(S04E07) "You know you need it." - Alex
I just don't know what to say anymore. No other show on TV leaves me with such a mixed bag of emotions in quite the same way as Grey's Anatomy does. That's ironic, you realize, because the end result is something I can't fully distinguish as enjoyable or painful... so I go ahead and watch it anyway. I know I've said it before, but the title makes absolutely no sense because the show has almost nothing to do with Meredith at this point. What we've got here is this dramatic anomaly caught somewhere in between St. Elsewhere at its best (for quirkiness) and ER at its worst (for dramatic cheese), with some storylines about face-lift grandmas and chronically constipated men who have sex.
I don't feel like I'm spoiling anything by saying that Grey's Anatomy is not as good as it once was. Part of me is actually supportive of the writer's strike, if only because it means that in a month or so, there won't be any new episodes. That way, when it does come back, it might actually feel fresh again. Right now though... I don't know what's going on.
OK... first the positive. iGeorge is still losing steam. Stevens and O'Malley have lost any chemistry that they once had and I was giddy that they both realized that the one time they did hop in the sack, they were both hammered! Now that they can have as much sober sex as they want, the spark is gone. Was it the booze? Was it the thrill over George being married and the potential for being caught? Who cares! All I know is that iGeorge is dying fast and I will say this -- I'm glad that the story is actually being played out rather than just being dropped. Wrap it up properly and be done with it.
I want to see Izzie fall for Alex (again) and go face to face with Lexie. Not because I support Alex and Izzie, but because I think I might hate Alexie (I think that's what the kids are calling it) as much as I hate iGeorge. I think the bottom line is that I'm just frustrated that all the relationships that are clearly not meant to be are being explored.
The dynamic between Lexie and Meredith finally came to a boiling point in this episode now that Alex has gotten involved, but beyond that it was still more of the same. Lexie wants to know her sister... Meredith doesn't. Once again, the cases dealt with in this episode were a little too in your face and after seeing that C-Note (from Prison Break!) was going to give up his daughter if his wife kicked it, Lexie made a move. She "saw Meredith" in that child and only later did we find out that her motivation is partly due to the fact that Thatcher has become a scotch-chugging drunk with his wife gone. Lexie is trying so hard to get to know Meredith because she's the only family she has left. At this point, it's gone from being touching to annoying though. One of them has to give in. Either Lexie gives up or Meredith accepts her.
Moving on, we've got the Hahn issue. Sloan is obsessed with her which is weird enough. Weirder still is that Hahn seems to be obsessed with Meredith. Now I know I read it somewhere, but is Hahn supposed to be a lesbian? Is that why she's developed this hatred of Cristina and this obsessive relationship with teaching Meredith everything? If so, that would also explain why she was so elusive with Sloan and his advances with all that "you're attracted to my skills" crap.
The other big development was with Bailey and Callie. Webber finally caught on to their little game. Bailey is now the new chief resident and Callie is... fired! For good? I guess that's what you get for slacking off and delegating all your duties to someone else. While I'm not against Bailey getting the promotion (I loved how she broke down and cried), here's what I don't get. It completely goes against Webber's reasoning for not giving Bailey the job in the first place. He wanted her to perfect her skills as a surgeon, not spend all day making schedules and filling out paperwork... right? So why the change of heart? Why not make someone like Sydney chief resident (she'd clearly be good at it) so that Bailey can continue to perfect her skill? Seemed like an easy out is all I'm saying.
Some other thoughts...
- Lexie seems to be drawn to the baby stuff just as Alex was after his brief fling with Addison.
- What exactly was in Izzie's "fun box?" I've got a few ideas, but I still had to ask.
- Speaking of those two, what exactly was Izzie's fantasy? Was that a rubber ducky I heard in the tub with George?
- The idea of Webber and Derek in a lover's quarrel is hilarious to me.
- If Callie is actually out of a job for good... what will she do? I hope it involves tormenting Izzie.
- I ate some magnets once when I was young and I don't ever recall my liver sticking to my esophagus or whatever the hell happened to that kid. There were some long, painful sessions in the bathroom though...
I guess I just don't see what direction the show is moving in right now. What's it all building towards? Blurry is a good word. Meredith and Derek are sort of stuck in time. Webber is lost without Adele. Cristina is contemplating the possibility of maybe not specializing in cardio thanks to some gentle prodding from Bailey. Other than Lexie, all the other interns have been forgotten about. It sucks to say it, but right now the only thing that might breathe some life into this show is another Super Bowl time-bomb or ferry accident. And we all know how those episodes end.
The Upfronts: FOX
Carter Bays of How I Met Your Mother: The TV Squad Interview
The Upfronts: CBS
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
11-09-2007 @ 9:17AM
Guido said...
This *is* Grey's Anatomy .. it's supposed to the mix bag of scattered emotions and frustration. That's the show.. stop complaining about it -- I realize you have to find 1000 words .. but stop complaining about the style of the show. It's not new .. it is what it is. It's entertaining. If you don't like it, don't watch it.
Reply
11-09-2007 @ 10:50AM
ChanandlerBongLA said...
Whine whine whine.
I thought the episode had a good mix of heartwarming scenes (i.e father and adopted baby, Lexie telling Mer 5 things about her) and comic scenes (Chief and Derek acting like a couple).
Some of you guys need to lighten up, or quit watching the show.
Reply
11-09-2007 @ 10:51AM
Brent McKee said...
I think it's clear that Callie was fired as chief resident rather than totally fired from the hospital. Great bone crackers are hard to find.
Reply
11-09-2007 @ 10:51AM
jds65 said...
I always liked the idea of George and Izzie. Lexie and Alex freak me out though a bit. Dunno what it is. And it seemed pretty clear that Callie was just fired from being Chief Resident not from being an attending.
And please god don't let there be another Ferry Boat storyline. Actually more specifically don't let there be another main character supposedly dying storyline.
Last week Hahn was with Izzie, and this week she was with Meredith. I think it is more likely she will be slowly rotating around the residents.
Reply
11-09-2007 @ 10:51AM
bruce said...
I hope callie wasn't fired from SGH entirely, only from the CR job.
This episode, like so many others, drives home how much I can't stand the character of Meredith Grey. Why is she the title character of this show? She's worthless, selfish, mean, irrational, socially dumb, and a complete bitch. And I don't even find her the least bit physically attractive. Is she Shonda Rhimes' stereotype of the "annoying white girl" she has hated all her life? No character is more dispicable, worthless, and unlikeable than Meredith. And I think, at this point, the writers need to explain why Dr. Shephard is still "with" Meredith, even if they're only having sex. Could one imagine a worse girlfriend than Meredith over the past few seasons of this show? Maybe an axe murderer. Although with the way Meredith has treated George (that whole sex crying thing was horrifyingly unforgivable), Derrick, and now Lexie is sociopathic on an axe-murderer level.
On another topic, I don't get why Dr. Hahn hates Christina so much. When they first encountered each other, when George recommended Christina to help Dr. Hahn do his dad's surgery, it was abundantly clear that Hahn though quite highly of Christina and her surgical abilities, in fact I recall Hahn saying CHristina was a robot, which was a good thing, and which reminded her of herself. I suppose it wasn't clear whether she knew, at that time, that Christina was engaged to Burke. But even when she inevitably learned this fact, why hate Christina so much? So what. Hell, if anything, Hahn should thank Christina for causing Burke to leave, so that she could have his job (which must pay a lot more than her old one, to cause her to leave it). Christina doesn't deserve the treatment she's getting from Hahn, and she shouldn't have to give up cardio just because of Hahn's personal issues with her. And Meredith, who claims to be her best friend, has said nothing to Hahn as she takes Christina's place next to her in the cardio room. Ugh, I hate Meredith so much. I wish she had drowned last season. Yet another reason I despise the fact that Meredith is the title character -- she'll never be killed off. Can't they call this show something like "Seattle Grace"?
Reply
11-09-2007 @ 10:51AM
grumpyoldman said...
Who was the constipated guy? I've seen him a million times in something.
Reply
11-09-2007 @ 10:52AM
KC said...
Jonathan, I agree completely with your first paragraph. I think Shonda Rhimes has hit on the perfect brand of tv. It's like a car crash you can't help but watch. No matter how much people complain about the decline in quality of the show they're all still watching and it is still No. 1 or 2 in viewership. I don't know how she does it.
Reply
11-09-2007 @ 10:53AM
Ryan said...
I fast forwarded through all the iGeorge stuff and wanted to bitchslap Meredith for being such a biatch to Lexie. But other than that, I think it was a good episode.
So yeah, mixed blessing indeed.
Reply
11-09-2007 @ 10:53AM
Joanne said...
Do you even watch this show? If it's so painful, trade it off to someone who might enjoy it.
Reply
11-09-2007 @ 10:53AM
margot said...
He (Mr. Constipation) was in Ghostbusters II as the mayor's right hand man (and got fired post-Titanic arrival I believe). He's been a character actor (or regular) in a lot of shows, including last seasons "Big Day".
Reply
11-09-2007 @ 10:53AM
Erika said...
Everyone seems to have forgotten to ask the obvious; Why in the world did you eat magnets???
Reply
11-09-2007 @ 10:54AM
Tna said...
Actually, Mer ISN'T the only family Lexie has left; she DOES have the sister who had the difficult pregnancy last season, remember? Where the hell is she in this whole mess?
Reply
11-09-2007 @ 10:54AM
Monica said...
Who was the red-headed woman getting plastic surgery? It's driving me crazy, I know I have seen her on something before. Help!
Reply
11-09-2007 @ 11:02AM
scazza said...
I have to say that I think you are way off on the Christina/Hahn thing. Christina would never consider anything but cardio, that was the point. It was showing that no matter what she has to do she still thinks there is nothing as great as holding a heart in your hands. It really showed her love beyond just being the best at something that is the hardest.
As for Hahn I think she's as "obsessed" with Meredith as she is with Stevens. She's just using them as a way to not use Yang. And frankly if she is a lesbian I think it's because she and Christina are so alike, because maybe she does have a crush on Christina. However, I think there's no way that she can not teach Christina. She's at a teaching hospital now and has to suck it up. I think Christina would transfer before she'd give up cardio.
This is my favorite storyline. Hahn is a strong woman, as is Christina, and putting them together is a good serious counterpoint to all the bs. I want more about the characters as surgeons, what specialties they want, ambitions, careers, challenges. I mean what is Meredith going to specialize in? Can we please get an inkling? Can someone challenge these residents already?
Reply
11-09-2007 @ 11:13AM
kt1268 said...
Whatever happened to Lexie's sister who had the baby last season? Remember that's how Mer found out about them. Lexie is not alone, she has another sister!
Reply
11-09-2007 @ 11:58AM
Roberta said...
Okay, first of all, Jonathan, your whining is well appreciated by me. This show has turned from an intricate collection of finely nuanced characters and situations to a slapstick clusterfuck. Who Meredith was and all her background were fascinating, and that is why the show was named for her. (Plus it's a clever name.) Now this mess is anyone's guess.
-I also couldn't figure out the bath joke. Talk about unrealistic, talk about a joke trying to work too hard. I'm sure there is a play on words there, (did Izzie simply say she liked rubber?) but uh... maybe they'd have figured it out before the moment that we, the viewers, saw? Ridiculous.
-I liked when Bailey cried, but the hug was unrealistic and again, a bit slapstick.
-Interesting how Lexie defended herself against Meredith, basically saying she isn't a slut. Not surprising that Meredith didn't respond to this, because she doesn't really respond to anything Lexie says, but am I the only one who remembers that Meredith is someone who, when not in a relationship, has lots of drunken, random sex?
-I too wonder if Callie is FIRED fired or just stepped down. But my goodness, how many hits is this woman supposed to take in one year before she breaks?
-Christina will continue to pursue Cardio... that became clear when Bailey was making her 'but if it were me' speech to the chief... 'if it were me I would have suggested to Christina that she find another specialty so she could see just how badly she wants to stay in Cardio'.
-Those magnets were huge. Marble sized. I don't know the medicine, but they were pretty intense.
I'm hardly watching anymore, because so much of it has become unbearable. These writers used to be on their game, now it seems they're just playing.
Reply
11-09-2007 @ 12:21PM
Mitch said...
Yes, the show might not focus on Meredith anymore, but you know what? I think it's for the better.
For me, Meredith is a completely unlikeable character with really no redeeming qualities. She is the least interesting of the bunch, and her self-absorbed and whiny nature are not missed at all by me.
How Meredith's character treated Lexie in this episode was the limit. "I'm setting rules for you, etc." How gross. I think it's a shame the writers don't explore any different avenues of this storyline.
Reply
11-09-2007 @ 1:35PM
radwimp said...
GA is the first show that makes me drop the C-bomb for the main character. Holy god she is intolerable.
Reply
11-09-2007 @ 1:43PM
sabercat said...
For those of you asking about Lexies other sister, wasn't her husband in Iraq when she was pregnant? I think he's probably back stateside and she's living with him wherever he is stationed. Just a thought. It seems like Lexie is taking on everything with her father, so I'm guessing the other sister is out of the state.
Reply
11-09-2007 @ 3:38PM
ladyc said...
I guess its just me but Im one of the few who still likes Merideth. What I don't want to see if Lexie be just like her. I can relate some to Merideth because my own father is something like that. He left my family to start a new family with a new wife. That is a real hard thing for child to grow up with that one of your parents doesn't really want you. I can see where Merideth is coming from in that she never really had a family that cared about her until she got her "hospital" family. Now one of the sisters that she thinks has had it all comes into her world and immeditately gravitates toward the one family that has loved Merideth. It may not make sense or be right but I can see where the emotions would come in. Also everytime she has reached out to her father's family eventually she has gotten shot down so why would she want to take a chance with a new sister who until she had to be at the same hospital had no interest in her.
For such a big hospital she sure seems intent on being in Merideth's space (as in sleeping with her roommate, hanging out with merideth's guy and so on). But for having said all that I do hope the two sister eventually bond and form a family tie.
I hope they resolve the Cristina situation soon too. I don't always like to see her get her way cause she can be kind of cutthroat at times but in another way she shouldn't have to change what her interest is because of the selfish attitude of one of the head doctors either. I still enjoy the show and it still keeps my interest. Never cared much for Callie and I kind of feel like she knew what she was getting in for by being with George (who had had a crush on Izzie for how long now...) I did have to laugh though at the scenes with merideth and izzie/george comparing notes.
All my opinion and just one of the minority I guess of ones who still like merideth and gray's.
Reply