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Post by kaz on Sept 21, 2010 0:46:38 GMT -5
“With You I’m Born Again” -- After an unforgettable and heart-pounding season finale, “Grey’s Anatomy” returns for its seventh season on THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 (9:00-10:01 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.
In the season premiere, the hospital staff is trying to deal with physical and emotional trauma in the wake of the deadly rampage of a vengeful gunman. As Dr. Perkins (James Tupper), a trauma counselor, is brought in to help in the recovery and to assess each doctor’s readiness to return to work, Derek makes a spontaneous decision to resign as Chief and rushes back into surgery, taking everything a little too fast, and Cristina buries herself in her wedding planning.
“Grey’s Anatomy” stars Ellen Pompeo as Meredith Grey, Patrick Dempsey as Derek Shepherd, Sandra Oh as Cristina Yang, Justin Chambers as Alex Karev, Chandra Wilson as Miranda Bailey, James Pickens, Jr. as Richard Webber, Sara Ramirez as Callie Torres, Eric Dane as Mark Sloan, Chyler Leigh as Lexie Grey, Kevin McKidd as Owen Hunt, Jessica Capshaw as Arizona Robbins, Kim Raver as Teddy Altman, Jesse William as Jackson Avery and Sarah Drew as April Kepner.
Guest cast includes James Tupper as Andrew Perkins, Jason George as Ben, Debra Mooney as Mrs. Hunt, Judy Prescott as Donna and Matthew Fahey as Greg.
“With You I’m Born Again” was written by Krista Vernoff and directed by Rob Corn.
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Thread will remain locked until day the episode airs. Thread is now unlocked. Please refrain from posting until after the episode has aired.
Please remember to use spoiler tags.
This thread is strictly for member reviews, comments and discussion about 7.01.
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ruralstar
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Post by ruralstar on Sept 23, 2010 21:55:09 GMT -5
I sat down to watch tonight with a whole lot of doubts in my mind. I'm glad to say that I was not in the least bit disappointed. There was a lot of ground to cover in only an hour. I didn't agree with a couple character developments, but I find myself willing to be patient because overall it was a well written and acted story. So by the numbers...
The theme of rebirth was a bit heavy handed but this is normal for GA. From the patient literally being dissassembled and put back together to Owen and Cris being reborn as a couple. Friendships and intimate relationships were redefined in the wake of a life altering event. I found the behavior of most characters very plausible. Derek going all carpe diem was a bit of a surprise but I suppose anyone that tightly wound has to spring eventually.
Derek and Meredith: I'm not surprised that Derek doesn't know about the baby she lost. Usually Meredith drives me nuts but I appreciated that she was the voice of reason when it came to the kid's surgery. And that she had sense enough to leave Derek in jail on a very important day. A wake-up call if ever there was one. In some ways Derek has been reborn as he is discovering the brevity of life and all he's missed by being so controlled. He might crash and burn however.
Owen and the boys: Okay Owen's been working at SGH for two years. Mark lived across the hall from Cris and Callie's, where Owen was a constant fixture. Derek helped Owen diagnose his PTSD physiologically... And these guys don't know Owen at all? Mark still sees him as a stranger given all that's happened? Yeah, okay, whatever. Mark is a putz.
Teddy and Owen: Yes the triangle is over. And I think it's over not just because Teddy is seeing Dr. Perkins. She is genuinely happy for Owen and she can look back at her infatuation with him and realize the folly of it at this point. I liked their conversation in the OR.
Dr. Perkins and the staff: I don't agree that April or Alex should be cleared for surgery. The former is a basket case and the latter full of male bravado to cover his pain. This was one of the few beats of the episode that rang false for me. Otherwise I liked the therapy scenes, group and individual. The way they were cut together and the demeanor of Dr. Perkins just felt right. He is maddeningly patient and I hope that leads to some great conversations in future episodes. His exchange with Cristina was a high note in an episode full of highs.
Bailey and her Beau: I'm not sure why she broke it off with him. Bailey shouldn't be alone now and I didn't see him as running away. Quite the opposite in fact. I hope he comes back because this was a very odd way to write him out.
Lexie and Alex with a side of Mark: Yes, I think Mark was right to point out that Alex has been running away ever since the shooting. Keeping the bullet in his chest is just weird but not surprising. Alex disintegrated in a very plausible fashion just like the rest of his colleagues. I'm glad that Alex and Lexie had their moment in Mer's kitchen. She needed to tell him the truth. I don't think Mark deserves her but right now Alex doesn't either. Not until he gets his head screwed back on straight. On a purely asthetic note, I'm so glad Lexie's dark hair is back. I couldn't get used to her as a blond.
Meredith and Cristina: Or the twisted sisters as aptly christened by Owen. I think Cris is right, Meredith doesn't get to throw Cris' break-up with Owen out for consideration at every opportunity. The choice has been made and I'm hoping that Mer's comment to Cris in the bedroom is genuine. "Owen is perfect. He's perfect." Cris needed to hear that she's not making a mistake from the lips of her closest friend. Though for the life of me I haven't figured out in two seasons why whiny, self-involved Meredith's opinion should mean so much to Cris. But it does so there you are. As screwed up as Cris now is she is still able to see what Meredith is trying so desperately to ignore. Mer has to be honest about the miscarriage before she can really start to heal. Again, only the words of a best friend will do. I hope to see more of this famous friendship. Yet another 'rebirth' in the wake of the bloodbath.
Owen and Cris: Best for last. A giant awwwww here. I like how their nuptials worked with the therapy sessions to frame the episode. I thought the wedding was beautifully cut and the wardrobe for almost everyone was classy but not overdone. As for the character moments for each... Not many together but enough to keep the momentum going. I loved the proposal. Such a disturbing moment turned into something beautiful. The decision to wed does seem rushed as Meredith implied. However, I see it as necessary at this point. Owen and Cris have always skipped steps in their relationship and wound up going back and sorting through them later. I think they needed to be in the same space all of the time in order for Owen to help Cris work through her problems and for him to grow. In some ways Owen is still very splintered and being a whole man for Cristina to lean on will give him more self-respect.
All of the actors were spot on tonight. I look forward to next week with more confidence. I hope the writers can keep up the momentum.
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Post by sdevil on Sept 24, 2010 9:31:12 GMT -5
I may write a longer review later, but since I struggled with my internet for so long I'm just not in the mood for an essay now. So just quick & (hopefully not too) dirty. Chyler Leigh really was pretty much on top of her game this episode. It was disturbing to see her in the pit throwing around surgical instruments and accusing people of wanting her to kill them. And I was so glad that she finally told Alex that he was not a hero or anything just because he had a bullet in his chest. Alex got a little bit of sympathy from me because it was just a glimpse of the "old Alex", Evil Spawn. Still, I hope he's not going all immature again now. I can understand why Bailey can't really let Ben get close at the moment, first we know (after 2 seasons) that Owen as well pushed the person he loved away (because of his PTSD) and I think it is just hard for her to let him comfort her when he has no idea of what she has been through. I hope that they get their happy end. Meredith/Derek. I don't really like the storyline Derek has at the moment, so I thought it was good that Meredith finally left him in jail although it kinda freaked Owen out for a moment. "Mark looks great in his suit." Haha. I somehow loved the fact that Meredith first wanted Cristina to tell her she's sure (because it is just so "them") and then, in the right and important moment, told her that Owen was the perfect guy. Now to the highlight of this evening: the proposal and wedding. I think the wedding was the more intimate version that Cristina always wanted, that's why I loved it. The proposal was really more a comfort for Cristina that she won't be alone but it seriously broke my heart when he said "Sorry. Sorry I was late." I don't know why. It just showed how ruined Cristina was. That was, I think, the moment when I was close to tears (which doesn't happen that much. Just during films with Kevin. ). And I loved that little moment between Teddy and Owen. I love their friendship. It has something light, something easy and funny. And it is really so much better than that intense tension from last season. Hope they stay friends like this. Oh, one more to James Tupper: since it is that big of a cast already, I think if they should make someone a regular (if they do it), then Tupper. He's a good actor, nice to look at of course and I like him with Teddy. The only thing I really missed was a bigger part of Debra Mooney, Owens mom. We didn't see one scene with her, except for her facw at the wedding. So for my part, I'm really looking forward to the next episode. I think it was both a lot darker, but also lighter than Season 6 (Premiere). I'm looking forward to Epi 2 (especially, since Sandra Oh's showing her amazing talent plus we get ... some good stuff according to the promo ;D) and hopefully, it is staying on one (good) level now the whole season. And not good premiere and then worse and worse like Season 6. But I'm optimistic.
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ruralstar
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Post by ruralstar on Sept 24, 2010 11:03:41 GMT -5
I may write a longer review later, but since I struggled with my internet for so long I'm just not in the mood for an essay now. So just quick & (hopefully not too) dirty. Chyler Leigh really was pretty much on top of her game this episode. It was disturbing to see her in the pit throwing around surgical instruments and accusing people of wanting her to kill them. And I was so glad that she finally told Alex that he was not a hero or anything just because he had a bullet in his chest. Agreed about Lexie. Alex needed the truth and I doubt he would have heard it from anyone else. Yes I suppose it is plausible for Bailey to push Ben away. Bailey is at her core very different from Owen however so I find it hard to reconcile the progression of her symptoms with the progression of his. I'm keeping good thoughts for Ben and Bailey but I honestly think this was more of a casting issue than a story point at this juncture. No tears here but I agree about the poignancy of the proposal and the wedding. It was so Owen/Cris. Yes this is how we were introduced to Teddy and it is what I had hoped to see more of last year. He needs a friend who is somewhat removed from all the silliness of SGH and who understands him in a way others don't. There is a very old but true axiom that definitely should apply to these two. "There is no friend like an old friend." Oh I missed her! Thanks for mentioning I'll have to look closer next time I watch that scene.
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Post by hopew on Sept 24, 2010 11:37:29 GMT -5
Still a little uncertain about quoting and spoiler tags, but I wanted to follow up on some of the comments already made about one of the major C/O moments in the SP. ITA that the proposal was particularly poignant. I think there are a couple of reasons for this. As someone on the YHT posted, after letting Owen in Cristina ran directly back to the corner of the couch and curled up again. It's easy to imagine her sitting there, scared and alone, while waiting for him to show up. She has a past pattern of getting uneasy when he's late or she doesn't know where he is - - remember "Where were you? I left you like ten messages" when he came to her apartment in 6.12, just before the "we matter" speech. Now, after the trauma she experienced, those fears are even more heightened. He might have been only 10 minutes late; in fact, he probably was not very late given the incredulity on his face at the intensity of her reaction when she answers the door. But he immediately gets it and understands that she is essentially on the edge of a panic attack.
The proposal itself "You never need to be alone again. I'll never go away again. If you'll let me stay" is obviously exactly the comfort she needed in that moment. But it's what he said afterward that brought tears to my eyes. "I'm sorry - I'm sorry I was late." He's not just talking about being late on that particular evening. I think he's saying that he's sorry he was late in getting to the OR that day, so that Gary Clark got there before him. I think he's saying that he's sorry that it took him so long to figure out that his "feelings" for Teddy were really just confusion that grew out of his PTSD relapse. That, for me, is what was so moving. He is taking responsibility for the things that broke her, and he wants to do everything he can to "make it right" - - by being there for her and supporting her through all she is going through.
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ruralstar
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Post by ruralstar on Sept 24, 2010 14:15:43 GMT -5
Still a little uncertain about quoting and spoiler tags, but I wanted to follow up on some of the comments already made about one of the major C/O moments in the SP.
The proposal itself "You never need to be alone again. I'll never go away again. If you'll let me stay" is obviously exactly the comfort she needed in that moment. But it's what he said afterward that brought tears to my eyes. "I'm sorry - I'm sorry I was late." He's not just talking about being late on that particular evening. I think he's saying that he's sorry he was late in getting to the OR that day, so that Gary Clark got there before him. I think he's saying that he's sorry that it took him so long to figure out that his "feelings" for Teddy were really just confusion that grew out of his PTSD relapse. That, for me, is what was so moving. He is taking responsibility for the things that broke her, and he wants to do everything he can to "make it right" - - by being there for her and supporting her through all she is going through.
Yes, yes and may I say YES! I think you hit the nail on the head. I was trying to figure out my feelings about that scene and why I liked it even though it felt a bit rushed and awkward Great analysis.
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Post by mari1 on Sept 24, 2010 14:43:39 GMT -5
I agree. Great analysis. I was a little concerned as to their reasons, but now it seems much clearer why he was apologizing and why she was thanking him.
Thanks!
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Post by ella1967 on Sept 24, 2010 15:07:10 GMT -5
After sitting with this episode over night I've come up with a few thoughts. Please, take what you need and leave the rest. This episode seemed to me to be SF part 2, in some ways. Yes we saw people getting down to the business of saving lives and healing themselves but there was a hushed paranoia that pervaded everyone's workplace reactions. It made it possible for the wedding to be a joyous and heartfelt gathering point that allowed everyone the ability to look forward in their own lives a bit.
I loved the set up of Cristina's PTSD reveal. Initially snarky Cristina ' I had a great taco.' Indeed, tough girl. Yet watching her stick her nose tightly inside a bridal magazine and not even once peek down into Derek's OR, well, things that make you say hmmmmm.
Also in that vein, when Webber asks Owen about the surgery and he calmly says 'I've seen mortar fire do less damage' seemed an interesting counterpoint to Owen having been in some definite ways healed by what happened in the SF. He faced, IMO, the most frightening loss of his life, Cristina with a gun to her head, and came out the other side a man ready to make purposeful choices about his life because the past had been made peace with and put in perspective.
Cristina and Meredith's scenes - loved how Meredith could, on one hand, happily give opinions on dress colors and later raggedly lash out by saying 'we're not okay.' The scene in which Meredith pushed Cristina to tell her she was sure about the wedding and Cristina stood her ground and called Meredith on her disavowal of the facts in her own life was the kind of honesty for which I'd hoped.
Light was further shed when Meredith's set up for a d&c and it meant more to her to push Cristina to find Owen and tell him to keep his mouth shut to Derek than it meant to have her person there with her. (Interesting too that it was through Cristina's intent to terminate her S.1 pregnancy and needing an emergency contact that created 'person' status for Meredith in her life.) And yet by the time we see Meredith standing in her bedroom with Cristina we see their friendship has righted itself. Cristina finally has an answer for Meredith, 'I never gave you crap about your post-it note.' And Meredith just smiles, tells Cristina she looks beautiful and then says it...'Owen's perfect. He's...perfect.' Nicely played ladies.
Ah - now the proposal. When we were told it was spontaneous I expected something more unusual. Judging from Cristina's skirt and a pair of high heels sitting in front of the couch, I'm guessing they had a date planned at which Owen intended to propose yet her 'you're late' response created the necessity for him to ease her mind immediately about his intentions.
Cristina's response this time to Owen's tardiness echoed her S.5 response when he showed up drunk on her doorstep. In that long ago first date his past had backed up on him and while he knew how he felt about Cristina he was still, in some ways, afraid to face who he was and his ability to have a future with her. This time her judgmental bravado behind that statement is gone, replaced by how intent she is on having him with her. And just like that S.5 date set us up for the arc in which Cristina's loving support began to heal Owen, and in due course herself too, this will set us up for the mirror to that arc in which Owen will help Cristina heal and thereby heal himself.
This scene also threads back to S.6, Cristina's relinquishment of her own concept of Before and Owen's apology for how he let his PTSD resurface and spiral them both out of control. No longer the emotionally stunted robot, Cristina can concretely state her own truth. 'I don't want to be alone.' Sandra broke my heart with how nakedly she stated Cristina's need for that connection she's found with Owen. Loved how he saw that need in her and immediately responded. He quickly physically closed the distance between them, reassured her that he never wants to be anywhere but by her side, and then showed her the ring, thereby symbolically closing the distance between them. No flowery words necessary, as always between these two, just pure, unadulterated need for each other.
Loved how you could see how brittle Cristina was throughout the whole episode and the way in which she settled into her own skin only as she stood in Meredith's bedroom in her wedding dress and then met Owen at the bottom of the stairs. The love between them was palpable and electric. Loved the symbolism of the two of them holding hands and walking down the aisle together. They're facing life on life's terms with a clear grasp on the enduring connection between them.
I missed hearing vows because I would have loved to hear them find their words in this setting yet the crucial thing was Cristina's 'I do.' This was their wedding, planned by her, to be significant to their bond and the life they're embarking upon. It was a lovely mirror to her declaration to Owen that she wants him by her side - this leap of faith, right into his arms. And Owen just grins broadly the whole time, hardly believing his good fortune to have Cristina by his side - for at least the next 40 years. Wheeee.
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Post by MarryMeOwen on Sept 24, 2010 15:08:38 GMT -5
Still a little uncertain about quoting and spoiler tags, but I wanted to follow up on some of the comments already made about one of the major C/O moments in the SP.
The proposal itself "You never need to be alone again. I'll never go away again. If you'll let me stay" is obviously exactly the comfort she needed in that moment. But it's what he said afterward that brought tears to my eyes. "I'm sorry - I'm sorry I was late." He's not just talking about being late on that particular evening. I think he's saying that he's sorry he was late in getting to the OR that day, so that Gary Clark got there before him. I think he's saying that he's sorry that it took him so long to figure out that his "feelings" for Teddy were really just confusion that grew out of his PTSD relapse. That, for me, is what was so moving. He is taking responsibility for the things that broke her, and he wants to do everything he can to "make it right" - - by being there for her and supporting her through all she is going through.
Yes, yes and may I say YES! I think you hit the nail on the head. I was trying to figure out my feelings about that scene and why I liked it even though it felt a bit rushed and awkward Great analysis.I've stopped writing reviews here but I will add to this analysis and say: That Owen has said a lot of those things at different points already:
"I want to be around 40 years from now vs. "I'm not going anywhere Cristina... I'll never leave again"
"I can be a better man with you if you'll let me" vs. "If you'll let me stay"
Also when Cristina talked about not wanting to being alone, it reminded me of when she said she could breathe after Burke left and how she couldn't breathe without Owen.
I agree on the parallel of "I'm sorry I'm late" with the We Matter scene, did you catch in the beginning in Meredith's voice over she said something along the lines of "we matter" as well.
I'm going to say that Owen knew he was going to propose when he walked in the door and took off his jacket you could see he was up to something, he was probably trying to be more whimsical about it than the emotional moment they ended up having on the couch.
Other stuff, I didn't really care for the OR scene with Owen and Teddy, for me she's always just 'there' in scenes. I still don't think she's being genuinely happy when esp. she was trying to make a joke about it to Arizona. A person that was truly a friend to Owen like she claimed would not have kept stirring the pot the way she did knowing he was in a relationship. The writers have to try harder to get us to trust Teddy after last season. James Tupper does nothing for me, I really think the show needs to trim down the cast. I did kind of cringe when Alex said he had a war wound, I felt that was too much of a back handed comment from a show that took a military induced PTSD storyline seriously at one point.
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ruralstar
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Post by ruralstar on Sept 24, 2010 17:43:49 GMT -5
When discussing the ep with a friend today something else jumped out at me. I never saw the s3 ep when Burke left Cristina at the altar, only a clip of it on youtube. From that clip however I see a paralell in Owen asking Meredith in a hopefull and just a touch fearful tone. "She is going to come down the stairs?" This time Cristina has the power to jump ship and she doesn't for all the reasons stated by Ella. Quite the opposite of the Burke situation. And Owen's demeanor (thank you Kevin) reminds us all that while he has come a long way, he still has some healing to do. He is not completely confident of her or himself. He only knows for sure that he wants to go forward in life with Cris. I loved that they held hands as they walked down the aisle.
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Post by tanuxa on Sept 26, 2010 6:24:43 GMT -5
I'm going to say that Owen knew he was going to propose when he walked in the door and took off his jacket you could see he was up to something, he was probably trying to be more whimsical about it than the emotional moment they ended up having on the couch. ____________________________________________________ I agree, that Owen was going to propose, perhaps not that very night, but he if he had bought the ring, he was sure about it. To tell the truth, I didn't expect a 'classical' proposal from Owen with flowers, restaurant etc. In general: I liked the episode very much, especially the way it was cut - the flash backs. I liked Lexie and her reaction to the shooting and her in therapy session, much better than that of April. April was invisible. The group-therapy session and the scene in the basement was very good. I was surprised to see Mer in her old pattern from season 4, her refusal to accept help from Dr. Wyatt / now to talk to Dr. Perkins. She comes to his office and goes, keeps saying she is fine, but is nervous all the time. Derek's carpe diem (as someone named it) behaviour is his way to hide his PTSD. I liked it when Dr. Webber said, he had nightmares and went twice a day to the AA meetings although he hadn't been shot. I also liked it when Mer named all the possible complications to the patient and his mother to 'drag' Derek back to reality. Did I miss something or it was not mentioned that Owen had been cleared for surgery. I mean, neither Callie, nor Arizona nor Mark, but Owen had been shot and had his war-induced PT SD before and now he seems to be the only doctor who doesn't have any symptoms at all. [/spoiler]
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Post by hopew on Sept 26, 2010 8:01:44 GMT -5
. . . . . . Did I miss something or it was not mentioned that Owen had been cleared for surgery. I mean, neither Callie, nor Arizona nor Mark, but Owen had been shot and had his war-induced PT SD before and now he seems to be the only doctor who doesn't have any symptoms at all. [/spoiler][/quote] I think the fact that Owen appears to be symptom-free is part of the point of the episode. The shooting was an attempt to "reset" the story and the characters. Shonda said specifically that it would get Owen and Cristina past the "angst" of last year. For Owen, who was supposed to be confused and uncertain last year, the events the day of the shooting brought clarity and certainty. He faced some of his greatest fears, and survived them. I think we didn't see him get cleared for surgery partly because there just wasn't time in the episode for yet another scene with the trauma guy, but mostly because it wasn't really an issue at all. Having PTSD alone doesn't disqualify the doctors from going back to work; Perkins said that Lexie still had PTSD and that most of them did, but that Lexie was no longer a danger to herself or others. Derek said to Owen something like "maybe getting shot isn't the worst thing." Derek was referring to the fact that Owen proposed to Cristina after the shooting, but I think it goes beyond that. I think Owen's "reset" was to gain confidence and Cristina's "reset" was to lose it. Their story arc this year will be, I think, for Cristina to regain her confidence in herself, with Owen's help. Then they will have to face the question of whether Cristina's decision to "let Owen stay" and marry him came from her temporary lack of confidence (her fears) or her love for him. When she's herself again, will she still want to be with him? I'm quite confident that the answer to that question will ultimately be "yes" but I'm also quite confident that the question will be asked.
Whether any of this is realistic in terms of how PTSD actually works, I have no idea. As I understand it, PTSD can get better over time with treatment and support. I also understand that one technique for treating PTSD is to guide the sufferer through a re-living of the trauma that caused the PTSD. Maybe seeing the woman he loved in danger was, for Owen, like reliving seeing his platoon (filled, presumably, with people he loved) in danger, but this time with a different outcome. That could be healing, I would think. I guess we'll see in future episodes.
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Post by hopew on Sept 26, 2010 9:44:02 GMT -5
Some of you may also see this post elsewhere (because I will post in more than one place), but I wanted to be sure to share it here. It's about what I think is the significance of Meredith's voice over at the end of the episode. I've transcribed Meredith's voice over from the wedding and tied what was being said into what was being shown on the screen. The voice over is in CAPS; the "screen shot" during the immediately preceding words is in parens after. I think this voice over in particular is filled with "anvils" and glimpses of the season ahead for all of the characters. And it is one of the reasons that I feel very confident that the marriage WILL work out, and that the Teddy triangle is truly, truly over. Read it and let me know what you think:
WHEN WE SAY THINGS LIKE “PEOPLE DON’T CHANGE” IT DRIVES SCIENTISTS CRAZY, BECAUSE CHANGE IS LITERALLY THE ONLY CONSTANT IN ALL OF SCIENCE (Cristina and Meredith walk down the steps to join Owen). ENERGY, MATTER (Owen and Cristina look at each other and smile; Cristina nods); IT’S ALWAYS CHANGING, MORPHING (Owen and Cristina are together at the entrance to the living room), MERGING (Owen and Cristina look at each other again, smile, and join hands), GROWING, DYING (camera pans down the faces of the guests as they walk down the aisle). IT’S THE WAY PEOPLE TRY NOT TO CHANGE THAT’S UNNATURAL (Owen and Cristina arrive at the end and stand in front of the minister; Owen looks at her with pure love, she looks back and smiles), THE WAY WE CLING TO THINGS THE WAY THAT THEY WERE (camera pans to Mark, who is looking over at someone) INSTEAD OF LETTING THEM BE WHAT THEY ARE (camera pans to Lexie, who Mark was apparently looking at). THE WAY WE CLING TO OLD MEMORIES INSTEAD OF FORMING NEW ONES (camera is on Callie and Arizona, smiling, with Callie’s hand on Arizona’s shoulder); THE WAY WE INSIST ON BELIEVING, DESPITE EVERY SCIENTIFIC INDICATION (camera pans over Jackson and April standing together) THAT ANYTHING IN THIS LIFETIME IS PERMANENT (camera focuses on April, crying).
CHANGE IS CONSTANT (camera on Cristina’s face, looking serious but happy). HOW WE EXPERIENCE CHANGE, THAT’S UP TO US (camera lingers on Alex, looking impassive but nodding a bit). IT CAN FEEL LIKE DEATH (camera on Miranda) OR IT CAN FEEL LIKE A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE (camera on the Chief). IF WE OPEN OUR FINGERS, LOOSEN OUR GRIPS (camera on Teddy), GO WITH IT (camera on Owen and Cristina, turning to face each other as Cristina hands the bouquet to Meredith) IT CAN FEEL LIKE PURE ADRENALINE (camera on Meredith, smiling and happy). LIKE AT ANY MOMENT WE CAN HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE AT LIFE (camera returns to Owen and Cristina, cutting back and forth between them as she puts the ring on his finger). LIKE AT ANY MOMENT (Owen places the ring on Cristina’s finger - - she says “I do”) WE CAN BE BORN AGAIN (Owen gives her a look of pure joy, and they kiss).
See what I mean??
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Post by cl3me on Sept 26, 2010 11:46:21 GMT -5
I thought this was a really interesting episode; I still find myself thinking about it and the different ways everyone was affected. Like Mer, I was intrigued that some were cleared for surgery when it "appeared" they shouldn't. It's plain as day why she wasn't - she is in total denial. From her scene with the shrink, it was clear that he was looking for honesty from everyone. Alex: Why did he walk away from Lexie? He'd had enough crazy in his life, which is true. Crass, blunt, selfish, rude, insensitive, but true. Why does he want to keep the bullet in? Serves as a chick magnet. Makes him a hero. Yup, egocentric season 1 Alex is back. Lexie: Her very highly rational mind was overwhelmed, couldn't process everything that happened, and brokedown. Kind of like a computer that's stuck repeating a loop and can't get past it. Hit the reset button - take some meds and sleep for 50hrs. Like she says, she's back - clearly - her comeback to Alex's snide remark showed she's strong again - no lovesick why don't you love me Alex from her. Yup, I get it. Poor thing though will have to deal with everyone looking at her like she's two steps away from crazy still. Bailey: for me it seems like she's going through survivors guilt. She's wearing her grief on her sleeve. At first the breakup seemed to me just a way to write him off the show. Then I thought about how she's "holding herself together with tape and glue". Wouldn't she want then to lean on someone for support? Then it came to me - she didn't trust him enough (yet? maybe if relationship was further along....) to be that support allow him to see her that vulnerable. Breakup makes sense to me now Derek: another one who's behaviour and reaction is unnerving. Yes he's running on adrenaline and even seeking out that rush, but, he's not unaware. He's happy to be alive. He gave up chief so he can be who he truly is and wants to be - a surgeon. He used the fearlessness to advantage and took on a surgery that will go down in history. Cleared for surgery yes he's back alright, but I'm bracing for the impact when cuz I see his relationship with Mer is about crash. Mer: Total denial. Would rather just pretend nothing happened. No shootings, no miscarriage. Her denial is so thick she' still shocked at the sight of Derek's scar. She'd rather act like she's same old and focus on everyone else. Cris: Unlike mer at least Cris knows she's not better. Cris isn't fighting the fact she hasn't been cleared yet. She's avoiding talking about it directly. She's wishing she was someone different. The wedding is her security blanket and Owen is her rock. Owen: Cleared right away because he's already in treatment and counsellng for PTSD. He has already been back in surgery since his diagnosis with it. He was able to act heroically on that day in spite of his PTSD - no freezing moments from him. He understands the effects PTSD has on him and knows what most of his triggers are already. This incident helped snap Owen into focus - Cris matters most to him. We won't see Owen jumping into any helicopters anytime soon, but cleared for surgery - absolutely. Teddy: Cleared right away as well because it was just another day in Iraq. I liked the Teddy/Owen scene. Between that and her conversaton with Arizona, it's the first time I got the sense that Teddy is done pining like a lovesick schoolgirl. Callie/Arizone: we didn't get to see their sessions, but the incident was clarifying for them as well, brought them back together, and they're moving forward. Chief: yup the chief is back. Nuff said Mark: we also didn't get to see his session - whether that's because ED can't pull off a scene with that kind of depth and/or his character is so painfully 1 dimensional. The guy doesn't internalize anything, at least not for long. Mark doesn't fit the title of the show at all - how has he changed? Not one bit. He's being overprotective of Lexie but he always was.... Proposal: That night Owen had a ring on him - obviously. What we don't know is if he went there that night with the intent to propose, or if he'd been carrying it around for a bit knowing his intention, but just waiting for the timing and that night, seeing Cris's distress, saw proposing then and there as the best way to reaffirm that he chooses her and reassure her that he will never leave her. I feel an ask Kevin question coming on....was that the intended proposal night or was this another impulsive Owen move? It was another beautiful scene between them. I just have one worry niggling in the back of my mind. Cris is so scared right now. I wonder if her lack of fight to get back into surgery is because she knows she's scared to get back in and all this talk of wondering what it would be like to be simple....It worries me that Owen proposed in Cris's darkest hour - is she saying yes only so that she can have a simle life? Or a simple life can be the backup plan now that her surgical career is hanging by a thread? The ring is her lifesaver? As beautiful as it was, I wish the proposal had waited until she was stronger - on a bit firmer ground. I love Owen's intention though. The wedding was absolutely perfectly Cris. Loved it. Loved it. Loved it. Made me forget my concerns for a bit too. I love the direction the story is going. No triangles. Just all about the struggles within relationships. Kevin was excellent as usual, but Sandra deserves a standing OH! Wow, she's brilliant, and finally a SL for her character that will challenge Sandra. No more terrorizing interns, craving surgeries so bad ass need to wear a diaper - don't get me wrong she was great in these funny entertaining scenes - just now I feel like she has a SL with some real meat and depth. After sticking with it last season in spite of all sorts of misgivings, I am excited for this season now.
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Post by kaz on Sept 26, 2010 19:07:33 GMT -5
Some of you may also see this post elsewhere (because I will post in more than one place), but I wanted to be sure to share it here. It's about what I think is the significance of Meredith's voice over at the end of the episode. I've transcribed Meredith's voice over from the wedding and tied what was being said into what was being shown on the screen. The voice over is in CAPS; the "screen shot" during the immediately preceding words is in parens after. I think this voice over in particular is filled with "anvils" and glimpses of the season ahead for all of the characters. And it is one of the reasons that I feel very confident that the marriage WILL work out, and that the Teddy triangle is truly, truly over. Read it and let me know what you think:
WHEN WE SAY THINGS LIKE “PEOPLE DON’T CHANGE” IT DRIVES SCIENTISTS CRAZY, BECAUSE CHANGE IS LITERALLY THE ONLY CONSTANT IN ALL OF SCIENCE (Cristina and Meredith walk down the steps to join Owen). ENERGY, MATTER (Owen and Cristina look at each other and smile; Cristina nods); IT’S ALWAYS CHANGING, MORPHING (Owen and Cristina are together at the entrance to the living room), MERGING (Owen and Cristina look at each other again, smile, and join hands), GROWING, DYING (camera pans down the faces of the guests as they walk down the aisle). IT’S THE WAY PEOPLE TRY NOT TO CHANGE THAT’S UNNATURAL (Owen and Cristina arrive at the end and stand in front of the minister; Owen looks at her with pure love, she looks back and smiles), THE WAY WE CLING TO THINGS THE WAY THAT THEY WERE (camera pans to Mark, who is looking over at someone) INSTEAD OF LETTING THEM BE WHAT THEY ARE (camera pans to Lexie, who Mark was apparently looking at). THE WAY WE CLING TO OLD MEMORIES INSTEAD OF FORMING NEW ONES (camera is on Callie and Arizona, smiling, with Callie’s hand on Arizona’s shoulder); THE WAY WE INSIST ON BELIEVING, DESPITE EVERY SCIENTIFIC INDICATION (camera pans over Jackson and April standing together) THAT ANYTHING IN THIS LIFETIME IS PERMANENT (camera focuses on April, crying).
CHANGE IS CONSTANT (camera on Cristina’s face, looking serious but happy). HOW WE EXPERIENCE CHANGE, THAT’S UP TO US (camera lingers on Alex, looking impassive but nodding a bit). IT CAN FEEL LIKE DEATH (camera on Miranda) OR IT CAN FEEL LIKE A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE (camera on the Chief). IF WE OPEN OUR FINGERS, LOOSEN OUR GRIPS (camera on Teddy), GO WITH IT (camera on Owen and Cristina, turning to face each other as Cristina hands the bouquet to Meredith) IT CAN FEEL LIKE PURE ADRENALINE (camera on Meredith, smiling and happy). LIKE AT ANY MOMENT WE CAN HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE AT LIFE (camera returns to Owen and Cristina, cutting back and forth between them as she puts the ring on his finger). LIKE AT ANY MOMENT (Owen places the ring on Cristina’s finger - - she says “I do”) WE CAN BE BORN AGAIN (Owen gives her a look of pure joy, and they kiss).
See what I mean??
hopew, I think you're spot on about the significance of the voiceover. It definitely was not unintentional the way the shots were edited to fit in with different parts of Meredith's voiceover and it does give us hope for the future of the season, but I suspect there will be some road bumps along the way - not least of which will be (as you say) Cristina and Owen working out whether the decision to get married was the right one.
I think it's going to be interesting.
I'm trying to put together a review but you've all had such wonderful thoughts and said so much that I wonder what more I can possibly add.
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Post by kaz on Sept 26, 2010 20:53:08 GMT -5
Wow, it's going to be difficult to leave you with any thoughts that haven't already been shared (and ever so eloquently, I might add) on this thread already. For what it's worth, my take on the episode is as follows. Sorry, this is long. On the whole, I thought this was a decent episode and a good way to introduce us to the season of rebirth. I did find myself feeling slightly underwhelmed by the end of the hour, however - while good, it wasn't quite explosive or surprising - but I think that was partly because the original plan was to air 7.02 on the same night and also because we'd had SO many spoilers and sneak peeks beforehand. It really was overkill. I'm hoping that going forward they try and tone down the spoilers so we're left with some surprises.
I can't be sure, but I think the theme of this episode was change...clearly I am joking. This episode was anything but subtle when it came to theme but this show has been getting more and more anvilicious as the seasons progress. Although it purported to be about rebirth, I think it was only the infantile stage of that - the tentative beginnings. I think these little caterpillars (or at least Meredith and Cristina) are starting to emerge from their cocoons but haven't quite come out as fully formed butterflies yet. I expect that's where the rest of the season will take us.
Like it or not, Shonda has really managed to press the reset button. Whether it's plausible or not, whether it's in keeping with the development of the show thus far, from here she can go anywhere with her characters and storylines. She has the excuse that cataclysmic events change people in profound ways and who are we (unless we've experienced anything like it) to say that it ain't so?
Taking it character by character as cl3me has done (because it's the most sensible way I can think of), my thoughts are these.
Chief Webber - Out of everyone, the Chief was really reborn at the end of the season finale and the season opener just cemented it. In going back into the hospital and taking back what was his, he opened the door to the future. In some ways it's interesting to me that we didn't see any therapy sessions with him - I mean, he saw a man shoot himself just feet away - but in others it makes absolute sense. Unlike the other characters in the SF, Chief Webber was in total control and not at the mercy of a crazed gunman. As a side note, though it felt overly light-hearted for this kind of episode I did enjoy the little moment of the Chief dancing it out in his office.
April & Jackson - I don't mind their addition to the cast. They were sufficiently in the background not to bother me and I actually like the different dynamic they add to the group (Jackson especially but even April is growing on me). Jackson is clearly aware that something is up with Cristina and at some point I'd love a conversation between them about the surgery on Derek, just to see that professional bond between Jackson and Cristina firm up a little, but until Cris is ready to talk that's unlikely to happen.
Lexie & Alex - Chyler Leigh was great as Lexie this week. From the breakdown in the pit to the smackdown of Alex, she really nailed it. And while I felt sorry for Alex to a certain extent that he had to hear such a harsh lesson, it was hopefully what he needed to knock some sense into him. He doesn't have to stay in a relationship with Lexie but there's also no need to revert to Alex v1.0 and be a complete ass.
Mark, Callie & Arizona - Arizona's "pink bubble" fixation annoyed me. It doesn't really seem like the shooting changed all that much for her - sure, she says she's prepared to think about having kids etc but not right now. In my view, there's still troubled water ahead for these two. As for Mark, he didn't really have much of a role to play this episode. It annoyed me that he said he and Derek didn't know Owen at all. Really? He's been around (I think) for over a year and as surgeons they'd be at work with each other more than they are at home, not to mention the fact that Mark lives across the hall from Owen and he doesn't know him? Seemed implausible but I'll go with it. I'm interested to see what the "reset" will be for Mark this season as he seems to be hung up on the same thing as before - he wants to get married and settle down and is secretly pining for Lexie. Yawn. On a positive note, I did like the little interaction with Callie & Arizona pre-wedding, especially Mark's "you're doing great, push through".
Bailey - ahhhh, Bailey, Bailey, Bailey...I foresee many a breakdown for you this season. Unlike last season and the one before. Oh wait...Bailey was 'off' for me this week, but in a plausible way. From jumping in a cab and just taking off in the flashback, to laughing out loud at Derek quitting as Chief and her strained conversation with the residents in the basement...she's a woman on the edge. And that was all made abundantly clear in her "tape and glue" speech at the end of the episode which, melodramatics aside, I loved. I'm not 100% okay with the way they left things with Ben. I get Bailey's need to just try and keep herself together without trying to keep a relationship together but Ben just saying "okay then" and walking off, didn't quite ring true. That was clearly more about the actor having to go off to do another project rather than it making total sense for the characters. I don't think the door is entirely closed on him coming back into the picture. It will just depend on how things pan out on his new show, I guess.
Teddy - Teddy had some good and bad moments this episode for me. The kiss with Dr Perkins looked awkward and I was annoyed at the way Teddy also just fobbed off all of last season and her previous feelings for Owen as basically floating around in a pretty pink bubble. But the short moment between Owen and Teddy was nice and felt real - a glimpse into the kind of friendship I'd expected them to have way back in season 6 when she first appeared. Also, it's a credit to Kevin and his ability to act with his eyes that as opposed to a good deal of the end of season 6, there was no uncertainty in Owen's eyes when he looked at Teddy this time. He's made his choice and the triangle is dead.
Meredith & Derek - I'm not a huge Mer/Der fan so I don't have too much to say on this except that I liked their storyline and their interactions. Meredith running around trying to take care of others while not really taking care of herself or being honest with herself was troubling but interesting to watch. I think this situation is about to implode and soon. While I was annoyed to a certain extent at Meredith's questioning of Cristina's motives for marrying Owen so soon, I think alot of us as viewers were probably sitting there scratching our heads and asking the exact same questions. This situation isn't without a level of doubt and if Meredith really is Cristina's soulmate, then it's her role to push Cristina on certain things to get to the heart of the matter. I did like that, in the end, Meredith was accepting of Owen. I think (or at least I hope) that her own issues with Owen have been put to bed.
Owen & Cristina - Now to the main event. I don't think I've even fully digested this episode when it comes to Owen & Cristina, and especially just Cristina on her own. I am so interested to see where this season takes Cristina. It's like the past 2 seasons all came to a head in some way and created some potential for different speed bumps down the road.
I think it was Marryme who said this first, and I agree 100%, that Owen's "if you'll let me stay" was reminiscent of his "I want to be around 40 years from now" and "I can be a better man for/with you...if you'll let me". And the whole what-will-Cristina-have-when-she-doesn't-have-surgery question (raised by the dinosaur in season 5) was answered. She'll have Owen (if things pan out). Cristina is having a crisis of faith, surgery being her religion, and her "I don't want to be alone" made total sense to me in light of that. Season 6 showed us that to her, surgery was the be all and end all. Gun to her head (both figuratively and literally) in season 6, she chose surgery. But now that she's too afraid to step foot into the OR, she doesn't want to have nothing. And that's where Owen comes in. I also agree with whoever said that Owen's apology to Cristina was as much about being late home that night as it was about being incapable of choosing in season 6 and also not showing up until the eleventh hour in the season finale.
The proposal itself was rushed, but I liked it. And I understand that Owen was doing the most he possibly could to give Cristina everything she needed in that moment. He could have just said "I'm not going anywhere" and left it at that but the proposal was the ultimate gesture and sign of commitment. The fact that Owen just happened to be carrying around the ring detracted from the spontaneity of the scene for me a little but as a plot device it meant that he didn't have to speak that cheesy and much overused phrase - "will you marry me?" - and I was thankful for that.
The wedding was perfect and everything, as a Cristina Yang fan, I could want. While part of me would have liked to have heard the vows, I'm also a little thankful that we didn't. I'm not sure that anything would have been quite right. Part of me thinks that Cristina Yang wouldn't write her own vows anyway and would just go with the traditional stuff, saving the real sentiment for a more private situation. Cristina Yang also rarely says what she feels, she shows it. And Sandra and Kevin were certainly doing a brilliant job of conveying their characters' feelings about the marriage just with their eyes and gestures. It was lovely and they both looked incredible.
My hands down favourite scene of the episode, however, was Cristina's speech to Perkins about not being a simple girl. If I teared up at any part of the episode it was right there. Sandra Oh is so good and while I don't necessarily think there's any such thing as a "simple" girl and don't agree with what she was suggesting, I can understand why someone like Cristina, who's been through what she has, would be thinking in those terms.
Finally, I know alot of people are uneasy about this wedding, about the appropriateness of the proposal at that point in time and about whether Cristina and Owen (but mostly Cristina) are doing this for the right reasons. I think we are clearly meant to feel that - happy yet conflicted and a little unsure. That will be the mystery that will unravel as the season progresses and Cristina starts to heal, I suspect. And I can't wait.
I can only hope that Shonda does the right thing and allows Owen (moreso than Meredith) to really be there for Cristina in that healing process.
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Post by kaz on Sept 26, 2010 21:04:13 GMT -5
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Post by kaz on Sept 26, 2010 22:40:26 GMT -5
Oh, and one quibble about the episode that I just remembered. Why bother to have Debra Mooney there as Owen's mother if she didn't have any actual scenes and, were it not for the promo photos, wasn't even visible (other than in a really out of focus way) at the wedding??? What a huge waste.
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Post by ella1967 on Sept 26, 2010 23:29:24 GMT -5
Glad to read your review Kaz, as always. It's interesting that we so often agree on interpretations and yet one thing you wrote was so different from how S.6 seemed to me that it made me think I had to talk it out a bit. It is related to 7.1 in terms of the conflict we're meant to see in play for Cristina, and somewhat for Owen too. Yet if this belongs in the other thread you opened for Cristina and Owen's storyline from 7.1, then please move it there. Owen & Cristina - And the whole what-will-Cristina-have-when-she-doesn't-have-surgery question (raised by the dinosaur in season 5) was answered. She'll have Owen (if things pan out). Cristina is having a crisis of faith, surgery being her religion, and her "I don't want to be alone" made total sense to me in light of that. Season 6 showed us that to her, surgery was the be all and end all. Gun to her head (both figuratively and literally) in season 6, she chose surgery. But now that she's too afraid to step foot into the OR, she doesn't want to have nothing. And that's where Owen comes in.
Finally, I know alot of people are uneasy about this wedding, about the appropriateness of the proposal at that point in time and about whether Cristina and Owen (but mostly Cristina) are doing this for the right reasons. I think we are clearly meant to feel that - happy yet conflicted and a little unsure. That will be the mystery that will unravel as the season progresses and Cristina starts to heal, I suspect. And I can't wait.
It's a given that S.6 seemed to be about love vs. career balance for Cristina and at the same time as we saw her initially choose surgery we also saw her confront that old belief that career was the only safe place for her. As she began to believe Owen's 'we matter' speech she began to both set boundaries for herself and let him into her history a bit. And as that blending occurred, she seemed to become more comfortable expressing her emotional side. While surgery may be her religion, as you point out (lovely phrasing, btw) I don't think it's the only important thing on her plate these days.
Granted, we're supposed to see her hesitancy to do anything but plan a wedding in 7.1 as indicative of how wrong things are with Cristina. Yet I don't see her 'I don't want to be alone' plea to be about what will I have if I don't have surgery sooner than I thought it would happen, but rather that her abandonment fears, which really seemed to back up on her in 6.22-SF and which made her think she would end up alone don't have to come true. After all, this is the girl who assumed the worst in that OR, believing that Owen came back for her but likely wound up dead from that gunshot. She was only now, in 7.1, coming to terms with the reality that Owen was right there with her, hers for the asking, as it were.
This is also the girl who went into that OR out of love for her friend, maybe even out of knowing what it felt like to lose your love and to not want Meredith to go through such a thing. Yes she kept operating with a gun to her head, but out of love, not to ride a surgical high. And this storyline for Cristina and Owen in 7.1 makes complete sense of why Cristina's father's death popped up in 6.21 at a time when Owen's PTSD confusion was carrying him down a dark and foggy path. Her biggest fears were initially about career and transitioned to being left behind in her emotional life. And now those two fears are hopelessly intertwined.
Cristina is very fragile now and as much as she talked things out with Meredith she still showed her most raw emotional reactions to Owen in 7.1. It wasn't about wanting him to be her surgery substitute, IMO, but rather being clear that she doesn't want to have that old belief about ending up alone rattling around in her psyche anymore and that she is also clear what Owen means to her, hence the way Cristina radiated love, contentment, and calm in that wedding sequence.
Owen stepped up because he knows clearly and concretely that Cristina is the one for him. That's his side of the reboot. The overwhelming fog of his wartime memories has been replaced by having the ability to work through them and, in turn, move forward in his life by showing Cristina how very much they matter in that proposal.
And yet where the story will become interesting is that it appears, on some level, that Cristina needed a lifeline and Owen wanted that lifeline to be him, as she was for him in S.5. And as you say, I too can't wait to see what comes next.
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Post by kaz on Sept 27, 2010 0:17:26 GMT -5
Ella, I agree 100% and at a much deeper level that's right. But superficially, if we look at Cristina Yang at her most base level (and the way others see her) I think it's a plausible interpretation. I definitely think that the "I don't want to be alone" was about so much more than not having surgery, but surgery has become so intertwined with who Cristina Yang is as a person that it's difficult to separate it from everything else.
I also agree with you about Cristina's development in season 6. She came a long way and the lines between career and love were blurred. But there were a few instances where we were reminded that despite the fact she has a softer side, Cristina Yang is wired a certain way that other people are not, necessarily, and one of those ways is that in her mind she is a surgeon above all else.
Again, I think everything else you say is right. But at a basic level, without digging deeper, the shooting took Cristina's longest love away from her by making surgery the scariest thing she can think of. In asking Owen not to leave her alone, she acknowledges that she doesn't want to lose her other love.
Just my take.
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