(S06E09) "According to Google, you don't exist" - Cristina Yang
We've reached a maximum capacity on Grey's Anatomy where all the billed characters showed up for a few seconds on the show then disappeared; even the bartender showed up. This left a lot of characters segregated to the side. Meredith returned and was out of the loop for most of the episode, stuck in a room practicing her craft on a plastic dummy.
We also found the return of Izzie and the introduction of a new cardio doctor, Dr. Teddy Altman. While I grew to like Teddy, I really wished that Izzie would just go home and never come back.
The biggest focus on an individual character this week came from Bailey. It was the return of the Miranda Bailey I remember: concerned for her interns like a mother hen, saying a lot of witty comments, and just the general looks that Chandra Wilson gave were great. I laughed when she looked at both Reed and Lexie and considered that either may be having an affair with the chief. We'll see how getting all of the chief's surgeries will affect her in the coming weeks.
Cristina got her cardio god with Teddy. The fact that they clashed early on just shows Cristina's difficulty warming up to people, but the actual surgery finally motivated her. More drama will ensue with Cristina and Owen next week, but I'm hoping that this only makes them stronger.
A big bombshell finally put all of the puzzle pieces together: the chief was so stressed out with work and life that he turned to drinking. I must have been dense to not consider he had a drinking problem; the fact that the bar hasn't shown up for the past few weeks should have tipped me off. Now one has to wonder: was he drunk during surgery? While he was driving his car? When he fired Derek? The fact that Meredith said "I can't solve anything" to Alex and then saw the chief at the bar made me assume that she will try to solve his problem.
Finally, I don't know what to say about the Alex/Izzie situation. I still take Izzie as a person who wants everything to go her way now that she beat cancer. Poor Alex is misunderstood, and Izzie is too stubborn to listen to him. She may be pregnant (or it was a memory relapse), but that doesn't mean I take pity for her. How about this scenario: she goes to the land of Private Practice and never comes back.
As for the small things, I'm really liking the "other" lunch table with Mark, Callie, Arizona, Owen, and Teddy. The fact that even Arizona could stop Mark from putting his foot in his mouth was nice. I will credit the show for at least having an interesting use of focus during Alex and Izzie's argument; it was cliche, but at least attempted. Finally, I love this idea of a "work wife/husband."
How did you all take the episode? Leave comments below.
[Find clips of Grey's on SlashControl]
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. on 'Faces of America' and the Beer Summit
Six Reasons Why '24' Has Jumped the You-Know-What
The Super Bowl Commercials: The Best
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
11-13-2009 @ 9:40AM
Rhomboid said...
She's not pregnant, that was just the teacher's disease making him delusional. (I don't think you can undergo chemo if you're pregnant.) But I totally agree about wanting Izzie to just go away. The show works better without her and the silly vortex of drama that follows her around everywhere. For a while there it was looking like it was impossible to get kicked out of Seattle Grace, given that she's been given so many second chances and special treatments.
Reply
11-13-2009 @ 9:40AM
bruce said...
I just want Meredith to go away. I actually don't mind Izzie as much, though I could certainly do without her too. If this show has to be centered on a particular Grey's anatomy, then kill off meredith with an icicle or something and let Lexie Grey be the 'star' (why is Meredith the title character anyway? She's really not).
I've actually enjoyed the recent shows with less Meredith, and no Izzie. Ellen Pompeo should get knocked up more often, to further cut down on her screen time.
Reply
11-13-2009 @ 9:09AM
Claire said...
According to Shonda Mer IS the lead and not only that, Rhimes cannot imagine the show without her. Not only that, but Rhimes tweeted to fans again that MerDer are "together for good" If you can't jive with that, I suggest you watch a different show.
11-13-2009 @ 9:40AM
Daniel R. said...
Thank God Meredith is back. If you don't like the star of the show then you're in trouble and better stop watching now cause Shonda tweeted that Meredith is getting her front and center arcs this season come the second part of season 6. and people are happy she's back. the show was a bit lost with her little scene due to her pregnancy. but she's back stronger thane ver and will take center stage again. thanks Shonda.
she was great last night.. made sense she's out of the loop, she came with all these new people and it's real she doesn't get a surgery from day 1 she needs to fight her way back now. He rbeing there for Alex was beautiful. and she will be a kep player in helping the chief back into his place in the coming epis after her last scene tonight.
Thank God Meredith Grey is back. Now it's Grey's Anatomy again.
Reply
11-13-2009 @ 8:54AM
RA said...
Meredith Grey is the key that holds it all together. her being back at the hospital makes it feel like the Grey's we loved for the past 5 years. I'm happy shes back and she was great tonight. MerDer scene was lovely. Alex Meredith are so like each other and get each other, I was happy she was his wall and I was so happy she hit Izzie like that, funny but we all wanted to do that..
The new doc is still not fitting in, Owen is becoming really annoying for some reason. Cristina deserves better. but interested to see where this is going plus I want to see how mer will handdle the cheif after she found out he fell off the wagon..
Reply
11-13-2009 @ 9:22AM
bruce said...
Someone will have to articulate in clear and convincing words why Meredith is a more important (or "lead") character than, say, Christina or Kerev or Dr Shephard. Yes there are certainly minor characters, but I'd suggest that there are constantly about 5-6 main characters, and Meredith is more important than the rest of them.
Likewise, the notion that "meredith is the key that holds it all together" also needs some explaining.
And "Shonda tweeted it" is not an answer.
Reply
11-13-2009 @ 10:53AM
Matt said...
heh, so the fact that the creator said it via twitter means nothing? That's not a viable answer?
How many episodes have been told from Meredith's point of view?
11-13-2009 @ 3:01PM
Claire said...
Nobody said she was "more important" what we are saying is she is a central character and the namesake of the show. TV Squad and Mer haters (as well as Addek fans from season 2 no less who cannot let Addie move on) love to bash this cahracter and say she serves "no" purpose and that suddenly "Lexie Grey" is the lead while trying to convince us the "other Grey" Meredith never was, which in itself makes no sense. So she is a central character for sure and for those of you who say she serves no purpose, you are equally as wrong as anyone who explains she serves all the purpose. Plus Shonda Rhimes continually writes, talks and tweets of Meredith's importance, even going so far as to cast new characters this season because she could not imagine what the show would be "without Mereith or without Derek" (quote) but had to plan for that to happen at some point because of the eventual impact when Mer leaves. Why do that if Mer lacks the importance that some of you are tyring to spin for us? Why would she care? Truth is, she does because Mer is the Grey of the show. No getting around it no matter how much you want her to. But again, all lead characters on TV get the most put on them, so Mer is in good company character-wise here. It seems if you don't like this character you post more, watch more and write more than anyone who simply loves her. Think that's why Shonda Rhimes has put her in the front most times. Because the haters make so much noise, give this lead and the show so much more attention than it would if they just focused on who they do like, but they continue to post. Meredith is a pure GA attention getter! And thank goodness for that!
11-13-2009 @ 9:41AM
Dr Sak said...
Don't forget that Izzy did have a kid while in high school which she gave up for adoption. Remember a few seasons back Izzy saw her in the hospital.
Plus it was also mentioned a few seasons back about the Chief being an alcoholic. It was during a talk with Thatcher that it came out.
Reply
11-13-2009 @ 9:44AM
Michael Pascua said...
You're right on both parts. At least someone read an old script and said, "Hey Shonda, we already referred to the Chief as an alcoholic! Let's use that as his problem now!"
The Izzie/Pregnant Now situation popped up because didn't Izzie basically force Alex into sex so that she didn't feel like she was all Cancer-girl?
11-13-2009 @ 10:04PM
Jen said...
If I recall correctly, it wasn't during a convo with Thatcher that his alcoholism came out. One of the Chief's old sponsors came to the hospital for surgery, and she asked him if he was going to meetings. It was early Season 2, I believe. (Maybe sometime during Season 1...but S1 was so short I can't remember.)
They referenced it when Thatcher came around for his surgery, this season.
11-13-2009 @ 11:10AM
bruce said...
No, creators/writers are always saying random nonsensical shit about their work.
These people are saying something about the show, they should be able to articulate their position.
Now, the fact that Meredith narrates the first 30 seconds and last 30 seconds of about 50% of the shows, spouting off incessant trivial bits of nothingness is the best argument I've heard, but about half the shows are "narrated" (if 30 seconds and the beginning and 30 seconds at the end counts as "narration") is the best argument put forth so far. But the show's title could be called "Chief of Surgery" and Chief Weber could do the narrations and the show wouldn't be one bit different.
Reply
11-13-2009 @ 11:22AM
anna said...
I sort of liked it but also found it too much. what I liked was that it had alot of little things reminiscent to old grey's habits, like the lunch scene, and the bar, and the chief's wife and things like that. but i think they overloaded with the characters and storylines. I'm not sure if I'll remember everyones storylines by next week.
Reply
11-13-2009 @ 11:25AM
bruce said...
I might even be willing to concede that back in the beginning of season 1, when meredeth's alzheimers' mom and drunk dad were a major focus, along with "mer and der" being the key relationship, one could make a plausible argument that meredith was the key character. She was the one with the house, she was the one that all the interns were friends with, despite some not liking others, she was the one with the back story with the famous surgeon mom.
So much has changed, I just don't see how anyone can claim that Meredith Grey is more significant than any other primary character at this point in the show. Plus, now that it seems Meredith and Derrick are finally officially together and married (post-it married, but seems to satisfy them), that aspect of the show is gone. Looking back to the first few seasons, you kinda got the notion that if Meredith and Derrick ever got married it would be in the series finale.
But whatever I might be willing to concede about the beginning of the show is no longer true of the show now. Aside from the fact that Meredith still does more of the annoying and pointless "surgeons lives are like raindrops..." 30-second voiceovers at the beginning of the show than Christina or Kerev (though they certainly do some of them), she is now no more important of a character than they are.
Reply
11-13-2009 @ 11:58AM
Linda said...
I still love Izzie. She and Alex are the reason I still watch this show.
Reply
11-13-2009 @ 12:19PM
Patti said...
Izzie hasn't learned a damned thing-she almost died of her disease, and now she is back to being a spiteful, spoiled brat again. How did she get that way anyhow? She grew up in a trailer park, with a trashy mom and knocked up at a young age. Her character has to die soon, or its just no longer believable. Hey, wait, it isn't now! I feel bad for Alex, she dumped a $200,000 medical bill in his lap, and she wonders why he is mad? There is a word for her, c..t, and I don't use that word much, but if the shoe fits.....
Reply
11-13-2009 @ 12:27PM
dkny said...
i would have to say that for the better part of the last two seasons the hospital has been the main character and that's what the problem has been.
I don't think the show has been the same since Addison left but I'm happy to see some new people with story lines. New heart chick and Owen are definitely going to be together so just get used to it now. Alex and the pixie (which I endorse and not only because she's hotter than Izzy but far less annoying).
The chief and his drinking is a bit of over kill. Another drunk who has to have the "talk."
All in all though I'm enjoying this show a lot more than in recent years so they must be doing something right
Reply
11-13-2009 @ 12:33PM
scazza said...
Great episode! What a bombshell in the end! And to see Christina finally challenged, in a surgical bind and be successful was so satisfying! Loved it. Both plots were built well over the past eps. And Kim Raver totally rocked her role, she shockingly didn't even look new. She got the rhythm and the energy of the show immediately, it was eerie! Like she was born to be here, kind of filling the Addison gap. Yay! I loved how she immediately was complimentary, confident, and a good teacher. I hope things work out with the 3 of them so she stays!
Reply
11-13-2009 @ 1:14PM
Venus said...
I love Kim Raver and I am so happy to see her on Grey's. I am not a fan of Owen and Christina, so looking forward to the mess she can cause in that relationship.
Reply
11-13-2009 @ 3:12PM
Claire said...
Who cares? Meredith isn't going anywhere. Shonda Rhimes loves her. First character she wrote/created out of all the characters, put her in the same college as Rhimes went to, written like the creator herself. Ellen Pompeo and Meredith will be there front and center as long as Ellen Pompeo remains on the show. Rhimes herself has said that. So the haters are going to post the ugly stuff because they know she's not going anywhere no matter how mcuh the try to tell you she's not the lead. It cracks me up a little. They complain and Mer remains. You'd think they would move on to what they like about the show but they stay focused on Meredith. Sad, but in some ways pretty funny too. Rock on Shonda!
Reply