"Supersition" - Episode 20 - March 19th, 2006
It's when I watch the “Previously on Grey's Anatomy…” opening that I realize how much this show and its characters keep evolving. Like your growing puppy, whom you don't realize is grown until you look back at his baby pictures.
George has gone from worshiping the air Meredith Grey breathes to wishing she'd suffocate on it (maybe that's a little harsh, but it makes the point that George has done a 180). Izzie has blown off Alex to tend to the guy who has stolen her heart, maybe to replace his own that is slowly killing him. And to top off all of this usual drama, the good doctors of Seattle Grace are putting many patients under, yet few are waking up.
Did anyone else feel like Addison was purposely rubbing her wedding ring, then incessantly tapping it into her upper pocket to draw attention? Yeah, she didn't see Meredith standing there staring. Sure. I like Addison just fine (but McDreamy is Meredith's, okay? But that's for another column I guess.) It's just those stupid things that Addison does to try and show everyone that she's got one up on Meredith- a ring and a marriage license. But she certainly has no marriage (in my humble opinion).
So before the opening credits, we have the death count up to four. Not good. “He's the morgue guy…he knows things about death” - I love this line by Izzie. By just reading the episode description, I'd have to say that I wouldn't have fallen for the superstition, but these characters are just so believable, I couldn't wait to see who would croak next (morbid, I know, but still intriguing).
George needs to stop his pouting. Now. I agree with most parts of Alex's verbal (and almost physical) smack down on him. I've started to like George more and more, but I can see now why everyone was dying at the hospital. He whined them all to death. Ugh.
So Addison gives Meredith coco (juju, apparently) while Derek looks on suspiciously. My hope is that the more he sees these two side by side, the sooner he will realize that he needs to treat his amnesia so he can remember how great it was to be with Meredith. That's the only reason I can think of that he's still in limbo. Face it, he may have “picked” Addison, but it's clear he's still on the fence. I'm as anxious as anyone else for him to make some kind of move (be it towards Addison or Mer), but the suspense does make for good TV. Oh, by the way, Meredith's juju went in the garbage. So much for friendship. But honestly, how was that ever going to work?
Burke's caps make me laugh. It's good to see that the doctor I consider the most serious can still have a quirk that makes him un-robotic. And as for Christina hording one of those precious floral caps? Too cute because she is the last person I'd expect to be “sentimental” in that respect. The surprises keep on coming.
On to the patients. Nikki, the “I got struck by lightening, no, a tree fell on me, no, I have a boyfriend, no I don't” and the OCD man fit very snugly into this episode. They aren't what you'd consider “normal”, yet both they and the surgeons have strange ticks or “superstitions” that put them all on the same playing field. Episode message: you can't ignore the stigmas you place on yourself.
I've got to admit, when I saw the Chief's response to Ollie Warner, I was afraid he was about to reveal another encounter like the various ones he had with Meredith's mother. Did we know before that the Chief was a former alcoholic? Regardless, I thought it was great the writers gave him another dimension. The more the show goes on, the more I realize how much this guy has dealt with in his life.
Now, for Denny. I'm probably going to have a large majority of GA fans knocking down my door, but I'm not afraid to say it…I don't really like Denny. Sure, I think he's a nice guy and I feel badly for him and his medical condition. Plus, it's become obvious he doesn't really have anyone else to be with him, besides Izzie. Now, in contrast, I don't think Alex is a terrific person, but I kind of like his tough love (when it's appropriate, which isn't too often). Just FYI, I do think that Alex was SO wrong in conning Denny into thinking he was dying.
I think what it boils down to is that to see Alex truly care about another person (i.e. Izzie) is powerful; we definitely don't see Alex building too many meaningful relationships with anyone. Denny is taking away Alex's sole happiness and that makes me sad. When Izzie even mentions Denny, it's physically apparent that Alex is hurt and jealous. But as for who's best for Izzie- that's Denny. They have mutual respect. So, in retrospect, you probably followed none of what I just said, right? That's okay- it is a complicated situation.
I really thought Denny was a goner. I really thought Ollie Warner was a goner. Then, imagine the shock: Denny's alive! Izzie kissed him! That made me happy because they were happy. After all that trauma, something good had to come out of it.
Then the final kicker: George's phone call to Torres was adorable with a capital A. I've changed my mind; George is a cutie when he's with the right company. He needs some good love for once- that's been the problem.
Don't diss the juju from wherever it comes. That was Meredith's message for the week. So to the doctors and us common folk: appreciate the good things you've got, because at least someone cares.
(Note: these opinions are just mine from my own skewed brain. Maybe if you don't necessarily agree with them, they will at least show you that GA is so good that it has sparked national debate on about a billion different aspects.)
What in the Heck is Denny's Appeal?
Honestly, why do people like him? And I'm not saying this in a smart way, I'm just curious as to why everyone (well, a large majority) seem to think he's the greatest thing since sliced bread.
He lies in a hospital bed all day and has nothing to do but charm Izzie. Wouldn't things be so different if he was up and about, holding a job, interacting with more people, living a normal life? Would he be so appealing then?
But here's the reason I do like Denny (to an extent): he's adding that extra tension, that extra pull that GA fans have come to know and love. Okay, they might not love it all the time (like the agonizing tension between McDreamy and Meredith that needs to stop. You can feel that they want to be with each other so badly, but the superior writing team feels the need to tease us incessantly. Thanks). However, just as Meredith and Derek were heating up - BAM – here comes Addison, a.k.a. Mrs. Sheppard. Now, Alex and Izzie were getting closer and closer, exploring a new-found relationship then – BAM – in comes Denny. Izzie is smitten and Alex is jealous (don't you love it when guys show their emotions like this, especially rough-n-tough Alex? Gah!)
So in conclusion, Denny is great in building up the tension that is Grey's Anatomy. He will be helpful in the long run, showing Izzie and Alex how much they really do mean to each other, even though they won't admit it fully. But Denny should not be the final destination. He's just a pit stop on the journey of GA. Let's face it- it would be a pretty boring show if they characters just built relationships and that was the end. There's got to be some bumps. Plus that makes the final, end result that much more powerful.
Just think about it. If Ross had never kissed Rachel that rainy night outside of Central Perk, would we have been rooting as hard for them to “rediscover” each other? No. If you never tasted chocolate, would you crave it often and in large quantities? Nope. It's that one little taste, that one little glimpse, that keeps you coming back for more and more and holding out hope against hope.
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