Rather than open on the traditional Meredith Grey voice over monologue, last night's episode of "Grey's Anatomy" began with a clip of Ellis Grey (though the way we first saw it, it seemed live, and not like the video recording it turned out to be). Knowing Ellis is dead, it was jarring to see her on screen again.
This hour we saw Ellis not only as we remember her (senile and screaming at Meredith), but a young Ellis and a young Richard as interns in Seattle. The actress playing the young Ellis has the exact same voice as Meredith.
Throughout the episode we are taken through flashbacks of Ellis and Richard's relationship, as well as to when Meredith was five years old and her memories of her mother trying to kill herself.
Back in real time, Derek tries to talk Maggie into staying at Seattle Grace, but she won't reveal the reason why she's going. She keeps saying, "Talk to your wife." Well, that hasn't been going well.
When Derek is finally clued in, he says to Maggie, "So Richard's your father? And Meredith is your sister? Meredith is terrible with sisters, just so you know, and I love sisters, I have a bunch of them. I'm glad you told me. It's nice to meet you." Then they hug and it's just adorable. Finally, a positive reaction to her news!
Across the hospital, Alex wants to know why Meredith didn't vote for him in the competition for Yang's board seat. She replies, "Alex, you would make a fine board member, but Bailey will make an exceptional one. Is that what you want me to do? Vote for you to be good? To be fine? You want my pity vote? I wouldn't." Wow. How much does she sound like Ellis?
At the end of the hour, Meredith confesses to Derek that she did actually remember her mom being pregnant. When she finally releases that truth, you can feel her and Derek sincerely connecting for the first time in . . . forever. I hate when they fight.
Feeling relieved, Meredith finds Maggie and shares Ellis' journal with her, pointing out the exact page where her notes change once she realized she was pregnant.
The episode ends on the same clip of Ellis from the very beginning. I'm not sure why, but it's really haunting.
In previews for next week, the focus is on Callie and Arizona. They are fighting over Arizona's new fellowship and find themselves in couples therapy. Apparently Arizona suggests, "I think we should take a break." Oh boy. Here we go again. Remember when Arizona was hooking up with Murphy in hotel rooms?
What did you think of this week's episode? Did you like the flashbacks?
