Grey's Anatomy 10.12 Review: Standing Up For What You Believe In

Anyone that has yet to watch Thursday night’s episode of Grey’s Anatomy, entitled ‘Get Up, Stand Up’, now would be a good time to go and do that before proceeding ahead. For this is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

Being that I watched this episode four days ago and am really late in reviewing it, this will likely be brief. While I am happy that Meredith and Cristina were finally working their shit out and the way they were doing it was quite good, I still believe that Yang’s character is being ruined this season. I feel like the only way they think they can send Cristina’s character off, is for her and Meredith to have grown apart, and that’s just happening quite drastically this season. I mean, Meredith wanted Cristina in the room when she gave birth, and now it’s like they’re so far apart from each other that Yang will want to leave? It just doesn’t make sense, and is poorly written in my opinion.

The best character in this week’s winter finale episode, in my opinion, was definitely Kepner. She’s honestly grown into a character I actually like, when I was adamantly disappointed that she came back after being fired a few seasons ago. It’s strange that her character has grown in such a way that she is no longer intolerable and is quite fun to watch as a supporting character. That is, as long as she’s not with Avery. I really loved these two as best friends, but after they slept together they’ve never been able to get back to that point where I truly enjoy seeing them onscreen together. But, it was rather obvious the entire time at the wedding that Avery was going to stand up, so we’ll see where this goes.

All in all, this was a decent episode and winter finale. It was very beautiful that the hospital staff (that we follow on screen, at least) all wanted to show up to Kepner’s wedding. Also, I’m intrigued by what this whole business with the president calling Shepperd will get into, but it’ll definitely be dangerous waters for him and Meredith. I also really loved watching Ross finally break down, and seeing Kepner have to track all the bridesmaids down when it’s supposed to be her day. So, not a bad episode, I just think this series isn’t pushing for greatness or reasonable writing lately and it makes it only decent and easy to watch.

My rating: 7 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“I was the kid, but I was the dad.” – Karev professes to his father.

“Never be afraid to stand up for yourself. Just be sure you’re right when you do.” – Bailey shares her wisdom with Murphy.

Okay, major apologies for the extreme lateness of this. I have several excuses, but I’ll spare you the details. Anyways, check back shortly for my review of Haven. I’ll try and get to Once Upon A Time and Revenge, but I have an exceedingly early morning (at least for me), so those may not be up until tomorrow.

Grey's Anatomy 10.11 Review: Progress Begins with Failure

Anyone that has yet to watch last night’s episode of Grey’s Anatomy, entitled ‘Man on the Moon’, now would be the best time to go and do that. For this is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

Well, this was a pretty good episode of the series that’s come about as of late. Kepner’s sisters were in town for her bridal shower, and we got to see her stick to her guns and tell them off for calling her ducky. Aside from the stupidity of having put her with Jackson in the first place, I’m kind of liking Kepner more this season, with the backbone she seems to have grown.

Elsewhere, Cristina and Ross were spending a lot of time together. We first saw them this episode in one of the on call rooms, and it definitely reminded me of early Grey’s, where attending’s and interns got their freak on a fair amount of the time. The difference is, I’m still not rooting for Ross, at all, especially with how big of an ass he is being to Meredith. He may just be trying to stick up for Cristina, but he’s just coming across as a dick. I felt especially heartbroken when they acted like old school Mer and Cristina after the baby started getting better. It made me really sad when Mer tried to confront Cristina about Ross’s attitude towards her being rather cordial and trying to take the high road, and Cristina just acted like a jerk and twisted her words. I’m really sick of these two not being friendly, I could really use them being best friends again, especially knowing this is Sandra Oh’s last year. I feel like they’re ruining they’re best friend time and replaced it with some drama.

There were some great things to this episode. The music they played near the end was some quality background tunes, particularly Lorde’s ‘Team’. Also, there were fair amounts of nice shots of Seattle interspersed throughout the episode, with one particular one sticking in my mind. Another thing I loved was the whole dealings with Derek, Callie, and the woman trying to move the fingers. I felt so bad for the way she was treating her husband, only for him to be the reason she was doing this, and her ability to do it with him standing there was just beautiful and made me teary eyed. That was a wonderful television moment that was actually able to move me with its beauty. And finally, I really adored the face that crossed over Arizona when one of the Kepner sisters said her husband and her were still working through his infidelity.

All in all, a decent episode of the series. It was certainly better than the two hundredth episode, but not quite as good as the last episode or two. I did enjoy getting to see Bailey forced into working through her problems with that woman, with the overly large features, hovering around her. Definitely loved Webber getting to talk with Bailey this week. There were definitely some heartfelt moments to this episode, and that’s something I really enjoy. The writing wasn’t as tight as it could have been, but they managed.

My rating: 7 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“I’m allergic to boring surgeries.” – Murphy tells Edwards.

“Those poor puppies.” – Edwards murmurs.

“Progress looks like a bunch of failures. And you can have feelings about that because it’s sad, but you can’t fall apart.” – Meredith shares her wisdom with Edwards.

“It doesn’t matter, as long as you say something nice.” – Webber lets Murphy and Edwards in on his wisdom of Kepner’s bridal shower where she’s getting gifts.

“Accept that you have a disease.” – Webber tells Bailey.

“Sometimes the key to making progress is to recognize how to take that very first step. Then you start your journey.” – Meredith’s over voice says.

Okay, folks, I’m off to watch The Crazy Ones now, so check back soon for that. Also, you have no idea how unbelievably difficult it is to watch and write notes about these shows tonight when I had a ridiculously cute kitten trying to lie on my paper.

Grey's Anatomy 10.09 Review: Those Feelings of Guilt

For all those that have yet to watch tonight’s episode of Grey’s Anatomy, entitled ‘Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word’, here’s where I suggest you do that before proceeding ahead. This is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

This week’s episode of Grey’s Anatomy was a really strong episode. The change of scenery was the perfect tone, and the way it weaved the flashback scenes into it, while occasionally confusing, were mostly well done. While Meredith is still my favourite character, I really enjoyed seeing the drama that is Callie’s life at the moment; definitely makes for more interesting television.

While it did seem to fit with why Arizona chose the moment she did to cheat on Callie, the whole baby thing was a little thrown in there. I get that this is an ensemble show, and we don’t always see everything that goes on behind closed doors between these characters, but you’d think a jaw dropper like Arizona wanting another baby and wanting to carry it would have warranted screen time.  Nonetheless, it would be interesting if these two get passed their marital woes and decide to try again for another baby. I really did enjoy the way they wove this sequence of scenes into the disaster of the medical malpractice suit. A nice flare of happy to go with the distraught and disheartening.

There were a number of other good points I loved about this episode. The fact that this entire staff is behind Callie as she goes through this trial was wonderful. I loved how Hunt showed up and helped Callie through the sea of reporters getting too much in her face. I also really enjoyed the fact that Webber had to be there for her, and his remark about almost not being there because Kepner was a terrible driver. Also how well Callie and Arizona seemed to be interacting with each other throughout the episode. And I absolutely loved Meredith’s speech to Callie after she found the letter hidden behind the bookshelf. She really is one to have moments of great wisdom. And of course Callie’s dad showing up and setting her on the path to trying to work to resolve her marriage with Arizona.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed this episode. Sure this series can’t always have great periods of drama wrapped well with its writing like this episode, but I would like to see more of this on a consistent basis. Also, it was really nice not to have to be wrapped up in every single characters life in an episode, and being able to focus on Callie and her interactions with others. This is more of what I want for this show, and if it succeeds I may stick around for an eleventh season. Oh, who am I kidding? I probably will anyway.

My rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“Turns out she punches pretty hard for such a little person.” – Hunt explains to Callie how he had to fight Bailey to be the first on the scene of the trial.

“Oh, I will miss you most of all.” – Arizona tells her glass of wine in a flashback, after deciding to be the one that carries the baby.

“The fact is, you did nothing wrong.” – Meredith sheds words of wisdom on Callie, explaining a difference between emotions and negligence.

“But how will you know if you never try?” – Callie’s father says to her, concerning Arizona and their marriage.

All right, now, just one more show left to go. Stay tuned for my review of The Crazy Ones.

Grey's Anatomy 10.04 Review: Ain't No Party Like a Hospital's Party

For any of you that have yet to watch Thursday’s episode of Grey’s Anatomy, titled ‘Puttin’ On the Ritz’, than now would be a good time to exit this screen. This is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

So, this week the Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital threw a party in order to get donations for the hospital in light of the massive storm they’d just gone through. There were definitely a nice amount of throwbacks to the last party the hospital threw, but I do have to say that episode was much better.

I know the series ER went on for a very long time, but I desperately don’t want this series to go that way. When that’s done, there are always actors and actresses circling in and out, and so the characters can’t realistically stay in this one place, thus the writing benefits the actors and not the characters. I mean there’s a reason Karev called it Seattle Grace Mercy Death (when it still had the better hospital name), and incredible amount of characters have died throughout the years, too many characters. It’s disappointing to think it will keep doing that.

There were definitely some nice moments, but there wasn’t an incredible amount of progression in this episode. It was nice to see how Callie has been brought into the friendship group with Meredith and Christina. The last time there was a party thrown at the hospital, Callie was snide and didn’t much care for Meredith, though she did claim the black panties on the bulletin board as her’s.

Christina was a bit of a shining beacon in this episode. She was all so very happy and upbeat in trying to get people to give up their money to the hospital. It’s so unusual from the Christina of years ago, but it’s nice to see her happy. Although, I really do think they’re just dragging their tale around with this whole Christina and Owen story; when they said they were done, they really should have stayed done, this is just dishonest storytelling. When your audience is trusting you with a story, they need to be able to depend that you’ll give everything you can into the writing, and not to do all the back and forth development for characters.

My last note is about Bailey being smart about putting the dying man in with Richard, one man that’s going to die but doesn’t want to and the other man that wants to die but shouldn’t have to. Sure, I saw this bit coming as soon as we learn how much the man wanted to fight the cancer, despite his late age, but it was still a decently done thing.

Overall, this episode is more of the same that I’ve come to expect of the later years of Grey’s Anatomy, but it still has its quaint moments. It’ll be interesting to see how it’ll go with Alex’s dad, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to see the actor as anyone other than Dexter and Deb’s dad over on Dexter. This really does need to be the last year though; this series doesn’t have much in the way of great stories left for it.

My rating: 6.5 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“Bailey’s going to lose her mind, she hates clowns. It’s going to be hilarious.” – Callie remarking on the theme of the party.

“I know you know how to do that.” – Christina says to Meredith, referring to how she met Derek.

“And snacks!” – a drunk April shouts after Leah.

All right, stick around and wait for my weekly update of Best Performances of the Week shortly. Then it’s reviews of Haven followed by Once Upon A Time and Revenge. Sorry for the lateness of this!