Stacy McKee gives you some "Time after Time"

Original airdate: 4-19-07

Ok. Before I get into the whole George slippity slipping on Izzie’s scrub pants and Derek needing to choose: Be the Chief or Be With Meredith and DAMN – did you notice that Richard can TOTALLY bust a move ??--- I just want to say…

Welcome back, you guys! It’s been a little while since the last new Grey’s Episode… And it’s been even longer since I’ve had a chance to talk to you! That was Waaaaay back in November, back before George was married (let alone falling for Izzie!), back before Meredith was (almost) dead (and talking to dead people), HECK – back before the boys went camping! THINK of how much has HAPPENED!!!

I know – lately we’ve had a few repeats, and you’ve all been very patient, but now… here we are. This week marks the first of the final few Season Three episodes and – MAN. I can say this because I know what’s going to happen next… I seriously envy you guys. You are about to have SO MUCH FUN. All new episodes. Funny episodes. Heartbreaking episodes. Supersized episodes. Cliffhanger episodes.

This is it. The beginning of the end of the season. So, brace yourselves.

Now, about THIS episode…

I want to talk about mothers. (I know – it sounds boring, but just stick with me for a second here.) Love ‘em, hate ‘em, miss ‘em, or try very hard (only to be unsuccessful) to fool ‘em – we’ve all got some kind of mother somewhere. Even if we’ve never met her. Even if she’s not related by blood. Even if she’s haunting us from the grave. Even if, when we went to college, she secretly recorded things onto our computers like: “Words of Wisdom from Mom: Never have unprotected sex on days that end in the letter Y” -- We all have a mother. Whether we like it or not.

(And yes, my mom DID record that onto my computer when I was a college freshman. And, no – I never could figure out how to erase it, so… every time I misspelled a word for the next four years, I was reminded to use a condom. True story.)

There are a whole lotta mothers floating around tonight’s episode.

Ava meets her faux mother. This poor girl has no memory, a new face, her only real friend right now is Alex and she’s about to become a mother herself – and suddenly the cruelest thing imaginable happens to her. She is first claimed by, then rejected by her “faux” mother. When Ava’s “mom” walks through that door, Ava believes that her life, the very history she can’t remember, is about to be restored -- only to have that hope yanked away from her – it’s horrible. It’s devastating. And Alex is the one who has to deliver the news. Alex, the guy who has been there, looking out for Ava, from the very first moment he pulled her out of that water – he’s the one who has to tell her that “those people” are not HER people. No wonder she lashes out at him. Stupid faux mommy.

And then there’s Meredith – trying to figure out how to react to HER Fake Mommy. I swear, if anyone could use a little motherly nurturing, it’s Meredith Grey.

I was secretly thrilled when I realized I was going to have Susan in my episode. I love Susan. Sure, she’s a little pushy (what with the whole bringing groceries over uninvited thing – and chatting up Derek before Meredith has even stumbled her way downstairs…) but Susan is, mostly, just a very caring, very genuine MOM. The exact opposite of Ellis. It’s the kind of mother Meredith has never actually experienced first hand, and it’s the kind of mother Meredith (clearly) desperately needs – even if she isn’t sure how to accept Susan’s kindness quite yet…  There was a line that had to be cut for time that I loved: “I’m not used to moms of any kind before my coffee.”

But don’t be fooled – Susan’s not squeaky clean and perfect. Her “gestures” aren’t coming out of a solely kind and generous place… they are also brought on by some good old fashioned guilt. Susan feels responsible for the fact that Thatcher was so absent from Meredith’s life. Susan’s known about Meredith for years, for her entire marriage – and yet, it was a very recent chance meeting at the hospital that finally prompted Susan (and Thatch) to become a part of Meredith’s life…

No wonder Meredith is a little cautious. In Meredith’s experience, mothers ALWAYS have an agenda, and it’s usually not a generous or thoughtful one…Which is why Susan is so important. She has the potential to help heal a few of those wounds for Meredith. Susan is like a happy little beacon of motherly hope for Meredith and her future… even if she DOES stop by unannounced.

But, of course, the Grey’s universe has to even itself out. We can’t have the potential of a happy, hopeful motherly Susan relationship on the horizon for Meredith without a little dark and twisty Dead Mommy love haunting Meredith, too – even from the grave.

And by haunting, I mean messing with Meredith’s McDreamy.

Richard says to Derek that he made a promise to Ellis. Richard told Ellis, on her deathbed, that he would look out for Meredith. So, as unfair as it seems, Richard intends to make good on that promise. Which means he’s willing to pass up Derek as the next Chief in order to make sure Derek will be available to focus on Meredith.

What’s so interesting about this is that – it’s not that Richard is punishing Derek for having a relationship with an intern. Or, in fact, trying to force Derek to choose between his relationship with Meredith or a shot at being Chief… Actually, it’s a vote of confidence from Richard. Richard clearly thinks Derek is good for Meredith. Richard wants their relationship to succeed. And he knows – firsthand – that nurturing a relationship properly is nearly impossible given the professional demands of being Chief. He thinks he’s doing Derek (and therefore Meredith) a favor. Richard is protecting Meredith. He thinks he’s doing exactly what Meredith’s Dead Mommy would want him to do…

The question is – how will Derek respond to all of this? We see him there, at the end – lost in thought. What’s he thinking about? Is he questioning whether or not Meredith’s worth all this trouble –  Is he thinking about what Bailey just said to him – that if you can’t be with the person you love, then all the rest of “this” means nothing… ?  Yes and Yes. Derek’s not being a jerk by not answering the phone. He’s being human. He’s trying his best to work through his demons – in private – so he doesn’t take them out (unfairly) on anyone (like Meredith) in public – he doesn’t WANT to hurt Meredith; he loves her. And, he’s just been told that she’s the one thing that will prevent him from achieving his life-long professional dream. Cut the guy some slack. He’s allowed a broody night all alone in his trailer, don’t you think?

Then of course, there’s Bailey. She always knows when one of her “kids” needs her. She just can’t help herself… And right now, that kid is Izzie.

The Izzie bone marrow story has been swirling around our writers room for a while. In fact, I’m pretty sure that as soon as we figured out Izzie had a daughter – we also figured out that one day, that daughter would get sick. She would need bone marrow. And that would bring her to Izzie.

The question has always been – WHEN do we bring Izzie’s daughter back? There have been a LOT of possibilities, but suddenly – in the wake of this new Izzie/George relationship… At this very crucial moment, when Izzie is mourning the loss of her closest friend, and when Goerge is having trouble even looking Izzie in the eye… SOMETHING needed to happen that would bring them together—privately. Intimately. Perfectly.

Hello, Izzie Jr!

The thing I’ve always loved about this story is that it’s not about Izzie or George. Their tension, their fling, their awkwardness – it all gets put on a back burner the moment something much more important falls into their lives. They have to set aside their weirdness, step outside of themselves and their screwed up lives, and – just hold each others hands.

It’s like that moment, just before the hematologist starts to drill into Izzie’s hip, when Izzie and George’s faces are just inches apart, and nothing else matters. It’s just George being there for Izzie when she needs him most – it’s clean, it’s simple, and it’s one of the most meaningful moments – for both of them. Well… that and the scene with the scrub pants…

SIDEBAR: Can we please talk about George and Izzie’s scrub pants??? Is it just me, or was that moment charged in a way that made me both a liiiiittle bit uncomfortable AND incapable of breathing for – well – the rest of the scene? I’m telling you – this whole George/ Izzie thing? I’m as conflicted as you are. I see a scene like that and I think to myself – Oh my goodness, they belong together. Right NOW. Make it happen!! Until I see Callie a few scenes later and… well, I get mad at myself for forgetting all about her. Because I love Callie, and I hate the idea that George might hurt her – REALLY hurt her… Callie’s blameless here. She loves a man who really really seems to be… falling for his best friend?!?!?

Alright. Enough already. I’ve been talking way way too long – plus, I still have to call MY mom and find out what she thought of the episode… I tried calling her last night (I’m in LA and she’s two hours later in Houston) – and I very carefully timed it so she’d be done with all her work (she kicks butt as a realtor there) so we could chat… and when I called, she answered with: “Now, Stacy. You KNOW I can’t talk to you right now. The Chief just told some woman that he’s ‘a FRIENDLY guy.’ I have to go!!”

And then she hung up on me.

(sigh.) Moms!

Comments

[Pikado]

How could you not mention Cristina and Burke??? I thought Cristina was fantastic in this episode because she finally started to fight for her relationship.

Can I just say how upset I am about the whole George/Izzie thing????? Since when is adultery OK? Please make this storyline go away! I can't stand it. This is way more tragic than the George/Meredith hookup. At least they were the only two people that could get hurt. My heart is bleeding for Callie.

[Grey Fanatic In Germany]

Okay...Okay...I know, some of us are truly warped. I sit here in germany...waiting for itunes to post the Time after Time episode, because I have no other means to watch the latest Grey's epi and it's is now 9pm germany time, Friday night people and seriously?, no sign of the latest Grey's. HELP?!!!

I want my greys. What is the deal, really? seriously, why hasn't it been posted yet. And the blog...thank you for the blog, finally...I appreciate it, but I want to see the show!

Can't someone there call the itunes geeks and remind them that there are those of us that can't view locally, need, desperately need, think IZZI here, desperately need our Grey's posted so that we can sleep peacefully knowing the latest tales of the hospital staff.

Remember how IZZY said, I'll hurt you? Please, please...give me my grey's. All of this sadness this week, with the VT massacre, I need some relief from the mourning and sadness with some of the grey's lightness and thought provoking insight...

I love you guys, please feed the beast...please. I need the grey's show. Thanks for the blog posting.
Thank u. :-0

[Terry]

Nice to see so many good moments for Bailey and the Chief. So glad Christina's annoying ex is gone. That whole one-up game was tiresome. I don't buy Meredith telling Callie that George was with Izzie. She's smarter than that.

[Malinda]

I was furious with Derek..He couldn't even call ehr and tell her he was going to stay at the trailer or something? I think the word(s) used to describe him last night were "Slime Bucket" I mean c'mon he knows what he's got to do. Give up being chief or just hope all the other board people want him to be cheif. Nazi was right, it won't mean anything if he's alone.

[CrisGrace]

Awesome episode. Loved all the mommy-ness of it. Especially loved seeing Bailey back with more to do. Chandra Wilson is just so amazing in that part. The scene between her and Izzie in the bathroom was my favorite last night. Katherine Heigl should add that to her Emmy submission for sure. It was heartbreaking and hopeful. Just perfect. Can't wait for the rest of the season.

[PJ]

Stacey, you did a great job on the blog! That episode was awesome, and btw, Katherine H. is such a great actress. Every darn time she started crying, I wanted to cry too. Love, love me my Izzy. I didn't like George and Izzy together before, but now I do. Just the way they looked at each other last night was enough for me...and how funny was McSteamy showing Chief how to pick up that nurse w/the running shoes comment? He is so hot...as for Mer/Der, he better do the right thing and pass on the chief position. Also, your mom sounds pretty darn cool to me....:)

[Naomi]

I LOVE GEORGE/IZZIE!

The scene at the end where they're looking at Hannah, and Izzie asks if George thinks she's beautiful..

"Yeah. Yeah, she's a heartbreaker."

He said that while looking at Izzie and I don't know if it was intentional, but it turned me into mush! PLUS THE PANTS. and the looks he was giving her? He loves her so much. "she probably talks a lot. and eats a lot.."

I am officially on the gizzie ship! Great job, Stacy!!!!

[Jennifer]

Great blog and Great Episode!

[Fabi]

OMG i LOVED this episode!! and the whole George and Izzie scrub pants ahhhh!! and i loved Cristina this episode, she's just awesome...
Thnx for making an awesome eppy!!!!!

[LoveThatGrey's]

Thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU for finally getting back to the "Izzie's daughter" storyline. I knew it had to come up eventually, but whew....what a wait! And yes, every scene with George and Izzie is absolutely charged with electricity. Can't wait to see what Shonda and Co. do with this relationship. It's especially fun to watch knowing that those two are close friends off-screen, but it must have been WEIRD for them to film some recent scenes. Hmmmm....would be interesting to hear some input from Kate and T.R. on that one. Any chance of them joining a podcast soon?

Can't wait for what's in store as we count down season three. SERIOUSLY!!!

[Jane]

Love Meredith and I feel so sorry for her. I can understand Derek, but he was selfish. I don't like Izzie and George, they have always been judgemental and childish and I see no chemistry. Cristina delivers the funniest lines of the winning, but her speech to Colin and her supporting Burke were moving. This character is so complicated and interesting. I am kind of worried for the words of Colin and her look. She should be proud of who she has become, but I see her doubting herself and her commitment. Love Burke and the way he loves Cristina, without trying to change her. I would like to see their marriage and I hope they will make it. It's very captivating Alex and Ava.
Good episodes

[Brenda]

Didn't Derek tell Meredith he'll always show up?

You guys have done the impossible and made me not even care anymore about my favorite couple. If you break them up at the end of the season, I'd probably say "good for Meredith." She deserves someone who will not be a McAss.

A far cry from all last season when I couldn't wait for them to get back together and was dying for it. I guess it's a case of be careful for what you wish for.

[BJ]

FABULOUS episode! I loved not only the scene with Izzie's pants, but all the George and Izzie scenes, especially when, his voice breaking, George tells Izzie that Hannah is "a heartbreaker."

Clearly, George's heart is breaking as he VERY privately wrestles with the emotions that he is feeling about Izzie and Callie and what he and Izzie have done...

Unbelievable acting on the part of all three of them..amazing writing on the part of YOU!

[mandy]

I'm smiling so big right now people around me must think I'm on something. I can't stop smiling. EVERYTHING you wrote about Izzie & George, it was like you just took it out of my head and put it in your blog. especially the part about being conflicted cause I love Callie too. I really like her and George together. I wanted Izzie to leave them alone and just be George's friend. and then I realized Izzie loved George too. she loves him like nobody else and to love your best friend like that can be the most passionate as well as the most painful of loves. I am SO EXCITED to see the direction this is going even if I'm not looking forward to Callie getting her heart broken. it's just because I'm more of a Callie (read - curvy) and less of an Izzie (blonde and supermodel-y) so I hate for George to pick Izzie over her. it's just a good thing he and Izzie are my favorites anyway.

I LOVE BAILEY. that's all I ever have to say about her in my comments.
she just rocks!

I'm still mourning (a little early) the loss of Addison to the spin off. I really like her character and hate to see her leave Seattle Grace. and that will just be another hour of all-consuming television I will be watching because I can't not follow her to the new show. I hope it will be able to live up to Grey's reputation. (o:

McSteamy - I've always thought he was handsome. HOT if you will........but last night in the bar when the chief delivered the hilarious line "you think if you get me laid, I'll make you chief" and Sloan smiled.....I'm pretty sure I lost my breath for a minute. that was BEAUTIFUL!

Alex is completely trying to hold on to Ava. I think he feels responsible for her and wants to protect her as long as he can. not sure what else I think about that right now.....

I love this show. as I've said many times before, I'm obsessed. as excited as I am about the reruns being over, I just know you sneaky writers and Grey's people are gonna leave us fans with an unbearable cliff hanger for the season and I will be counting down the days until Season 4 starts in the fall. wait.......that was your plan all along. thanks for a FABULOUS show!

[Elizabeth]

This episode was absolutely amazing! The whole Izzy's daughter storyline - WOW! It was perfect. You writers are brilliant and the actors are unbelievably talented! I can't wait for the next episode.... so exciting!!!

Thank you for yet another amazing GA episode!

[kammommy]

Thanks so much for the great recap. You always remind me of little things that I forgot about the episode. I'm already getting sad that it is the end of the season but I'm looking forward to the stories yet to come.

[cmonkey]

Great episode from start to end! Loved it!

[Lee]

Dear Grey's Writers,

Allow me to introduce you to two of your characters, Cristina Yang and Preston Burke. You rarely speak of them in blogs and in podcasts. Perhaps that's because they aren't slutty mistresses or unfaithful spouses. News flash! Not all of your viewers are into soap opera storylines and infidelity. You're treating us as if we are trailer trash like Izzie.

The episode was good in spite of all of the Izzie melodrama. Mark and the Chief were hilarious, Burke and Cristina's parts were wonderful. I hope the Nazi side of Bailey comes back soon. Jane Doe needs to find her family because she's getting as boring as Denny was last year, and continues to be this year.

[Sandy]

I loved the episode. I think Meredith needs Susan. It's time for Meredith to get out of her Dark & Twisty place and maybe her fake mommy can help. She wanted Derek and now she has him, why can't she be happy? She can't even see that her McDreamy is going through something. I love them together. They have such chemistry. The thing that I hate about them is they don't communicate about anything. They have so much to talk about. They need to address Meredith never sleeping with Finn, Derek's wrecked home, Meredith giving up and Derek's reaction to that. They need to say I LOVE YOU. Derek needs to talk to her about being torn between her and being Chief. Let us see some communication between them.

Bailey was great as usual. More Bailey I say. I don't want Izzie and George to be together but love their friendship. Why did George have to lie to Callie? Lying is not good.

Burke and Christina smiled more than usual which was nice to see.

Poor Alex. He needs some love.

I can't wait to see what's in store for us. I just hope it's a good thing.

[Gea]

I can't understand the reason why Izzie has two major storylines. Her friendship with George was nice, but I don't buy her love and I would never see them as soulmates. They are only awkward. The change in Derek has no reason for me. Last episode he was so concerned for her and now he only wants to be Chief and she complicates the situation. Frankly Mark is one of the best thing of the episode, he is funny and sarcastic. I like Burke and Cristina. I am glad that Colin left SGH. What Burkestina has it's the real thing. They have worked through many problems and their love has grown. They are not the same persons of the beginning and their couple seem very stronger. I wouldn't buy them breaking up now. It'd be only a soapish choice not coherent with the characters I love. I feel Cristina's fears, she isn't that person anymore, but she hasn't accepted who she is now. I am worried for her, but as Meredith said, she has to move forward.

[Fabiana Marques]

Oh my God, oh my God oh my God!!!! We had a sequence of perfect episodes. And you managed to make me look forward to seeing some Geoge/Izzie scnes. If people can´t see their chemistry, they are BLIND!!!!! Meredith and her fake Mom, Derek and his doubts, the chief and his win man. Perfect, perfect.

[Nicole]

I feel like George and Izzie are being pushed on us. I already did not like Izzie for her outbursts about Callie, but now you guys are having her boink her best friend.
Why did you guys make such a big deal about getting Sara Ramirez, and you treat her character like dog dodo. The more I see Callie, the more I hate George and Izzie. Callie looked so sad in her scenes last night. She doesn't know the heart she's about to experience.
Why is George such a spineless SOB? I thought George was a man of high morals, but he only uses those morals against others.
I am at the point where, I don't care Izzie has a sick daughter. I don't care about anything that Izzie does. Furthermore, I don't care what she has to say in monologues/speeches. I am usually just hoping she would hurry up and shut up with her hypocritcial butt. Come to think of it both her and George deserve each other they are both hypocrites to the 10th degree. CALLIE IS TOO GOOD FOR HIM. If this relationship continues with George and Izzie, I would probably not continue watching in S4.

[liz]

as usual, nothing about my two favorite characters - addie and callie.
I have grown to despise the rest of the characters - especially George and Izzy.
Bailey was great, Alex was good. Chief was funny. Mark was as well. Addie stole the show in the last 5 seconds.
The rest you can keep.

[Cheryl]

This was the "in your face" episode to everyone who has been riding your backs about the show stating that you jumped the shark, where's the show gone, etc...I have read complaint after complaint till I couldn't take it anymore. I admit they were different but I still LIKED them. But this one....you guys reached Rock Star status!!

[Jennifer]

WOW. I was SUPER proud of Callie when she took the HIGH road and didn't say jack when her George straight up lied to her face about where he'd been and with whom he had been AFTER he stood her up on a coffee date that HE planned.

Without two days sleep, Callie just sucked it up because she was tired of arguing and wasn't not trying guilt/dictate George's priorities. That's love.

And I also think Callie's silence was a serious parallel to the "question" that Christina fake-asked Burke at the end of the show to preserve his ego.

My question for the writers, who love Gizzie so much: from my 3 year marriage experience, long-term relationships require balancing : the "this-isn't-about-me" kind of balancing that Christina showed with Burke, the "this isn't about me" kind of respect that Callie showed George.

What kind of "this-isn't-about-me" love has Izzie showed George? It certainly wasn't the, "I respect your decision, even if I don't agree" balancing love. It clearly wasn't the, "I don't want to put you through the me-or-your wife" love. Izzie has been selfish from the jump - cutting Denny's wires so that someone else doesn't get a heart transplant; alienating Callie so she feels secure in her relationship; making HER confession evidence so that George can stop avoiding her; and expecting a daughter that she hasn't seen, who she gave up for adoption, to want to know her when she didn't want to know that daughter at age 16? Did you see Izzie pause about giving bone marrow?! Wow -- this is they need to start calling her "quizzie pro quo."

I won't knock the actors - Gizzie has chemistry - but in my experience, there is nothing about Izzie's character that demonstrates this girl sticks when the drunken passion/linenon closet/pants pulling passion wears off. Simply put, if Izzie hadn't slept in days and George ditched her to spend the afternoon with Callie - would she have bit her tongue? Consider.