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Post by kaz on Nov 17, 2010 18:47:37 GMT -5
THE RESIDENTS ARE ON THEIR OWN WITH THE DREADED NIGHT SHIFT AS THE ATTENDINGS GO OUT TO PLAY, ON ABC'S "GREY'S ANATOMY"
Peter MacNicol ("Ally McBeal") Recurs as Dr. Phil Stark
"Slow Night, So Long" - Derek lands the grant he needs for his clinical trial and all the attendings take him out to Joe's Bar to celebrate, but they get a surprise when they see someone they know already at the bar. Meanwhile, Meredith and Alex have to fend for themselves during the night shift with a nine-year-old patient who's experiencing post-surgical complications and his very pushy mother, on "Grey's Anatomy," THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18 (9:00-10:01 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.
"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 Williams as Jackson Avery and Sarah Drew as April Kepner.
Guest cast TBA.
"Slow Night, So Long" was written by Zoanne Clack and directed by Rob Bailey.
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ruralstar
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Post by ruralstar on Nov 18, 2010 22:43:22 GMT -5
Veering off of the questions format tonight and going for my more traditional type of review...
This was a very different ep for Grey's. Owing mostly to the fact that Cristina is in the midst of crisis and Derek's 'celebration' was more of a babysitting gig for Cris, Bailey, Callie and Teddy.
I think the A story was supposed to be the Residents trying to function as Attendings. I'm not exactly sure what Stark's purpose is. Mainly he's a miserable, lazy, pain in the ass. I don't blame Alex for wanting to prove him wrong by performing a successful surgery on a kid who clearly needed it. I'm not sure why the Cheif just stood and there and nodded when Stark was chewing out Mer and Alex. I guess because he knew the real story and wanted them to know that he had their back. I hope the Cheif gives Stark enough rope to hang himself and no one dies in the process. FTR, there was a sober Attending in the hospital. Owen Hunt. Was there a reason he could not have been consulted? By the time the crisis with the kid had come to a head, the crisis in Owen's OR was nearly over. But I digress....
Avery is the new Owen now? In full blown PTSD denial? Yeah, okay, who gives a d**n? Frankly I can't get on board with this idea. There wasn't enough development of the Avery character before he underwent this radical post-traumatic change for me to really care what happens to him now.
Bailey...oh poor Bailey. They say when you're drunk your real personality and feelings come to the surface. I wonder if she remembers prattling on about Ben and the mistake she made? When is the world going to cut her some slack? I did laugh when she tried to feed her money into the snack machine, especially when she started to giggle. Love Chandra.
Funniest moment of the night for me was Teddy bombed off her ass and babbling to Meredith about her crappy love life. And the look on Mer's face when Teddy said Cris was bartending was priceless.
Callie sleeping with Mark *yawn* Whatever. Her whole crisis rings false for me. Clearly she regrets what she did already but I don't really care at this point. Tis a shame because one of the things I like about Grey's, and there aren't many beyond Kevin and Sandra, is that Callie is written as a real woman. She is a sexual being with needs but she's not a size 0 on her best day. I hope she's through the worst of her grieving process over Az after this evening's little fling.
Derek babysitting Cris from afar. I think he should have stepped in when she started lap dancing. Owen didn't need to come back to the bar and see that. Everyone has been trying to advise Cristina, as Derek said, but sometimes you need to be saved from your own self-destruction.
Poor Owen had the WTF look when he walked into Joe's the first time. Much later resignation has settled in. The old Fireman's carry and oh gods the morning after. He is willing to travel the path Cris is on but clearly has no clue which way to turn. Ironic given his sound advice to Avery about talking to someone about his PTSD symptoms. I find it a hard pill to swallow that Owen can't really help Cris at this juncture. The argument that he's too close to the situation does not hold a lot of water for me.
All in all I enjoy this episode. Not stellar but the different approach kept me interested for the whole hour even with the weaknesses noted above.
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Post by MarryMeOwen on Nov 18, 2010 23:07:40 GMT -5
I'm going to write more later because I am traveling at the moment, but Just wanted to say that I think the writers are really starting to over milk this s/l. I realize that they are trying to make O/C an equal couple now in terms of their PTSD experiences, etc. yet I understand why some are so frustrated. I was hoping for more in this episode, more of the wrap up process anyway. I thought OC were well written, but could have had more talking, etc. I personally didnt find anything funny about Teddy being drunk except Derek's hilarious selective hearing expression when she was babbling. The writers really need to decide on a personality for her. Their version of comedy relief with Teddy is not working for me. Bailey was definately the funny drunk out of the lushes.
I liked how Derek was so protective of Cristina, kind of keeping an eye on her more because he felt responsible than for Owen. But I do like how they are developing the Derek and Cristina dynamic. It has been long over due and I am interested in the impending showdown between Owen and Mer over the fishing trip next week.
Mark and Callie? Not surprised, this is ShondaLand
Also I don't get why Derek's grant is a big celebration, when they gave Owen the cold shoulder? Did I miss something? I guess that 1million dollar grant was not as big a deal since people seem to be getting them left and right.
I'll write more later but these are my general thoughts.
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Post by kaz on Nov 19, 2010 5:02:09 GMT -5
Great, great, great episode. Really enjoyed it. I found it had the perfect balance of laughter and tears, highs and lows. There were far too many funny parts to mention but I loved drunk Bailey and Teddy's rant to Meredith about dating, not to mention all of the "WTF?" looks and comments from the Attendings when they realised Cristina was working the bar.
As for Cristina, one has to wonder whether this is the rock bottom we've been waiting for and next episode will slowly see her starting to work her way back - or perhaps to just float here for a little while as she figures out her next move.
There weren't nearly enough Owen and Cristina scenes but what we did get showed that Owen is in it for the long haul. I can't think of too many husbands who would just sling their wives over their shoulder then take them home to hold their hair as they throw up without so much as a "what the hell were you thinking?". He knows that Cristina is going through her own private hell right now and, like Derek, he recognises that if he pushes her, if he tells her what to do, it's not going to do the trick. Still, that's not to say that I wouldn't love to see a decent talk between these two especially given Owen's own experience with PTSD.
Cristina as a bartender was so hilariously wrong that it was sad. You could truly see that she has spent her life focussed on one singular goal, and that's to be the best surgeon around. She really is clueless when it comes to doing anything else.
I thought what Alex and Meredith did was very risky and somewhat foolish but at the same time, when you don't have any choice sometimes you have to take a leap and hope for the best. And they are often the moments when you realise your true potential. As an aside, I love Peter Macnicol but truly dislike Stark. Arizona was too bubbly for my liking but Stark is too lazy and arrogant.
The Bailey/April scenes were fantastic. I really am liking April more and more each week and I hope that as the season progresses she loses a bit of that naive edge and starts to grow up.
Also enjoying seeing a budding friendship or whatever between Avery and Lexie. It was interesting that after weeks of Avery's PTSD holding him back, this week it seemed to make him shine in the OR. I'm not sure that there's much continuity in that but I'll take it since seeing him fail at everything after being shown last season that he was basically a talented surgeon seemed implausible. I also thought it gave us some nice moments between Avery and Owen.
Finally, although it was a simple scene I think the most moving part of the episode (in a quietly tragic kind of way) was the scene in the ER when Owen and Lexie were trying to revive the young patient. Owen was charging the paddles, but speaking in muted tones so that the brother next door wouldn't overhear. It was so subdued but so effective (mostly, I think, because of Kevin's subtle brilliance with his eyes and his voice). I will definitely be watching this episode again.
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Post by trinity on Nov 19, 2010 6:49:55 GMT -5
"She’s not losing Owen. Owen’s sticking. She was there for him when he was going through it. She stuck. So he’s sticking, too. He’ll hold her hair. He’ll forgive her transgressions. He’s going to be there for her, whether she likes it or not. " ( taken from the Writer's blog) This is how I want to start because I liked this, because I am firstly a C/O shipper and because in a way this compensates the lack of a proper C/O scene from this episode. I watch this show mainly for them and though I kept my expectations very low, I still hoped for a tiny Cristina and Owen where they actually talk. I'll get over that. Hoping next episode.
Both Cristina and Owen are constantly breaking my heart. For me it's absolutely painful to watch Cristina during this episode. Seeing her spiralling down till the end of the episode, but I guess she needed to hit rock bottom. IMO, she tried all day to feel good with taking the job of bartentinding. She tried, but it failed, so she started drinking to aliviate in a way that sense of failure. She tried to convince herself - when Derek asked her if she was having fun. She wasn't, that's why she started drinking, because she wasn't and she tried to numb everything she was feeeling. And you can see that from the beginning when she refused to talk to Owen.
Owen, on the other hand knows exactly how Cristina is feeling right now, every feeling and emotion that he named in that scene at Meredith's house. The problem is that what worked for him (and now at some extent works for Jackson) is not working for Cristina. He is at a loss right now because "pushing through" is not working for Cristina. She is his wife - not his student - how much can Owen push and how much space he should give her? There is a thin line and Owen is a very difficult position. It's so painful for Owen because he knows how she feels right now, but cannot do much because what woked for him doesn't work for Cristina. He is conscious and rational and opened enough to take other opinions into consideration.
Loved his approach at the beginning of the episode wanting to talk to her, but giving her space when she said they will talk later. Though his face had "worried" written all over it the entire episode. Loved that he wasn't at all threatened by the lap dance, he just came and calmly took her out of there also reminding Cristina he is actually her husband, not boyfriend. Loved the way he pulled down her shirt and the way he petted her butt. Loved how easily he put her over his shoulder and the way he carried her. Tiny Cristina is like a feather to Owen.
Bailey and April were great together. And Chandra was amazing pulling off a very very drunk Bailey. Teddy has been an indifferent character for me in S7, I tried to ignore her as much as I could, but this episode she bothered me very much with her rant about internet dating. It was simply tiring hearing her blabering so much. And I am sorry, this is my personal opinion, but KR is just terrible at playing drunk. It's simply not working and the writers seem not to realize that. She had more screen time in this episode that Sandra Oh did. No need to say once again how great Sandra is. She nailed every seen she was in.
Absolutely loved Owen's approach on the 2 brothers. The way he lowered his voice when he started to defibrilate and then calling the time of death in that low voice. How many attendings do that? Also loved his approach on Jackson in the OR. He just knew when to encourage him and when to make him slow down, even though Jackson snapped a few times at Owen trying to take over control in that OR. Had there been any other attending, they would have thrown Jackson out of the OR. But not Owen. He just knows how to teach.
Loved that after the difficult night he had at the hospital, he came, picket up his drunk wife out of Joe's bar and then stayed with her all night on that bathroom floor. This just reinforced once again that he is indeed going to stay through it all and has no intention of going anywhere no matter how hard it is.
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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 Nov 19, 2010 7:14:35 GMT -5
Trinity, I meant to note Owen's handling of the trauma. I was so impressed that he lowered his voice and kept everyone working on the dieing kid focused and quiet.
As for staying up all night with detoxing Cris...yeah, the guy is in it for the long haul. Not a spouse alive who willingly signs up for that duty.
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Post by kaz on Nov 19, 2010 7:45:20 GMT -5
[quoteauthor=ruralstar board=season7 thread=1877 post=29044 time=1290168875] Trinity, I meant to note Owen's handling of the trauma. I was so impressed that he lowered his voice and kept everyone working on the dieing kid focused and quiet.
As for staying up all night with detoxing Cris...yeah, the guy is in it for the long haul. Not a spouse alive who willingly signs up for that duty. [/quote] Yep Trinity and Rural, like I said briefly above I found that trauma scene really powerful. Just the way Owen lowered his voice and kept looking towards the curtain where Avery was working on the brother, coupled with the music made it a very tragic scene for me.
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Post by MarryMeOwen on Nov 19, 2010 8:25:35 GMT -5
This is how I want to start because I liked this, because I am firstly a C/O shipper and because in a way this compensates the lack of a proper C/O scene from this episode. I watch this show mainly for them and though I kept my expectations very low, I still hoped for a tiny Cristina and Owen where they actually talk. I'll get over that. Hoping next episode.
Both Cristina and Owen are constantly breaking my heart. For me it's absolutely painful to watch Cristina during this episode. Seeing her spiralling down till the end of the episode, but I guess she needed to hit rock bottom. IMO, she tried all day to feel good with taking the job of bartentinding. She tried, but it failed, so she started drinking to aliviate in a way that sense of failure. She tried to convince herself - when Derek asked her if she was having fun. She wasn't, that's why she started drinking, because she wasn't and she tried to numb everything she was feeeling. And you can see that from the beginning when she refused to talk to Owen.
Owen, on the other hand knows exactly how Cristina is feeling right now, every feeling and emotion that he named in that scene at Meredith's house. The problem is that what worked for him (and now at some extent works for Jackson) is not working for Cristina. He is at a loss right now because "pushing through" is not working for Cristina. She is his wife - not his student - how much can Owen push and how much space he should give her? There is a thin line and Owen is a very difficult position. It's so painful for Owen because he knows how she feels right now, but cannot do much because what woked for him doesn't work for Cristina. He is conscious and rational and opened enough to take other opinions into consideration.
Loved his approach at the beginning of the episode wanting to talk to her, but giving her space when she said they will talk later. Though his face had "worried" written all over it the entire episode. Loved that he wasn't at all threatened by the lap dance, he just came and calmly took her out of there also reminding Cristina he is actually her husband, not boyfriend. Loved the way he pulled down her shirt and the way he petted her butt. Loved how easily he put her over his shoulder and the way he carried her. Tiny Cristina is like a feather to Owen.
Bailey and April were great together. And Chandra was amazing pulling off a very very drunk Bailey. Teddy has been an indifferent character for me in S7, I tried to ignore her as much as I could, but this episode she bothered me very much with her rant about internet dating. It was simply tiring hearing her blabering so much. And I am sorry, this is my personal opinion, but KR is just terrible at playing drunk. It's simply not working and the writers seem not to realize that. She had more screen time in this episode that Sandra Oh did. No need to say once again how great Sandra is. She nailed every seen she was in.
Absolutely loved Owen's approach on the 2 brothers. The way he lowered his voice when he started to defibrilate and then calling the time of death in that low voice. How many attendings do that? Also loved his approach on Jackson in the OR. He just knew when to encourage him and when to make him slow down, even though Jackson snapped a few times at Owen trying to take over control in that OR. Had there been any other attending, they would have thrown Jackson out of the OR. But not Owen. He just knows how to teach.
ITA This episode really shows how Owen is great at sticking to his guns even when his personal life is kind of in limbo with Cristina's issues, he is still a dedicated husband and is still a great teacher. I think they have consistently shown Owen as a great teacher which is more than I can say for some of the other attendings lately with exception of Derek.
I did enjoy the scenes with Jackson, though I think it also shows that Owen is transferring how he's been trying to help Cristina onto Jackson because Jackson is more receptive at the moment. Cristina has hit rock bottom and I think he realizes she needs someone outside of their world to take charge whether its Derek, a therapist, etc. One man can only do so much and if he is too forceful, he could risk losing her which I don't think will happen, but Cristina has a history of running for the hills. That being said I think all he can do at this point is just support her on an emotional level and realize that she'll get help when she's ready. THis is why I"m looking forward to the fishing trip both Derek and Owen have Cristina's personal and professional interest in mind, I think Owen is just running out of things to do at this point.
You totally echo how I feel about Teddy. Bailey is at least still nuturing when she's drunk and not telling people off about their relationships when they don't have one themselves. I dont' really believe that someone who looks like her has to resort to internet dating. They seem to write Teddy from one extreme to the other, she's still inconsistent and I can never seem to grasp what the writers are trying to do with her, yet she manages to get more screen time than Mer/Der. I just don't get it. A friend of mine finally admitted that she only really likes Teddy when she's drunk or crying about some guy, I really don't find it interesting.
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Post by Leanne on Nov 19, 2010 11:43:26 GMT -5
That was a fun little epi And Trinity thanks for posting that clip from the writers blog I think it was all summed up in the way Owen pulled down Cris's top when he carried her out over his shoulder... and not forgetting what looks like an arrangement he had with Derek to watch Cris
Owen must really know and trust Cris because most Hubbies who could not trust there spouses would have lost it in that bar
MM the new Doc is a waste of space to be honest ... be happy when Arizona is back
Drunk Teddy and Bailey were good for a laugh
Owen in trauma was brilliant not much in the way of dialogue but brilliant facial and eye expressions enjoyed the Epi overall I am getting quite a few emails from fans who are tiring of the SL with Cris, and that Owen and Cris are not having to many scenes together... Im still enjoying it for reasons as many of you have stated above ... I think Sandra Oh is really doing a fab job of this role.. I would agree I would like to see more of Owen (of course) and more of the two together as a married couple ..not sure how you all feel
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Post by hopew on Nov 19, 2010 12:50:48 GMT -5
That was a fun little epi And Trinity thanks for posting that clip from the writers blog I think it was all summed up in the way Owen pulled down Cris's top when he carried her out over his shoulder... and not forgetting what looks like an arrangement he had with Derek to watch Cris
Owen must really know and trust Cris because most Hubbies who could not trust there spouses would have lost it in that bar
MM the new Doc is a waste of space to be honest ... be happy when Arizona is back
Drunk Teddy and Bailey were good for a laugh
Owen in trauma was brilliant not much in the way of dialogue but brilliant facial and eye expressions enjoyed the Epi overall I am getting quite a few emails from fans who are tiring of the SL with Cris, and that Owen and Cris are not having to many scenes together... Im still enjoying it for reasons as many of you have stated above ... I think Sandra Oh is really doing a fab job of this role.. I would agree I would like to see more of Owen (of course) and more of the two together as a married couple ..not sure how you all feel I haven't sent you any emails about it, but I have to partly agree with those who are complaining a bit. We've seen before how Shonda & Co sometimes start out with a good idea for a story, then drag it out too long. Even the infamous "ghost sex" story would have been tolerable if Izzie (a supposedly highly trained doctor) had figured out much, much earlier that her "interactions" with her dead fiance were hallucinations and were symptoms of a serious condition. I am NOT comparing Cristina's story line to that debacle; in fact, I have for the most part liked watching it and have thought that Sandra Oh is doing a great job. But we should, IMO, be seeing more on the screen about the attempts to help her, at least before she totally "crashed" and quit. Was she seeing Dr. Wyatt? If not, why not? Did she quit therapy when she quit her job? And I am getting very tired of the lack of moments when Cristina and Owen are actually in the same frame on screen at the same time. I suppose the only logical explanation is that the story is not, right now, about their relationship. Maybe that's one of the reasons Shonda married them to each other in the first episode. It let her put the "will they or won't they" aspect of the story on hold for a while and, in the time she has left for Cristina's story while also telling stories about 13 other regular characters, leaves the focus on Cristina's own struggle. For now, at least, I think we're just supposed to assume that Owen is "sticking" (as the writer's blog said). But, IMO, that leaves out an important aspect of what Cristina is going through. She is not processing this in a vacuum - - she has a husband who loves her and is presumably struggling with how to help her. I'd like to see that part of the story explored through seeing more interaction between the two of them, but I guess the writers don't want to do that right now. So while I'm not bored with Cristina's SL, I am a little frustrated with how it is being handled. And, if it were being handled as I would prefer it to be, we'd be getting more of the Owen/Cristina scenes that I'm missing right now! I didn't think any of the above was spoilery, but if the mods disagree, please feel free to add appropriate tags. Thanks!
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Post by MarryMeOwen on Nov 19, 2010 13:45:37 GMT -5
I am of the camp that is tiring of the less amount of O/C screen time showing them as a couple. I know that it is to accentuate her struggle, but it seems like something is missing. I would like to see some of what they are doing when Owen isn't at work and she is home, just the every day activities. It feels like there is a gap. I think Sandra Oh is rocking it and knocking it out of the park every night, but I think people are just ready for Cristina to get on with it. also I guess my issue with all the drunks last night is: I guess I just don't think showing up to work drunk is funny especially when itsdoctors. This goes for anyone not just because it was Bailey and Teddy. It actually makes me dislike Teddy even more if that is possible.
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Post by Leanne on Nov 19, 2010 14:07:03 GMT -5
the drinking and then going into work I do find a bit odd, I do agree. (of course they weren't actually working but I think if I was drunk work would be the last place I would want to do)
As apposed to Being drunk at the bar that provided Humour and I enjoyed it ..
Basically it was a way to use the scenes to set up a scenario for them both to impart some vital personal info ...
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Post by trinity on Nov 19, 2010 14:57:07 GMT -5
I am of the camp that is tiring of the less amount of O/C screen time showing them as a couple. I know that it is to accentuate her struggle, but it seems like something is missing. I would like to see some of what they are doing when Owen isn't at work and she is home, just the every day activities. It feels like there is a gap. I think Sandra Oh is rocking it and knocking it out of the park every night, but I think people are just ready for Cristina to get on with it. also I guess my issue with all the drunks last night is: I guess I just don't think showing up to work drunk is funny especially when its doctors. This goes for anyone not just because it was Bailey and Teddy. It actually makes me dislike Teddy even more if that is possible. Hopew, Marryme that is exactly my problem with how they are writing C/O story. They didn't show them at all at their home, what they are doing when Owen is not at work, esp now that Cristina had quit her job. There is something missing. Like they only scratched the surface and the rest is still being shoved aside. Not one C/O serious talk in the last episode. That is what frustrates me. I know now they are trying to show the bond that is forming between Cristina and Derek and I wouldn't have any problem with it, except that they are doing it at the expense of Owen's character. He is shoved aside and now seems like Derek is the only one to know all the answers for Cristina's state of mind.
Probably I am the only one who had a problem with this. Last episode when Derek went over Owen's head and simply ignored what Owen said and went to warn Cristina that there are people coming to talk to her. Owen's intention was to have Meredith talk to Cristina, just talk to her, he wasn't trying to force Cristina into anything. But Derek took the initiative and considered that he knows best what Cristina needs. Same thing this episode. Why did Derek had to wait till Cristina was in that advanced state of drunkness and then call Owen? He could have done that earlier and Owen would have come. He most certainly wouldn't have dragged Cristina home by force. But after all Owen is her husband and at the end of the day, he picked her up and took her home and stayed with her while she puked all night, not Derek. Him going over Owen's head was something that bothered me. Probably I am the only one feeling this way.
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Post by kaz on Nov 19, 2010 16:00:01 GMT -5
I am of the camp that is tiring of the less amount of O/C screen time showing them as a couple. I know that it is to accentuate her struggle, but it seems like something is missing. I would like to see some of what they are doing when Owen isn't at work and she is home, just the every day activities. It feels like there is a gap. I think Sandra Oh is rocking it and knocking it out of the park every night, but I think people are just ready for Cristina to get on with it. also I guess my issue with all the drunks last night is: I guess I just don't think showing up to work drunk is funny especially when its doctors. This goes for anyone not just because it was Bailey and Teddy. It actually makes me dislike Teddy even more if that is possible. Hopew, Marryme that is exactly my problem with how they are writing C/O story. They didn't show them at all at their home, what they are doing when Owen is not at work, esp now that Cristina had quit her job. There is something missing. Like they only scratched the surface and the rest is still being shoved aside. Not one C/O serious talk in the last episode. That is what frustrates me. I know now they are trying to show the bond that is forming between Cristina and Derek and I wouldn't have any problem with it, except that they are doing it at the expense of Owen's character. He is shoved aside and now seems like Derek is the only one to know all the answers for Cristina's state of mind.
Probably I am the only one who had a problem with this. Last episode when Derek went over Owen's head and simply ignored what Owen said and went to warn Cristina that there are people coming to talk to her. Owen's intention was to have Meredith talk to Cristina, just talk to her, he wasn't trying to force Cristina into anything. But Derek took the initiative and considered that he knows best what Cristina needs. Same thing this episode. Why did Derek had to wait till Cristina was in that advanced state of drunkness and then call Owen? He could have done that earlier and Owen would have come. He most certainly wouldn't have dragged Cristina home by force. But after all Owen is her husband and at the end of the day, he picked her up and took her home and stayed with her while she puked all night, not Derek. Him going over Owen's head was something that bothered me. Probably I am the only one feeling this way. Trinity, my take on that was that Derek didnt wait all night to call Owen. Owen was in surgery until the moment he showed up so Derek waited around as the 'bouncer' and then called Owen when he was available.
I would like to see more Owen and Cristina interaction but I get that they are making the focus Cristina's personal struggle and not their relationship, which we are supposed to see as solid. It's also clear that this is an opportunity after 6 reasons to show a bond between Derek and Cristina. As an Owen fan, I'd rather the writers beef up Owen's role in all of this but I think alot of just general Grey's fans are liking the direction and Derek's involvement because of the history between these two characters.
I've had in mind all along that Cristina's personal struggle was going to last half a season so I feel like we're close to the point where she will come back and for me the storyline hasnt dragged. We had a few episodes which addressed the direct aftermath of the shooting, a few where Cristina struggled to get back into surgery and ultimately quit and then a few with her outside of the hospital. For me, it feels well-measured so far.
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ruralstar
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Post by ruralstar on Nov 19, 2010 17:35:35 GMT -5
I haven't sent you any emails about it, but I have to partly agree with those who are complaining a bit. We've seen before how Shonda & Co sometimes start out with a good idea for a story, then drag it out too long. Even the infamous "ghost sex" story would have been tolerable if Izzie (a supposedly highly trained doctor) had figured out much, much earlier that her "interactions" with her dead fiance were hallucinations and were symptoms of a serious condition. I am NOT comparing Cristina's story line to that debacle; in fact, I have for the most part liked watching it and have thought that Sandra Oh is doing a great job. But we should, IMO, be seeing more on the screen about the attempts to help her, at least before she totally "crashed" and quit. Was she seeing Dr. Wyatt? If not, why not? Did she quit therapy when she quit her job? And I am getting very tired of the lack of moments when Cristina and Owen are actually in the same frame on screen at the same time. I suppose the only logical explanation is that the story is not, right now, about their relationship. Maybe that's one of the reasons Shonda married them to each other in the first episode. It let her put the "will they or won't they" aspect of the story on hold for a while and, in the time she has left for Cristina's story while also telling stories about 13 other regular characters, leaves the focus on Cristina's own struggle. For now, at least, I think we're just supposed to assume that Owen is "sticking" (as the writer's blog said). But, IMO, that leaves out an important aspect of what Cristina is going through. She is not processing this in a vacuum - - she has a husband who loves her and is presumably struggling with how to help her. I'd like to see that part of the story explored through seeing more interaction between the two of them, but I guess the writers don't want to do that right now. So while I'm not bored with Cristina's SL, I am a little frustrated with how it is being handled. And, if it were being handled as I would prefer it to be, we'd be getting more of the Owen/Cristina scenes that I'm missing right now! I didn't think any of the above was spoilery, but if the mods disagree, please feel free to add appropriate tags. Thanks! I agree regarding the Cris storyline. I remarked last week in my comments that Cris going scissor happy on Callie and going to the mall was at least some kind of action. Not endless scenes of Cris looking uncertain/terrified. I think Sandra Oh is stellar but I think we need more O/C scenes to truly understand how they are trying, or not trying, to handle this as a couple. I miss Kevin on screen and I find it somewhat implausible that Cris would encourage Owen to talk through his issues but that she wouldn't look to him at all when dealing with her own. She knows there's a problem after all.
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Post by MarryMeOwen on Nov 19, 2010 18:30:05 GMT -5
I actually enjoy the Derek/Cristina development, but my problem is it is not balanced with O/C's home life. I get that Derek feels responsible since the shooter was after him initially, etc. And I think he can really help Cristina, but I also believe that they are not fully exploring O/C's struggle they are only showing Cristina's side and how Owen's feeling lost but I think we need more of them together for it to work better. I just feel like they are missing something and it isn't working even though Owen is helping Cristina I think we need to see more talking. Such as when he said Cristina is at home watching infomercials, etc. I think it would have been nince for them to throw in a scene of him watching her do that.
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Post by cl3me on Nov 19, 2010 21:46:02 GMT -5
Another good Ep! Agree with much of what was said so far I did find the fact that Bailey and Teddy came back to the hospital drunk a little inappropriate, although the Bailey/April interaction was very good and important glimpse under Bailey's mask - she covers her lonlieness so well. But the Teddy/Mer part wasn't really necessary other than to let Mer know Cris was in a bar and to let us know just how out of touch Mer is becomng with Cris, which is bizarre because they were so tight agan earlier this season esp around the wedding.
I think most everyone on this board would love GA to be the OwenCris show with the others as back up characters, so as usual we feel like don't get enough O/C. So I also wish we could see at least some snippets of them and their homelife....but I get that the show just doesn't have the time for it....grrr
Kevin will need to be carefull that Owen's worry lines on his face don't become permanent; his concern and worry is palpable without even having to say a word. Previous ep I commented on how I wish Owen would throw Cris over his shoulder and march her straight into Wyatts office. Well I got the throwing over his shoulder part of the equation in, but Cris still hasn't found her person to talk to yet. Avery has. And part of us is wishing that Owen would be Cris's sounding board, but just like Owen didn't and still doesn't talk to Cris about Iraq, and especially since Owen is wrapped up in the middle of Cris's trauma, not sure he is the right person for her to spill to. He is her rock so far though. Can you say unconditional love? Forgiveness? Wow.
I am pleasantly surprised and impressed with Derek; he has really stepped up and has Cris and Owen's back through this. Mark trying to tell Derek that he should be celebrating the grant, but Derek is putting hs friends first. I still don't understand how Derek and Mark are still friends - they are complete opposites.
It's too bad that they made the Teddy triangle last season because that could have been a good sl for her this year; being Cris' mentor and Owen's friend, coming in to help Cris get through, but alas they have written Teddy into a corner and don't know how to get her out of it. Instead she's relegated to single, lonely, looking for luv, and going through the dating blues.
I do hope this bartending drunken escapade is Cris's "rock bottom", and she starts coming out of it....she's been lost long enough, time to get her at least on the path back.
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Post by kaz on Nov 22, 2010 22:31:51 GMT -5
I did find the fact that Bailey and Teddy came back to the hospital drunk a little inappropriate. A few people have mentioned this now, which has led me to think about it a little more. It struck me as normal for Bailey and Teddy to stumble back to the hospital, which is just across the road from Joe's, while they sobered up. I guess because the hospital is like their second home, it just seemed like the obvious thing to do. They weren't interacting with any patients or consulting on cases in any way so in that regard I didn't find it inappropriate. I think I would have felt differently if they were addressing patients and families (even just in passing in a waiting room or something) when it was clear that they are surgeons but their interaction was limited to other hospital staff and not on work-related matters.
It was weird to see them so out of sorts in that environment but in context I didn't necessarily think it was inappropriate.
EDIT to add that even in my profession I've known quite a few people to come back into work after hours drunk when they have been out in the city drinking and need to kill some time sobering up. Work might seem like an odd choice but if you work very long hours, then your office or workplace really does become a second home. Just my experience.
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Post by trinity on Nov 23, 2010 18:51:56 GMT -5
I did find the fact that Bailey and Teddy came back to the hospital drunk a little inappropriate. A few people have mentioned this now, which has led me to think about it a little more. It struck me as normal for Bailey and Teddy to stumble back to the hospital, which is just across the road from Joe's, while they sobered up. I guess because the hospital is like their second home, it just seemed like the obvious thing to do. They weren't interacting with any patients or consulting on cases in any way so in that regard I didn't find it inappropriate. I think I would have felt differently if they were addressing patients and families (even just in passing in a waiting room or something) when it was clear that they are surgeons but their interaction was limited to other hospital staff and not on work-related matters.
It was weird to see them so out of sorts in that environment but in context I didn't necessarily think it was inappropriate.
EDIT to add that even in my profession I've known quite a few people to come back into work after hours drunk when they have been out in the city drinking and need to kill some time sobering up. Work might seem like an odd choice but if you work very long hours, then your office or workplace really does become a second home. Just my experience. Just wanted to add something to this. Bailey came to the hospital specifically to sober up. If you notice she has an IV line, she is hung up to a "banana bag" to sober up faster. That is why she came up to hospital. She didn't wonder the holes of the hospital with no purpose. She stayed on that bed till she was wake enough to go home. Teddy, to quote her "she kills time" till Joe can give her keys back. At least she says she isn't capable in practicing any medicine in that night.
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Post by MarryMeOwen on Nov 23, 2010 19:13:38 GMT -5
I did find the fact that Bailey and Teddy came back to the hospital drunk a little inappropriate. A few people have mentioned this now, which has led me to think about it a little more. It struck me as normal for Bailey and Teddy to stumble back to the hospital, which is just across the road from Joe's, while they sobered up. I guess because the hospital is like their second home, it just seemed like the obvious thing to do. They weren't interacting with any patients or consulting on cases in any way so in that regard I didn't find it inappropriate. I think I would have felt differently if they were addressing patients and families (even just in passing in a waiting room or something) when it was clear that they are surgeons but their interaction was limited to other hospital staff and not on work-related matters.
It was weird to see them so out of sorts in that environment but in context I didn't necessarily think it was inappropriate.
EDIT to add that even in my profession I've known quite a few people to come back into work after hours drunk when they have been out in the city drinking and need to kill some time sobering up. Work might seem like an odd choice but if you work very long hours, then your office or workplace really does become a second home. Just my experience. I guess to me because Doctors are at a higher standard than someone who works in an office per se, I find it a little more annoying that they feel so comfortable doing that. I am sure both of them could afford the cab ride home, why would you want anyone to see you in such a state at your work, working or not? Even Bailey regretted how she was acting shortly after to April. I know that if I showed up to work drunk I would be fired. I don't know why its ok because its Teddy and Bailey but there is definately a double standard when it comes to Richard. I guess I just didn't find either of them drunk funny, esp Teddy she's a really mean drunk.
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