Kip Koenig on "From A Whisper to A Scream"

Original Airdate: 11-23-06

I need one word to describe my feelings after watching tonight’s episode, “From A Whisper to A Scream”: Holy!  Okay no, five words.  I need five words to describe my feelings: Holy crap!  That was intense!

And I have a confession: I'm scared.

Here’s why I'm scared.  I'm blogging.  Blogging for us writers here is a different kind of writing than we’re used to.  It’s like writing a term paper.  I mean, I know I don’t have to compare and contrast tonight’s episode with Lady MacBeth, but hundreds if not thousands of people never read my term papers.  Thank God.

And I'm guessing lots more people than that will watch the show tonight.  And that’s scary.  Because people love their Grey’s Anatomy.  People like you.  People like me.  People like Oprah.  And you, me and Oprah like our Grey’s Anatomy to be Grey’s Anatomy.  And this episode is, well, different than the tried and true.  There’s Cristina’s voice over for starters.  We’ve only had one other episode narrated by someone other than Meredith - that was George after…  you remember the sex with… let’s move on…  Anyway, this episode is different and I'm scared but I'm also really excited because I think it kinda rocks.

Shonda wanted one big episode about betrayal.  And so we have all kinds of betrayal: a patient whose lover betrayed her, another patient whose body betrayed him, Callie feeling betrayed by Meredith about the McSteamy sex, George feeling Izzie betrayed him with his parents, Meredith not telling Derek about Burke’s tremor, George going to the Denny card with Izzie, etc.  And at the wheel, driving this betrayal band wagon is Cristina.  And Burke.  And their frickin crazy ass secret. 

That secret is such a big honking betrayal.  Think back over the course of this season; it makes your head spin how many of our people were betrayed because of it.  Bailey, Richard, Derek, Meredith, George, everyone, take a number and get in line.  And the thing is Cristina and Burke know this.  And it is killing them.  And so it has to end. 

Choice and circumstance got them into this.  They became a team and the team piled up victories in surgery after surgery.  They saved lives, lost none.  But the cost outside surgery kept going up.  The walls started closing in on Cristina.  She may be a part robot but she is also part human (that’s in fact true).  She’s exhausted, scared and trapped.  And it gets worse everyday.  Burke is a man of such integrity, even if he believes he is recovered – and he absolutely does – not being completely forthright with Derek, or Richard, or Bailey, or anyone, is wrong.  He’s betrayed all of them and that eats away at who he really is.  And so it has to end.

Burke is about to tell Derek the truth when Derek presents him with an emergent surgery.  Then Alex interrupts with another emergent case.  Choice and circumstance force them into surgery one more time but in this surgery Burke orders Cristina to the other side of the OR table.  The team is done.  Burke is done.  Cristina is done. 

We don’t know what Cristina says to Richard.  All we know is that she beat Burke to it and that breaks Burke’s heart.  And probably Richard’s as well.  He was going to step down, go back to Adele.  He’d chosen a successor.  This was a huge decision.  He loves Seattle Grace and would only leave it in the hands of someone he trusts completely.  Now what? 

Speaking of “now what,” we now know George’s dad is going to have Erica Hahn perform his surgery.  It kills me to see George so scared; but it’s his dad and I think we can all relate.  And it was nice to see Izzie be there as a friend for him at the end - despite what went on between them during the day. 

Okay, I know I'm not the only one looking for signs that Alex and Addison might go all Grey’s Anatomy on each other.  Maybe if that moment at the end had been in a stairwell or in an on-call room.  I love seeing those two characters together and I love that Addison can see the good in Alex that others – particularly Mark in this episode – don’t see.

Oh, and did anyone notice the McSex version 2.0 at the end there?  Yeah, that was sex on the horizon as the camera panned away from Meredith and Derek.  See, they are a couple – and for much of this day a very happy couple (How great to see, right?).  And couples overcome things.  Even some betrayals.  And sex helps.  Remember that.  Sex helps.

On that note, I’d like to wish everyone a really happy turkey day.  I am going to go eat.  Then I am going to sit down and watch that show that comes on at nine.  Hope you all enjoy and again, Happy Thanksgiving from Kip to you.

Comments

[Electra]

Very intense and revealing episode. I was so happy to see Burke and Cristina at the center of an episode for once. Good job spreading the screen time around this season. I was getting sick of everything being about Mer/Der all the time.

Great acting performances by everyone, but as always Sandra Oh stood out. And Isaiah stepped up and gave a masterful performance.

Though it took me watching it 3 times to appreciate it, I liked it.

[CanadaFan]

omigod.
headspinning, gut-wrenching, sweaty-palmed, butt-clenched ... awesome episode!

The season is getting better and better each week. Congratulations guys!!!

ps - so happy there are more O.R. scenes than earlier in the year.

[Kayla]

Tonight's episode was...Well, "WOW!" So many crazy things shifted and this was definetly a changing one.

I'm mostly Wow'in about Alex/Addison. Of course I'm pushing for them! now I'm Iffy. Something else has to happen between them and maybe I won't be iffy anymore! I'm all for Alex/Addison, but only if it'll open up Mark/Izzie's eyes in the end, Because honestly...
Alex should be with Izzie and Addison with Mark. But that's only my opinion!!

Again thanks for a great show and I'm really excited for next weeks!!

Boo to the whole no eppy's in December though! LOL

~Kayla

[Confused in Los Angeles]

What happened to the two hour special? I arranged my whole Thanksgiving night around that. Talk about betrayal - that was a real betrayal to the viewers, to advertise a "special two-hour Grey's Anatomy" in ads on TV, on the Oprah show, on the site....

I'm guessing you just needed more time to get it right, and I understand that. But if you do that in the future - can you please just add a voiceover at the beginning saying "the second half will not air after this show, as previously scheduled. Instead, x will follow." Then I would have been prepared, and over my betrayal within minutes into the show.

If you need the time, just let us know. Don't string us along and then dump us halfway through the story.

[Maz]

OMG! I love this show, it is like I work in this hospital and all these people are my friends. The writers for this show are awesome!

[Stephanie]

WOW! Crazy! I wish I had DVR so I could watch it again! Not a usual Greys show...but sure made thing interesting. And that look between Alex and Addison???Hmmm...what "Mc" will Alex become?
Anyways, thanks for a great, heartstopping show...and happy Thanksgiving!

that episode was the single most incredible hour of television this season. or possibly ever!

[Chelsea]

Can't wait to see what happens next! Great episode

[MOLLIE]

oh my god am i really the first?? well great episode. i was really pumped to see alex/addison have that ridiculously intense moment. i was spazzing (to say the least). and im terrified for burke, we all are. im suree hell be fine, christina will be fine, theyll all be FINE. right?

[lilli]

And the background music. Damien Rice---"9 crimes", it was just perfect.

[aliza]

great episode! i totally wanted to smack cristina through like 95% of it, until the end, so glad she finally told. what was that last song used?!?! it was perfect.

[Larry]

Wasn't there supposed to be a second part? I thought it was a 2 hour episode tonight?

[Lori]

loved it. thank you, very honest.

[Haley]

I was a little disappointed. I was expecting something bigger than this episode.

I think part of the problem is that none of the characters rang true to me. George was VILE. I get that he's got a lot on him, but he was HORRIBLE. Izzie doesn't strike me as the type who would blab everything to her best friend's parents... sorry, that didn't gel with me. Her saying that Callie stayed naked and stuff... NOT the thing to say in front of George's dad. That crossed a line.

And what was up with Callie running when George yelled at her? That's SO NOT CALLIE. Callie's a fighter, but she turned tail and took off like a ... coward.

And Christina annoyed the crap out of me. It didn't feel like her conscience making her tell what Burke was doing ... it felt like she was pissed at Burke for NOT NEEDING HER ON THE TEAM anymore and she retaliated.

I'm annoyed. I guess my bubble has been burst. :(

Please don't put Izzie/George together. There were odd vibes at the end and with his parents and it's gross. That would be like brothers and sisters doing it. Blech!

[Celeste]

Kip, I'm sorry to say it...but you and the other writers are making huge, HUGE mistake with Addison and Alex. There is zero chemistry between these actors (of course, there's plenty with Kate and Eric, but apparently that's to go to waste). C'mon, are you guys stuck in a rut? Another attending-intern affair/relationship/flirtation. Are you running out of storylines already?

The episode was great, awesome even, but this moment really was out of place and makes me roll my eyes. Addison and Alex are lacking in the chemistry department. Please don't force a story that just doesn't work.

[Niki]

d*** d*** d***...D***! this was definitely the best episode EVER. of all three seasons...even more so than when Denny died. *gasp* yeah, I said it. i can't wait for next week. burke and cristina...oh my gosh. i love them together so much. they're my favorite couple. i don't want them to break up. i believe that's what going to happen. yes, she betrayed him. i cannot believe she did that but i think he pushed her to it. she'd felt pressure all this time and then he pushed her aside, it was wrong of him.

*sighs*

please let everything be right again for them. i hate this. i love it at the same time. you guys are superb! thanks for the FANTASTIC writing. love you all.

[BL]

it was great. i love christina's finishing line : and when that happens, theres nothing left to do but wait.

[Michelle]

First of all, thank you so much for taking time out of your Thanksgiving to write this blog!

I absolutely loved this episode...the whole way through, i could feel the tension - no music, drums, etc. Intense just about describes it!

Sad about Burke and Christina, although I knew that would happen sooner or later.

Not sure about Alex and Addison...I guess I'll just have to wait and see how it plays out.

I'm really loving Mer and Der back together and happy, so if you could keep them that way, that would be greeaaaat.... :)

I'm trying so hard not to anticipate next Thursday too much b/c after that we have to make it all the way through Christmas with no new episodes... :(

[LAUREN!!! =)]

i just wanted to tell you that this was truly one of the best!!! (i mean i say that every week but, seriously, it was!!!)

so intense! so unbelievable!! nothing will ever be the same!!! you are amazing and everything about this show is amazing!!! THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK!!!!!! i literally thought i was seizing tonight during the episode - my heart was beating so fast and i was holding my breath the whole time!!!! GREY'S ANATOMY IS THE BEST SHOW ON TELEVISION EVER!!!!! =D

[Pam in Janesville, CA]

Kip - Brilliant !!!!!!!

Betrayal. Such a stark word. And so very fitting, as you pointed out, so many of SGH have had just that happen. The LOOKS tonight. Between the family members. Between the "family" member SGH doctors...... Kudos to the actors tonight (as always)especially the Addison/Alex......and the McDreamy couple :) VBG !!!!!! Thank you from the Mer/Der fans !!!! You touch on the heart of things - when does one heart end and then next begin ? Cristina and Burke ? Mer/Der is newly rejoined and solidifying, and so that is fine..... Callie and George - another couple who finally are realizing the DO love each other, even though George IS slow on the uptake....but we give him the space to adjust because of his dad. We KNOW you see it Miranda Bailey !!!!Bless you all , writers, directors, actors for giving us back quality viewing privlidges we have been lacking for SO LONG !!!!! Long live Grey's ! THANK YOU Shonda ! Kip ! and all the writers !!!!!!
Pam in Janesville

[B]

amazing episode! so intense, i kept putting my hand up to my mouth every 5 minutes....and when i wasn't shocked i was hysterically laughing....seriously though, amazing writing and amazing acting! keep it up! ps...im sure Oprah loved it!

[Paige]

oh my goodness. oh my goodness. oh my goodness! This episode was so intense and absolutely AMAZING!!! Its was different, but amazing, and did i mention it was AMAZING!!! I never want the episodes to end, but this week i really didnt want the episode to end!! What did Cristina tell Richard?? OMG!!

Yessss! Alex and Addison! That is going to be so cool. If it happens,(i hope it does)!!

I can't wait for next week. I am totally obbsessed with this show, i feel like i know the characters, it is the weirdest feeling!!!

AMAZING job to ALL of the actors, wonderful, fantastic, break taking, and just AMAZING!!! :)

[Kelsey.]

I've never commented on a Grey's blog, but I've read them all. This is my favorite episode ever. Ever ever, and I've been a fan since that first Sunday night when I saw the word anatomy and the science geek in me whent "hm?" All of it, I loved it. I'm definitely going to watch it probably every day from now until next week.

[Theresa]

I LOVED THIS EPISODE. I pretty much went into a coma after holding my breath for an hour and ten minutes. Amazing. I think the most power scene was Burke slamming the door in Cristina's face. wowza. At least they finally came clean. My only complaint is that the hot McSex wasn't a little more...how should I say...graphic? haha anyway great, amazing, super, completely out of this world fab episode!!! Oh ya, what is this about no episodes for all of December? That makes me very, very sad/angry/confused/lost/ depressed/ cover my head with a pillow and don't come out until January.

[Shelley]

HOLLY COW... intense!!! you just kept on piling on the heart surgeries for burke...was so scared about how it was going down and you teased us so many times that it was going to come out but you waited for the end, i'm just happy it's out before anyone died.
So the gist of this episode is everyones relationships were rocked.
I can't believe that george said that to Izzie, but it's cute that they can still be friends in the end. but anyway i can go on, but i'll stop