If you're looking for spoilers about last night's season finale of Grey's Anatomy, you've come to the wrong place. Boot up the DVR or wait for the eppy to repeat some time close to the debut of the new season.
I have to say I have become less and less interested in Grey's as the seasons have passed. I missed the first season altogether. Seasons two and three were really great. Season four ... was ... well ... a little bit Grey-ting. Season four turned up the volume on the operatic undertones present in Season three. Season five had the noise on full blast, and the delicate melodies built so carefully in earlier seasons were all but muted.
Things that stuck in my mind this season:
• I like Owen, but I still miss Burke. I wouldn't really compare the two, except that the show has inserted Owen firmly in Burke's shoes. Of course, there's the obvious: Owen is dating Christina. While I liked their relationship ... until he, you know, choked her ... I found her relationship with Burke to be much more nuanced. When they got rid of the character of Burke, due to problems with the actor, I felt like their break-up hit all the right notes. It was really character driven. Owen and Christina have been one big Grrrrrrrrrrr with extra exclamation points!!!! And teary-eyes syndrome has been nipping at their heels the whole way. And, and! in the back of my mind, I've been wondering where's the growth been for Christina in this relationship?
But back to Owen being in Burke's shoes. Not only did he replace Burke in Christina's bed but also as George's guy or rather, George being his guy. Either way, Burke and George were just better, again more nuanced. And no one could ever make me believe that last night's finale wouldn't have been more poignant had Burke been standing where Owen was.
I'm just grateful they dropped the Owen-Derrick rivalry early on, as then it would have been too much.
• One of the bright spots for me this season has been the budding relationship between little Grey and McSteamy. I think their relationship has taken nice, small turns ... Probably because the writing staff hasn't been paying much attention to them yet. Hopefully, the writing staff won't be force-feeding these two ham sandwiches any time soon.
• Also loved the continuing friendship between Callie and Mark (McSteamy). Nicely done and genuine. They both have grown over the past few seasons. I also happen to believe that these two have the best sexual chemistry of ANY couple past or present on this show ... except for Derrick and Addison.
• Yes, I'm a card-carrying Mer-Der hater. I think paste is more interesting than this couple. And that has never been more evident than in this season. They are so much better apart, but the pairing has such rabid fans, who actually get in the way of the story. Mer-Der fans want it to be sunshine and rainbows for this couple so badly - and they get so angry when it's not all peachy keen between the two - that they've hemmed up the writers. If everything's always, "I love you. You're brilliant!" how can you root for them?
The most interesting point in the season as far as Derrick was concerned was when Addison came back when her brother needed brain surgery. I didn't realize how much I had missed her in the hallowed halls of Seattle Grace. She and Derrick had much more crackle and pop in those crossover episodes than he and Meredith ever had. For me, it's because Addison meets him on a professional level and isn't sitting at his feet, awed by him. They both respect each other, and their emotional history is rich, though their happy life was never seen on-screen. They are titans of character. I don't think Mer-Der serves either character - least of all, Meredith.
• Meredith this season didn't do too much for me, though I loved her little arc with the Chief as a father figure.
• Izzie and the brain tumor ... yawn. Everyone thinks this is Emmy material? Loved seeing Denny again though. Don't think they ever should have gotten rid of him in the first place. I liked Izzie's story this season, right up until she started having hallucinations. She was growing into a true mentor. Too bad.
• Alex as supportive lover ... we've seen this, no? With crazy girl, yes? Where's the growth?
• Miranda Bailey ... Awesome. She grew all over the place and didn't lose herself in the shuffle. And her choice between her professional life and her private life really resonated. She proves that even as a character can become well-known by the audiences, small changes in ambitions can turn their whole story around in a gripping way.
If I've forgotten anyone, it's because ... well ... their story was forgettable this season. I hope next season will shutter the opera and go back to the finer melodies.
-- Posted From My iPod Touch
Labels: grey's anatomy, television
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Autopsy: Grey's Anatomy (Season Five)
