cowardly way out when the opportunity arose. Even when she is not whining, she sounds like she is whining. I wouldn't miss her if she was off the show.
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4-27-2007 @ 10:43AM
rijane said...
In regard to why Callie's cards were so important, it's not how she did them, but what she put on them. With millions of different medical conditions, terms and techniques, she must have the appropriately insightful set- letting Cristina study for the right things.
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4-27-2007 @ 10:45AM
Hank said...
I knew that he had a 'fishdick' the minute they said Amazon. I couldn't remeber the name of the fish, but sure as hell I learned about in high school. It's one of those things the bio techer used to keep your attention. Just like the physics teacher showed us how to duplicate the Hindenburg disaster with a balloon, water, and electricity. I love science :)
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4-27-2007 @ 12:44PM
Marcia said...
George! Please don't leave the show!
He has always added something special to the show.
Why is he being written out of the show?
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4-27-2007 @ 3:30PM
Patti said...
George is NOT leaving the show--it was stated on the E!News the other day. The only one that is up in the air yet is Isaiah Washington.
I enjoyed last nite's show, as I enjoy every episode of Grey's that has aired. I am a bit fed up with Derek's flipflopping from being 'oh so concerned' with Meredith a few weeks ago, to being so selfish about this Chief job thing. I don't think it has that much to do with having a relationship and being Chief too. It seems to me he wants that job MORE than he wants Meredith. And that is his loss. Mer was so much fun to watch last nite, she seemed to have regained her spirit again. And to have McDUD take that away again, why should she want to swim in the first place?
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4-27-2007 @ 4:27PM
TomB said...
Nobody had sex last week.
Addison and Alex had sex this week.
Therefore, the show's back on track.
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4-28-2007 @ 3:04PM
asm said...
I think part of Derek's lack of enthusiasm about Meredith is he feels she doesn't love him enough. If she loved him, she wouldn't have tried to kill herself. She wouldn't have wanted to hurt him like that. She didn't swim, so maybe she doesn't love him enough for them to last forever, so maybe she's not worth losing Chief for.
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4-28-2007 @ 3:05PM
sally said...
I think Derek's waffling is true to life given what he's been through. He's gotten through a difficult divorce to a person he still likes and respects and his chosen one is a head case, even with her mother gone.
My experience is that when the dust and drama settles from a divorce you start to focus on who you are - thus the focus on chief. And the chief was pretty clear that he feels that Derek can't have both the job and Meredith. So what does Derek choose? Interesting dilemma especially given Meredith's on-going issues.
Who is she with her mother not there to rebell against? And Derek is older and wiser - does he want to stick around for her process?
I'm sorry that Addison will leave because she is a good sounding board for Derek, she knows him well. Will her loss add to his confusion?
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4-28-2007 @ 3:05PM
sally said...
And we need more Sloan. He is a subtle actor for a man whore. His hurt was all the more poignant for its restraint. Love him, love his sense of humor. Hook him up with Callie and give whiny Georgie boy a run for his money. George is confused little boy who wants to keep all of his toys, Sloan is a complex man whore.
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4-30-2007 @ 12:28AM
Jackie said...
I cannot STAND Izzie-George any longer. It's ridiculous. Poor Callie, she's CRAZY about George. I do hope Callie finds out and kicks Izzie and George's asses.
I feel bad for Sloan too. He seems to really like Addison. Addison just doesn't know what she wants.
Meredith and McDreamy. I honestly don't like them as a couple. I would like to see McDreamy and Addison get back together.
I think Meredith should have hooked up with Sloan! =P
PS I thought Dr. Hahn was from Seattle Presyeterian (is that spelled right?)
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6-18-2007 @ 5:14PM
Katz said...
Honestly, i like meredith and derek more than any other couple in the series. I hope and pray that the writers of the show would have derek and addison divorce already, so that they can be with the one they truly love,derek with meredith and mark with addison.derek and meredith are the best couple and that they look sweet and nice.meredith and derek makes us viewers blushed and feel the story.derek and meredith should be with each other and should end with each other in the series and live happily ever after.
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