Jenna Bans on "There's No 'I' In Team"...

Humor me. Just for a minute. Look around you, and find a someone – husband, wife, friend, dog, goldfish, anyone. And ask yourself – would I give a kidney for this person? You have two – you only need one to live. Seems like a no-brainer, right? But it’s a loaded question. It’s major surgery. You could die. More likely, you’d just be a little sore for a few days, but still. Major surgery. I’m looking at my husband right now. He’s sitting next to me, having no idea I’m blogging about him, eating a turkey sandwich that he made with cinnamon raison bread. Gross, right? Who does that? At this moment, I’m so offended by the cinnamon/turkey combo, it’s a hard decision…but in the end, yes, I’d probably give him the kidney. You kinda have to when you’re married to someone. It gets trickier when it’s a stranger. Giving a piece of yourself to someone you have no connection with, no shared history, no obligation to – and suddenly forming a bond that rivals family. Forming a team. With a stranger. Would you do it? We talked about this a lot on set during filming. And the consensus we came to, after the director lovingly promised the script supervisor that she was next in line for his kidney after his baby girl, was that choosing your team, choosing your peeps, choosing the ones who you want to have your back forever isn’t a choice to be taken lightly. It’s a huge decision. And we watched a lot of our characters struggle with it in this episode.

Especially Derek and Meredith. What I love about “The Shepherd Method” (how awesome was that American Neurosurgery magazine – props to the props people!) is that both Meredith and Derek have completely valid arguments. Meredith, as Bailey points out, did work her ass off on that clinical trial. And it was totally her idea. However, Derek is the attending and in the medical journal world, would absolutely get the credit. So it’s a classic professional standoff – complicated by the fact that these two people share a bed. Now if Meredith did the clinical trial with say, Erica Hahn, could we see her getting all riled up about the credit? Think about that. Not a chance, right? (Not like anyone in their right mind would ever pick a fight with Erica Hahn anyway) So it’s not just about the medicine, it’s not just about the principal of the thing, it’s also about Mer’s hurt that Derek never even said thank you. There are major miffed feelings involved. Big picture point is, when you fall in love and move in with your sort of boss, the personal bleeds on over into the professional, and it gets messy.  And happily for us writers who are constantly looking for ways to exploit the Mer/Der drama, there’s no easy way out of that.  As Bailey tells Derek in the end, he’s gonna have to learn to live in the mess. It’s not simple. But it’s fun to watch. And if anyone can wade through it and make a kidney in a jar look all fun and sexy, it’s these two.

Izzie and Alex, huh? I don’t know about you, but I’ve felt that kiss coming on for weeks.  Like a good flu.  Iz takes a huge leap of faith tonight – telling Alex, I’m on your team and I’m not going anywhere.  That’s a brave lady. ‘Cause saying that to someone who is as emotionally traumatized as Alex…watch out. There is a very good possibility he will slam the door in your face. And he tries - but Izzie doesn’t let him. Not tonight. You can trust me, she says. Which we know is not something Alex does easily. Especially after the saga known as Ava/Rebecca. But the truth is, Izzie’s always had his back – even when he’s down in the dumps and treating her like a pile of poo. So, to me, it was high time that that guy man up. And that kiss? That was some good man-ning up.

How incredible was Lexie in this episode? Chyler Leigh just kills me. She’s been quietly on George’s team for weeks now, just waiting for him to notice her. And when it finally becomes too much she explodes on him in the locker room. One of my favorite moments in the episode. That “you don’t see anything” speech is sort of what I wanted to say to every boy I quietly loved from afar in junior high. But never did. I’m proud of Lexie for finally having the cajones to tell George it’s not okay to treat her like an invisible doormat. And the look on George’s face is pretty priceless – that guy has no idea what’s been going on under his own roof.  Granted, he’s been all wrapped up in catching up to the others, becoming a resident, and getting his own interns. But dude needs to get a clue. ‘Cause even though Lexie seems like the kind of girl who’d wait around for him forever, I think somewhere deep inside she has more backbone than we give her credit for. 

So the Callie/Erica saga got a little interesting, hmm? I have to say, Shonda and I got more a little crap for “The Sloan Method” – or as some people interpreted it, the idea that Callie Torres had to go to a man to learn how to please a woman. But that wasn’t the intention at all. Here’s the thing. To Callie, Mark Sloan is not just a magic manwhore, he’s a person. He’s her person. And who do you go to if you’re going “down there” for the first time and you’re freaking out and you need some good old-fashioned sex advice? You go to your best friend. Which for Callie, HAPPENS to be Mark Sloan. Who HAPPENS to be a man. A man who HAPPENS to have an excellent reputation between the sheets.  That’s all it is, I swear. We’re all pro women getting down with women over here at Grey’s. We’re pretty much pro anyone getting down with anyone. Yay, getting down!

You know who’s not getting down? (segue…) Cristina Yang. And Cristina Yang…I gotta be honest with you, Cristina’s feeling it these days. She’s lonely. Really lonely. And can you blame her? Meredith’s all happy and relationshippy with Derek, her roommate Callie’s hanging out with Erica Hahn 24/7…I have a feeling that for Cristina, there’s been a lot of drinking alone at Joe’s lately. And that’s okay. Somehow it makes me feel better as a human to know that even someone as strong and steely as Yang isn’t above throwing a little pity party for herself sometimes. There’s no shame in it. And then just as she’s about to throw a Molotov cocktail at Joe’s and take out all the “lame interns and weird lab techs” in a fell swoop …Kevin Mckidd as Major Owen Hunt walks in! Blink and you’ll miss him – it was practically a cameo.  But I love that look on her face at the end – it’s like a combo platter of yay/oh, crap, I’m in trouble now.  Which she totally is, by the way. In trouble. Oh, it gets good…

One last thing before I go. To me, this was Bailey’s episode. A love letter to Bailey. Because with all the different kind of teams you may find at Seattle Grace – I believe Bailey is the ultimate coach of all of them. This domino kidney swap, this was her project. Her baby. In her final scene with the Chief in the conference room, we ended up cutting a couple lines for time that for me, epitomized Bailey’s journey in this episode. I will re-enact them for you now. It went something like this: Chief: “Oh, and Dr. Bailey? You’re not gonna drag us all the way back from number 12 by yourself. But you did a hell of a job trying today.” And Bailey says “Thank you. Sir.” Translation, this number 12 ranking thing hasn’t just rattled the Chief – it’s rattled Bailey too. Deeply rattled. But at the end of the day, it’s gonna be okay cause Bailey knows the Chief’s got her back. And Richard knows he’s got Bailey on his side, in his hospital, working her little heart and soul out for him. They’ll get through it. With each other. Which brings me back to the point - we all need our team. To give us kidneys. To make us feel better when we drop kidneys. To push us on when life becomes humiliating and painful. Or just to greet us at the door with offensive turkey sandwiches. I hope you all have a good one in your corner, rooting you on. Thanks for watching!

Comments

[Jackie]

I just started watching the show again this season because I saw a clip of Callie/Erica and it was basically the most adorable thing I've ever seen from network TV.

I actually think Mark's part in the storyline is awesome and hilarious. I completely understand why Callie would go to him but I'm still a bit iffy on the apparently hands on teaching of the Sloan method, if only because of the complete lack of communication between the women (besides Callie blurting things out in a panic). Watching how much more invested Erica seems feels very real and somewhat sad.

Also, the last scene with them tonight? Hot.

[S.Cali]

Great episode! YAY for Izzie and Alex. But please, can Mark Sloane have his own story arch?? His character is so great, and so is Eric Dane. More of him, please.

[McSteamy]

Loved the episode!!, Izzie practically forcing Alex to open up was the best part, i hope to see more and more of that...looking forward for a george-lexie story too...and Marks screen time is growing, but his story isnt!

[Bex]

Well, I am new to the show this season. I caught the finale last year and have been catching up with DVD's. I stopped watching network shows a couple years ago because it was mostly crap. I am sooo happy to have found this show! I am completely addicted Yea.. thanks.. where's the 12 step program?

I adore Callica. I was very skeptical and hesitant at first. I am soooooooooo tired of the networks/shows showing lesbian quickies just for sweeps. So after reading an interview that said the relationship and the resulting consequences would be developed, I decided to give it a shot.

Also, I can understand people getting pissed about Callie getting the Sloan method. He is her best bud and can give her that without any wierdness. It's a different type of relationship. What bothered me was thinking about what would happen if Erica learned of that. They were broken up I guess at the time, but she would be none too happy. All the Sloan/Callie scenes were awesome. SR has the best expressions. The first and last Callie/Erica scenes were smokin. :fans self: I am in super shock that Hahn is getting down at work. Of course, if someone like Callie just told me to whip off my pants and is gettin nekkid in front of me... who am I to argue? I'm just waiting for Yang to bust in and find em out!

This relationship brings me back to when I was coming out and switching teams. The paranoia, the uncertainty, the excitement - the everything.

Other best bits.. Lexie laying it out for George. And the interns at lunch. Dropped kidneys..

[Erin]

Please please please let lexie and george get together! Fantastic couple!

[Piri]

That was a great episode!! I liked the development for Mer/Der.. finally!!! I am loving them again, thank you.

[Nikki]

Okay, are you new? Because I love you, I really, really do.

There is something about this season that is different, there's no other word coming to be right now other than "refreshing".

For many seasons, I've been close to walking away. It's episodes like last night that definitely make me stay on my couch, glued to my screen.

Best lines: "Five Second Rule" and "Butterfingers". I really love CW/Bailey!

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for the amount of screen time we got for MerDer, it's the most we've gotten all season. We all know that you as writers struggle with what to do with them and honestly, it's frustrating for us because we can tell.

I'm so extremely proud of Meredith and how far she's come. They may be baby steps, but she's not running away. I've been in love with them since day one, they are my main reason for watching. So thank you, again. One thing I ask, please keep up the passion between them. We got a few kisses and what looks like what could have been some hot uh..lovin'. But at the end of the day, we got two VERY happy people, both of them had smiles from ear to ear, do you know how nice that is to see? Sure they can fight, their human. As long as, at the end of the day ends like that (or hotter :) ) i'm happy!

I'm happy to see Alex and Izzie finally taking that next move, hot kiss!!

I'm so proud of Lexipedia (still kills me by the way) I'm really loving CL>

Okay, it's 5 am here on the west coast, I've got to get ready for the first day of a huge Halloween event. I'm tired and may not be making sense.

Bottom line, I'm happy. I'm in a happy MerDer bubble, which I havent been in a VERY long time. You made me laugh and gush.

This season has been incredible so far!

Thank you and keep up the GREAT work!

And happily for us writers who are constantly looking for ways to exploit the Mer/Der drama, there’s no easy way out of that. As Bailey tells Derek in the end, he’s gonna have to learn to live in the mess. It’s not simple. But it’s fun to watch. And if anyone can wade through it and make a kidney in a jar look all fun and sexy, it’s these two.

[Nikki again]

I forgot to mention that it makes me sad how inadequate Meredith is feeling, that worries me.

and... GREAT descriptive blog!!!

[Sam (UK)]

Absolutely loved it, it seems to be right back on track. I think Derek is a bit of an ass for not saying comforting to Mer at the end tho. Also what is with an october in the US, HOW LONG IS IT? Seriously how is it still october?
That said excellent epi.
Sam

[LS]

Awesome episode. I'm following all the others and guessing you're maybe new, so congrats on that. I echo all the sentiments already expressed.

I love, love, LOVE Izzie and Alex. Those two are awesome. Pretty pretty please get them some fun. And maybe Izzie could help Alex with the daddy issues? Because each time Alex talks to a patient, it seems he pulls out helpful advice about his life and Izzie. Seems to be those two topics only. Which I love, BTW. Amazing. But I would love for her to get that he has Issues. 'Cause I think maybe Ava broke him a little, with the trusting and the supporting thing. Izzie has always had his back and I'd really, really love something where he gets that she's there for him and she gets that he needs her. Even more than she gets that he wants her, I mean. I think she has an inkling... but we like lovely happy warm chats about feelings, over here in the audience. We like happy.

NOT cool with Derek being all condescending with Mer. I get that all the credit/criticism naturally fell on his shoulders, but... it WAS her idea. And I get that next ep this will all be probably over, but I'm worried about the 'you're a baby' thing. Ouch. She should maybe stand up for herself a little. And maybe he should be more supportive with the 'I'm not half what my dead mommy was' thing. But I know that you never do anything with no reason over there in the writer's room, and I'm worried about what that may signal. The lack of support and her comparison to her mother. They both need to be okay. Please make them okay. No. Please make them happy and happier. Not all the time, of course. It's Mer+Der. Never all-the-time happy. But it's good now, right? Please? For a while at least. Then some bumps on the road to forever, or something. And if we happened to see a little of the happy? There would be no complaining. Just a hint. We miss Mer/Der love. They've morphed into an unexpected 'we all know it happened so we won't focus on it' area and we like a little evidence. Other than the... *outfit* in which Meredith turns out the light on the glowing kidney. Actual evidence. Before that part.

Cristina's awesome. She needs some happy, though. Because Mer's going around all happy with her glowing kidney and Cristina needs some happy. And I love love LOVE (that is kind of a theme tonight) that whole thing with the interns. Awesome. That scene just rocks.

Go Bailey. Dr. Bailey is nine kinds of awesome. And nine more for good measure. But the chief... I think maybe he should give some better advice, or listen to someone (read: BAILEY!) once in a while. After that stunt he pulled with the Derek-for-Chief?-Oh-no-I-promised-Ellis-sorry thing, I find him a little bit all-mighty and it annoys me. Nobody can know everything and a man of his age and position and everything should KNOW that and stop pretending. Derek did tell him to do it all again differently, after all. Not 'go out and be pigheaded and not listen to anyone'. Uh-uh. That's not what got said.

So Lexie finally sees that George doesn't see her, and tells her she sees him not seeing her before walking away. Or something. That's good. I'm getting concerned over old Georgie's mental health since there seems to be something between him and every female roommate he's had on Grey's. Yikes. If you guys make him long for Lexie now, at least make him have to fight for it. With Meredith and Izzie he just slipped in effortlessly with all the right words and then that all lead to badness. And about the intern-->resident thing, I think he should still maybe get some hardship for being late and whatever. Not too much. We don't need Depressed George+Lexie love. And while I'm rambling on about Lexie, can we pretty pretty please have some Lexie+Mer? Please? Especially if she complained about George, maybe before remembering about George+Mer, the disaster of season 2. Comparison could be absolutely hilarious. But not if it messes them up. Or messes Mer+Der up. We need them. We love them. Keep them happy.

Callie/Erica. I like that it's not all smooth sailing (actually, I'm not sure the phrase 'smooth sailing' makes an appearance in whatever new-fangled dictionary/phrasebook/whatever that you guys have in the writing room) and I love how you're handling it. I can't wait to see how people find out. But Callie IS living with Cristina. Hmm. We could have some Owen/Erica chatting. That would be interesting.

That's all for now; I wanted to get in before the comments flooded and you ended up in the hundreds. And you should check out http://morgenwrites.livejournal.com/. I suspect that you would ignore that, and that you probably don't check blogs and stuff like that, but she gets the characters so, so well. And reviews each and every episode without fail. Detailedly. If you ever feel like seeing how an episode went down, that's where to go.

So that's my two cents. Morphed into about two bucks but that's what the comments section is here for, right? I'm going to wrap up here. But... please read the blog. Even just one post. You'll like it. But maybe it's against the rules, or something. But I did hear Shonda mention something in a podcast about bloggers blogging about Der+Mer. So please read it. Her reviews will be worth your while. (It's not my blog, I promise.)

~LS

[kim]

I, for one, do not enjoy the girl on girl story. I have no problem with the story line for Erica and Callie, I just don't want the details. Big Ewwwww. Also, season 2 Derek would have anticpated Mer's feelings in advance and taken care of it much differently. He would not need to be hit over the head with a 2x4 by Bailey to know what to do.

[Maddiexox]

Thank you for dispersing MerDer throughout the whole episode... instead of just having 2 scenes... one at the start and one at the end. I love the MerDer banter over the article.. and that she was cranky... but she knows that Derek is right that she does have a lot to learn. She DROPPED A KIDNEY!! 5 second rule... loved it! Kidney in a jar as "i'm sorry"... hilarious! It's so great with the direction MerDer are going in at the moment... I am so proud of the writers and Shonda for how great season 5 is at the moment. You just make me giddy after every episode! It's fantastic. Mer is nice and feisty just like she was in season 1. WOOHOO! Alex/Izzie... finally. Alex has to stop being so guarded. Glad Lexie finally gave George a stern talking to. So needed... he really doesn't get it. The only thing I'm concerned about it... Callie and Mark... Isn't that sort of Callie cheating on Erica... ??? Hmmmm... hope this relationship doesn't blow up in their faces. NOT COOL! All in all... I LOVED THIS EPISODE! MerDer together for good... i'm thinking yes. If not... just kill me now... and get it over with!

[Pattie]

I think my favorite line in the whole episode was "5 second rule! 5 second rule!" That is totally a MOM THING. Thanks for that. It was a super episode.

[Markus]

Someone please please give Ellen Pompeo the credit she deserves.

This show is filled with amazing talent but playing Meredith Grey must be one of the most difficult and doing it so brilliantly is just magic. Ellen does amazing work and this epi was no exception.
thank you

[Vanessa]

Where are you going with the Callie/Erica storyline? I just hope you try to give it the respect it deserves in comparison to the straight relationships on the show, and not treat it as some diversionary afterthought that will go by the boards after a few episodes.

[Mrs B]

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you... I was ready to throw the towel in last week feeling that Grey's had hit bottom and would never return. You proved me wrong. What a wonderful episode....The Grey's that I love...Medical drama and the core team being the best. I have a friend who's life was saved by a kidney transplant and I cried watching this episode. Talk about how to save a life.....Mer/Der were great....muddling through grown up issues...Finally, a break through with Alex and Izzie...The tension between them the past four years is awesome..Even Christina seemed human for a minute...George is so self centered but we knew that from previous seasons - poor Lexie silently saying pick me, choose me, love me.....But the star last night - Bailey. You said it all....Thanks for shining the spotlight on her in such a fabulous way...Now I am back to counting the days to the next episode..I hope I won't be disappointed again...And great blog!!!

[Cassandra]

Thanks for the great blog and fantastic episode. Loved Mer/Der scenes. So far this season, the substance (or should I say magic) of their relationship has been lacking. I've had my doubts about other writers getting the whole Mer/Der thing but I actually think you do. Thanks also for that! You portrayed it beautifully. I'm still on the fence with Callie/Erica but I'm not an Erica fan and could do without her on the show at all. I'd still rather be seeing Burke. Maybe Major McHottie will get me over that.

[Mrs. Bailey]

Great Article. Great Show.

Only wish you had chosen not to include last sentence in your getting down paragraph: "We’re pretty much pro anyone getting down with anyone. Yay, getting down!"

Honestly, I no prude!! You article was brilliantly written . . . but I don't think this last comment added anything positive to your resume.

[Anonymous]

I think kidney donation is a wonderful thing. My mother just donated a kidney to my brother two months ago. I think there was some misinformation in the show, because unless the kidney is severely infected, they leave the non-functioning kidneys in the body and attach a third...which is actually a really interesting fact about kidney transplantation, however, when the residents were talking about keeping a kidney "trophy" it misinformed the audience about what the procedure really is. My brother actually had his surgery done where the six-way kidney swap occurred.....pretty cool stuff!

[Maja]

Amazing episode. And all I can say is THANK YOU for Alex and Izzie. The scene in Alex's bedroom was amazing :) Yay! Izzie cares about him!!!
Like I said...amazing!!!

[Sassi197]

JENNA - THAT IS HOW YOU WRITE A BLOG!! You must hang out with Krista Vernoff.

I loved (x345) this episode. I feel as if Grey's is really getting back to the Grey's I fell in love with. This show made me laugh out loud (5 sec rule), say Awwww (Lexie and her speech to George), Roll my eyes really hard (Blonde chick), smile with love in my heart (Mer/Der) and finally say Uh-Oh (for Cristina). This was really a great episode and I hope it continues. I will always be a fan of GA, forever (when you guys mess stuff up)!!

I LOVE GREY'S ANATOMY

[G in GA]

I LOVED the Five Second Rule. It was the best laugh I had all day! And something that 99% of us can relate to in one way or another!

Have to admit - having trouble with the Callie/Erica line...it's out of my comfort zone - but so far you are keeping most of it "off screen" - and to be honest...I prefer it that way.

In acting school they taught us..."Less is More"....there's a reason for that - thanks to sticking to it!

[MsT]

The season keeps getting better. I enjoyed this episode so much, and the reappearance of Owen had me leaping off the couch. Alex breaks my heart and makes me want to kill him at the same time. Guess that's how Izzy feels and it showed last night. So brave to stand in his face saying I care about you. (Like that a heck of a lot better than, "Pick me choose me love me".

[dbaci]

Can someone tell me the name of the song and artist played during the kidney transplant?

[DealWithIt]

Had to write a quick note...you nailed this episode! Loved the kidney in the jar, which was so much better & apropos for Meredith than some stupid flowers. The fact that Derek knew Meredith this well that he knew what the perfect thank you gift would be was great.

Yes, Yang is in trouble, and it's that great I-can't-wait-to-see-how-this-goes kind of trouble.

Finally, cheers to Bailey. She's everyone's backbone, and they couldn't survive w/o her.

Thoroughly enjoyed this one...is it next Thursday yet??