Grey’s Anatomy Review: 2 Week Recap

The last two episodes of Grey’s Anatomy have  realistically portrayed the difficulty in overcoming tragedy.  You don’t simply “bounce back” from a horrific event like that experienced by the doctors at Seattle Grace.  I commend the writers for finding the perfect balance of entertainment and realism as the characters try desperately to move on with their lives and return to what they do best: performing surgeries. 

Meredith finally shares with Derek that she suffered a miscarriage on the day of the shooting.  She may have largely disclosed it because she is anxious to be cleared to return to surgery, but Derek absolutely has the right to know, and it’s unfair for Meredith to shoulder such a burden alone. 

Owen and Cristina have tied the knot, but their marriage is uniquely burdened in light of what happened.  Cristina has not been cleared for surgery, and because she’s normally such a rock star everyone assumes that the only way for her to recover is to get back on the proverbial horse ASAP.  Despite lacking adequate psychological clearance, both Owen and Teddy lobby Chief Webber to skirt the rules and allow Cristina to return.  Mind you, Cristina herself has expressed no desire to do so.  When she finally returns to surgery, it is disastrous and humbling.  She displays all the classic signs of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, and when Avery drops a surgical tray full of instruments, the noise startles her into a debilitating flashback.  She’s not ready, and now everyone knows it.  Her illustrious reputation is threatened, and Owen is rightfully guilty.  Meredith hasn’t been cleared either, but she rushes to Cristina’s aid and tries to soothe her.  I think Cristina will ultimately be just fine, because surgery is her true passion and she is a brilliant doctor.  It’s just too soon.

Meanwhile, everyone else continues to cope in the best way possible.  Alex does a great job of acting like a bad ass, but he’s suffering too.  He refuses to have the bullet removed from his chest until Bailey threatens to bar him from surgeries indefinitely.  He finally lets her extract it.  The doctors at Seattle Grace are more than just colleagues; they are a de facto family.  This tragedy has only brought them closer together.  On that note, Chief Webber notices one day that Alex is sweaty and rather smelly.  He’s using the stairs rather than the elevator between floors.  He was shot on the elevator during the rampage and laid there dying for what must have felt like an eternity.  Because of that, he has avoided the elevator.  The Chief tells Alex that he will take the elevator with him until he feels comfortable, and the two ride up and down over and over.  It’s very real moments like this that touch my heart, at the risk of sounding corny. 

Having a near death experience makes you re-evaluate your life and your priorities.  Mark really loves Lexie and wants to pour his heart out to her.  His best buddy Callie warns him to tread lightly, but he forges ahead anyway.  Before he can spill his guts, Lexie lashes out at him, crying that she just wants to be left alone.  He has been hovering over her like a Papa Bear, doubting her ability to return to surgery.  It was only done out of concern, but I can understand how Lexie would be resentful.  She’s a bright doctor, and all of her medical instincts are there.  She’s high strung and Mark is just looking out for her.  After her outburst, he bites his tongue and bides his time, perhaps waiting for a better moment, despite being hurt.

In last Thursday’s episode, we return to a bit of the wackiness for which the show is known.  The doctors are tasked with treating a patient who is…a tree?  I mean, this was over the top, even for me.  The patient is covered with warts and his skin is dark and discolored, resembling tree bark.  He contracted HPV at some point and had a rare reaction to the virus.  They can’t simply scrape the warts off because each one has its own blood supply.  He has a loving wife who has been by his side but hasn’t been intimate with him in 4 years.  His hands are even branches!  While they were performing surgery, a spider crawled out of his body!! Exclamation point!

In a great casting move, Derek’s long lost screw up sister shows up, and the actress actually  resembles Patrick Dempsey.  And she’s also a surgeon.  I’m not sure why she’s here; I guess it’s just something for the writers to throw in.

Another young couple is in the hospital because the woman is having difficulty breathing.  She and her fiancé will be getting married in two weeks, and she is a virgin.  Imagine everyone’s surprise when they discover that her obstruction is actually a swallowed condom.  Her fiancé storms out and later demands that she return the ring.  It appears that his betrothed isn’t quite so virginal after all.  She tearfully pleads for him to listen, and after a brief discussion it is revealed that she swallowed it at her bachelorette party, practicing on a banana.  All’s well that end’s well.

When Cristina chokes again while trying to perform a surgery, Derek wonders if his wife’s best friend will ever be the same.  She is melting down, and her career is going up in flames.  He pulls her aside to practice on a cadaver as the episode closes, and it appears that Cristina might get her “swag” back after all.

This season is rolling along nicely, and the pacing is great.  We can’t keep dwelling on the shooting, but it’s not realistic to expect things to immediately return to normal.  The interpersonal relationships continue to evolve as everyone navigates the healing process, and it’s making for great television.  I can’t wait for next week’s episode.

Season 7, Episodes 2-3: Shock to the System & Superfreak (originally aired September 30 & October 7, 2010)

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Thursdays 9/8c on ABC

All photos courtesy of ABC.  Cover image courtesy of Richard Cartwright.  Article photos courtesy of Danny Field & Eric McCandless.