Zoanne Clack on "Where the Wild Things Are"...

Original Airdate: 4-24-08

Okay, before I start the blog, I wanted to mix this up a little in the spirit of the episode.  Let’s have a contest.  10 points for whomever tells me why Bailey’s carrying her baby around all the time.  25 points if you can tell me the name of the crazy tumor that Phillip ends up having (no cheating by going back and looking!!!  We’re on the honor system here!).  40 points for the guesser of the theme of this episode.  And here’s the motherload, the “medical mystery” if you will: there are lyrics to a song referenced within this blog (which also gives another clue to the theme).  80 points for the person who can name the song (and an extra 20 for the artist).  Answers are in spoilers at the end (remember: honor code people!).

Alright, you with me?  Let’s start this party right.  I know I, for one, have been a bottom-feeder for the last few months.  A scavenger sitting in the mud and spitting out rocks on the bottom of the fishtank, flipping through my TIVO and watching umpteenth re-runs, models modeling, mensa members losing to fifth graders, chefs making 20-course meals out of garbanzo beans, and stars doing everything from dancing to rehab to showing us their “other talents.”  Although I do admit that I have been crazy inspired by The Biggest Loser.  Love it.  Can’t get enough of it.  I sing the theme song to myself as I get up in the morning (What have you done today, to make you feel proud…?)  And the piece de la resistance:  Groomer Has It.  Animal Planet.  Feel the burn.

Did I mention I’m SO GLAD WE’RE BACK????!!!  So glad prime-time network TV is back and can fill my TIVO with sweet, yummy non-rerun fictional candy again.  Can I get an Amen?

So what’s been going on in the 6 weeks (tv time) since we’ve been gone?  I’ve heard a lot of speculation out there, but Meredith is absolutely.  Not.  Pregnant.  Not even close.  Hasn’t even had sex.  With anyone.  Meredith.  Our beloved, “have-sex-instead-of-problems”, “meet-your-soul-mate-and-sleep-with-him-after-picking-him-up-in-a-bar” Meredith.  She’s traded sex for… therapy?  Therapy?  Our Meredith?  She senses there’s something wrong, something really wrong.  But she can’t put her finger on it.  Or can’t admit what she’s already put her finger on.  Therapy is interesting because it’s the one place you get to talk about yourself incessantly and someone actually LISTENS.  They’re actually paid to listen to your drivel.  And occasionally give you mind-blowing assessments of your behavior.  But Mer’s not quite taking full advantage of that.  But it looks like there’s some movement at the end… we’ll see what she does with that.  Maybe it’ll help her actually start acting like a human being around Derek.  They haven’t spoken in the entire six-week interim.  Mer’s been totally avoiding him and he’s been avoiding her.  But they can’t keep that up.  They can’t handle that.  Deep, deep down, on their basest levels, taking intellect out of the picture, they belong together.  They need each other.  It’s instinctual, base, feral. 

But what if it’s not?  What if all of their instincts are wrong, like with Izzie?  She put all of her blood, sweat and tears into Cheech, I mean, Otis, and for what?  Poor Izzie.  It’s time for her to figure out who she wants to be and what kind of doctor she wants to be.  On her own.  Not emulating Cristina, not fighting for lost causes, something where she can take charge and find out what she’s good at.  Don’t you think?  Thank God Richard’s around to put everything into perspective for her.  Maybe her instincts weren’t great, but she’s human.  And being human ain’t so bad.

Unless you’re Cristina.  When being human is bad.  When being human means that you have to go against all your natural instincts to win at all costs.  When being human means you have to put your tail between her legs (figuratively speaking, of course) and sacrifice the win to get where you want to go in life.  To realize that sometimes in order to win, you’ve got to lose – you have to give up one thing to gain another.

What you gain can be what you need.  Humans need human connection.  And when they don’t get it, they tend to take it out on other people and not realize what they’re doing themselves.  Who could I possibly be talking about?  Maybe a little guy we like to call George?  George walking around like a wounded lion.  Pouncing on people left and right, trying not to show the scars of being left out of his peer group.  Poor Lexie got the brunt of this… little did he know he had a friend right there, the whole time, wanting to be there for him.  And frickin’ Lexie!  There’s someone who needs to be loved.  So sad.  So vulnerable.  Which kind of actually makes her strong in a very co-dependent kind of “please like me” kind of way.  She’s like a little puppy who works so hard to do right and please their owner (except that puppies don’t usually have the whole alcoholic father part).  Her pleasing puppy is in sharp contrast to Alex’s underdog, who’s always fighting to keep his head above water.  For him, it’s like a jungle sometimes, it makes him wonder how he keeps from going under.  There’s something going on with him.  With his past.  Something that doesn’t fully let him reach his ultimate potential…. Hmmm, maybe we’ll start finding out what that is soon.  Every dog has its day.

Humans also get jealous, and boy is that running rampant around Seattle Grace.  Cristina so wants to be in the Callie-Erica crowd and she’s so not.  Callie and Erica are like birds of a feather now.  They stick together.  And Cristina is not in any way a part of their flock.  And what about Mark?  He’s totally jealous of Derek.  It’s like Derek is the prodigal wolf that strayed from the pack and Mark’s been waiting for him to come back, but Derek’s not coming.  Mark thought they’d go back to the pre-Addison days where they were hunters on the prowl, spiders spinning their webs.  But Derek’s already moved on to new prey.  Already catching someone new in his web. 

And that somebody is Rose. During the time we haven’t seen them they’ve developed a bit of a mating ritual where she pretends she doesn’t care and tries to hold on to her iguana aloofness even in the face of the overwhelming cuteness that is McDreamy.  And for once, he’s not trying to hold back the McDreaminess.  Usually reserved only for Meredith, he’s weaving his web and it’s trapping Rose.  The more she resists, the tighter the web gets around her.  I don’t think she’ll be fighting it much more.  But will Derek watch her struggle in his web, store her up for later, or go for it?  He seems pretty determined… she wants what he wants.  She’s a real woman ready for a real relationship.  And despite Mark’s incessant taunting, Derek’s going to stay true to Derek.

As Bailey stays true to Bailey.  Taking care of the hospital, the residents, her baby, her life, and overall just being supreme ruler of the universe that she is.  But can she handle it all?  Is she superwoman or is she about to implode?  Or perhaps even explode.  I mean, she just went through one of the biggest tragedies of her life, feeling like she may have failed in protecting her own little bear cub.  Then here comes this literal mama bear that kills because her bear cub was just touched.  Overreaction?  Or simply just instinct?  Can Bailey’s instincts be as sharp as she thinks they can be?  I think she really believes she can handle it all.  She is woman, hear her roar.  She’s also a doctor.  And a chief resident. A wife.  A mother.  (CAUTION: SPOILERS (answers) AHEAD!)  She’s split up with her hubby and she’s trying to get as much time with Little Tuck as possible (10 points).  She’s a Mama Bear.  Which is how we got to our theme: Animal Instincts (40 points).  A freakin’ bear attacked Phillip because he had a malignant glioma (25 points – and I’ll give it to you if you guessed just “glioma”) that was causing him to go against his own natural instincts.   Not to mention our residents are running around the hospital like rodents, feeding off of the life (and death) of the hospital. 

And now for the ultimate.  The motherload.  The “medical mystery” of it all.  The 80-point monster:

The lyric was: It’s like a jungle sometimes it makes me wonder how I keep from going under… And the song is called “The Message” (circa 1982). 

20-point bonus if you guessed Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.

How’d you do?  Max is 175…

Comments

[Neila]

Yay Mer, she was so strong that episode.

Boo Derek! Such a jerk, everyone blames Rose, but I blame him!

George and Izzie, sigh, so perfect. Why are they not together like they should be?

Seeing them makes me so happy.

Make Izzie his girlfriend and Lexie his best friend, love george and Lex as cute friends and Gizzie as cute couple.

Callie, Mark and Hahn could be interesting

Yay for Addie being back next episode

[Canadian Grey's Fan]

I loved your blog Zoanne!
I'm so glad Grey's back in full force!!!
Please don't keep Derek and Rose together for too long... we need a love ending for MerDer this season, no more broken hearts! Meredith is making a effort to be normal, you could see that at the end of this episode.
I'll be counting the days for the next episode... looks good in the preview, Addison & Ava/Rebecca are back! let's see what you, Shondra and the entire team come up this time... I bet is goooood!
Keep up the good work!

[Looking Up?]

First epi I've watched this year - in hopes that Mer/Der are back... more "glanced at" than watched - still wary that my hopes will be crushed again. But - will stay around to see what happens and be back totally if they get together for real. One more "tease" and I'm gone for good.

[Jen]

I loved this episode to pieces. It really showed the competitive side to surgery which is important and needed to be addressed that they're all in this "game".

I love where you're going with Lexie and George. I think they're friendship is great and George really does just need a friend. I dislike him with Izzie in a romantic situation. I don't think they're friendship will ever be as strong because of it.

I love that we're getting bits and pieces to Alex's past. PLEASE SHOW MORE OF THIS. I really hope he opens up to either Ava or Izzie. I think Izzie has always understood him, even when he hurt her and vice versa. I think she's the only one that hears him.

I'd like to see more banter between Hahn and McSteamy but I also love the new friendship between Callie and Hahn, it's great.

The best part is Izzie's recognition of her mistakes that she has made and the writers validation to the audience that they had over stepped the whole Gizzie thing.

Can't wait until next week.

[Gina]

Less than a minute of actual Mer/Der time at the end of the episode and they rocked it with all the chemistry in the show. Twice as much Rose/Derek time and again zero chemistry with less than that as an interesting story line for those two. I'd never thought it, but you actually paired Demsppey up with someone he has no compatibility with. It shows you, your first pairing of Derek and Mer at the beginning of the first season was the right one as every other Derek/Mer/? paring doesn't hold a candle to theirs and the Rose character is beyond hard to watch. I have no interest in her story. Bring back Meredith and Derek!

[Nancy]

Poor Cristina, give her a break!

Poor Izzie, I love how she and George comforted each other. I want those two together. George thinks she has hot hair, that made me squee.

I do not want her back with Alex, I even like Derek and Rose more than Alex and Izzie and I would feel that way even if I was not the number 1 Gizzie fan.

I love MerDer but I want Derek to beg her on his knees to take him back.

I like Rose, she deserves better than Derek, they all do.

McDreamy NOT.

George squeeshing the bugs, so funny!

[Paula]

Quite trying to sell me on Derek and Rose. I almost didn't watch tonight because of them, but I'm glad I did because Meredith rocked it! Bring back Mer/Der because this Rose thing is just plain wrong no mater what you say.

[Marie-Louise]

REUNITE GEORGE AND IZZIE!

The show is good but it is missing its magic and that is them together

[Trena]

Hello,
Welcome back!!
I love this show I have missed it so much tonight epi was wonderful. You had me laughing just enough.
The elevator scene w/Mark and Der was kind of weird.
I like that he is on mer side. Rose looks like a nice enough person but she just going to get hurt. I hope you can end this little side without to much pain for her.
Anyways Thank you for tonight loved it.

[Megan]

The show was good. I miss Gizzie and MerDer though, especially Gizzie.

When they were in that closet, the chemistry was amazing like always.

I really do not get the no chemistry thing you guys put on. It is screaming off the TV every time they are together.

The only couple remotely as hot is MerDer and you keep messing with them by having Derek being an abusive jerk who doesn't know how to love Mer as she is.

Alex and Addison were hot too and you sent her to a new program.

The rest of the couples are meh.

I mean, you get three amazing couples in the history of the show and you mess all three of them up

I am especially mad about Gizzie as you never gave them a chance to show how amazing they could be, we just got a little glimpse and what we saw was gold

[Tash]

I sooo badly want to watch see this episode. It sounds amazing and I am very excited about the rest of this season. From what I hear this episode was a great comeback. Thanks for starting to restore Grey's to Grey's!

[Amy]

If that was Derek's version of being "charming" around Rose, then I think you've forgotten just how charming he used to be. You can't be charming when you've got no chemistry and Derek and Rose? There's not an ounce of chemistry there. His version of 'charming" with her made me vomit a little in my mouth tonight.

[Hate Rose]

Meredith rocked!

The elevator scene with pretty and prettier were freaking hilarious!

Rose serves no purpose and makes me wary of watching the few remaining episodes knowing I will have to see her face onscreen, even if only for a few seconds. The kiss was sickening to watch. The sooner she's out of the picture the better.

Can't wait for Addison's comeback.

Please get rid of Rose.

Hahn and Callie are boring to watch.

Lexie was actually likeable.

Please get rid of Rose.

Love Bailey's new hair.

Cristina is starting to annoy me with her "Please let me into your little cliche" stuff. Liked her better when she was strong and self assured.

Please get rid of Rose.

Good episode tonight.

Oh...please don't let this much hyped up Derek and Meredith reunion to come at the last 5 minutes of the season finale and leave us on yet another cliff if you expect the shippers to come back next season.

[Rach]

It's been a long wait and I wasn't disappointed. The episode was amazing and had a nice balance. I'm finding my way back to loving every character, or at least tolerating everyone. And the promo for next week, I'm still grinning. I can't wait for Addison to grace Seattle with her presence again. I'm looking forward to seeing her interactions with everyone-Mark and Callie in particular.

You definitely delivered an hour's worth of escape for me and I'm just excited to have Grey's Day to look forward to again.

[Lulu]

Cristina deserved losing, she was so mean to both Izzie and George, my favorite characters.
Mer is a nice person and I love she is going to therapy, might I suggest Derek join her, couple therapy?

George and Izzie proved again they belong togetehr, such chemistry.They are cute, lovely and hot.

Lexie and george can be the next BFF, they have such a great friendship chemistry.

Th chief comforting Izzie was sweet.

[lili]

Rose irritates me beyond belief. I can't see how Meredith can go back to Derek and maintain herself respect after this and I'm not gonna buy a merder reunion unless there is some serious begging and pleading and groveling on Derek's part. Derek has even bigger problems than Meredith and I hate how the show never acknowledges them everything is always Meredith's fault while Derek is the perfect guy who can show house plans to the love of his life one minute and ask another woman out the next. Derek is the one who needs the therapy at least Meredith recognizes her issues. Didn't she list them all to Christina a few episodes back? I'm glad that she is dealing with them now I hope that Derek will do the same soon and gain a little bit of self awareness I'm not holding my breath though.

[Jamie]

Thanks for the Addison promo.

[Sabrina]

The episode was good, but a few gripes.

Callie is not interesting, I have no interest in seeing Hahn and Mark fighting over her.

George and Izzie are the best couple on the show, when will you get that and reunite them?

MerDer are great but Derek is being an idiot

Cristina is unrecognizable harpy lately

Oh and I BEG you do not EVER reunite Alex and Izzie, they are beyond horrible

[Aubrey]

My sister and I beg you : PLEASE PUT GEORGE AND IZZIE BACK TOGETHER WHERE THEY BELONG!

[Brenda]

Izzy rocked! Alex rocked! Meredith rocked!

Derek is scum Meredith deserves better than him. Rose can have him. Rose is perfecto for him totally his #1 fan.

[Denise]

Is it okay that Meredith is my favorite character? That identity with her, that I like her? Because it seems to me that all of you writers have been so bent on getting us all to dislike her it's almost like I need permission to do so. Do any of you writers like her because almost all of these blogs show you to believe otherwise and truly, it needs to stop. Meredith made the show tonight, yet you make her seem pathetic. It's just not right. Think despite all of your endless blogs to the extreme dislike, I will still like Meredith. She's simply your best character no matter how many times you tell me how pathetic she is.

[Caroline]

I love Lexie, she is the cutest

I agree about the Gizzie affair being a mistake but they are not a mistake as a couple

George and Izzie are THE BEST COUPLE EVER, and I will NEVER stop believing that

I so wanted them to kiss in that episode.

I cannot wait for Addison to come back, hope she and Mark or she and Alex kiss

[Ann]

Why is everyone saying MerDer is getting back together but when I watch I see him treating Mer like crap and chasing a nurse? I saw more Derek and Rose than MerDer. You guys expect people to think Derek is worthy of Meredith? He ain't.

[Jesse]

Very decent episode. I actually really did enjoy it. I love see Mer shine. She is wonderful.

Like everyone else, I hate wasting screen time with Derek & Rose. Their flirty scenes are idiotic and painful to watch.

I know you want to convince us that Derek is conflicted and all, but the idea that he migth choose Rose over the love of his life is sillyness. Stop it! BTW, I don't think Rose comes across as a real woman ready for a relationship. She comes across as a McDreamy groupie. It is embarassing. I am embarassed to watch her.

So, again, it is all good stuff, but WE HATE ROSE. Look, I know Mer/Der will be together for good. But, even though I know that, the Rose/Derek stuff kinda kills it for me.

Anyway, sorry to beat a dead horse, but god I hate Rose.

[Katie]

I LOVED MEREDITH tonight!! Found a way to save the guy with the tumor. That is my girl.

McDouchebag can go play with the skanky nurse. Meredith is better off.
McSteamy and Meredith? Pleease give it a chance between them he cares about her more than McDouchebag.