Grey’s Anatomy: Welcome Back

Grey’s Anatomy constantly amazes me with the significant amount of drama and storylines they can squeeze into one episode and this crossover event with Private Practice was no exception! I welcome Grey’s Anatomy back from their midseason break and thought this episode strongly opened the second half of the season.

An ecstatic Cristina receives a cardio solo surgery, a heart valve replacement. However, the indecisive and annoying patient cannot make a decision about the type of valve (cow, pig or mechanical) she wants. Finally, after some prodding from Cristina, the patient selects the pig valve. During the surgery, Cristina has some difficulty and asks Dr. Altman for help, who is reading a magazine and refuses. On her own, Cristina manages to save the patient. A furious Owen confronts Teddy because he believes she didn’t assist Cristina because she was mad at him. Cristina is on a high after surgery but Owen tells her Teddy is leaving Seattle Grace. Cristina pleads with Teddy to stay and asks her what she wants that would make her stay. Teddy finally reveals to Cristina, “I want Owen,” and Cristina’s very shocking response, “Fine, take him.” WOW, totally wasn’t expecting that!

Derek’s patient, a highly successful pro quarterback with a repeat concussion, is beginning to have panic attacks about more serious injuries that will affect his brain, memory and life after football with his family. Derek convinces Callie to perform a career ending knee replacement surgery so the quarterback has a reason to retire.

McDreamy tried to play matchmaker with Bailey and other Seattle Grace single doctors but she quickly refuses when she says, “she likes sleeping crosswise in the bed and not shaving her legs.” Very amusing!

In the meantime, Derek begins to realize that something is amiss with the Chief. He discovers that the Chief made an error during surgery on his gallbladder patient and has not operated since. Bailey and Meredith continue to cover for the Chief until Derek convinces Meredith to tell him that the Chief is drinking again.

Lexie gives little Sloan (Mark’s daughter) an ultrasound and discovers a problem with the baby: amniotic bands wrapped around the baby’s legs. The bands must be removed or the baby could lose his legs. Mark brings in Addison Montgomery (Private Practice) to take over Sloan’s case and perform the surgery. However, during surgery Addison discovers complications making the surgery risky and, although she is confident, Mark makes her stop mid-surgery out of concern for his daughter. Later, despite the risks, Lexie convinces Mark and Sloan to travel to L.A. to have Addison perform the surgery. Mark tries to comfort his daughter by saying she can stay and raise the baby with him and Lexie. Lexie is shocked! They fight about his decision and Lexie states that she is not ready to be a grandmother. Mark makes it clear that he would pick Sloan over Lexie if forced to and they end their relationship.

Meredith overhears Reed offering “drinks afterwards and you know” if Alex lets her scrub in on a surgery. Meredith confronts Alex who tells her he is done worrying about Izzie and wants to move on. Meredith also calls Izzie and leaves her a message to tell her about Alex. After the surgery, instead of taking Reed up on her offer, Alex tells her “I don’t trade surgery for sex.” Good for you, Alex!

But Alex and Lexie, both heartbroken, end up back at Meredith’s house and sleep together.

Private Practice

Sloan and his daughter arrive in L.A. so Addison can operate on her unborn baby. Addison and Mark share personal problems they are dealing with: that Addison’s childhood was a sham because her mother is a lesbian and Mark explains that Lexie broke up with him. They spontaneously have sex in her office thinking it will ease their pain. Mark is enjoying L.A. so much that he contemplates moving there.

The surgery on little Sloan goes smoothly until Addison hits one of her arteries and she starts to bleed out. Luckily, she and the baby pull through the surgery. Post-surgery, little Sloan is very emotional and does not seem prepared to be a mom. Addison discusses the option of adoption with Sloan, which she seems to be very interested in. Finally, Addison questions Mark about his intentions to move to L.A. and be with her. I felt awful for Addison as she realizes that Mark will be heading back to Seattle.

My dislikes from the episode…Lexie and Sloan breaking up! I really liked them together but there is still hope. Shonda Rhimes, creator and writer for Grey’s tweeted, “Mark and Lexie = impossible situation. Can it be fixed? Yes. Will it be fixed? Maybe. Maybe not.” I also can’t decide how I feel about Mark’s daughter; sometimes she annoys me, sometimes I feel bad for her. Lastly, I cannot stand Reed, I wish she would just leave Alex alone!!

There were a lot of aspects of the episode that I really enjoyed. First off, I was just happy to see a new episode, I felt like Grey’s was off for a long time! Since Ellen Pompeo was pregnant throughout the first half of the season, it was great to have Meredith back. Addison was amazing, I had forgotten how much I really loved her character and Kate Walsh. It was very natural to have her back on Grey’s. Finally, I know they have cast Jason George to play Bailey’s new love interest and I believe we were being set up for his introduction. Can’t wait!

Coming up next week: Izzie is back! Derek confronts the Chief about his drinking and more drama with the Cristina-Owen-Teddy love triangle. Looking forward to the fireworks!

For more on this episode, check out Tanya Lane’s review here.

Season 6, Episodes 11: Blink (originally aired January 14, 2010)

For more Grey’s Anatomy, click here.

Thursdays 9/8c on ABC

Photographs courtesy of ABC, Adam Taylor, and Eric McCandless.