(S05E08) "It's too bad - she was really talented." - Shepherd
Snap! Well that didn't take long. Thirty seconds into the episode and Shonda Rhimes made it very clear how she feels about Brooke Smith's departure from the show. Even though I didn't like the whole Callie/Hahn romance and even though I thought Hahn's exit actually made a bit of sense (it was written well), I still don't see why it was necessary to fire Smith. There had to have been a better way to fix the story without removing her. Regardless, no sense in whining. She's gone and Seattle Grace Hospital now has two new faces for everyone to gossip about.
First up is Meredith's old friend Sadie, who filled George's empty intern spot. The two were quite the duo back in the day apparently. Backpacking in Europe and going by the name "'Deth and 'Die." Pretty clever actually. However, after meeting Sadie, it seems pretty clear where Meredith got her morbid side. Sadie seems like a Meredith clone, only far more rebellious and spunky. She put off her residency to work in a morgue! She cut herself so other interns could practice stitching her up! She's gonna be fun to watch in future episodes.
The other addition to the cast (I think she's going to be around for 3 or 4 episodes?) is Mary McDonnell's Dr. Virgina Dixon. As we all heard, she has Asperger's and it made for many awkward conversations throughout the episode. The funniest was by far when she flat out asked Yang why she was talking to her if she wasn't assisting on her heart surgery. Obviously, Cristina didn't know about her condition, but still... funny. It'll be interesting to see how Bailey tries to make up for taking advantage of Dixon in the OR.
The heart surgery Dixon was working on was a Native American who had a piggy-backed heart. It was time to remove that heart so that his own could be used again. However, in true Grey's Anatomy fashion, characters can only have revelations when they meet patients who have similar issues, and this guy was afraid of the ghosts that accompanied an organ that wasn't his. Ghosts? That means Denny was back again.
I really don't want to spend too much time on Denny, so let's get to the point. Why the hell is he there? Why can Izzie see him? Touch him? Kiss him? He kept saying "I'm here for you." Now I know I read somewhere that supposedly Katherine Heigl is going to be written out of the show in a season-long arc. Could this be it? Is she dying perhaps and Denny is her celestial messenger/brain tumor manifestation?
More thoughts on "These Ties That Bind" --
- Sloan and Lexie - what's the big deal? Let him go for it. The guy seems like he might be ready to settle down again.
- How about Yang taking credit from Webber for Lexie's skills (when she taught her nothing) and then demanding that the interns stop teaching themselves? Ridiculous!
- I really liked the homeless guy. That was a well written plot, especially the whole thing about walking being what defines him.
- I wonder if we'll get any more explanation from Callie about Hahn's departure. When Yang was talking to her and Sloan, I got the impression that Sloan knew more than he was saying. Callie presumably confided in him first.
- Hunt and Yang kissed again, but why was he all jumpy? Because the patient died? I wonder if we're going to find out that he has PTSD from his time in Iraq. Certainly would be realistic.
I liked where this episode left us hanging. I imagine that Derek is eventually going to hear one of Sadie's stories about Mer and I doubt it will be a good thing. On top of that, I think Karev seems pretty in-tune to what Izzie is going through and I wonder if he starts doing some investigating regarding her health. We've still got a few episodes to go before Grey's disappears for about a month during the holidays and I'm guessing some bombs are ready go off.
Grey's Anatomy' Photos
Actress Chandra Wilson attends the screening of her new public service announcement produced by OTCSafety.org at Edelman headquarters on September 24, 2008 in New York City.
Joe Corrigan/WireImage.com
Actress Chandra Wilson attends the screening of her new public service announcement produced by OTCSafety.org at Edelman headquarters on September 24, 2008 in New York City.
Joe Corrigan/WireImage.com
NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 24: Actress Chandra Wilson attends the screening of a new public service announcement for OTCsafety.org at the Edelman headquarters on September 24, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Chandra Wilson
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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 24: Actress Chandra Wilson attends the screening of a new public service announcement for OTCsafety.org at the Edelman headquarters on September 24, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Chandra Wilson
Getty Images
NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 24: Actress Chandra Wilson attends the screening of a new public service announcement for OTCsafety.org at the Edelman headquarters on September 24, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Chandra Wilson
Getty Images
Actor Patrick Dempsey (R) and wife Jillian Dempsey arrive at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Nokia Theater on September 21, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.
Dan MacMedan/WireImage.com
Chandra Wilson and Debra Birnbaum, Editor-in-Chief of TV Guide Magazine, arrive at TV Guide
Chris Weeks/WireImage.com
Actress Chandra Wilson arrives at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Nokia Theater on September 21, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.
Steve Granitz/WireImage.com
Actor Patrick Dempsey poss in the press room during the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Nokia Theatre on September 21, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.
Dan MacMedan/WireImage.com
(L-R) Actors Sandra Oh and Patrick Dempsey pose in the press room during the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Nokia Theatre on September 21, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.
Dan MacMedan/WireImage.com
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
11-14-2008 @ 10:10AM
Ryan said...
"How about Yang taking credit from Webber for Lexie's skills (when she taught her nothing) and then demanding that the interns stop teaching themselves? Ridiculous!"
Except it's totally in character for her to do so. In fact even if she's not a good teacher, she's being a good doctor for telling them not to practice on one another! It seems they don't heed her advice from the previous... to disastrous results.
I'm still icky on the whole Brooke Smith firing. As you said, if they weren't happy with the storyline WRITE to make it better. Don't fire an actress. Having said that I LOVE Melissa George AND Mary McDonnell so I'm fine.
Denny and Izzie? Ugh. I hope he's just around because she IS dying. That would be a nice payoff to this silly storyline.
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11-15-2008 @ 9:21PM
Brent McKee said...
The thing is that Shonda and the other writers seemed perfectly happy with where the Hahn storyline was going. It was people higher up at ABC who were clearly not.
11-14-2008 @ 10:10AM
LaTissa D said...
As much as I love Jeffrey Dean Morgan...and as yummy as he looked in his grey t-shirt...when Lizzie actually touched him at the end of the ep, and THEN next week's preview showed them in bed together, I literally yelled "WTF?!?!" Shonda & Co. better have a damn good explanation for this...the Izzie mental condition/breakdown thing would be acceptable...
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11-14-2008 @ 10:43AM
diane said...
DOUBLE WTF?!?! My poor neighbors at 1230AM as thats exactly what I hollered at the TV. I deleted Greys right then and there from the DVR. That is just one story line tooo stupid.
If it all turns out to be a "dream" or something maybe I'll catch it on reruns but SERIOUSLY, I broke up with GA last night and don't think I'll be back.
11-15-2008 @ 9:21PM
KateGee said...
Hahaha! I just watched it and yelled WTF??? Then I called my friend to see if she'd watched it yet so I could WTF at her.
11-14-2008 @ 10:10AM
Tim said...
Denny has to go. I think some of Lost's writers are doing double duty. This is just getting wierd.
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11-14-2008 @ 10:10AM
alyson said...
Okay, am I the only one who finds Kevin McKidd ridiculously sexy. That smooch he gave Cristina at the end of the episode was hot. He has so much pent-up aggression and it just explodes every time he's around her.
I can't believe Lexie is going to lead the interns into taking out another intern's appendix next week. Craziness.
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11-14-2008 @ 11:01AM
ORKMommy said...
I totally agree. I didn't find him attractive the first time I saw him, but I could definitely get into that character after last night...
11-14-2008 @ 10:10AM
Dorv said...
"How about Yang taking credit from Webber for Lexie's skills (when she taught her nothing) and then demanding that the interns stop teaching themselves? Ridiculous!"
Yeah, they were teaching themselves by practicing on each other. Yang was absolutely right. Just look at next weeks previews on how this is a slippery slope.
I've thought it was pretty apparent that Hunt has some issues going on after his time in Iraq; just based on alone on his "reasons" for not remembering Yang's name.
This is definitely one of those times when I wonder if we were watching the same show... I don't mean that in a flippant way, but really it goes to show how people can watch/read/experience the same media and take completely different things away from it. Pretty interesting.
Oh, and get Denny off the damn show. This isn't the Ghost Whisperer, even though it feels like it.
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11-14-2008 @ 11:30AM
John said...
All I know is that the Native American guy that starred in Free Willy really set this episode off for me. During the hour this show was on, all I could think about was Willy jumping over the levee to freedom. Such a touching moment in history...
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11-15-2008 @ 9:21PM
Brent McKee said...
That was Canadian actor August Schellenberg as the heart patient. His ancestry is Mohawk and Swiss-German.
11-14-2008 @ 11:55AM
scazza said...
I was dreading having to see the President of the 12 Colonies demean herself being all touchy feely on Grey's, but in true kick-ass style Mary McDonnell was fabulous! The double agent (George) was also great and not as annoying as she was on Alias, but maybe I should hold that judgement.
I really have always hated the Izzie character. I hate that Denny is back (I ffward through some of that this week) and ok if it turns out well, like something that will kill her, I'll be thankful.
As for Hahn, I surprisingly enjoyed the show more without her. She always frustrated me, not teaching, kind of one note, and now there's more time for the other great new characters.
Hunt, PTSD, obviously. With what happened to his unit, how he talked to the homeless guy about being a fighter, I don't know I just see it. He is a great actor, I loved him on Rome, he has this great agression.
I liked this episode a lot. I'm definitey excited about next week's appendix removal.
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11-14-2008 @ 12:12PM
frances said...
i will never watch greys anatomy again the way they treated Erica is a disgrace .she was only doing her job and she got fired for that all because someone was uneasy about the storyline well remember ABC did this before they did it to Ellen when her show was on the air.i will not watch ABC anymore we see what kind of people run ABC you guys made a very big miastake
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11-14-2008 @ 1:36PM
Dorv said...
Ok, "Erica" didn't get fired. Lets just contemplate the difference for a quick minute...
My take on the whole Callie/Hahn relationship? It was boring. Guy/Guy, Girl/Guy, Guy/Girl, I don't care who the relationship is between, just give me a reason to give a damn.
11-14-2008 @ 3:05PM
gooby said...
Boring or not, you don't fire someone out of the blue, you write their character out! The quick firing indicates that they had a problem with the lesbian content and/or the actress and in either case, it's not good. This is not the way you get rid of a character. You made a mistake hiring them? That's fine but you write them out properly and not just poof gone.
ABC lost me as well. Forget Lost, Pushing Daisies (from what I hear it's on its way out as well)... I'm done with ABC, done.
11-15-2008 @ 9:22PM
Dorv said...
My question is... How does it look so quick? I mean, we just heard about the whole thing 10 days or so ago, but it looks like this was in the works for a while. I mean, we heard that they were bringing in Melissa George how long ago? And they've just introduced her. Sounds like that's how long ago the decision was made. Her character had a logical departure, albeit sudden.
11-14-2008 @ 1:15PM
ral said...
Question #1 - " Thirty seconds into the episode and Shonda Rhimes made it very clear how she feels about Brooke Smith's departure from the show."
Are you referring to Shepherd's quote, or Meredith saying "the wicked witch is gone" ??
Question #2 - was it me, or did Shepherd - and not that i pay close attention, but it seemed to jump out at me - have a streak of gray (no pun intended at all) that he hasn't had before?
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11-14-2008 @ 1:36PM
Decay33 said...
I see Fonzie jumping over a shark!
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11-14-2008 @ 1:37PM
Jessica said...
I can't believe where this Izzie thing is going! That is utterly ridiculous. KH crabbed about not getting material good enough to throw her name into the Emmy hat so now they are giving it to her in a really stupid way. The guy died - she cried - she morned - she won an Emmy. But, DAMN!!!! Jeffrey Dean Morgan is so freakin' hot. Just looking at him and hearing his voice gets me all - WOW. For the sake of the eye candy, I am glad he is on the show. However, the story line is lame and I don't like it.
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11-14-2008 @ 2:17PM
Gina said...
I totally disagree on Hahn's departure being written well. It has been handled horribly. One week she is there, and the next we have Callie sad and depressed with Hahn not even saying good-bye?! Really not the best way to handle the end of the line. The whole firing was an error. They could have done things differently.
As for Izzie and Denny, I have no idea where they are going, but these two do share magic when they are in scenes together. The last few minutes of last night's episode had me on the edge of my seat, and it made me remember why I fell in love with this series to begin with.
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