Chris Van Dusen on "My Favorite Mistake"

Original airdate: 3-22-07

By now, you all know that this blog is a pretty scary, intimidating, daunting place for us writers.  Unless your name is Shonda Rhimes.  If your name is Shonda Rhimes, you’re not scared of the fans who are asking for your head because of that whole George and Izzie sleeping together thing.  You’re not intimidated by the millions of people wanting – no, demanding – that Mer-Der sex.  You’re not daunted by the task of getting Cristina Yang to walk down an aisle wearing a big, white, frilly wedding dress…

Of course not.

But, if your name is Shonda Rhimes, you’re able to casually saunter by a guy who’s staring at a blank computer screen, attempting to write his very first writer’s blog for his very first episode of television – his brow furrowed, eyes glassy – and casually whisper the words:  “Just blame me.”

Let me tell you, the day after we see Izzie and George have sex is a pretty frightening time to come on here and try to explain why Izzie and George woke up in that bed next to each other.  Some of you are really, really angry about that.  And, Shonda is insisting that you – yes, all of you – with your scrunched up noses and your crossed arms and your loud, infuriated sighs – you all should blame her for Izzie and George.

“Izzie and George sleep together,” our fearless leader said.  “IZZIE AND GEORGE SLEEP TOGETHER!”

It was pretty amazing.  It’s still pretty amazing.  And, trust us, we’re taking Izzie and George to some pretty amazing places.  Because, just like the theme of this episode, we have a plan.

We know you’re shocked.  We hear you.  Television watchers without pity:  We get it.  But, here’s the thing.  You know who’s even more shocked than you?  Izzie and George.

They didn’t see this coming.  They didn’t mean for this to happen.  I mean, they’re FRIENDS.  They’re BEST friends.  They spend most of their waking hours together.  They have many things in common.  They confide in each other.  They look out for each other.  They stick up for each other.  They worry about each other.  They care very deeply about each other.

Wait a minute.

Izzie and George are already in a freakin’ relationship!  They’ve been in one for a really long time.

Okay, so, up until now, it was a sexless relationship.  But, Izzie’s been mourning Denny all season long.  George has been fighting left and right with the woman he married in the wake of his father’s death.  And, of course, Izzie and George drank a lot of alcohol.  So, the sex happened.

The really, really good sex happened…

The sex that makes Izzie think she has deeper feelings for George?  It happened.

The sex that officially puts Izzie in the Dirty Mistresses Club and classifies George as an adulterer?  IT HAPPENED!

Both Izzie and George are wrong for the sex.  It was a mistake.  It wasn’t part of the plan.  George is married.  To Callie – who, at the moment, I feel so incredibly sad for.  There she is – thinking that she married the perfect husband.  The only man who has ever stood up to her father.  She’s deeply in love with George.  That scene, after lunch, when Mr. Torres comes to the hospital and tells George to protect Callie with his entire being – Wasn’t that scene just heartbreaking?  The look on Callie’s face, so proud of her husband…

George – We torture the hell out of him in this episode.  He kinda deserves it, don’t you think?  You know, for the whole adultery thing.  So, he’s incredibly hung over.  He remembers the sex during lunch with none other than his wife and his father-in law.  And, in the last scene of the episode, he’s horrified, left speechless, just staring at the ceiling.  So, so lost.  He’s not getting any sleep tonight.

And, neither is Izzie.  One of my favorite scenes of this episode is Izzie and George in the linen closet, right after George has remembered the previous night’s transgression.  There are no spoken words, yet it’s almost like you hear what Izzie and George are saying.  It’s painful.  Heart wrenching.  I don’t know about you, but, in that moment – I wanted Izzie and George together.  Without the complications.  Without the mistakes.  Without having to totally destroy Callie.  The sex, it was wrong.  But that last look between Izzie and George in the linen closet?  It was so, so right.

Because…  Izzie and George?  They’ve got some intense feelings for each other, those two.  It’s obvious.  It’s amazing.  There they are, in that linen closet, NOT DRUNK AT ALL, and it’s apparent that the sex – the really, really good sex – it could happen again – right then and right there.  So George rushes out, leaving Izzie all alone.  Neither has a clue what to do.

George.  Is.  Married.  We see George banging the linen closet shelves, Izzie looking so confused, both of them pacing around like caged animals.  Izzie and George are so incredibly flawed.  But that’s what makes them interesting.  That’s what makes them human.  That’s why, even though they did a terrible thing, we still love them.  And we want to see them get out of this okay.  I’m talking about all parties involved:  Izzie, George, and Callie.

Okay, some of you will remain angry about this Izzie-George thing.  Go ahead.  Be that way.  But, HOPEFULLY you found some joy in the MER-DER SEX you saw at the end of tonight’s episode…

It’s been a long time for those two.  Cut Mer-Der some slack.  I mean, Meredith was dead for an afternoon and Derek has been busy running around the halls of Seattle Grace making sure there are no large bodies of water left for his woman to fall into.  Which, according to Meredith, is a big problem.

Meredith doesn’t want anyone looking out for her right now.  Her mom died.  She’s fine.  She’s ready to move on.  But, everyone around her – namely, Derek – won’t let her.  He’s going around trying to protect her, but it’s coming off as extremely manipulative.  Meredith wants to fight her own battles.  She’s wants to be a surgical machine.  She has a new plan.  So, it really pissed her off when Derek talked to Mark about the Jane Doe surgery.  The troubled look on Derek’s face when Meredith tells him to shut the door on his way out – he just wants what’s best for his girlfriend.  Maybe what’s best for his girlfriend, though, is a little space.

We see how much this affects Derek when he’s unable to give his board interview the focus and attention it deserves.  Burke is doing Power Point.  Addison is rehearsing her introduction.  Mark…  Well, Mark is being Mark.  And, to everyone’s dismay – particularly Bailey’s – Mark ends up winning the race for Chief (for today, at least).  And, what’s Derek doing?  Not concentrating on his board interview.  Instead, he’s worried about Meredith.  Hovering.  Pacing.  Which is starting to affect his job.  Which can’t be good.  Now, I’m worried.

But, in the end, Meredith and Derek put their differences aside for a moment and finally go back to being the couple we all want to see.  It looked like all of that fighting led to a pretty passionate night…

Let’s not forget about Burke and Cristina.  Tonight, we got a glimpse of Cristina’s first ever musings on her upcoming wedding.  Hey, at least it’s good to know that the wedding is still on.  Because when Colin Marlowe showed up in the last episode, things got pretty intense in Burktina-land.

Colin’s arrival threw a serious wrench in Cristina’s plans.  And, over the course of this episode, no matter how bad Cristina wanted things with Burke to go back to normal, she realized that they can’t.  Because Burke isn’t interested in that.  He wants to move forward.  He wants Cristina to commit to this wedding.  He basically wants Cristina to change her ways.  And, she does.  A little.  Because, much like Cristina’s diabetes patient, Doug, she doesn’t have much of a choice.

When Cristina tells Doug that, even though he lost his foot, he still has a lot left to lose – she’s talking about herself.  She realizes she’s got to give Burke something, because she’s in grave danger of losing him if she doesn’t.  So, that’s what Cristina’s doing with all of that talk about City Hall and mosquito netting…

There’s another scene in tonight’s episode that’s worth talking about.  It’s when Alex presents the different faces to our Jane Doe.  Wasn’t it nice to see Alex in a new light?  It’s interesting to see him have a real relationship with a woman that isn’t based on sex.  This is a real connection with someone Alex isn’t linked to romantically.  And, finally, Jane Doe gets a real name and a new face.  Ava.  All thanks to Alex.

Well, there’s so much more to say, but that’s all the time I’m going to take away from you.  I’m just as excited as you to see what lies ahead for our characters.  I hope you enjoyed tonight’s episode!

Comments

[Mary in DC]

You somehow managed to redeem yourself a bit this week. I'll never buy the gizzie thing- But you somehow managed to play it out well. What I liked most was that it didn't take up a large portion of the epi. You can do what you want with them because the whole storyline doesn't hold my attention. But I'll admit I loved the scene in the linen closet- the whole thing played out without words- a really good sccene- I'll give TR and KH that much. But people can be flawed without having sex- you writers seem to get that confused.

I'm loving this dark Dereck. Finally PD gets some acting. Anyway- I love their whole storyline. And I loved PD tonite. Always will. Thank you for his scenes. This is what we've been asking for- we don't need to see mer/der sex everyweek- just come relating, communicating. I miss that love story.

Loved how you've developed Alex- slow and steady and I can't wait to see him every week to see where he goes.

And Burke confused me a little tonite- when he said he didn't want to go back- after cristina spent the night somewhere else- I thought he meant that he didn't want their relationship anymore- so it was confusing when cristina showed up in the end. Also- you seem to confuse a wedding with a marriage. Are you trying to show that Burke wants a wedding- where cristina is more focused on the marriage? I don't get what Burke's problem is with her not wanting a wedding- but is ready to commit to a marriage- with a piece of paper or not.

What happen to Mark jumping rope in the promos? We were all waiting to see McSteamy in all his steamyness- I hope you didn't cut that out. And Mark was great this epi.

Overall- you redeemed yourself. Great job and Great blog.

[Sandrine]

Quite simply -- I just loved the episode! Seriously!

[T]

I personally love the idea of George and Izzie together, but I'm a star crossed lover type girl I guess.

[LuPhoenix]

I'm really, really, really trying to have faith that you know what you're doing....because from where I'm watching on my sofa... Callie/George/Izzie situatin is a trainwreck. Yes, seriously, a trainwreck!

I get the confusion and difficulties for Mer/Der. Just make sure they come through those difficulties because they make me smile.

Yes, I love Ava and Alex. I know it's going to put a crimp in everything when her family finds her.... unless she's on her own because her husband/ boyfriend is dead from the ferry tragedy. If this happened in real life, I'm thinking the local media would be broadcasting about her so where is the realism on that one? Get that media in there & bring more drama to the hospital.

[Sula]

No matter who is to blame and how much Gizzie's adultery is referred to as "really, really good sex," there is nothing that can justify the turn these characters have made.

Redeem these characters and let's see more Bailey. Way too little screen time and story development!

[Tracey]

We need MORE Alex. This isn't "a new light" for me. I have loved this character from day one. I'd just like to see him fleshed out more like the other interns...please?

[jessicafreels]

Look chris I am one of those people who think the Izzie George thing is..well wrong. However you gave me something to think about with Izzie other than, "Will you please stop being crazy." Every time Izzie spouts platitudes at her patients, I want to slap her. But I felt kind of sad for her, because she realizes something big, and she can do nothing about it. I did feel for George...and my heart broke for Callie. You know this isn't going to end well.
I loved Sloane and all he was doing and when he stood up to Merideths accusation I was glad. Sloane is the anti George, and he doesn't take her critique with Salt. HE KNOWS WHO HE IS. George doesn't. It makes George all the more sad cause he is now questioning everything.
Derek... he looks so scared. And Merideth looks so determined to fight for everything she realized she could have lost. I wonder if she will ever tell him what she told Denny.
And as always, I am falling more in love with Alex every week.
Pretty good...seriously.

[Anna]

No way am I the first comment...I'm speechless. But regardless of how much my heart will break when I finally hit "post" and see that TRUE tally of "26897538 comments" appear, I'll perservere.

Gorgeous, beautiful, encore, encore! Once again I am literally left breathless as that familiar Shondaland rollercoaster appears (can I mention how mad I am ABC has stopped running previews for the nexy Grey's episode at the end of the show??!?!). This has to be one of my favorite episodes this season, simply because each character had PUNCH. Alex and Ava. Addison and Alex. Mer and Der. Mer and Mark. Christina and Burke. Miranda and Mark (loved the look she gave the Chief when Mark came out of the interview!)...I could go on, but oh God, IZZIE AND GEORGE. Count at least one fan firmly in the Izzie/George camp, because as much as Callie has grown on me the last two years, it'll always be (and always HAS to be) Izzie and George.

[ali]

AMAZING episode.

You had me rapt with attention, laughing, gasping, muttering, the whole deal, all the way through...

I think I'll post later on the specific story lines, but just wanted to let you know that I'm by no means raving mad at you writers...

The characters are growing and interacting in ways that are different, amazing and, at times, deffinatly a little scary... but you guys pull it off with such skill. I love, root and feel for these characters more than ever.

Thanks for such a great episode.

[Nikki]

I loved tonights episode! Love, love loved it! And I'm super excited that t aired this week and now next! I'm still in shock over the whole Izzie and George thin...but i think best friends can work, great relationships start out as friends first anyways, right? And i loves the Mer-Der relationship. I only hope to find a guy who cares that much about me one day :) Thanks again for an awesome episode!!!

[Riley]

Excellent Episode and excellent blog! You covered everything! Very exciting to finally see some Mer/Der time and to see Burke/Christina "moving forward"! Sad we have to wait so long now!

[Lauren]

Congrats on your first episode, Chris! I thought the fallout from Izzie and George went spectacularly well - I was one of those television watchers without pity last week, but that moment at the end of the episode with George looking up at the ceiling sold it for me.

[Robin]

Bless you!

You gave me some Alex/Addison and calmed the whines of the merder fans. For this I am eternally grateful. Great episode! I hope you write more.

[katie]

This was the Best episode i have ever seen in my life. You are just amazing at what you do. It was so intense watching what izzie and george had to go through.(Knight & Heigl were phenomenal)The sex OMG. I could feel how much they love each other. The scene in the closet made me feel like i was going to die for them. Please make it alright for them they deserve to be together.(hopefully forever)

great first episode, i like the theme of this week's episode- it's true for EVERYONE.

[R]

While I thought the last episode was more a return to what I have always loved about Grey's, I went into this episode with low expectations. This was probably due to the fact that there has been little to no Mer/Der conversation (let alone heat) all season, and I knew the fallout from George and Izzie would have to be dealt with. But, I was pleasantly surprized that the episode managed to keep up the trend of what I loved about episode 18: intern interaction, balance amongst storylines and characters that favours what the show originally presented itself as being about - interns and Mer/Der/Chris/Burke, and the mix of drama and comedy.

My further surprize was that the episode also answered some of the demands I (and other fans) have had regarding the show of late. The interns (and particularly Meredith) finally all practiced medicine and acted like, well, interns! The George/Izzie fallout was not as horrible as I anticipated - I still am not in favour of the storyline, but TRK and KH's acting, as well as the excellence of the rest of the episode made this bearable. I will reserve my judgment as yet to see where you intend to move this.

But the best parts of tonight's show? All the wonderful Mer/Der scenes showcasing actual conversation that reflected their state of mind after all that has happened and showed them dealing somewhat with everything. I am delighted that for once this season I am not waiting to read a blog or listen to a podcast to hear that Mer and Der talked! Who knew you writers could actually write meaningful interaction between the two? The kissing/cuddling/implied sex was also nice to finally see, but more important to me was that we finally saw them talk as a couple. I was so pleased to finally see this, that you could almost have written crap for the rest of the show and I would have ate it up!

Finally, the Alex/Addison moment was also nice to see - even though the spinoff has seemingly killed this storyline, this scene left me hopeful that you will wrap this up in a satisfying way.

Please keep up this new writing that is more a throwback to the Grey's I fell in love with!

[Lisa]

That was an awesome blog, and an awesome episode! And i'm actually really interested in seeing where the george-izzy thing will take off from here... secrets that this can't stay secrets, even between two best friends.

[Brittany]

I loved My fav Mistake!!!! Thank you for not breaking up Burke and cristina!!!!! I can't wait to see the wedding!!!! Burke in that Suite was HOTT!!!!!! Love the show!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Greysfan32]

First of all, thanks Chris for a wonderful writers' blog. Really. It's so refreshing to read an episode writer recound the nitty gritty of the episode and address the fans' reaction to events rather than give us a protracted history of their life and times leading up to that ep. Kudos! You may be new, but I like you already.

Good episode overall. I actually really liked some of the repair work on Burketina and Mer/Der. I'm really not the biggest Mer/Der fan, but I did aww at their bedroom scene at the end. However, I'm really sorry but no amount of explanations and circumlocuting will make me change my stance regarding Izzie and George. If those two end up in a relationship at the expense of Callie, I will be pissed off. It was wrong. Period. No it was wrong but wasn't it so right? It was WRONG. And I don't even blame George so much as I blame Izzie. I'm definitely curious to see where this will go, but no way no how would Callie ever escape unscathed, and do suggest so is an insult to her character. I hope she has better things coming her way. She's really been a sacrificial lamb from the start.

[R.]

Okay, first of all, I LOVED this episode. I thought it was very well written, and incredibly well acted. Maybe this show is finally getting back on track.

Second, THANK YOU SO MUCH for the Alex/Addison scenes. I'm still giddy over them, especially after the nothing we got last week. PLEASE keep them coming, and let us (the Alex/Addison shippers) enjoy the remaining episodes we have left with Addison on the show.

I'm totally loving the Alex/Jane Doe friendship, and extremely thankful that it is just that, a friendship, and not a romantic thing. Alex has grown so much this season (mostly because of Addison) and is now my favorite character along with Addison (...and Bailey ...and Cristina).

Concerning your comment about how it's interesting to see Alex have a real relationship with a woman that is not based on sex, I have to say that I agree completely, but I would also like to add that he also had that going with Addison. Even if their relationship was going to become romantic, it didn't start with sex (unlike Meredith/Derek or Cristina/Burke). Their relationship started as a mentor-student relationship and developed into something more, which is refreshing. And that is also why Alex/Addison is becoming the second most popular ship after Meredith/Derek. Alex and Addison are not just attracted to each other, they respect one another and admire one another and genuinely care about each other, and that's what a real, mature relationship should be made of.

On a more shallow note, the chemistry between Kate Walsh and Justin Chambers is phenomenal. They can set my screen on fire just by being in the same room. It would be such a shame for that chemistry to go to waste.

I loved how you handled the Izzie and George situation. The closet scene was fantastic, kudos to Katherine Heigl and TR Knight for giving stellar performances. I also loved the scene with Izzie and Addison. And the scene with Cristina and Burke at the end. That reminded me of why I used to like them so much.

Thank you again for a great episode!

[notworried anymore]

ill admit it, i was one of THOSE worried people because merder weren't talking about real things, the whole incident didn't seem to be affecting them, izzie and george had sex, and colin whatever showed up. so i was worried. don't ge me wrong, its not like i would ever give up on the show (it's my life), but i was getting worried. but you, my new, very funny friend, have put those worries to ease-for now at least. george and izzy really aren't OK because they really did do that, and christina and burke are, working on things. most importantly, the death thing IS affecting derek and affecting him alot, and seemingly oblivious to this is meredith who is affected in her own way. anyway you did an AMAZING job on this episode. it was funny with some awesome one liners (the whole jesus thing) and for the first time in a while all of the patient stories really got to me. GREAT GREAT job......keep working hard......o and great blog too, lots of good information.

[Rachelle]

I am starting to like Alex. I despised this character up until Jane Doe arrived at Seattle Grace. Now, I see him growing, testing out the waters of caring overtly.

Could anyone else feel the temperature rise in that linens room? Whew!

[Angela]

Great blog Chris! And I loved tonight's episode, very well written and multi-layered.
However, I'm sorry to have to say this, but I must voice my opinion as a fan. I do not like the direction George and Izzie is going. It just feels icky and wrong. I really liked George and Callie together, and I'm glad you feel as bad for her as I do. I love Sara Ramirez and I really want to keep her on the show, even if it can't be with George. But I really, really, really don't like Gizzie, mainly because I feel like Izzie is being rewarded for being so horrible to Callie.

[Chelsea in Erie]

Izzie and I are done.
George and I are done.
I want Mark to be Chief.
Can Callie move to Grey's 2.0?
If Alex and Smush become Izzie/Denny 2.0, I'm done with Alex.
I only like Meredith with Cristina.
I love Cristina and Burke, but don't know why anymore.
Is Chandra Wilson sick? She's barely been a blimp the last two episodes.
Derek needs to talk to a professional and Richard should've noticed.
Very little Addison is always bad but she's getting her own show and that'll fix me.

[Ashley_Canadian_Eh?]

im really glad u discussed more than the Gizzie sex. I'm not horrified by the sex, as just like Mer/George it was being set up from the beginning... its more so how it happened.. him being married to Callie, who I adore, even though she has been blaming George for stuff lately. I love Callie... Callie is just .. she's Callie and great and I hate that he hurt her even though she doesnt know it yet... and as Addison has said at the beginning of the season (episode 1).. your secrets they come out, they just do.. so we all know hes gonna have to hurt callie.. im not sure which is worse.. telling her now or waiting til she is so far in there is no getting out and then having her world come crashing down on her.. this sucks for that reason..

now for the mer/der of it all. omg thank you SOOOOOOO MUCH! that was some much deserved action... i was just so moved with them.. my heart broke everytime i saw derek sad. I honestly think that he is just amazing.. yes i know everyone else does too, but the way he can convey his emotions with one simple look.. breaks my heart... makes it melt.. man i swear patrick dempsey is a genious! thats why i have his picture iron-ed on to my rep suit... with a bunch of other greys pictures :p... umm ya..

The chemistry him and Ellen have is just purely amazing so those scenes had me feeling just what they were..

burketina.. i loved cristina's wedding plans.. her burke mer, shep if burke wants and a justice of the peace,.. thats it .. sounds like a cristina wedding to me...

mark.. wow hott in that suit or what.. altho,... not a fan of what he pulled with the interview

im quite worried about the race for chief.... derek needs to focus but him and mer need to discuss this death stuff... it needs to be hashed out... meredith may be an avoider but it has to be done..

and finally i wish we could have addisex but is probably being put on hold in case of the spin off which sucks for us cos i know lots of people hoping for just that... but the jane doe scenes with alex so cute...

and with that.. great job.. oh and colin marlowe altho he has a great accent.. kinda gives me the creeps :S