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Post by Leanne on May 26, 2009 11:39:55 GMT -5
Anyone want to give us there review of the whole of Season 5
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Post by Leanne on May 26, 2009 14:12:27 GMT -5
Grey's Anatomy season 5 review: fueled with drama May 26, As drama series go, “Grey’s Anatomy” take a lot more risks than most. Sure, the relationships, the betrayals and the precious moments of human interactions remain familiar, but the show is not without its epic cliffhangers and over-the-top medical marvels. A blend of various storytelling intrigue, the show is a phenomenon that is fighting every season to remain relevant. Season 5 of “Grey’s Anatomy is no different. Filled with big moments and smaller joys, the show makes its share of mistakes, but still gives us enough to want more. The season begins with the continuation of most storylines from the previous finale. Take, for example, Callie and Erica’s relationship and Meredith and Derek’s rediscovered romance. Amidst the continuing storylines also gives room for new introductions, and new characters. The beginning of the season does several things right. For one, it introduces Owen Hunt, an interesting and unique trauma surgeon that becomes a love interest for Cristina. It’s good to see Cristina rediscover her emotional side, and adding a strong male voice to a mostly female show also makes the show more accessible to a broader demographic. Also, MerDer remains, for the most part, together. After a long (and wonderful, in my opinion) therapeutic journey for Meredith, the couple is sticking together. It’s a long time coming. However, the show takes little time to go back to its old tricks. One of its love/hate elements is drama behind the camera. Starting with Isaiah Washington and T. R. Knight, the show continues down that road with the abrupt departure of Brooke Smith. Tremendous backlash was once again fueled by homophobic speculations, and despite Shonda Rhime’s insistence otherwise, one couldn’t help but grasp for the worst case scenario explanation. Now, it seems chemistry might indeed be the reason for the actress’s departure, especially given the show’s acceptance of a new lesbian relationship. In truth, the whole issue might have been avoided if Hahn’s exit was written more smoothly and more motivated. Dropping her after one fight with her girlfriend just made the show seem sloppy and devious. And the recovery from the entire storyline became apparent with the sudden introduction of several new characters. Sadie Harris joins the Seattle Grace team for a short arc. Her stay was not exactly memorable, mainly due to how she was written. Again, the word abrupt comes to mind when describing both her introduction and exit, but the character was just not that likeable to begin with. Another contender for the allusive female attending position briefly came to Dr. Virginia Dixon. While her condition made her unique, using it for humor and less for sympathy was probably the wrong way to go. It’s really too bad; I quite enjoyed the character (the hugging scene was wonderful). More drama fills the tabloids as Izzie Stevens treads down a possibly terminal storyline, starting with hallucinations of Denny. While his previous post-mortum appearance was more welcomed, this stay lasted too long with too few revelations to warrant so much exposure. Every “Grey’s Anatomy” loves Denny, but perhaps leaving the man in peace is the best thing to do from now on. The worst part is, his appearance signals the demise of a major, major character on the show. It’s a love/hate, bittersweet thing, and fans have a hard time knowing where to place their emotions. As Izzie becomes more and more prominent, George O’Malley disappears behind the crowded cast. Barely onscreen for one entire scene, his presence (or lack thereof) is linked once again to speculations on his departure. Both Katherine Heigl and T. R. Knight came under attack for their supposed conflict with Shonda Rhimes. While their tragic romance storyline does warrant displeasure, it’s hard to tell who to side with or if the whole thing was fabricated altogether. Hearing of drama behind the screen can disconnect viewers from the actual story, and this no doubt frustrated many fans. But, after much criticism, the show is not without some spectacular episodes. “Grey’s Anatomy,” starting with “Elevator Love Letter,” delivers some of the most powerful, moving and grandiose episodes in memory. Suddenly, fans are treated with mini-finales stringed together, culminating in the 100th episode celebration and the season finale. It’s partly good timing, and partly because much of the annoyance from before have been put aside and the real focus is realigned. Izzie becomes a favorite once again after enduring continuous pain and showing even more courage. George gets a storyline that sets him on the path to possible fulfillment. Callie is sparking chemistry with a new female attending, Arizona Robbins (who, surprisingly, is the opposite of hardcore but remains a good doctor). Both Meredith and Derek as well as Alex and Izzie get married. Cristina and Owen reunite. Things are good, and the show delivers on many levels that satisfies fans across the board. Still, much like the season finale of “Lost,” the finale of “Grey’s Anatomy” gives us an intense, addictive episode that also leaves us the feeling of being kicked in the groin. Both George and Izzie teeter between life and death as the show leaves fans hanging for three months to find out their fate. It’s only one frustration, but it is a enormous one. It is also quite understandable. Logistically, contracts can be negotiated during break to decide the best course of action. Come premiere time, ratings should be sky high in anticipation for the reveal of these characters’ fates. However, loyal fans can feel the tabloid drama once again simmering behind the screen. The true response to this cliffhanger will be tested depending on how the pair actually fare come fall. Overall, the season is reminiscent of the sporadic season 3, where both mistakes and great storytelling join together to form an indiscernible core. “Grey’s Anatomy” is like waiting in line at the market. To appreciate the good, you have to stomach the less-than-good. But, the good still outweighs the bad, and perhaps that scale will tip even more in the favorable if Izzie and George live. Rating: 8.7/10 www.examiner.com/x-5631-Prime-Time-TV-Examiner~y2009m5d26-Greys-Anatomy-season-5-review-fueled-with-drama
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Post by kaz on Jul 13, 2009 22:44:47 GMT -5
[moved from ep 23/24 thread]
I'm not really sure what people mean when they say "chemistry". So much of what we see onscreen is about writing, directing and editing as well as the way the actors work together. If we're talking about "heat", I don't think it's really fair to compare Burke and Cristina to Owen and Cristina as both couples were in very different places, the former having more fun when they first got together and the latter having the brakes put on because of Owen's PTSD. There were glimpses though of some real heat between Owen and Cristina at least in the season premiere, in episode 14 and even in the finale. As for the comparison to Bothwell/Mary and Vorenus/Niobe, Kevin's characters in both instances were much more devoted and attentive to their onscreen love matches and therefore perhaps the relationships did come off differently but I think that has more to do with storyline and character development than rapport between actors.
For my money, I think both Sandra Oh and Kevin McKidd could have "chemistry" with a potato sack. But that's just my opinion.
As for Grey's, I've been watching from the start and have to say that it chafes a little when people chalk the show up to a soap opera where everyone is just doing everyone else in an oncall room. There's certainly that silly, fluffy element but scratch beneath the surface and the show is so much more than that (at least to me). I enjoy the layers and the symbolism and the fact that it's a show where the writers actually think about these things. It's about the characters and the relationships between them, not the medical drama, and that's what I'm in for - something that really makes me feel. I agree that sometimes the patient storylines hit like an anvil but honestly, for every time I've heard the comment that the show isn't subtle enough, I've also heard complaints that it's too subtle and people bemoaning the fact that there is too much "show, don't tell". You can't please everyone and it needs to be acknowledged that every viewer's level of perception is different - and to a certain extent, the writers have to try and cater for that. I might see/appreciate something which the writers meant me to see but another viewer does not and vice versa. I also agree with rural, that the delivery and success of those patient storylines varies depending on the talent of the guest stars.
I definitely don't think Grey's is perfect in any way and I am the first to admit that season 4 should be set in some concrete boots and sunk to the bottom of the ocean. I was ready to jump ship myself until I found out Kevin was on deck and that was more than enough incentive to stick around. I think season 5, while having some low points, hit a good deal of highs and I for one can't wait to see what season 6 has in store generally and also specifically in relation to Cristina and Owen.
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Geniusmentis
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Post by Geniusmentis on Jul 14, 2009 4:29:44 GMT -5
Every time I read it, I laugh. I agree!! LOL
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ruralstar
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Post by ruralstar on Jul 14, 2009 8:02:11 GMT -5
The person that wrote that review is obviously a KH fan and can't be objective any more than I can. We all have our personal favorites but 'professional' reviewers should put that aside as much as possible. Calling Izzy a 'favorite' by the end of the season is a huge overstatement IMO. In response to Anaterra's comment in the 5x23/5x24 thread, Izzy did get a disproportionate amount of screen time in the last three episodes. I know how much time I actually gained by skipping her sections on re watch. That would have been a more palatable situation if the actress were actually leaving the show. As for the rest....
There were a lot of things that worked for me and a lot that didn't. As a new fan I did come in prepared to dislike pretty much everything except the scenes Kevin participated in. By the end of the season I can't say the show gained another actual fan, however, I was pleasantly surprised in discovering some characters and storylines with far more depth than anticipated.
Aside from the ridiculous Dead Denny storyline and the complete implausibility of a woman with brain cancer functioning as a doctor for months and then diagnosing herself with expensive tests that tax payers would wind up paying for....deep breath..... there was something to be pitied about Izzy and extensively Alex. The former has a good soul and actual convictions when it comes to dealing with patients and experimenting on animals. The latter was all over the emotional map this year. Put on a path to healing after his disastrous relationship with Ava, you see Alex truly growing. He has skills and Owen in particular noted them and began to mentor. He was pulling it together and learning how to be strong and not run away from a challenge. Then Izzy's cancer exploded and the true test found him standing at the altar and holding her hand when her memory disappeared. There was real meat for Justin Chambers to play and he stepped up beautifully. The same can be said for KH in the scenes with Izzy's friend Alison or her pleading with Alex to understand her choice of the DNR.
Bailey is extraordinary. Her personal life was put on a back burner, to the confusion of some of us, but it was still kept alive in reference. You know her motivations and her restrictions as she strays away from the expected path set by The Chief and into a personal path of discovery. She learns that she can handle a true specialty but not without cost to her mental and possibly physical well-being. She has a gift for Pediatrics but in the end chooses General Surgery and a position as an Attending as the best course for herself and her son. She's a tough mother bear and she protects her babies even as she's pushing them hard to fly the nest. She doesn't let them forget that they were once as young, dumb and full of it as their current Interns either. There were memorable moments of pure joy and laughter-watching the child patient who survived through the window, ordering Owen out to the woods to get Derek. There were moments of deep sadness and conflict-everything connected to Jackson Prescott, the death of Rosemary Bullard and not being able to stop compressions on her until Derek stepped in and made the call. Bailey grew immensely.
Callie had a journey of self-discovery. I think the show played it too much for laughs and that did a disservice to the gay community. It wasted the considerable acting chops of Sarah Ramirez in the process. Callie could have learned more about being independent without quite so many lessons from guest characters like the tree girl. Still, she made us smile with her friends with benefits relationship with Mark. And she made us stop and think. Like when she told Mark to man up and see Lexie no matter what anyone else might think. Her storyline with Arizona has potential and brought us the only other fresh face besides Kevin's that really worked this year in the form of Jessica Capshaw. Arizona is best in small doses but she proved she is full of surprises. Roller Girl has depths that should be explored.
George was under-utilized from day one. I never got to know his character except for the crisis of his retaking his Residency exams. A plot point addressed so early in the season that I had to reach deep to even recall it. New viewers were expected to understand his friendship with Izzy and why Alex chafed at it. Without some explanation from long time viewers their intermittent scenes would have meant nothing. It's a shame. I can't say I will miss him next year because I never really knew him in the first place.
Richard Webber has to be one of the most inept, inconsistent hospital administrators ever conceived. Why is he downstairs watching Interns running down a hallway or lying in a dark room ruminating instead of doing his job? Better yet, why advise George not to pressure a wife for her dying husband's organs, and then go into the room and do exactly that? There were so many times this character was plain extraneous. He should be recurring, not a regular. Especially now that the history between himself and Meredith has been clarified. There were wonderful acting moments for Pickens with both Chandra Wilson and Ellen Pompeo. It's hard to remember them though when you see him doing things that just don't ring as appropriate.
Mark and Lexie were comic relief so many times this year. They made me laugh without cringing for the stupidity of it all. Lexie becomes a truly fleshed out independent person and not just Meredith's aggravating little sister. She's beautifully naive and yet worldly in her understanding of Mark. I liked her flirtation with George but again it was so long ago I almost forgot about it. She works with Mark even though it would appear ridiculous. I think she has more inner strength than he does. Keeping secrets makes her sick but she kept them. Keeping secrets just seems to frustrate and tick Mark off. I don't think we saw enough of who he actually is this year and maybe that's how things have always been. Shame because it would be fun to see Eric Dane get some serious material to work with and not just a few sober exchanges in the middle of the comedy.
Meredith didn't get a chance to really shine this year. She continued to be whiny and self-absorbed and I kept expecting her to grow and learn from her mistakes. She did step up to defend the child shooter and while I disagreed with her actions concerning William Dunn, she did follow through. Manipulated or not she attended the execution and that took guts. I thought she was the bigger woman for giving up her wedding and she did it as much for Alex as she did for Izzy. Nice friendship moments there. Where she really failed for me as a character was in the way she responded to Cristina and the post-it wedding. In the case of Cristina she never took any real responsibility for the behavior of any of the Interns, including Sadie. She couldn't see past her own failures and really support Cristina when she finally did get a solo surgery. Her complete ignorance of how PTSD might be affecting Owen and extensively Cristina is mystifying. She's not a psyche resident but when told the bare bones of what happened in Cristina's bedroom she still can't see why Cristina would stand by Owen. She's trying to be a friend there as well and doing a terrible job with it. In the end her post-it note to Derek is a joke. No real commitment because no one knows about it and she can back out.
Derek himself was lost in the shuffle and when we did see him it felt contrived. Isn't it convenient that his father was murdered so therefore he will have a crisis over treating William Dunn? Then there is the breakdown following Jen's botched surgeries. Of course he would care about the patients he lost in the clinical trial but it was hard to connect events from over a year ago with what happened with Jen. We are meant to see it all as cumulative but the Derek character just didn't seem layered enough to really carry that storyline. He may have had all this drama with Addison in the past but we did not see that this year. And frankly it doesn't hold up because most people's lives are not consumed for years on end by that kind of drama. Here he was one dimensional. Meredith's supportive boyfriend and sometimes hard-ass boss. Even a burgeoning friendship between himself and Owen is left to languish. Not to mention that there is not enough attention paid to his friendship with Mark to give their fight actual gravity. It too feels played for laughs, or at the least laughable for all its shock value. The parallels being drawn between Mer/Der and Cris/Owen fall flat. Writing...acting...poor plotting, chalk that impression up wherever it feels comfortable. I say all of the above.
Prickly Cristina. Yes it's a bit hard to see how her transformation comes about because part of her is still delighting in playing with cadavers. She is eerily dispassionate in some ways and a bundle of conflicting emotions in others. She is real for all of that however. More real than almost any other character because she can't be predicted. She's not always nasty and when the softer side shows through it's fun to watch the reactions of her long time friends. At the beginning of the season she's still slipping into that juvenile, defensive coldness with alarming frequency. It's Owen and the Izzy crisis that finally pull her into the full light of adulthood. She has to be strong and she proves that she can be. My only real quibble is that we never get to see Cristina truly vulnerable. We learn how her father died and how that has driven her since the age of 9. We do not get a conversation about Burke with Owen or anyone else for that matter. We know she's scared of her relationship with Owen for more than one reason but we never really discuss those reasons. We don't see how Owen nearly killing her has impacted her life. No therapy or indecisive moments. Too much attention is directed elsewhere for her character to be expanded.
Owen Hunt. I don't have any real complaints until the end of the season here and not just because this is Kevin's character. Owen was conceived as layered from the outset. He was/is not a teenager masquerading as an adult. Even in the premiere he is concise and professional. He knows when he's right, medicine is his calling and not just a job. He loses what makes his heart light and flirtatious as a result of something horrible but it's a slow reveal for the viewer. It's difficult to separate what we knew in advance as Kevin's fans versus what we saw on GA. There are hints that all is not right with Owen. Fits of temper and passion that are not the norm for a guy who appears to have it together in most respects. We don't really get the full weight until mid-season with the unforgettable shower scene in 5x12. From there Owen's mental health is in a constant state of flux. Flirtation in the on-call room, panic in the exam room. A quiet drink or a night in leading to a near deadly and completely unexpected outburst of suppressed pain. It was fascinating to watch that character study and see how it mirrored news accounts of real veterans both here and abroad. Owen is well rounded with moments of laughter even in the middle of his crisis. Moments when he excels as a doctor and can let his passion shine through. It's only the last few episodes where his arc is shunted aside. In the rush for the happy ending and the inevitable cliff hanger, I hope his story arc is not irreparably damaged.
Where did the show take a chance? The PTSD storyline comes immediately to mind. An arc that resonated effectively all year for anyone who paid attention. In the end however, tptb retreated to the safety zone. Owen appears on solid ground after a visit with mom, a little therapy and a couple brief heart to hearts with Cristina. I may be proven wrong next season but in regards to season five I say they tripped at the finishing line. In terms of the series, the arc did give gravity to what many considered fluff in the past. The second most notable bit for me was the serial killer three part arc. William Dunn was brilliantly played by Eric Stoltz. A manipulative sociopath who had everyone treading fine lines and rethinking their personal convictions. I never expected the series to show his actual death and I think they deserve kudos for it.
Where does the show tank? Almost anything Izzy related, too much particularly towards the end of the season. The ridiculous antics with the Interns and even some of the Residents-appendectomies, cadaver parties, scavenger hunts and races in the hall. Give me a break. There is plenty of humor to be found in scenes like Bailey ordering Callie and then Owen out to the woods. Or Alex, Ryan the Intern, and the Chief dealing with the couple who spiced up their marriage a little too much and wound up losing something in the wrong place. Then there's Mark's penile fracture fiasco or his '12 step' program with Callie. Yeah some of this is a bit gross but it's funny and doesn't feel forced. Sadly one of the things that bugs me the most about this series is the way certain people and situations lack continuity while others linger for years. We expected and see repercussions from Cristina's disastrous relationship with Burke in the way she deals with Owen. We do not get a proper resolution of her endless conflicts with Meredith however over what happened with Sadie or the fact that Meredith doesn't seem to be there to support her in anything but expects Cristina to listen to her every complaint about Derek. Double standard anyone? Izzy was never punished in the way a real Intern would be punished for cutting Denny's LVAD wire. She goes on to charge thousands of dollars of expensive tests to diagnose herself. It was clever to use the Interns and thereby teach them but it's still ethically wrong. Not to mention how aggravated I was with the Chief and everyone else disregarding Izzy's DNR at the end of the season. These kinds of inconsistencies grate on me and pull me out of the moment when I'm watching a show.
In the end I enjoyed a good portion of the time I spent watching GA and I learned something about real life that continues to affect my thinking. PTSD aside-Kevin McKidd brought me into the show. As much as I now enjoy the work of people like Sandra Oh, Chandra Wilson and Justin Chambers, when Kevin leaves, I leave.
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Post by kaz on Jul 14, 2009 8:28:30 GMT -5
Rural, that rocked. I feel inspired to try and do my own review of season 5 but I'm pretty certain I am too intimidated to follow that up!
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Geniusmentis
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I only have 2 neurons and one of them is usually sleeping.
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Post by Geniusmentis on Jul 14, 2009 8:38:02 GMT -5
I'm the only here that I liked the Dead Denny storyline...., maybe because I like supernatural and because I like that actor (and I cannot say the same about "Karev" LOL).
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Post by kaz on Jul 14, 2009 8:48:15 GMT -5
My biggest problem with the dead denny storyline wasnt so much the content but rather that it dragged on too long.
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ruralstar
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Life is a Journey of the Mind. Anything can happen....Just wait
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Post by ruralstar on Jul 14, 2009 8:55:59 GMT -5
Dead Denny could have worked if it was a more minimalist approach and a shorter overall arc. I could care about Izzy if I wasn't always ready to throw something heavy at my screen whenever Denny showed up. Ghost sex and "I'm here for you" over and over ate up screentime better allotted to other, plausible arcs. I can sit through almost anything at least once if I like an actor. In Jeffrey Dean Morgan's case I don't know the guy and his appearance meant nothing to me one way or the other. I actually felt bad for him in the end. Maybe he needed to pay the rent when he took this gig.
I love the supernatural, GA is not a supernatural series however.
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Geniusmentis
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I only have 2 neurons and one of them is usually sleeping.
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Post by Geniusmentis on Jul 14, 2009 10:32:47 GMT -5
Yes, you are right, it's not a supernatural series, but I like a touch of supernatural sometimes, like the elevator scene with Izzie and George.
Yes, the story was too long, but it was a good pretext to see that actor...LOL!
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Post by milena on Jul 14, 2009 16:13:44 GMT -5
This was a really insightful and clever review Rulastar and I found myself agreeing with most of it. Hovewer that little bit regarding Meredith:
I think Meredith did know and understood what happened between Cristina and Owen in her bedroom. Otherwise Owen would have not gotten off unscratched, she would have reported him to Webber or even called the police. She would not stand to be in the same room with him let alone adress him in a polite and respectful manner as was shown in those last episodes. Also I didn't detect any anger or disgust in her approach when she blocked Cristina from Owen in the hospital right after the incident - only calm "not now" warning mixed with a pang of regret. IMO it's also worth noting that she was the one who informed Derek about the whole situation and perhaps even encouraged him to go and talk Owen into getting his much needed help. If she had painted him as a vile women-beater or a psychotic abuser, I seriously doubt Derek would have approached Owen in such a compassionate, gentle manner with already formed diagnose. So I strongly believe that Meredith truly gets what's going on with Owen and how much the war damaged him but her priority is Cristina's well being and I think it's completly understandable. Let face it - if it were not for Callie's arrival, Cristina would be dead and Owen would be her killer. I'm not a "long time" Grey's Anatomy fan but from what I gather re: Meredith&Cristina bond is that she puts Yang above her own sister and considers her to be the closest thing she has to family. Have I been in Meredith's shoes - have it been my "person", my best friend/sister I dont think I would react differently. Have I seen her getting into a new relationship (which is way different thing than standing by your war damaged husband or a guy you have been in a commited relationship with for a long time) with a man she just met, who has a disease which makes him deadly dangerous and who just almost killed her because of it - I cant imagine myself encouraging her to "stand by him". I would feel really bad for this guy but I would encourage my friend to run before it's too late. It may not be fair but it's comes out of concern and love and that's why I completly understand Meredith's attitude here.
That's being said I'm not overly fond of Meredith nor do I find the actress that great (she has her moments but out of this duo Patrick Dempsey is IMO a stronger actor) but I cannot blame her for looking after the woman she loves more than her own sister.
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ruralstar
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Post by ruralstar on Jul 14, 2009 17:20:20 GMT -5
Good points Milena. I do think Meredith got it after a fashion and I can totally see her wanting to protect Cristina as her closest friend. To be fair though, I don't think we can say that she had found any sort of understanding or pity for Owen by the end of the season. That whole situation between Cris/Owen and Mer/Der got swept aside in favor of Izzy. We don't know what either Meredith or Derek thought after the incident beyond the events in ELL. The scenes between all of these characters were way too brief in succeeding episodes. I would have loved to see more resolution. An actual discussion instead of viewers having to infer that things are at the very least at an uneasy truce between Meredith and Owen particularly. Nor do I credit Meredith for encouraging Derek to help Owen. I think she told Derek what happened and he made a decision as a doctor and possibly a potential friend to help Owen. Derek strikes me as more independent of thought. He would hear Meredith out but make his own decision. As for Meredith meeting Owen in the hall the morning after.... *shrugs* It's all in perception I guess. I didn't get the 'wait, not now' vibe. More the, "If you take another step I will do everything in my power to stop you." Callie was giving me the 'my you've got the nerve' vibe.
Thanks for reading my thoughts and sharing yours!
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Post by anaterra on Jul 16, 2009 19:13:56 GMT -5
Ruralstar, wonderful review, as usual. Just wanted to add my two cents. I really don´t know what´s more annoying in Izzy´s syoryline, the ghost or the "brain tumor syndrome" which, by the way, is got to be the cliche of cliches when it comes to medical dramas (or perhaps Tv dramas in general). There´s a scene in one of the earliest seasons of House that delightfully satirizes this - he´s in the on-call room watching some soap on TV, and someone comes in and asks what he´s watching: "A brain tumor surgery". It´s not that brain tumor can´t be a very serious disease affecting real people in the real world, but it´s usually treated so "lightly" by these shows (or for cheap reasons, such as having to write off a character or to create additional drama when the ratings are falling) that it lacks plausibility. Also totally agree with you regarding how the apparent "healing" of Owen´s PSTD in the last episodes. Actually, I do have a beef on how the show treats psycotherapy in general, as some sort of "magical" healing process. I know you haven´t seen earlier seasons, but some here might remember how easily and quickly Meredith was "fixed" by a couple therapy sessions after her suicidal attempt. Even Crhistina´s dialogue with Mer, asking her if she thought she felt "cured" or "has changed" after therapy, shows an appalling ignorance oh how psychotherapy works. I can understand that therapy sessions are not the kind of "exciting" material for Tv drama (too slow, too boring and, contrary to what Tv usually depicts, you don´t have an epiphany at each session), but at least you can expose some follow up by way of the dialogue between characters - something, by the way, the show was doing nicely with Owen and Cristina until the sudden "I saw my mom and now all my problems are gone" twist. As for the show humor, some lines hit me and some not. But one that really made me LOL lately was when Arizona told Bailey that, having had to grow up with that name, she learned how to defend herself in the playground . It made me wonder if the writers were fans of the movie "Raising Arizona" (a screwball comedy by the Coen brothers in which a couple of outlaws kidnapp a baby to replace their own lost one - only in the movie Arizona is a boy, which makes the choosing of the name even more random).
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Post by kaz on Jul 16, 2009 19:20:35 GMT -5
Dead Denny aside, I didn't really have a problem with the Izzie brain tumour storyline because it wasn't actually your garden variety brain tumour and the point was really to educate people as to the fact that this is actually what skin cancer, and a little mole on your back, can lead to.
I'm not sure how it is for you guys in the US but for us in Australia being so close to the hole in the Ozone layer and in such a dry and arid country, there is a big push to make people skin cancer aware. I have personally lost a family member to skin cancer (which ended up in the brain) and it was devastating. Any storyline that seeks to educate people about the dangers of the sun, deserves some kudos in my view at least for that (though I agree that this storyline wasn't always spot on in the delivery).
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Post by anaterra on Jul 16, 2009 19:37:00 GMT -5
Kaz, you make a valid point (and I live in a tropical, southern country and have had friends with skin cancer that could have been potentially lethal if not detected in time - even today I was looking at a tourist with a very pale skin - as pale as Kevin´s - while having lunch in a restaurant near home, and my first thought was "I do hope he´s using some kind of protection", because tourists usually aren´t aware of the sun effects here, even during the winter). But the fact is, and correct me if I´m wrong, the only scene I remember that made the connection between Izzy´s cancer and the excessive sun exposure was a dialogue she had with Addinson (actually, it was Addinson who suggested that was the origin of her cancer). It was a very short scene, and other than that, Izzy´s cancer seemed very "random" to me.
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Post by kaz on Jul 16, 2009 19:49:28 GMT -5
But the fact is, and correct me if I´m wrong, the only scene I remember that made the connection between Izzy´s cancer and the excessive sun exposure was a dialogue she had with Addinson (actually, it was Addinson who suggested that was the origin of her cancer). It was a very short scene, and other than that, Izzy´s cancer seemed very "random" to me. It was definitely skin cancer - Izzie went to the dermatologist to have the mole tested and it came back positive. It was that skin cancer which metastasised to her brain and to other organs. They never said on the show "skin cancer is caused by over-exposure to the sun" but I think the writers would have assumed that as viewers we're all aware of the cause of skin cancer. In my view, that's a reasonable assumption. Off the show, the writers were also always saying "wear sunscreen, people" in reference to Izzie's cancer and that storyline.
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ruralstar
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Life is a Journey of the Mind. Anything can happen....Just wait
Posts: 2,233
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Post by ruralstar on Jul 16, 2009 19:59:23 GMT -5
Agree with both of you in regards to educating people about the dangers of skin cancer and the importance of early detection. Unfortunately the long, drawn out nature of the Denny/Izzy farce diluted the message to the point of being next to useless. If we're talking education for s5 I would say the PTSD arc and specifically Cristina's speech to Meredith about Owen's 'war wounds' was probably a much more effective delivery of important information. No melodrama, just a cold reality faced by many veterans.
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Post by anaterra on Jul 16, 2009 20:25:46 GMT -5
It was definitely skin cancer - Izzie went to the dermatologist to have the mole tested and it came back positive. It was that skin cancer which metastasised to her brain and to other organs. Kaz, I know the show made clear it was skin cancer. What I was suggesting is that the show made it much less clear what were the origins of that cancer. And I think that Ruralstar nailed why - because the whole melodramatic "Denny dead appearance" storyline took so much screentime that most of the "educational message" got lost. That doesn´t mean the writers´intentions weren´t good in the first place, or that they haven´t mentioned off-screen their explicit intentions - though not everyone has access or is interested in what the writers say off-screen. In the end, you have to judge their "intentions" by what was delivered by the show and what was perceived by the audience - and, at least to me, the "educational" content of the storyline was greatly lost. But of course I´m not suggesting that my perceptions represent the majority of the audience, maybe it´s just me.
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Post by kaz on Jul 16, 2009 20:30:01 GMT -5
Sorry Anaterra, I misunderstood your meaning in your earlier post. Agreed that they didn't say anything about the origins of skin cancer. I still think they probably just assume everyone will know skin cancer = not using sunblock. Maybe they were wrong to assume that.
I also agree that they didn't deliver their educational message in the same way they did the PTSD one (that's what I meant when I said I had to give them some kudos for seeking to educate people but that I conceded the storyline wasn't always spot on in the delivery).
I think we're all on the same page here.
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