Krista Vernoff on "Here Comes The Flood"...

Original Airdate: 10-9-08

Absurd. A flood. In a hospital. Those absurd, desperate writers.  I know that’s what some of you are thinking.  But here’s the thing… Back in June, when we were just gathering together to begin early discussions of season five, my sister Jennifer came over for dinner. Jenn is a shrink. I’m sure she has a more official title than that, but I go with shrink cause she’s my sister and she lets me. She works in a psychiatric hospital in the San Fernando Valley and her patients are mostly low functioning schizophrenics. So she came over for dinner and I said “How was your day?” and she said, “You mean aside from the hospital flooding?” And I looked at her like, seriously? And she said, “Yeah, we had to move all the patients to one wing. All the schizophrenic patients, piled on top of each other in one small wing of the hospital. That was my day.” And I said, without skipping a beat, “And that is my episode. Just so you know.”  So as absurd as it may seem? Real. And in real life it was even weirder cause all the patients were CRAZY PEOPLE.  Awesome.   

I think it’s appropriate that Jenn inspired this episode because in a way, this episode is written as a love letter to therapy.  What it all comes down to for me is what Dr. Wyatt says to Meredith in the elevator, “And happiness in the face of horrible is not the goal. Feeling the horrible stuff and knowing that you’re not gonna die from the feelings? That’s goal.” Nothing better than a good shrink. I love therapy and I love what’s it done for Meredith in the short amount of time she’s gone (and I’m bummed she quit before she could get to the really good stuff.) It’s hard – to peel away the layers of the onion that is you and look at all that juice cause it burns your eyes and makes you cry and makes you hurt and makes you feel…but it also makes you better.  (Oh my God, talk about a tortured metaphor. Sorry. I’m tired. We’re in the room breaking episode 12.) 

Point is, I’m proud of Meredith that she got as far as she did. And I love that last scene where she stands up to Derek. She doesn’t get drunk. She doesn’t freak out. She doesn’t walk away. She doesn’t ignore him. She doesn’t leave him. She just stands there and tells him her truth. And that is so so so hard and so so so scary for her (as it is for a lot of us.) And what I love most is the look of shock on her face when it works.  It’s so hard to change.  For everyone I know, change and growth are deeply difficult tasks.   And so it makes me happy for Meredith and Derek that they are taking baby steps toward happiness and function. 

When we were shooting that scene, Ellen expressed concern to me about her question to Derek at the end. “You still love me?” She was concerned that it sent a message to the girls and women who watch our show that a man’s love is the thing that matters most.  (But she didn’t say the girls and women who watch our show. She said “the future Coco’s of the world.” Cause Coco’s my daughter, and Ellen’s no dummy, she knows how to get a writer to listen!) But my feeling is this: I was not trying to say that a man’s love is what matters most. I was trying to say that the ability to know and trust that you (and by you I mean, me, Meredith, all of us) are lovable.   To be willing to stand in your truth, stand in your vulnerability, stand in your fear, stand at your breaking point and hold on to yourself – that’s what matters.  And that’s what surprises Meredith. She’s shocked that she’s allowed to be herself and someone loves her anyway.  Those of us who grew up in the sometimes loving but sometimes terrifying and sometimes cataclysmic way that Meredith grew up? We sometimes need to learn, and need to be reminded, more than once, that we are lovable just as we are.  Ellen got on board – and I thought she delivered the moment beautifully. 

Tell you what else I love in this episode: Alex. On the porch. When he says “Hello” to Izzie. I tell you, that Justin Chambers can do any freaking thing you throw at him. There was some discussion when the script came out of whether or not we should change that “Hello” to “Hi” which sounds more like Alex.  But Justin? He pulled it off so beautifully. He made it sound like Alex and then some. The vulnerability under that one word... The subtlety… I just thought it was exquisite work.

Speaking of psychology, which I wasn’t just now, I was speaking of Justin but I’ve learned that when you say “speaking of” something, people usually go with you. It’s lazy, but I’m tired so… Speaking of psychology, how ‘bout Cristina? (I’ve never sat around with my sister Jenn and diagnosed the characters on this show the way I’ve sat around with her diagnosing every member of my own family, but I bet that would be a fascinating conversation.)   Cause we know there’s actually a good and caring person somewhere inside Cristina. I mean, she cares enough about Meredith to storm Wyatt’s office, right? And Wyatt gets right away how vulnerable she is. How scared she is. (Even if she can’t admit it) But still – she totally stole Izzie’s apartment! And she didn’t even  mean to! Izzie thinks she’s being evicted, and Cristina somehow convinces herself that Izzie pulled that flyer off the wall for her! I love it.  We’re currently breaking episode 12 of season 5 and I’ve been here since episode 1 of season 1 – and I never get tired of writing these characters. And you know why? It’s cause so many of them so badly need a good shrink!

Derek, who’s generally a pretty great guy and who just promised Mer he’d take baby steps, assumes her roommates are moving out. Just assumes it – without even a discussion. I mean, seriously, entitled much???   

Alex, who clearly still has feelings for Izzie, is as mean as he can be to her until the very end – when maybe he’s thinking his luck’s gonna turn.  And even then, all he can say is hello.   

Mark Sloan, a double board certified ENT and plastic surgeon who normally doesn’t give the time of day to an intern, stops to listen to Lexie’s diagnosis. Which either makes him a better teacher than we thought or a guy who simply, physically cannot walk away when a pretty girl is talking (I’m still not sure which.)

George is about to have some kind of actual breakdown in anticipation of his test (and it makes me giggle that the proctor finds him “a nice quiet room up in psych.”)

Lexie is codependent to an almost pathological degree – turning down Sloan’s surgery so she can help George with the Chief’s scut.

Izzie who is generally the happiest person we know, has ended up somehow all alone.
Callie and Erica seem to be discovering some real truths about themselves pretty late in life.

And the Chief? The Chief is basically watching while the hospital crumbles around him because his fear and pride won’t let him acknowledge that the hospital is  crumbling around him!

And Bailey – her lack of power is TORTURING HER.   I love that little moment when she goes to the gallery to get a quiet moment and you can see her giving herself a tiny little talking to… I imagine her saying, “Do not quit! Do not tell the Chief to go screw himself! Do not say out loud ANY of what you’re thinking, Miranda Bailey!” And then of course the ceiling caves in giving her the ultimate vindication.  I love these characters. I love the messiness and the layers and the fact that they absolutely refuse to behave or to “get all whole and healed,” as Meredith would say.   I think if I wasn’t a writer, I’d be a shrink. Jenn and I could open a practice together and then sit around every night and laugh about how crazy we all are. That would be fun.   

I have to add before I go how much I loved the guest stars in this episode. The actor Jim Ortlieb who played Jack O’Brien (get it? Jack O Brien. J.O.B. Job. Biblical. Whatever.) was so funny and subtle and heartbreaking and that lovely actress Samantha Quan who played Shelley… I watched them shoot that scene plus I’ve seen this episode 3 or 4 times now plus I wrote it and I still cry every time she breaks down at the unfairness of getting terminal cancer in your 20’s.   And Daniel Travanti who played Mr. Patmore? His breakdown? Kills me every time. I did not expect that performance. I did not script that he would cry. I pictured something totally different. And then I got the dailies of that scene and it just wrecked me with it’s awesomeness.  I love good actors. Yay, good actors!

I am rambling. I get that. I’m tired, like I said.  But I hope you liked this episode and I hope more than that that you had a lovely summer. Because life is weird and hard and scary sometimes. People are diagnosed with terminal cancer in their twenties and people get debilitating pain for reasons no one can diagnose and hospitals flood and ceilings collapse and lives fall apart, sometimes out of nowhere…  So I hope very much that you are all enjoying the quieter moments, the moments in between the breaking points. I hope you kiss your kids a lot and tell your spouses and parents that you love them a lot and buy yourself flowers a lot for no good reason. I hope you love your life.  And if for some reason you don’t or can’t – I hope you find a really good shrink like my sister Jenn or Dr. Wyatt. Cause therapy rocks.

End of love letter. 

Comments

Hello? Do you have character named CALLIE on this show!!!

She is a rockstar. So talented, so badass, so the main reason I watch this show. Where is she?!

Callie and Cristina, Callie and Mark, Callie and Bailey, Callie, Bailey and Derek making someone walk last week - so funny, so fresh, makes me happy.

besides the lack of Callie, I did like the episode. Poor people who got their asses kicked by the flood (Chief). Loved Alex in this one. Loved 'em all actually. I like the new teaching system.

[mer_grey]

Thank you Krista! You gave us back the characters we love..its like were watching greys of season 1,2...love the episode..it was great storylines..hope to continue to be like this..

i love merder scenes ever !EP is great !

[Maja]

I liked this episode, and I agree, I adored Justin Chambers in it!!! He makes Alex so much more lovable :)

[Kristin]

Please Please Please let Mark and Lexie fall in love with each other. They are so good for each other.
I like George and Lexie as friends. They are too similiar it would be like dating your brother. I Love Love Love Love Mark and Lexie together!

[mamaloa]

Krista, therapy does rock. I still can't get into MerDer. Sorry. It won't happen for me. Hahn/Callie, sorry, won't happen for me. Alex and Izzy maybe. BRING BACK DR. ARMY MCKIDD. I love Derek, and I wish I can see him with someone else. I can't wait for next week to see Derek standing there with a big pink pillow over him. I loved it. (SMILE)

[Zanian]

we love these characters too.
so keep on the good job and keep writing their stories.
thank you for all of the fun, the tiers, the craziness.. and the real flood. :)

[Mathew]

I loved it
Great work seriously amazing episode.

I love Ellen Pompeo and Meredith is my reason for watching.

this was great. Ellen always takes my breath away and delivers brilliantly.

[SHANNON SPATES]

God that episode rocks. I'm a fun, fun loving, single girl who has no idea exactly how I've become so "dark and twisty inside"....and just decided that therapy is ABSOLUTELY WHAT I NEED! This episode came at the most perfect time EVER! Thank you for this episode!! Your show never lets me down!

[Lauren]

Krista, you need to write more episodes. This was the first episode in awhile that I've really liked everything in it. It felt like Season during parts of it, but different because of where the characters are now. So thank you!

[Diane]

AWESOME....I LAUGHED, I CRIED, I LAUGHED, I CRIED!!! GET THE PICTURE!? ENTIRE EPISODE MY FAVORITE PART!! CHRISTINA IN THE OFFICE OF THE SHRINK WAS ADORABLE. THANK YOU NOW MUST TAKE SOME EXCEDRIN FOR MY LAUGHING THEN CRYING HEADACHE. YOU GUYS ROCK!!!

[greys luver]

Alex said "HELLO" OMG!! I BOUT DIED WHEN Alex said "HELLO" His patient would have been SO proud. Love it when Alex opens up and gives advice to his patients. The advice so comes from his HUGE HEART. JUST LOVE IT.
THANKS KRISTA, THANKS SO MUCH!! OH YEAH ONE MORE THING IS YOUR SISTER TAKING NEW PATIENTS? HELLO ;-)

[Felicia]

Thanks for a nice episode. What frustrated me in reading this blog is that week in and week out, we get REASONS behind what all the characters do - except for Derek. Please, writers/producers, can you PLEASE delve into Derek and who he is, why he does what he does, and help us understand HIS backstory? Please.

[Criag Whitman]

That was the best episode since the season two finale. The chemistry between all the characters was fantastic; like the old days. Great work.

[Berchubz]

Agreed. Mr. Patmore's scene was so good. Wow! I was so impressed with that actor. I like this episode, Meredith was only mildly annoying.

[Haley]

Cristina getting a new place means you're retiring Burke's apartment, right? Because if Izzie takes it, I swear I'll go ballistic. That was Burke and Cristina's home. Let it always be that way.

[Amy]

First of, thank you Krista, this was the best blog in a very very very long time. you actually gave insight into the characters in your rambling. some people just ramble.

Also, i truly truly truly hope you guys show some more of merder actually interacting. it makes me sad. that aside, i was really really happy with the episode. i feel more and more like the old greys was coming back (the last element season 1 and 2 had was lots of merder :)) i loved that you showed that i don't think it was that cristina does not think they will make it, i truly think somewhere in her she doesn't WANT them to make it because she is afraid of losing meredith. anyway, thank you for a really good epi that made me feel all the different emotions. i am so happy that mer was able to actually talk to derek about what was wrong, and i am ECSTATIC that they worked through it like a real relationship, and that mer is realizing, unlike what cris seems to think, that derek really does get her. great job!

[Moi]

Can you continue writing all season because you obviosly know all the characters?

[AMW]

Okay, thank you for this ep, because I was ready to stop watching...this ep made me reconsider.

I love how Izzie finally got hers! That was made of awesome. She is all alone, but now she needs to realize that the reason she is alone is because of how horrid and judgmental and self-righteous she was for the last two seasons. I'd really like to see Izzie acknowledge what a horrid person she's been for the past two seasons and realize that she did it to herself. Then-MAYBE-I would like Izzie again.

I have to beg you, though, please please PLEASE do not go there with Mark/Lexie. She's not woman enough for him. She's cute and smart, but in the end she's Meredith Jr. minus therapy. And that can only end badly.

I like Alex, but he deserves someone so much better than Izzie. Put Lexie with him, they're cute! And personally, I like it when Alex is an ass to Izzie. So for all those people who will be like, 'Why is he such a jerk to her? They're meant to be!' I say...you reap what you sow.

Could we get Cristina into therapy? Because that girl needs it. SERIOUSLY. But I did love her with her patient this week. She's growing, and I love it. I love Cristina when she reminds me that she's human.

Also, Callica? Ugh. Gag me. Hahn is the least likable character on this show, aside from Izzie. Please, please use the amazing chemistry that Mark and Callie have together to make them a kick-ass couple! Screen time is wasted on Callica, because it's just not happening, chemistry-wise. If anything, that one scene was the low point of the ep. If that scene had been deleted (or if Erica Hahn just weren't around SGH anymore) the episode would have been almost perfect.

So, the awesomeness of the Mark/Callie scenes and Izzie getting hers is enough to get me to tune in next week. You won me back, Krista, at least temporarily.

[K]

I adored Mr. Patmore - from his "too loud!" complaints to his beautiful and heart-wrenching monologue about his wife. I work in therapy, too (the physical kind, though!) so obviously pain is a huge part of my career. Thank you for showing how intricately woven are psychological and physical pain. You scripted a remarkable episode.

[Angela]

Loved the episode. I'm glad Mer stood up to Derek,and I'm glad he still loves her. I wish Dr Wyatt was still working with Meredith though.

[Erin]

Alex was adorable with the patient, and Justin Chambers was awesome in those scenes! More Alex/JC episodes I say!

I was sad when he turned down Izzie's offer to move in together. I want them together so desperately. Why can he tell a patient about his feelings and not Izzie?

[Karen]

LOVED IT! Oh, how I love this show. And your blog was really intersesting today... good one on Job!

Now I just have to wait another freaking week to see where this all goes!

[tia]

Amazing episode like usual!!! I only comment when they are really touching. This one definitely touch me personally tonight. I am currently moving out of state and out of my comfort zone to be with the man I love. Which no matter how brave of a face I put on its still scary as hell! So this episode really hit home tonight. I have been an avid fan since the first episode of season one. This show, as odd as it sounds, has helped me through more times then I can count. So again thank you for the wonderful episode and please keep more coming!! Can't wait for next week and thank you again writers for everything that you do.

[Sandy]

My problem with this episode was the roof caving in on the patient in the OR. I mean PLEASE! Someone didn't check the ceiling before they used it? You could obviously see that water had collected up there. I would totally not want to be a patient in this hospital with incompetence like that. I mean, I get the flooding. I don't have a problem with that. But after you know you have a problem someone should at least have made sure the two OR's you had open were safe. Ridiculous writing contrivance.

[Lieke]

Thanks for a wonderful blog and an awesome episode! You're my favourite Grey's writers, seriously, I love all your episodes!

I've never been a big Alex/Izzie fan but when Alex said "hello" my heart just melted. Defenitely my favourite moment of the episdoe.

Loved the patients, all three, loved the shrink scenes (especially the one with Cristina) and loved the lunch scene and the pain level thingy :)

I love how you show the friendships on the show, because I think those friendships make Grey's rock so much.

I hated season 3. Season 4 was a little better. I think season 5 will be awesome again! thank you thank you thank you for that