Shonda Rhimes on "What a Difference a Day Makes"...

Original Airdate: 5-7-09

Okay.  So…100.

100 episodes.

Which means I was so tired last night that I forgot to blog.  But I’m blogging now.  I’m here now.

First, a warning:  this is our last blog of the season.  It’s also our last podcast and today will be my last tweets of the season. 

We’re going dark, people.

Why?  Because next week’s episodes (two in one night) are so explosive and cliff-hanger-y that we, the writers, have all agreed that we can’t even talk about them.  For fear of giving anything away.  We honestly can’t say a word.  But know that we are proud.  Of the episodes.  And of you.  For sticking with us.  For 100 plus episodes.  For going through the good and the bad.  For having faith in us.  And our characters.  We thank you and we appreciate it.  There are not words to express how much we appreciate it.

So this is the last you will hear from us until next season.

What can I say about the 100th?  Well, there was a wedding.  Which made some of you cry and made some you mad.  There was Denny.  Which made some of you cry and some of you mad.  But mostly, there was a point.

I had a point!

That happy woman you saw?  Doing her solo surgery and smiling at the Chief?  The one giving her wedding away with warmth and joy?  THAT WAS THE SAME WOMAN WHO TRIED TO DROWN HERSELF.  That was our dark and twisty girl.  All grown up.  Whole.  Healed.  FOR REAL.  It was a day I never thought we’d see (well, I did think it but…hell, you know what I mean).  For once, Mer is the calm one. The happy one.  The one who is fine.  For once, Mer is whole and healed and happy.  She doesn’t have a problem other than the Chief peeking over her shoulder during her solo surgery.  She is excited about her marriage.  She is calm.  She doesn’t need her eyebrows shaved off to be numbed into the submission of marriage.  She is fine.

That is shocking, I think.  So I’m going to say it again.  SHE.  IS. FINE.

That was my point.  After 100 episodes, Meredith Grey is grown up.  She is the thing her mother wished for her.  She is extraordinary.  Because, to get past the crap of your past?  To move on?  To let the past go and change?  That is extraordinary.  To love?  Without fear?  Without screwing it up?  That is extraordinary.  It makes me happy to see her happy.

Now, Izzie’s got some problems.  Her tumor is back.  And she is scared to death.  But the thing is, Alex has grown up too.  Look at him.  Standing at the altar and saying those vows like a man.  He’s grown up.  And the two of them are married.  Which is unbearably sad because you know and I know the wedding wouldn’t be happening if it wasn’t clear that Izzie is maybe going to die.  But he’s become a man who can step up.  And I love him for it.

I went up to the editing room when the show was being editing and I saw my first images of Izzie lying in the hospital bed bald.  And I started to cry.  And I said to Susan Vaill, our brilliant editor, I said, “Ummm…I think Izzie is really sick.”  And she hollered at me “YOU MADE HER SICK!!!!” 

But here’s the thing.  Until I saw my Izzie, bald and pale and wheezing in that bed…I mean, she’s sick. She’s really sick.  And I didn’t see it coming.  My brain got ahead of my heart on this one.  It hurt my heart to see her so sick.  The magnitude of one of our own, that sick, it was shocking to see off the page and on the screen.  She’s sick.  She’s really sick.  And now I’m a little scared.

In this episode, Denny comes back.  Not as her boyfriend.  Not as the guy she hallucinates having sex with.  No.  Denny comes back as death.  Death with a capital “D”.  Did you notice the black clothes?  The way he speaks sparingly?  He’s death.  He’s death standing over her.  I kept chanting the Emily Dickinson poem --- “because I could not stop for death, he kindly stopped for me”.  That’s Denny.  I gotta admit, I’m crossing my fingers that he goes away.  Because, as much as I love Denny (and y’all know how I love him), I want him to get out of there.  Like Bailey says “YOU TELL DENNY TO GO HOME.”  Because I don’t want Death to get Izzie.

Did you see George follow Owen’s advice and  go where he was needed?  Right to Izzie’s side to help her down the aisle?  He wasn’t the hero.  He was on the team.  He went where he was needed.  And Lexie?  Saying “you’re breathing?”  One of my favorite moments ever.

And Callie?  Oh my god, do I love Callie.  And I love her with Arizona, a whole healed person in her own right.  There was something so painfully poignant about Callie admitting that she is broke.  That the relationship is no longer on equal footing.  That she feels like she is in over her head because her father disowned her and cleaned out her bank account.  I love that Arizona says “I like the girl who has the sandwiches.”  I like that they make me feel hopeful about love.   Callie deserves a little happy.

Owen and Cristina are still in pain, however.  I am rooting for them and you should be too.   He’s a good man, that Owen.  He’s good for Cristina.  And, if they can get past the choking, maybe they will make it.

But I’m coming back to Mer and Der.  Happy.  Completely and totally happy.  Which is rare for anyone.  But shocking for Meredith and Derek.  They really are soul mates. And they really are perfect for one another. 

I had a point.

So, what’s left?  The final two episodes.  Will Mer and Der get married?  Will Izzie live?  Will Owen and Cristina get together?  What’s going to happen to Bailey?  To George? To everyone?

There’s a point to that too.  You watch and you’ll see.

Thank you.  From the bottom of my heart.  For all 100 times you’ve watched.  For all 100 more you watch in the future. 

I’m grateful.

Comments

[Kat T.]

Please don't kill off Izzie! I know people are either on one side or the other with her - either hate her or love her - but she's real. Everyone has a friend like her, crazy, sometimes annoying, but with a good heart and stubborn optimism. Plus, I can't stand another season of Alex angst. Let him be happy, too, dammit. His growth as a character has been amazing.

I loved this episode - love Cristina and Owen and seeing Meredith and Derek so happy. It's great.

I do agree with another poster, though - where are some of our other characters? Joe? Anybody?

[Greysspoilersmod]

To cautiously optimistic- seriously dude, you have to relax. You say that you knew it was going to be Alex and Izzie's wedding yet you're offended that it wasn't MerDer's wedding? And what exactly is unethical about raising money for charity? People donated to those charities b/c of the charity not b/c of some fictional wedding. I highly doubt thats unethical or illegal. I thought this was a fantastic episode, and it restored my faith in Shonda and her writers and her actors after a season of ups and downs. I still don't like the whole Denny "ghost sex" thing but at least I now see where Shonda was going with it. Looking forward to the season finale, but don't think there's any way you can top last night's episode!

[kemi]

gr8 episode Shonda im one of the biggest merder fans out there and i am gladwit the route you took them this wasn't their perfect wedding, mer didnt look as good in that dres as izzie did and Derek(the world's most romantic man) didnt even have his vows done. So yah i'm glad you gave this to izzie coz she is so amazing and she might die. Wat i luv the most is how much these characters hav grown from silly children running aournd fighting for the scaples to grouwn ups in steady relations, who can operate on their own, know how to look after each other and still manage to keep that thing they had since day one!!!!!

my only.... request plz let cristy be happy too she breaks my heart

[Amy]

This was a wonderful episode, and I was pleasently suprised that the wedding turned out to be Izzie's. For the people who keep complaining that it wasn't the Mer/Der wedding they were expecting, calm down. They will get married, we are not being strung along.

Again, this episode was amazing, I cried, and I cannot wait until next Thursday!

[Lynn C]

Shonda,

Best episode yet! I want to be you when I grow up! I love the progression and the growth.Thank you!

[seriously shonda?]

That was lame. You lured viewers in for that? Count me out for finale and next season. GO WITH DENNY IZZIE. Enough of Izzie's Anatomy. I thought this was an ensemble show.

[Ali]

This episode was amazing! There are more then just two characters in this show, so i totally understand that Mer and Der cannot be in every scene. I am looking forward to the season finale and am hoping for a happy ending for Mer & Der and for Izzie.

[Jaya]

The critics that are slamming you for not giving the perfect 100th episode, must have been watching a different channel. That was superb. I watched with my girlfriend and we both said at the same time "Meredith has totally grown up." We got your point. Her smile through the episode was worth far more than a wedding, because you can see that she is happy. We all know that there will be a wedding one day, but honestly I think last nights wedding was more heartfelt.

I won't lie, I have never been a fan of Izzie. But last night I couldn't help but cry for her. She knows whats coming, but still she carries on. A part of me hoped she won't die. But another part of me thinks its necessary.

George handing her hand to Alex at the altar was perfect. It was him finally letting go of her. It was beautiful.

Callie and Arizona are by far my favorite couple. I was screaming at the screen at Callie when she told Arizona maybe it was over. But you more than made up for it. They were beautiful together in the church, and then pizza in bed. Brilliant. I really really hope you keep them together. I appreciate drama is needed or whatever, but Callie should be happy and as a ground breaking show it should be that she is with Arizona. Homophobes aside, you are portraying this relationship wonderfully. They seem genuine and natural. Please don't get cold feet and lose them.

Owen and Cristina were so wonderful. They are both quite dark and twisted but you can see that they are desperate for a happy ending, even though they are both jaded, they have hope.

Mark and Lexie were cute in the church, I wish we could have maybe seen more of them. I am liking them more and more.

Overall a superb episode. You should be extremely proud. All of the relationships you have crafted seem to be more mature than any you have shown in the past. They are all realizing that there are people they are responsible to, outside of themselves. (The valedictorian speech was incredible by the way.)
I hope we see another 100 episodes. 7 seasons would not be long enough!

[Mary]

Hated it, hope Izzie dies. Take Arizona with her, you screw of merder fans over and over. I wouldn't care about the non-wedding, it wasn't their wedding anyways, I do care that they got sidelined for the episode that was to be their wedding.

[NOT!]

Well it's official. Grey's is erased off the dvr list now. Glad I never made donations to those sites as it was a sham. I will donate to other Alzheimers organizations not associated with you SR. That was creepy what you did. WRONGDA RHIMES!

[wrongda and co. struck again]

no words to be said. shame shame shame on you shonda.

[Mary]

You don't appreciate the fans, last night proved that.

[S. Harris]

Un applauso!!!

[Jennifer]

Nice episode.

I may be in the minority but I have been rooting for Izzie and Alex since episode 1! I love the characters of Izzie and Alex and was thrilled to see their growth.

In many ways, Mer/Der have been the least interesting part of the show.

More Bailey please!

[izme's anatomy]

Funny, I had my tivo set to record GREY'S Anatomy and somehow it recorded IzME's Anatomy! Guess I better take that off my list. I fell in love with GA, NOT IA. EPIC FAIL.

[Trevor]

Amazing Episode. Never has this 35 year old man sat on his couch crying over a tv show. My sadness grew with each death of the graduates. I for one have always had Alex as my favorite character to watch and I loved the wedding. I am one who believes that Mer and Der (Dispite the devotion of their fans) should never marry, well at least not until the last episode of the series ever, maybe not even then.
Love Callie, but somehow I cannot get my head around the broke storyline given she is a Surgeon. Anyway, Great work as always! Loving any Alex/Mer scenes and Owen's storyline is simply amazing!

[Greys'Fan]

Amazing episode last night. that wedding was not merder style so it makes sense that since Izzie planned the dream wedding that she would be the one to have it so it did not surprise me at all when they got married. Callie has been my fav character since season 2 and i was scared that her heart was going to be broken and she was going to be grouchy callie all over again..kudos to the writers for giving calzone problems that they work through together as a couple...i see this couple lasting forever :). mark and lexie soooo cute. i want them to stay together for along time also. Lexie brings out the sincere and loving mark. Goodbye George..good luck on the battlefield...you will do seattle grace proud. christina and owen is great. All the couples this season are worth keeping together for the rest of the series..just give them normal problems couples go through

[Leslie]

I have watched every single episode of Grey's Anatomy....every single one! All 100! I don't allow people to call my house, text, email, or talk to me on Thursdays between 8-9pm because I LOVE LOVE LOVE this show. I was so excited about this episode. I watched all the previews, I made sure everyone knew it was #100 because FINALLY FINALLY my favorite couple, Derek and Meredith, both of them happy,healed and whole, were going to get married. That was my proof that Meredith was happy, healed and whole! Walking down that aisle to Derek to start her life..... And BAM, unfortunately, Shonda, you took that away! What was the point of the college kids dying? That whole show was about impending death and how some have time to get ready for it and how some don't have time at all to get ready for it. DE-PRESS-ING! I'm glad Izzie had her day, I would have been ecstatic if Meredith would've had her day! You guys let me down...and now you're going dark...what the heck ever! And some fans would appreciate you not teasing with happy, warm fuzzy endings for Derek and Meredith because as you showed last night, those previews don't mean anything!

[crazy doesn't fall far from the tree]

Shonda,

I love Grey's Anatomy. I've stuck with you even though at times I just wanted to stick you. You've hurt my characters, you've twisted my characters, and you've broken my heart on more than one occasion. You've made me hate -- HATE JDM. I can't even watch another show with him in it. I can't stand him. I feel the same way about Izzy. While you've done some great work with the character in the last few episodes - she beyond redemption for me. We finally learn more about Alex but never enough. We (the fans - love us some Alex).

All that being said the show seems to be back on track, please don't get all crazy on us next year and screw it up again.

[kathy]

Great work! Don't listen to the naysayers, you are doing everything right. It doesn't always have to go our way, there are too many of us to please, but I am a true fan and will hang in til the end. Mer and Der happy was just the right thing and the Alex/Izzie wedding was perfect! It's an ensemble cast, why can't people see that? I want more of everyone's story even though I am a Mer/Der fanatic, it would be boring if it was always about the two. Can't wait for the finale, cliff hangars and all. I hope KH stays cause we need to see Alex happy.

[maricris]

well what can i say. i cried. i laughed. i enjoyed it a lot. thank you for such a worth remembering episode. everything about it is so good and touching.
first, bout cristina and owen. even they are apart you can still say that the feelings between them is so strong. they know how to control things for the better THEM in the future.
next, george. i hate that o'malley will leave the seatle grace hospital. i hate seeing him go. i was touched about how he fought for those kids and how he held izzies hand in the altar. i love him being a bestfriend. hope he'll stay.
next my exciting couple...arizona and cally. i love TORRES... i love how she fought for her true personality. i love how she accept her weakness. its not really a weakness. being poor is doesnt mean being weak. i love arizona for accepting cally. for the quote "i love the girl with sandwiches." nice... love that scene.
next bailey... a motherly doctor to all her residents. i was touch on she cared for her colleagues. i love how determined she was for the health of izzie. she's so great. if she's a doctor in real life well what can i say,,,, she's the best.
the chief.. oh i love him. the way he opened to meredith about the solo surgery. really i love him for that. she made me laugh at the same time i was touched.
last but not the least my favorite couple... meredith and derek. yeah i was sad that it was not them who walk in the aisle but at the same time i'm happy because they did the right thing. if im in their place i will also do that. meredith is all grown up woman. i just love her very much. and derek... the very gentleman that i know. how i love this couple.. hope to see the wedding soon.
to shonda and all the staff and crew, CONGRATS FOR THE 100 EPISODES.full of heartwarming and meaningful stories. hope to watch more episodes from you guys.. goodluck..
wait... and also the graduating student. the girl. i love her speech.. really. so dramatic scene for all those graduating students who died..

[An appreciative fan]

I loved the episode! The whole Izzie storyline leading up to the wedding was so touching. Bailey and Derek with Izzie, Meredith with Alex. I loved how the wedding brought the 5 together. George walking Izzie down the aisle was perfect too. And Alex? My god, I have always loved Alex Michael Karev but last night was truly amazing. I've waited 4 seasons for Alex and Izzie, waited it out through Denny, through George, through Ava and they finally had their big moment. Izzie and Alex have never had a lot of screentime together but I want to say thank you for every single moment that they have had over the seasons. I have loved every second.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[Jamie]

You didn't seriously ask us if MerDer would get married by the end of the season did you? I mean, seriously? Haven't you milked the MerDer wedding enough? I mean are you REALLY going to try to go there again? wow..simply wow.

Now back to the Izzie-fest that has been season 5.

[Amanda]

Just a quick note to tell you how much I enjoyed this episode. How much I enjoy this show in general. You have no idea how much I look forward to my Thursday nights! I love how far Meredith and Derek have come, how perfect Hunt is for Cristina, how much Lexie & Mark balance each other, the strength in Izzie & Alex. I love them all! I know it's just a show, just fantasy. But they become real for me every Thursday. Thank you. Oh, and I have to say if you kill off Izzie, I'm going to be one unhappy little camper!

[Grey's Watcher]

Izzie will likely live: George will likely leave. Caught the two nuances that clearly most fans missed: first -- Meredith has finally joined us in adulthood; and second -- Denny in black clothes is a metaphor for death. By the way, death faded away as Alex walked up to Izzie's bed at the end. Izzie's character just chose to fight, to live. Cliffhanger ending: Izzie's radical procedure that was in the previews goes great, but we won't know if her memory is intact until next season.