(S04E02) "Simple question Lexie. Are you an idiot or a stalker?" - Meredith
Well that certainly made up for last week's crappy excuse for a season premiere. It actually felt like old school Grey's Anatomy. The pacing was frantic, the dialogue was snappy, and nothing was overly dramatic or cheesy. Everything was just even for a change. Well... almost everything. I can't stand George and Izzie. Yes folks, Gizzie makes me sick. It's awkward and makes me cringe. I see Gizzie getting all kissy-kissy and I make the same face that I make when I see an overweight person at the mall food-court, shoving fries into their mouth. It disturbs me, but at the same time, I accept it because I know they can't help it. George and Izzie just can't help it either and now they're evolving. George wants to tell Callie! It's like watching a new technology develop. I've seen the future. Gizzie is dead. Behold: iGeorge.
Yes, that's right. From now on, I'm calling them iGeorge. Much like Apple's ubiquitous mp3 player, they're everywhere on my TV. George and Izzie's little tryst took up far too much of this episode and if you consider the fact that they blush every time they see each other, then I suppose that counts as coming in different colors too. I actually feel bad for Callie at this point. Last season I didn't like her too much and we saw some of her old bitchiness in this episode, but what's happening isn't fair to her. She's been thrust into a new position that I don't think she honestly wanted but took anyway because she had to and now she even suspects that George is having an affair. She's no fool, although spilling her guts to Sloan might have been a mistake. I was praying George wouldn't respect her wish for him to keep quiet at the end. Just get it out, get it over with, and stop giving into Izzie's selfish motives for keeping mum. Once iGeorge is common knowledge, it'll fall apart. I hope. Please.
OK, moving on. If possible, I actually feel bad for Cristina now too. When she looked at Mama Burke and asked if Preston was ever coming back? C'mon, that was sad. Look at her! She may not be showing it, but she's a wreck. She was trading her wedding gifts for inside info on surgeries around Seattle Grace! I think seeing Mama helped though. The whole episode, I think we were assuming that it was going to be this huge verbal lashing and instead, Burke's mother was quite nice to Cristina, even complementing her as a strong woman who would get through this. Although, she gave Meredith hell for her selfish and inappropriate display at the wedding.
Mama did help clean some of Preston's stuff out of the apartment and when Cristina got home, it definitely looked empty. All she has left now is her job and Mama did make one point that stung a little. Will Cristina be as good a heart surgeon as she would have become with Burke still by her side? I say yes. She's too determined to let anything get in the way of her success.
Now Meredith is a different story. She could drop out of the program and it wouldn't phase faze me. Her pseudo-relationship with Derek is reaching the point of oddity though. S&M? Sex and mockery only? OK, weird. It was great to finally hear her acknowledge (much like Derek did last week) that she has Daddy issues and that's why she can't commit to Derek. I will say that I'm already getting sick of the "I don't want to know you" routine with Lexie. I hope that doesn't keep up because it's already getting old. Meredith just needs to get over her issues and get to know her sister. It's the only way she'll ever get to know her dad.
The theme for this episode was addiction. The medical cases were all victims of a meth lab explosion and that tied in well with the "love as a drug" motif that ran throughout as well. Some of the better moments included Cristina telling Mommy Meth that even though it sucks, you can get through it and Mama Burke explaining to Derek what makes an honorable man. He has to know when to walk away if he's not getting what he deserves. Clearly, he doesn't but the man is an idealist. He'll fight for Meredith's love no matter what and I'm honestly not sure what it would take for him to turn that switch off. If it ever does happen though, I'm glad he's rekindled his friendship with Sloan. Seeing them crack up like a couple of frat boys is a nice dynamic we haven't really had between those two yet.
Other thoughts:
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I liked how Alex took an immediate interest in the well-being of Baby Meth. It's nice to know that Addison left some permanent marks in Seattle.
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Speaking of Alex, I loved how Bailey flipped out on him for running his with mouth with Daddy Meth before the cops showed up. And speaking of Bailey... wow. It's been a while, but the Nazi is back. She was in top form in this episode, yelling at everyone and scheming to get what she wants. I love the little feud she has going with Callie, even if it is making things more difficult for Dr. Torres.
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Weber and his new love of delegating had me a little angry. He wants to start doing it more but then did nothing but get frustrated when other people were delegating. It was very unlike him because it was so hypocritical.
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While sitting and waiting for Cristina, Mama Burke was giving out advice to everyone as I mentioned but I liked what she said to George best. The thing about not doing something out of obligation. I think what I liked even better was that George already knew that. Even though I'm against iGeorge, I do like that the whole scenario has given him this new found confidence.
So with all that in mind, what's next? Well, I sort of hope Derek comes to his senses and does kick his "addiction." I'd like to see him actually single again and on the prowl with Sloan. Grey's always was at its best when he and Meredith weren't together. As far as George and Callie go, it sucks but I do wish it would just come to an end. Let's not forget that she slept with Sloan, so she may have a rebound close by. I think I'm most interested in seeing where Cristina goes next though. This was definitely a turning point for her. Maybe she'll actually learn the names of her interns? Yeah right.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
10-05-2007 @ 1:08AM
Marggy said...
Once George and Izzie's business gets out in the open I don't even think Callie will WANT George anymore, let alone fight for him.
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10-05-2007 @ 2:13AM
hyb said...
Jonathan,
Very nice review. I definitely like these relatively concise reviews over the lengthy "reviewcaps" out there.
One thing though:
"Now Meredith is a different story. She could drop out of the program and it wouldn't phase me."
The word you want to use is faze (disconcert), not phase (a temporary pattern). I see this error all the time.
Oh, and would anyone miss Meredith if she leaves? I can see the show move on to an ensemble show, with new characters every two years! That might actually be interesting.
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10-05-2007 @ 7:24AM
Hill said...
I hope George gets hit by a bus or better yet falls in a wood chipper no chance they can save him after that. Mer and Der need to get together and put an end to this on again off again thing.
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10-05-2007 @ 7:24AM
Joni said...
Finally Grey's is back. I mean really back, not crappy back like last week. I liked your review, except I feel like once the flame between Derek and Meredith dies, the show itself might die. Meredith is the biggest drama queen on TV, but come on that's what made us fall in love with the show in the first place. So I might be alone on this but I really hope Derek and Meredith get their issues straightened out and get back together.
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10-05-2007 @ 12:08PM
grumpyoldman said...
What a mess. Almost every character on this show is a truly despicable human being. And Meredith has to be the ugliest character with a show named after them since Mr. Ed.
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10-05-2007 @ 10:27AM
Jimmy said...
I don't know, maybe I'm just over Grey's but I didn't think this was such a great episode. Mostly, I think it's because I no longer like characters that were once my favorites to watch. Saddest of all is George who to me was the emotional center of this series. Now he's just a pathetic loser on the verge of an affair. Then there's Bailey. I have to disagree the Nazi is back. The Nazi would not be undermining Callie in this way. They turned a wonderful character into a petty bitch. Every time Baily pulls this crap on Callie I keep hoping that Callie will just get in her face and call her on her on all the bullshit, but for some reason Rhimes and Company have chosen to turn Callie into a pathetic whiner. I swear, if there was something better to watch besides Grey's the series would end up on my TIVO list instead of watching live. I'm to the point now that I don't even look forward to watching.
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10-05-2007 @ 10:27AM
Alicia said...
I like that.... iGeorge. Yea... I'm stealing it.
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10-05-2007 @ 10:27AM
Steve said...
Weber's response to Callie was entirely appropriate. He delegated to her and she didn't get the job done. Regardless of why she failed, she has to learn that it's ultimately her responsibility. Making excuses and blaming others merited a spanking. That's part of learning to be in charge.
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10-05-2007 @ 11:55AM
wkemp said...
What is up with all the Gizzie (iGeorge) hate?? They are so honestly in love. And by honestly, I mean their emotion throughout the whole situation has been honest. They know it's wrong, which makes it more painful for them. They ache for each other. And I, in turn, ache for them also.
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10-05-2007 @ 4:28PM
Jamie said...
*Has confused thoughts* Gah. I have so many mixed feelings about the show right now that I think my brain might explode. iGeorge will not work. I am completely certain that they will crash and burn, I just hope they don't drag it out too much, probably too much to hope. I sort of feel like George was more excited about finally making decisions himself than admitting to loving Izzie. MerDer. MerDer. MerDer. My thoughts stop being coherent about here. I've been a dedicated lover of MerDer since the beginning, but now I'm starting to feel like Derek needs to walk away, he's enabling Meredith to continue being emotionally retarded and I think if he really walks away she'll have an epiphany and eventually get sorted out, and stop being a selfish bitch. Maybe then she won't have lost any chance of getting back with Derek. I personally feel that the Chief had every right to be mad at Callie, you can't double-delegate, that's my personal role. If you are delegated something you don't get to delegate it to someone else.
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10-05-2007 @ 11:56AM
ORKMommy said...
I've never liked the Merideth character. I don't like the actress either. I can't stand the way she treats Lexie. It's not Lexie's fault that their father ran out of Merideth. Merideth needs to GROW UP and realize that her problem is WITH HER FATHER and quit making her little sister pay for it! I'm not rooting for Merideth and Derrick either. He really cares for her and she's just playing with him!
iGeorge is one of the best "names" I've ever heard! I hope others pick up on it and it sticks!!
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10-05-2007 @ 12:44PM
scazza said...
I feel like Meredith's entire shtick is old and done just like Gizzie. It's all carryover from last season and please can these people just grow up? Or at least change a little to be sympathetic? She knows her problem with cmmitement but now it's just an excuse! it doesn't make her change her behavior!
At least Christina is growing, feeling, sympathetic. Did you notice that after the Mama speech, the way she talked to the patient, honest but soft, was basically a Burke impression. It was great!
However I definitely miss Burke and Addison. There's something missing in this series. Strong women and level-headedness. Even Bailey can't get it together! Weber yelling at a surgeon while they're in surgery? Come on! Addiction? This was a theme that just allowed everyone to act their worst, and it was not entertaining.
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10-05-2007 @ 1:07PM
iamhoff said...
As you said, finally a real Grey's episode. A few thoughts.
I know that Meredeth has her Daddy issues, but her hatred of Lexie is getting old and (hopefully) will get her in trouble. Especially once iGeorge becomes open, you know Mer will side with Izzie. The wrath of Callie (all of it, not just George, but frustrations with Bailey, Weber, and the position) will rain down on Meredith and I think her treatment of Lexie will be the catalyst.
I was disappointed in Cristina for not responding to Mama when she implied that there was no way she could be at the top of her game without Burke. I would've loved for her to show the old Cristina confidence and verbally bitch-slap Mama, but I guess it lets us see that Cristina is still obviously in pain over the breakup of her and Burke.
I'd love to see Derek start to move past Mer and go prowling with Sloan...that would be some fun stuff to watch. You know that Alex would try to join up, but I think his history with Sloan would lead to him not inviting Alex along.
On the subject of Alex, I don't completely blame him for what happened with Meth Daddy. Alex was trying to keep things calm while the baby was screaming. MD was starting to get a little frantic in trying to figure out why Alex couldn't get the baby to stop crying, and Alex figured telling him the baby's actual problem might shock him into silence. Unfortunately he got a little emotional and went too far. So it goes. Oh, and I hate his little dirty-face facial hair. Probably going for the older, more mature look, but it just makes him look evil.
And I'd love to see Callie call Bailey on her BS. Make her go whining to Webber and call the whole thing out. Either Callie has the authority to order the surgeons around and Webber has to support it, or he has to tell her she's doing it wrong and explain why. I know Bailey's bent that she was passed over, but she's gone beyond Nazi into full bitch-mode. I know it sounds weird, but follow me on this. Nazi's were evil, but there was a greater purpose and vision that they were following. An effed up one to be sure, but it was a collective vision and effort to achieve something. Bailey's just being selfish and vindictive. No "real" greater vision, just her bitterness.
Great episode.
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10-05-2007 @ 1:21PM
Dave said...
I think they are setting Callie up to lose her job. She will lose George and then her job and she will be gone from the show. Bailey is the one true Chief.
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10-05-2007 @ 3:59PM
AJ said...
Callie is my favorite on the show. George is a douche and should just leave her so she can move on with her life.
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10-05-2007 @ 4:00PM
Courtney said...
So do not get me wrong, I am not a fan of iGeorge at all, I miss their friendship. I feel with such a great actress as Katherine Heigl, she defiantly could be doing better things then pining for George. And I think George is just excited for a way out of his marriage, not so much as his new found love for Izzie. I hate the person they have made Callie, I really disliked Callie in the beggining, grew to like her, but now they have made her into a woman who will 1. grab the any chance to get married even when she knows it wrong and 2. look the other way when her husband is treating her like crap and having an affair. I mean come on? And I know Meredith is not a perfect character but was I the only one who agreed with Meredith when she talked to Lexie? I mean technically Lexie and Meredith are not sisters because they did have different fathers and yes even though Lexie did not do anything, Meredith has no responsibility to get to know her because just the fact that Lexie exisits hurts Meredith. This show frustrates more than anything, remind why do I still watch it?
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10-05-2007 @ 4:09PM
Ryan said...
God, Dave. I hope you're wrong. If Callie goes then there's no one left for me! I love Addison and she's gone too! Maybe Callie can go work with Addison!
Anyways the episode was better than the premiere, but that aint saying much. If you take out all the iGeorge stuff I'd give it a B+. With the iGeorge stuff it goes down to a C+. The premiere was a C.
Oh and I love this show, so it all hurts.
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10-06-2007 @ 9:16AM
amboo said...
I give. I watched last week and I watched 15 mins. last night. The show is not the same. Season 1 & 2 had great drama, great action, great emergency surgery's and great laughs. Last season went downhill fast. I will definitely continue to read the review and comments, but not going to watch.
miss Burke
miss Addison
miss the intense surgeries
never liked Izzie
never liked George
(linking them together is like eating peanut butter and tuna on an onion bagel)
LOVE iGeorge
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10-05-2007 @ 8:15PM
amboo said...
oops...Love "iGeorge". Not George and Izzie.
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10-08-2007 @ 10:26AM
burl said...
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http://what-sucks.blogspot.com/
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