Holy Kleenex! This week's Grey's Anatomy had me weeping! Shonda, you got me again! After a brutally slow and boring episode last week (so boring I did not even write about it), I was afraid the show had lost its mojo, but this week, Shonda and crew were tugging at my heart strings!
Let's begin with the arrival of Izzie mother! Mrs. Stevens, played by Sharon Lawrence, is positively hysterical, and just as you would imagine her from all of Izzie's anecdotes. Fresh from the trailer park she is totally clueless as to the gravity of her daughter's situation. I balled when Izzie compared her cancer to that of her deceased grandmother's, and Sharon Lawrence crumbled into a heap at her bedside. Sharon Lawrence is a fantastic, versatile actress. I've never really understood why she's remained C-list. Also, a shout out to guest star Kellie Martin (playing the tree-hugger's sister), who I always loved on the early 90s show Life Goes On. A delightful surprise to see you among our favorite docs.
In another sad Izzie related scene, Alex tries to describe to Izzie how all the food tastes that she is checking out for the upcoming Mer/Der wedding. Alex takes a bite of shrimp and says "It tastes kinda sweet and spicy, you know, kind of like our first date. The good part. The part before I didn't kiss you on the porch." (He smiles). SWOON! I am loving this new, softer, more caring Alex Karev! Keep the sweetness coming! With a boorish outburst here and there, of course.
Another noteworthy, touching moment came at a restaurant, when after initially turning down the invitation, Sloan shows up to meet Lexi's father, fresh from rehab. Not only does he dress up (bonus points), he firmly shakes the mans hand, sits down, and take Lexi's hand ON THE TABLE. That's right, not under the table, hiding. Out in the open! Progress!
Back at the hospital, fresh from seeing her Dad post-rehab Meredith has a freak out. She is treating a mother and daughter who have been abused, and the daughter shot the father, trying to kill him. The mother is willing to take the husband back, and Meredith raises her voice and pleads with her "Please, you have to change her story. This can't be her story." And I'm crying again! Damn it, Shonda!
In another touching scene, the Chief enters the locker room to confront Meredith. He winds up apologizing for not standing up for her as a child. That no one stood up for her. Despite facing opposite directions on a bench, Meredith rests her shoulder on the Chief's and starts crying. He repeats over and over again "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." This moment was very reminiscent of the scene in Good Will Hunting where Robin Williams says to Matt Damon's character in their final therapy session, "Its not your fault. Its not your fault. Its not your fault." And, I'm crying again. Good thing I live alone!
At the end of the episode is the most powerful scene of the hour. After treating Christina like a stranger all day, Hunt is forced to defend his nonchalant "take care now" casual pleasantries. Christina stops him on his way home for the night and asks why he has been treating her like a stranger. She asks "What are you? A choke 'em and leave 'em king of guy?" Too soon for that line I think.
Hunt shows Christina a tiny piece of paper with three phrases on it, all made up of three words. He explains, in a speech worthy of a direct quote:
"They are all three words so I could have something to say to you instead of the three words that are killing me. The three words that you know I feel but I can't say because it would be cruel to say them because I am no good for you. I don’t want to torture you, I don’t want to look at you longingly when I know I can’t be with you. So yeah, I’m smiling and I’m saying “take care now”. I’m letting you off the hook. I’m trying to hard to let you off the hook, I am trying to make it right. What I did to you . . . I’m just trying to make it right”
And I'm balling! And so is Christina! Christina and Hunt are the two most tortured souls at Seattle Grace. More "dark and twisty" than Meredith, more second-guessing than Derek, more angry and resentful than Alex, and more self pitying than Izzie. Christina and Hunt take the cake. Messed up to the tenth power.
I did stop crying long enough to scrutinize the previews for next week, which appears to be the Mer/Der wedding episode! At long last! I'm telling you Shonda, if something goes wrong at this wedding, and they don't go through with it, you risk losing me forever. It also seems Izzie will discover a new tumor, further perpetuating the rumors that she is dying because Katherine Heigel wants to leave the show. Or did want to leave. She keeps changing her mind. Next week also marks the 100th episode of Grey's. It feels longer somehow.
Do you think Izzie will be allowed out of the hospital for the wedding? Will Meredith's father be involved? Will Addison show up? Potential twists galore!!
If you want more Grey's info, check out the Grey's Anatomy Writers blog. Hear straight from the source what they were thinking. Caveat - wait until Friday morning to read, sometimes they post early and you don't want to read any spoilers!
