Grey’s Anatomy: Derek’s Defiance

Last week we saw the intense competition between the Mercy West and Seattle Grace residents. This week we witness how the merger has pit Derek and the Chief against one another, causing Derek to become rebellious and go rogue.

Isaac, a hospital lab tech and favorite of many of the staff, approaches Derek with x-rays of a tumor wrapped around his spine. Knowing that Derek is one of the best neurosurgeons and a risk taker, Isaac asks him to try to remove the tumor.

Most of the doctors including Arizona, Callie, Sloan, Bailey and Hunt support Isaac’s wish for the surgery, although they admit it is risky. When Derek approaches the Chief about the surgery, they argue and the Chief forbids the surgery because it is too expensive and the tumor inoperable. Derek accuses the Chief of changing since the merger and too focused on money. Since almost losing his position as Chief, I think Richard is trying too hard to impress the board, rather than following his instincts.

Despite the Chief’s decision, Derek tells Meredith he is defying the Chief and has scheduled the surgery to remove the tumor.

The next day Derek holds a microsurgery contest with the help of a cup, red pen and dollar bill to decide who will scrub in on his “super secret surgery.” Cristina, much to her dismay, is unsuccessful but Jackson, who is very easy on the eyes and somewhat arrogant, wins the prize of scrubbing in.

Cristina struggles throughout the episode due to what she calls a “lack of a cardio god” at the hospital and the fact that she recently hasn’t scrubbed in on any difficult or unique surgeries.

Lexie pulls the assignment of being Derek’s “personal doctor” throughout the surgery to make sure he stays hydrated and takes breaks. Jackson is unkind and demeaning when he makes fun of her role in the surgery. Lexie then tries to prove how hardcore she is by wearing a diaper, so she doesn’t have to leave the OR for bathroom breaks.

While the Chief believes that Derek is performing craniotomies, he actually is in the OR for ten hours perplexed by the tumor on Isaac’s spine and never even starts the surgery. However, the Chief overhears Sloan, Callie and Arizona talking about the surgery and rushes into the OR and forces Derek to stop.

Derek tells Isaac there was no way to perform the surgery without risking his life or paralyzing him. Not fazed by the difficulty of the situation, Isaac gives a touching speech about doing the impossible and how he is a survivor. He then asks Derek to sleep on it and try again tomorrow. Derek goes home to Meredith and proceeds to draw the spine and tumor on their bedroom wall. He then creates a plan on how to remove the tumor.

The next day, after lying to the Chief again, and with the help of the other doctors covering for him, Derek performs the difficult surgery. Even Arizona, surprisingly, stands up to the Chief and declares, “He is trying to save one of our own. You don’t get to go in there and be a bully. Not on my watch.” Good for her! Although shortly afterwards, she bursts into tears.

In the end, Derek lives up to his reputation of being one of the top neurosurgeons, because he successfully removes the tumor without any damage to Isaac’s spinal cord. On a side note, Lexie helps with the surgery when Jackson’s hand cramps due to dehydration, meaning that her diaper technique, although radical, was worthwhile. Derek then approaches the Chief to try to reconcile but the Chief isn’t in a forgiving mood. He fires Derek, and tells him to “get the hell out of my hospital.” However, Derek repeats Isaac’s words to him, “Go home. Sleep on it. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”

Throughout the episode, Alex continues to deal with Izzie’s disappearance. She skips one of her treatments and Alex breaks down in front of Reed, who was actually kind to him. Hopefully, Izzie comes back before Alex becomes downright depressed.

I was happy to see the large number of characters involved in the episode and the inclusion of the Mercy West residents. Although, I still would like to see the MW doctors developed more. There was sarcastic and humorous interaction between the characters that I enjoyed.

My one major gripe is that for the past three weeks, three doctors have been fired: Izzie, April and now Derek. I do not believe that Derek’s termination is for real but if this is turning into a reality show with a doctor being fired each week, I would like a vote too!

For another take on this episode, check out McDreamy to the Rescue by Tanya Lane.

Season 6, Episodes 7: Give Peace a Chance (Originally aired October 29, 2009)

For more Grey’s Anatomy, click here.

Thursdays 9/8c on ABC

Photographs courtesy of ABC, Karen Neal