Grey’s Anatomy: Defining Moments

Have you ever wondered if Bailey was always the outspoken and bold doctor that we know and love? Have you ever been curious what Richard, or any of the other attendings at Seattle Grace, were like early in their medical careers? I sure have. This week, in a unique episode, we witness the defining moments of Bailey, Callie and Richard’s careers.

The episode opens with Bailey prepping for her lecture with compliments from Ben, Callie freaking out over her fear of public speaking and Richard at rehab, stating that he is forty-five days sober. Good for him!

Next, we see Richard and Derek discussing Richard getting his job back because of his recent sobriety. Unfortunately, he must wait for board approval. During the interim, Derek offers him “general attending surgeon,” which an unhappy Richard refuses. But Richard does agree to take part in the lectures after Derek says, “It’s lecture day and I have an open spot. If you are really going to leave this place, don’t leave it the way you did. Give one last lecture.”

FYI…during the episode, each character’s lecture and flashback were woven together but for clarity I will discuss them individually.

Bailey focuses on a case, a patient with severe abdominal pain, that took place during her intern year in 2003. Surprisingly, she had long braided hair, glasses, went by “Mandy” and did not get along with her obnoxious resident. Richard advises her that “surgery is a shark tank” and she must be “a shark, not a minnow.” The patient had been seen by many doctors and had many surgeries, including Bailey’s first solo surgery, but with no resolution to her pain. When the patient lands in the hospital again to have yet another surgery, a light bulb goes on for Miranda and she realizes her disorder. Bailey then cancels the surgery and blasts her resident, criticizing her lack of knowledge about their patient and her diagnosing skills. Richard overhears and demands that Miranda report to his office but instead of reprimanding her, he tells her “you’re going to make a hell of a surgeon.”

While Bailey looked at ease talking on the stage, Callie was a nervous wreck (in a rather humorous way) and relied on using index cards, until she dropped them. With a little encouragement from Arizona and then Alex, who was on the case with her, Callie is able to talk about the case—a twenty-eight year old student from India with a severe case of polio. Callie had promised the patient that he would be able to walk again, which Richard calls arrogant and explains that her “career lives and dies on this.” Eventually, they decide to perform a series of shorter surgeries, which are successful and the patient is able to walk. How did Callie celebrate after the final surgery (pre-Arizona)? By sleeping with Alex!

Richard’s case was during his residency at Seattle Grace in 1982 with Dr. Ellis Grey. This was also when their affair was taking place. Together they diagnosed the patient with GRID (AIDS) but the patient gets very upset and leaves the hospital threatening to sue for slander. However, he returns, even more sick, and tells Richard and Ellis that they “were right and please help me.” It was the first case of AIDS in the state of Washington and their attending refuses to help since the patient is a “lost cause.” Despite their attending’s negative opinion, Ellis and Richard decide to operate on the patient’s twisted bowel. Before the surgery, Richard tries to end the affair with Ellis but she wants them to leave their spouses, Adele and Thatcher. The surgery is successful, however the patient dies eight months later due to pneumonia. Richard goes on to say, “It changes you, this work. Your patients, your colleagues, you change each other. You never think you’ll lose your way.” He then reminds the doctors of their physician’s oath and repeats it. Once he finishes, he is given a rousing standing ovation.

Afterwards, Derek reminds Richard the job offer (general attending surgeon) is still available and Richard replies, “we’ll see.” The episode ends on a somber note with a flashback of Ellis and Richard at a bar toasting their dead patient. Ellis tells Richard that he needs to start acting like a grown-up and orders him vodka, despite the fact that he hates the taste of alcohol. We watch as Richard takes his first drink…

This episode was a great change of pace for Grey’s and very captivating! It has made me wonder about the rest of the doctors’ pasts and curious to see what other one of a kind episodes Grey’s will come up with.

The acting by the three lecturers, James Pickens Jr. (Richard), Chandra Wilson (Bailey) and Sara Ramirez (Callie) was superb! I was really impressed by Sara Ramirez’s portrayal of the nervous Callie. Also, I enjoyed seeing these three characters in the spotlight.

I am glad to see Richard sobering up but somehow I wasn’t completely surprised to see that he started drinking with, or because of his relationship with, Ellis Grey.

On a side note, Bailey and Ben are adorable! Looking forward to see what is in store for this new couple as the season progresses.

New Grey’s episode in two weeks (3/4)!

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

Season 6, Episodes 15: The Time Warp (originally aired February 18, 2010)

For more Grey’s Anatomy, click here.

Thursdays 9/8c on ABC

Photographs courtesy of ABC, Randy Holmes, and Ron Tom.