From Mimi Schmir, writer of "Let it Be"

Episode Airdate: 11/13/05

So I was at this party on Saturday night. Nothing fancy, house in the Hills, friend turning …gasp…forty. And this dude comes up to me and says how much he loves the show (which is cool…I mean, how often does that happen) and then he tells me it’s moving and funny and sexy and topical (all good, I’m thinking) but he’s wondering…(okay, here it comes, I’m sure)…he’s wondering if sometimes we’re a little…”wacky.”

Hmm. “Wacky,” I think.  (And where’s that pomegranite martini I left on the picnic table, I’m thinking about that too. That, and the fact that men in velvet jackets are apparently “in” again…what’s up with THAT?) So I’m mulling over my episode and I’m thinking, not so wacky. Woman with a cancer gene that could seal her fate in a moment. Old couple who are destined to be together forever…through life and death. Guy who has a heart attack at just the right time.

Man who tries to commit suicide and whose life is saved…by a pigeon.

Okay. First of all, the pigeon story is real. Kind of. It’s loosely based on something we heard about a man who fell out of a window and landed on a rat. Somehow, through a strange combination of luck and physics and…fate…the rat saved his life. True story. We like to believe.

Because what we’re really talking about here is fate. What fate has in store for us and how we can take fate into our own hands. You know what I’m talking about. It’s that boy you knew in high school who you walked away from but secretly still love. It’s that friend you fought with who you still think about all the time. It’s the job you didn’t take, or did. It’s the road less traveled, the opportunity won or lost. It’s what you were born with or without or walked away from or towards. It’s the choice you did or didn’t make – to go to that party, pick up that phone, tell that person you love them, take that shot in the dark. It’s about talking your life in your own hands. About whether we even have the choice and chance to do that.

So. If you had the opportunity to test for a gene that could tell you you might die, would you do it? And if you took the test, then what? Would you do surgery that could change your body forever, but save your life at the same time? If the parts of your body that needed to be removed were what defined you sexually as a man or a woman…how would you react? (And really, what defines us as men and women?) What would you do? What would society expect you to do?

Not easy questions, right? (You want that martini now, huh? Either that or the Lemon Drop. Or tequila, if you’re Meredith Grey.) And this wasn’t an easy episode to write. Many people had many opinions. Which happens. And some of it was based on medicine, and some on emotion and some on personal experience. At the end of the day, raising a controversial issue on a television show can be a weighty thing. Because there is responsibility involved. The fact that millions of people are watching is something that you forget…and then suddenly remember. But the fate of it…how you deal with determining your own fate…or not…that’s what we were thinking here. The rest of it, that’s for the audience to take as it will.

Fate. It’s part of our lives. Marfan dude’s fate was sealed by the fact that he collapsed in front of Burke and Cristina on their date. Esme and Jed took each other’s hands and walked towards Venice and that gondola.  They are fated to be together for eternity. Meredith and McDreamy want to inhale each other, to inhabit each other.  But are they fated to be together? We’re not telling…

We’re talking about fate here. Which is complicated and poignant and scary and funny all at the same time.  That’s what this episode is really about. It’s about self-determination and chance, about how true love transcends time and even life itself. It’s about how fate and love are often one and the same.

So, here’s the thing, party dude. (And, by the way, he wasn’t the one in the velvet jacket. Even though he did have a pomegranite martini in his hand.) Maybe we are a little wacky sometimes. Life can be wacky. And fate…fate is the wackiest thing of all.

Comments

[emma]

I NEVER thought I would like a doctor show because i'm really queezy around surgery and stuff, but the plotlines are SO GOOD I can't help but desperately wait for a new episode. I actually prefer GA to Desperate Housewives now because the storylines never cease to surprise and delight me. Since everyon is voicing their opinions on the romances sprouting up everywhere, I feel I need to put my two cents in. I agree that George and Meredith don't seem to be working just yet, Cristina and Burke are really fun together, and I have to say that Alex's first kiss with Izzie never fails to make my stomach flip-flop. Way to go guys! You have the funniest, smartest TV show on network television.

[Robin]

Alex and Izzie's first kiss was one of the hottest moments I have seen on tv. I watched that scene four times in a row. I love them as a couple and I hope we get to see more of them.

[Lary]

This show is the best! The only good thing about Sundays! The writing, the cast, the music, everything! It's the best!! Please ... don't ever discontinue ... networks are popular for doing this.

You are the best show out there!

[Lary]

I agree ... "Alex and Izzie's first kiss was one of the hottest moments I have seen on tv."
Wow ... VERY sexy!

[Gina]

This is one of the best, if not THE best, shows on television. The writing is superb. The chemistry the ensemble group shares is remarkable - from Derek to Meredith, from Burke to Yang, from Bailey to the Chief, from George to Izzie to Alex; they are all fantastic. I am thrilled that the ratings are high. It means the show will be around for awhile, unlike some of my other favorite shows, like Once and Again, that are critically acclaimed but fail to bring in the big numbers. Yay for Grey's Anatomy - one of the smartest, most delightful shows on television in years.

[tina]

I loved the first season..it was funny, cute and alittle sad. Meredith was funny and even Derek had a sense of humor. What happened. This season is so depressing. There is hardly any comedy and too much sadness and dying...I also can't understand why during November's sweep month the shows were the same as the beginning of the second season. Mer and Der are so cute together and I know that the writers think that the tension between the two will keep viewers watching but you only gave us 8 episodes of them together. Now they just see each other at the Hospital and that's that. Maybe some flashbacks would help to keep us interested in their relationship. As far as Addison being in the picture from what I read she is not very liked. So why keep her? The show is becoming a soap opera...if you miss a week or two it doesn't make a difference...there is nothing drawing me in anymore. The show went from great to okay.

[Jasmine]

I really love this show. I worked at a hospital for 13 years and a lot of crazy stuff happens. The most amazing thing about Greys Anatomy is the casting. Burke is the epitome of a surgeon. He is so cute and so sexy he makes me want to have surgery! Also, the Thanksgiving episode was great. I hope you will do a Christmas episode. The craziest things happen at the hospital Christmas party! Then everybody gossips about it the next day. People are always getting drunk and flirting with secret crushes. I love the show!

[Kisha]

I love Christina and Burke! Also, the Chief is pretty sexy too. I know everyone else disagrees, but Meredith is not one of my favorites. I find her very annoying. I like Derek's chemistry with Bailey more than Meredith. I like Bailey's interaction with all the men. Bailey is tuff! Love the show.

[maria]

really really love the show! the reason i watch the show is because of mer and der. like everyone else, i just hope they will get back together. i know that you guys have to create all those tension but you have to give us something! something to prevent us from tuning out...

[Nicole]

Oh, plz, put them back together! I know it's hard to divorce. But, the truth is, Addison and Derek can't go back to the happy couple because Derek already lost the faith.

[audi05]

poor meredith she does not get a break... howevergood episode, I find myself checking my watch like 15 minutes after the show starts.. to make sure that there is plenty of it left. It is interesting how much we miss drama sometimes.. Good thinking on the "Good bye" episode, I guess we the formal break up was kind of missing, and last episode. However Meredith saying that she was very sad during the festivities and cannot remember the exact words, but she said to Alex she felt like a Mistress.. poor woman.. That is a very hard position for a decent woman. She is good, give her a cute boyfriend.. it is about time, and make sure that she puts on a little make up and some hair product, she looks like a disaster area after the breakup.. c'mon she is the main character.. :)

[Sally]

Why no "I'm sorry" to go with the "I can't"? Seems like the big piece that is missing - and doen't flow with Derek's character.

[Jack Swalley]

Who played the older couple on episode "Let It Be." Shelly Berman and ?

[PamelaJaye]

Janet Rotblatt (Esme) (according to tv.com)

[Leslie]

Man I love this show I am so addicted I can't wait for Sunday nights. I can't stand the feelings I get watching Meredith and mCdreamy they tease us so bad it makes me want more. They still love each other and they make me keep watching. The whole humor thru the whole cast is great. I can't wait to Mcdreamy and Grey get back together. I think it was a good idea to bring her another guy I think it would be better for another sexy intern to come in and go after her to make Derick Jealous. Because you know he still is worried and cares about her. He can't stay away from her their is this magnetic connectin that pulls them together.

[mellymel21]

love the show just got out of the hospital here in boston. now living in an apartment next to the hospital. I'm grateful to these boards so i can caught up on my sunday shows on abc. haven't had a tv in a week dont think i can take much more. thz mellymel21for the updates and i'll be watchingagain dec4th

[Sarah]

I've loved this show from the beginning, but this episode really, REALLY hit home. I recently tested positive for a BRCA1 mutation. I haven't decided what I'm going to do - it's really a lose/lose situation, especially for a single woman - but I absolutely LOVE the writer (Mimi?) who gave Izzie the line about the third choice - "take your chances and fight like hell." I've done so much research and gotten so much advice, but that... that was a totally new angle. The whole BRCA thing is still under the cultural radar, so as much as I cried, I was so grateful to see the issue raised on a prime time series (as opposed to an MoW or one of the "Here's What to be Scared of Now!" newsmagazines).

[lilbow]

I live in Australia, as you know our season ends the episode before Yang and Burke went for their date. This Mer and Der is rewally boring and they nothing to me...but the yang and burke they are really something.. the chemistry is WOW. I like Addison and bringing Der and Addi together are great. so stop whinning Meredith and yang and Bailey deserves a award

[Cristi]

THIS IS THE BEST SHOW EVER!!! I live in Panama and can watch it on the Sony channel where its just in the first season or on cable (we get ABC), I watch both even though I already saw the first season!!! AM SO HOOKED. But I literally suffer seeing Meredith and Derek apart (I was saying to my husband the other day that it GETS to me, which is crazy since it's just tv). I understand that it needs to be done, otherwise the tension dies and it's not as good, but keep feeding us those little moments!!! The chemistry between those two is unbelievable. Addison is a good character but D is not into her. But the actress who plays her is amazing (as are all the actors on the show) Also love Cristina and Burke, keep 'em together please! Alex and Izzy, I like them too, but you are killing Alex, he's lost his MOJO, bring him back, he's sort of like Meredith, wounded! Izzy is great, her character has really come into its own, so is George, love him but not with Mer, he needs someone else. Mer could use a boyfriend for a while to make Der jealous! But I am with everyone else here, McDreamy and Grey belong together!The writing on this show is unbeatable, congratulations!

[Kendra]

To the writers: you all are so brilliant! My favorite characters to watch together are Christina and Dr. Burke. I've noticed that the dialogue between the two are very short and to the point but I would really like to see there relationship develop more and therefore have more dialogue.

[Evanique]

Please, I beg you DO NOT PUT MEREDIDITH AND DERICK together, YUCK factor. Come on she is so whiney and ungrateful for what she has. I just don't like her this season. Oh and please make Izzie and Alex stay apart. I'm sorry but Izzie is so cocky and thinks so highly of herself and Alex can do so much better. Maybe have Alex and Meredith together. Evil yes I know I'm bad, but good television.!

Great job though writers

[wow]

Great clip show I forgot what it was about seriously. I was like where is house and Dr. Cox?...now I remember that was close!

Really, in case anyone cares I won't be watching anymore. It was fun.

[Danielle]

Come on, its all about George, write him up, he needs to be with Meredith, she needs to realize it!!! He is the good guy girls never realize that... Derek LIED to her.

[chairwoman meow]

please do NOT let meredith & derek get back together! it's getting old. izzy and alex together would be so much more interesting

[Sasha]

I want to see more of Izzie n Alex story lines. I think views have not seen the family of these two. We seen George's, Cristina and of-course Mer but never Izzie's or Alex's. I want to what type of family they came from. Izzie is poor and Alex has abusive father. Do they have sibling? They are both flaw and the dyfunctional that makes it interesting to see when they're togther. I enjoyed them far more than Mer/Der and I love Cristina n Burke too.