Shonda on "Walk on Water"

Original airdate: 2/8/07

Holy crap, am I glad it is my turn to blog again!  I have missed it, let me tell you!  How is everyone?  You still out there?  Still good?

Or are you yelling and screaming at your TV sets and cursing my name for throwing Meredith into the water and then rolling the credits on you?

I don’t blame you for the cursing.  But please remember that next week, things get even more interesting and then the week after that, they get REALLY interesting.  I don’t want to talk about it.  Or give anything away….

Which means there’s not much I can blog about.  Damn it.  I can tell you that this episode (as well as the next) was directed by the famous Bossy McBossy Rob Corn.  And that before he had a script, he kept coming into my office to say in that quiet, calm voice of his: “YOU.  ARE.  KILLING.  ME.” 

See, it’s that time of year again.  That time of year when I get all sick and flu-y and my brain goes stupid and so I start to lie face down on the carpet in my office threatening to flee the country because my ability to write has clearly leaked out of my ear while I was sleeping.  Every year, like clockwork, it happens.  And every year, like clockwork, it takes me by surprise.   You’d think I’d learn.  But I don’t.  I don’t learn.

So Bossy McBossy is waiting for pages and I’m gathering my passport and calling the airports and Betsy (who sits in the office next to mine and keeps me sane) very kindly keeps coming in to remind me that I have pitched the entire 3 episode arc to her eight or nine times in vivid detail over the past five months.  All I have to do, she says (using, I might add, the exact same voice one uses with a three year old who won’t give you the sharp objects in her mouth), all I have to do is WRITE DOWN the things I have pitched her.  All I have to do PUT THEM ON PAPER.

HA!

Everyone knows the key component of serious, rampant procrastination is the inability to put anything on paper. 

Okay, I am actually procrastinating by writing about procrastinating.  On to the point, which is this:  Rob Corn worked his behind off shooting this episode with pages being fed to him as he shot and for that, I will no longer be referring to him as Bossy McBossy. Instead from this moment on, I will call him by his new tribal name: Shoots With No Script.

Now, Shoots With No Script will tell you that I had very definite ideas about this episode.  And I did.  But they were all character-based.  They were all about Meredith’s attitude and the little girl and Izzie and her tub of butter and Cristina and the notion that, in choosing to marry, she fears that she is LITERALLY being left behind in more ways than having to stay at the hospital while everyone goes to the accident site.  They were all about Derek and Burke and their conversation about “these women” and Richard and his badly dyed hair.  My thoughts were all about disappearing.

They were not about things that Shoots With A Script needed to know.  They were not, for instance, about what the ferry should look like when we first see it.  Because, if you know anything about me, you know I don’t want to think about hurting a ferry boat.  I, like McDreamy, have a thing for ferry boats.  Ferry boats are awesome and, in fact, very safe.  Ferry boats are amazing.

Ferry boats are a metaphor for Meredith, you know.

What I was interested in was Meredith and how she was doing after being hurt by her mother.   And the devastation of the ferry boat was the best way to physicalize Meredith’s pain.

The little girl?  She’s also a metaphor for Mer.  A motherless lost girl who can’t speak for herself and disappears?  Okay, that’s too obvious.  But you all know Meredith’s been doing a dance with death for some time.  Y’all know that if you’ve been watching.  She’s dark, our girl.  She’s dark and twisty.  And I worry about her.

Now, I’m really worried about her because she’s in the water and I want to be clear with you:  I don’t put people in the water for no reason.  Meredith’s got issues, she’s got serious Mommy issues and she’s broken and she’s in the water. 

I killed Denny.  I blew up Dylan.

I’m not entirely playing by the rules of TV here.

There’s a point.  And it’s coming.  Shoots With A Script and I have our fingers and toes crossed that it works.

Because what happens next…well, just wait and see…

Okay, I rambled and I procrastinated and I should just stop writing and let you go ahead and yell at me now…

Comments

[Niki]

SHONDA!!!!!!!!!!!

I LOVE YOU, GIRL.

PLEASE let Mer be ok. PLEASE.

Cant wait for next week!

[Josh]

The show really picked up steam as it went along. I absolutely cannot wait for next week.

Thank you, thank you, thank you Shonda for giving us such a great way to spend an hour.

I'm already loving the (presumed) flashback to the first part of the episode. Derrick pulls her out of the tub and maybe pulls her out of the water. Too clever.

I could rave forever. Thank you so much.

[alicia]

i cant beleive you did that. i taped it tonight because i had some business to attend to..and i CAN NOT miss this show..and i sat on the couch with my hand covering my mouth , while my other hand is flayling all over the place thinking "HOW CAN THEY DO THAT!" i dont wanna wait till next week. damn it..i hope mer is okay..she was kinda drowning in the bathtub...

[kristal]

One of the first comments??@

I haven't seen the ep yet - it sucks that NZ is soo far behind. But I love reading this blog and wanted to so Hi.

Bet this one rocks too - can't wait!

[Leslie]

OH MY GOD. You people are soooooo mean. I know you can't kill off Meredith because the show's, you know, named after her and all. But...you are still horrifically evil. Evil and mean and torturous.

It was a wonderful episode, though. I was worred that it was going to go all ER and crazy with horrible huge things happening every week and too much drama and whatnot, but it was much more realistic and believable than I anticipated. Thank you.

[nik]

Alright Shonda,
you convinced me - I'll keep the faith until Thursday. Can't wait for the next episode. Wonderful, wonderful job. Loved Meredith and Cristina this week - but what else is new?
Congrats on the Golden Globe - can't think of anyone who deserves it more!

[Niki]

*Yells*
Okay. We all know Mer (the title character) isn't going to die so why tease us?

[finally!]

Thank you for bringing Greys back!! The last episodes were missing something and you have brought it back! I loved the episode and cannot wait for next week!
Thank you for letting MerDer have some screen time together again, I just love them together. I specially liked the conversation with the marriage issue, so casual, and natural. I just hope that our girl is safe and that you will give us more GOOD Merder moments, key word being GOOD. I’m ok with a little bit of angst but just a little, ok? If she is depressed maybe Derek can help her… he seems to be very Dreamy this time.. Please don’t complicate them more than they already are.

[SleeplessinDC]

I always look forward to my weekly installments of Grey's and I definitely "got" some of the underlying themes you were building up. I did not like how gory the episode was -- that was uncharacteristic of Grey's and caught me off guard! I am really enjoying watching Burke and Christina have this authentic relationship and love for one another. And you all have even made Addison really, really likeable. I find myself almost rooting for her at times! Callie O'Malley is quickly becoming one of my faves as well. I look forward to the next 2 weeks to see whats going to happen to our girl Mer.

[Jess]

looooved this episode. freaked me out quite a bit, but it was great.

i live in seattle ... i don't think i'll be back on a ferry for a while :)

let's have some little happy episodes from time to time too though!

[May]

I'd just like to say, Shonda, that you do an amazing job. I'm sure you hear this a lot, but you really do. You capture every character as if they are real people.

I love that you don't play by the rules of television, because there is more suspense. Amazing, amazing writing.

[Just Breathe]

Shonda we've missed you!

So I guess I WAS screaming at my TV loud enough for you to hear...Sorry about that.

Please don't tell me that Meredith is going to turn into Daryl Hannah from Splash! in the next episode :)

You know you've watched too much McGyver when you scream at Izzie to find a freaking car jack to lift the car off the guy

Oh can I just give a shout out to your make-up department? I couldn't even look at the poor pregnant mom. It physically hurt.

Hoping this mean's the "We're Grey's Anantomy" team is up for this week's podcast. Everyone else is good but you two, you, should have a show.

Can't wait for the next two episodes.

[Michelle]

omg.. this epi was great, and s00 funny. Chief with his new hair and all.. that scene in the elevator almost killed me with laughter :P
Keep up the super good work! ;)
can't wait till nest week

[Katrina in Ohio]

I'm not going to yell you. I'm going to yell at my calendar because it doesn't say Thursday, February 15th yet. And on the 15th, I'm going to curse and yell because it isn't the 22nd yet. I hate cliff hangers, I love cliff hangers! I can't make up my mind. I hate the waiting and the not knowing, but I know the pay off will make it worth it. I want to commend each and every writer, cast member, behind the scenes guy or gal...because this show is one of the few on t.v. worth a damn these days. I'm even watching the reruns on Lifetime religiously. I just can't get enough. I'm also sucking all my friends in..lol. Oh, Shonda, by the way, I'm still mad at you for killing Denny. ;)

[BF]

I enjoy the episode. There are interesting ideas and can't wait for next week.
I am sorry that Burke and cristina couldn't be happy for two episodes in a row. I love them and their beginning scene was too cute. I love Alex and his choice, his dedication. I laugh for the attendings and Webber in the elevator. I like Meredith and I hope she will be safe. I still don't get george and Callie.

[Lesley]

Okay, I have yet to see the episode, and so maybe I'm over-reacting to your post, but I can't help but be worried that someone's going to die. Very soon. And I'd really rather they not. Please don't kill anyone--at least not any of the main characters. What with a wedding and an engagement in the last week, it might seem really tempting to kill one of the characters for some more drama. But I'm asking you--please don't kill anyone. I know you've already written and shot the episodes (or at least I assume you have), but still, I like all the characters to be breathing. Okay? Thanks. :)

[Anna]

I'm scared now.

I wasn't before, now I am.

That was a great episode. My favorite line is the "knight in shining, whatever."

[Angela T]

I could be sarcastic about worrying that the main character -the TITLE character, even- might not survive, but I won't. We all know she's going to be fine.

So, I'll do what I don't get to do often. Thank you for giving Alex something worth while to do in an episode. Sometimes, like last week, I think you only think of Justin Chambers as a model and forget he's an actor. With a character who doesn't get enough to do. But, you actually gave him good stuff. And, I think this is why I prefer the medical issues. I've seen too many of my favorite male characters on tv shows become nothing but one half of a couple and not characters in their own right. And, Alex is at a disadvantage since we know more about the other main characters. But, I loved him with the pregnant woman. I loved his concern, his professionalism, how he cared enough to go back and talk to her, even if he couldn't scrub in on the surgery. I loved seeing Addison the teacher. I mean, you have Meredith and Derek. You have Burke and Christina. You have George and Callie. You should cultivate a good teacher/student relationship. Which, you have with Addison and Alex.

Also, I don't know if I need to ask (and the scenes are most likely filmed already and I'm too late) but there's a horrid speculation that Alex is going to fall for the pregnant lady he saved. You know, there's something wrong when people can't look at two people -even a doctor and patient- spending more than 10 seconds together without thinking there's something more. And, heaven forbid the doctor actually seem to care about the patient. He must be falling for her. Platonic care doesn't exist. There must be a reason why people start speculating these things while watching this show. Alex isn't going to fall for the pregnant lady, right? Right? Since sex is something that's a part of this show, let Alex have it with some random nurse or some patient he doesn't have a medical story with (like the woman at Joe's bar) or even better, just someone at Joe's bar. But, leave the characters that he connects to on screen on a professional level that way.

And, please let the other interns find out where Alex's career interests are heading. It would open up so many things. 1. More interaction between Alex and the other interns (I miss the Alex and Meredith friendship) 2. I want to see exactly how it plays out. Will they tease him? Will Christina not feel that it's a serious field and give him a hard time? What will he say?

Everyone else asks for hot scenes between Alex and Addison (boo!) or Alex shirtless or in a tank top. Just keep giving me Dr. Karev, saving babies, children, and pregnant women.

And, could you tell your other bloggers (you too) that mentioning Alex in the blogs when he has stories is a good thing. Just don't forget that you have a main character named Alex. Sometimes I think you do, at least when you write the blogs -and often the episodes.

[Kathleen]

Oh Shonda I <3 you. This show rocks my world.
*worries about Mer*

[Angela T]

Forgot something. I like Meredith. But, please, stop with the "whatever" I get it. It's a catch phrase. But, it sounds like she's suffering from some form of aphasia. Knight in shining whatever? If it wasn't such a well known phrase, maybe. But, who can't remember "knight in shining armour"?

[Kathleen]

Oh Shonda I <3 you. Grey's rocks my world (and my socks for that matter.)
This episode was awesome.
*continues worrying about Mer*

[FamousARTIST]

Shonda: SO nice to hear from you ! I had been missing you. Oh, I knew you were back there somewhere conjuring up your magical television cupcakes, but you were the silent one.

I am not going to yell at you for throwing Meredith in the water. But I was yelling at my TV when Izzie had the guy under the car. I was yelling, "Pick up that car you bohunks!!!!:" I am not a football fan and therefore I do not usually yell at my television. but i did think those guys should pick up that car.

Also, please tell Callie O'Malley to chill a little about George being her husband and an intern all at the same time.

You are doing the "girl in the red coat" thing to me again. I think the people who don't like Meredith just don't get the dark and twisty part of Meredith. I think they should take another look at her. And I think they should know that great things seem to be coming for Dr. McDreamy.

Like usual, you are a genius.

Don't be a stranger! I can't wait for next week!

[Rosa]

Is Meredith dying? I hope not,this show has to have MerDer in it for me.

Does Derek save her? Can she be happy for a little while and go back being love and believing in happily ever after with her Knight?

Pleeease.

[crystal]

love this episode, not enough addison and alex for me though!

[Kat]

Even though I have a personal preference for the light 'n' funny, I really enjoyed last night's episode. I could yell about ending the show where you did (OH NO MEREDITH'S FATE IS IN THE HANDS OF A GIRL WHO WON'T TALK), but I'm too excited about next week to get too upset.

(One last note: WOW, Alex has certainly changed a lot in the past year or two, huh? I'm really, really struggling to not like him as much as I am.)