Grey’s: On the Mend

Until the last two episodes, I was about to throw in the surgical towel on Grey’s Anatomy. Seriously.

I’ve still had it up to here with Meredith and her problems, I still don’t like George and Izzy together. My hand was on the "Cancel Season Pass" button during the whole “Mom’s Ashes in the Surgical Sink” episode.

Instead, I decided to give them one more chance. (Heck, we have to enjoy original programming while we have it, right?) So far, I’m glad I did. These two most recent November sweeps episodes have definitely been more enjoyable, more interesting, humorous and filled with heart—as if Grey’s has turned a corner and started to become the Grey’s we all love again. I hope we’ll see the show continue to accentuate the positives while eliminating the negatives.

Positives – Keep it up!
Hahn is a fantastic addition to theSeattle Grace crew.I’ve loved her since she first showed up in the Denny dying/Burke shot episodes in Season 2. She’s tough, she’s good and she’s interesting to watch. The conflict with and influence she has on Christina are more interesting than Christina and Burke ever were (and I was a big fan of Christina and Burke). They’re bringing back the highly competitive, driven, Type-A Christina we used to know and love. I also love the attraction growing between Hahn and McSteamy. It’s an “opposites attract”-type connection that I can’t wait to see develop.

The humor is back. The Chief’s singleton adventures have always been amusing. I’d say that the male-bonding hunting-fishing trip was one of the highlights of last season. So, I’ve been thoroughly enjoying the Chief’s exploits as McDreamy’s new neighbor. (Now that the Chief’s wife has filed for divorce, Chief got himself a trailer and has decided to squat on a patch of McDreamy’s land.)

The two docs have been developing quite the little “bro-mance” over the past couple of weeks. First, a “Gentleman’s Evening” planned by the Chief had McDreamy and McSteamy intrigued, confused, worried, and ultimately, downright funny. This week, Derek and the Chief were sharing dinner, DVDs and household chores so often that Sloan accused them of being in love. When the Chief walked in on Mer and Der, uh, “in the middle of things,” embarrassment and discomfort spilled over into the workplace and Derek and Chief had to have a talk.

Chief admitted that he married young and has a lot to learn about being on his own. They set some ground rules and smoothed things out. I hope that doesn’t mean the laughs will end, however.

The heart is back too.The adoptive dad who lost his wife and needed to work to bond with his new daughter broke me up, even if they did have to parallel his difficulties accepting his new family to (once again) Meredith’s problems. The scene where Chief realizes that Bailey has been doing the Chief Resident job and finally recognizes her contribution and gives her the title, got me, too. Bailey’s always been my favorite and I hoped this would one day happen. Grey’s gave us a scene that was touching, humorous, a joy and a relief. I’m happy for my girl, Miranda, and yet, I feel for Torres, who seems to be losing one thing after another, while all she’s doing is just being herself.

Negatives – CAN ’em if you can
First and always foremost, let’s please lay off the constant Meredith whining. OK, we get it, she’s one F’d up individual with more baggage than an airport carousel. She’s needs to get a grip.

Another thing--thanks for bringing the little junior carbon copyof Mer (Lexie) to SGH with her little carry-on baggage. These include her thing for sleeping with residents (and swearing she’s “not really that girl”), her relentless-ness to be loved (I’m expecting her to say “Pick me, choose me” to Mer any day now) and so on and on and on. George was even instantly drawn to her when he saw her at the end of last season. Gee, that sounds familiar. Please. Stop. As Mer said to Lexie this week, “Stop living in my life; live your own.” WE BEG YOU LEXIE, please. Make that life you live WAY, WAY different. One Meredith is more than enough.

Izzy and George seem to have realized tonight that they don’t have any chemistry AT ALL. Thank God, they finally see what we’ve seen all along. Contrary to what most of the TV and movie world thinks, men and women CAN be friend. And usually, if you are good friends, it’s best that you stay just that way, nothing more. SERIOUSLY.

Moving forward from here
Unless the strike gets resolved before too long, the die is cast for this season in that the shows that are already written and in the can are all we’re going to see. Let’s hope that the developments we’ve seen on Grey’s these last two weeks have been built upon in the episodes we have left and/or that continue to develop if we get the writers back. This show used to shine. It tarnished a bit last season and a bit more at the start of this one, but seems to have gotten a coat of polish now. Keep shining, Grey’s. And we’ll all stick with you.

(Originally published 11-19-07)