Tony Phelan on "Adrift and at Peace"...

Original Airdate: 12-2-10

How much longer do we have to watch Cristina mope around the hospital?  I'm sick of everybody being so sad.  When is the show gonna get back to "Old Grey's" where people were happy??   

Okay.  First of all, there was a shooting.  Friends died, or were wounded.  Cristina had a gun pressed to her head.  And as far as "Old Grey's" is concerned … this show is dark.  Always has been.  Always will be.  Just go back and watch Meredith drown, or George's dad die or Cristina cover for Burke's injury and have to turn him in to the Chief.  Sure, there's gonna be humor to balance it, but Seattle is a cold, rainy place.  And we writers figured, if we're gonna have a shooting, then we're damn well gonna put our people through some honest to god post traumatic stress.  So bear with us.  Be patient.  Take a breath and enjoy seeing the many new and interesting colors our talented cast is finding in their characters.  (I mean, you gotta love Cristina giving that frat guy a lap dance at Joe's Bar) 

Here’s the thing about healing …  it takes time.  There’s no rushing it.  Or planning for it.  Or “getting out in front of it."  I’ve had two major surgeries in the past five years.  The first was a brain surgery.  Scared the crap out of me – they cut through my skull and dug around in my brain.  I woke up in the ICU …  and didn’t really feel that bad.  I went home two days later.  In a week I was running around, back on the set, joking with the actors … if it wasn’t for the shaved head and the scars, you never would have known.  

Two years later, heart surgery.  I was ready this time.  I got myself into shape both physically and mentally.   I had the top heart guy on the West Coast.  Everything was in place for a speedy recovery.  And this time I woke up in the ICU feeling like I’d been run over by a truck …  that then backed up and ran over me again.   There had been complications in surgery, and I didn’t really feel myself again for another year.   

Don’t be fooled by appearances.  The bullet holes have been patched and painted over.  The hospital has released a “sizzle reel” talking about how it has come back stronger than ever.  But the scars of the shooting are still there.   For some of our doctors the recovery has been relatively fast and painless.  But for others … Cristina, Meredith, Derek … they’ve only just begun to deal.  And because of what went down that day, because – however illogically –  Cristina blames Meredith for her trauma, the two friends can’t lean on each other to help them through this crisis.  So Cristina turns to Derek – a man familiar with darkness and doubts.  He gets that Cristina needs to be given the space and time to find her way back from the brink.  And because he owes this woman his life, and because she's his wife's "person," he shares the secret that has always given him comfort … fishing.  And he's right.  Cristina needs the quiet, needs to be in a place she can't escape from, needs the simple joy of catching a fish to finally allow the dam to break and the grief to finally wash over her.  

And how about Mer and Owen??  Things have always been kinda strained between those two.  The only thing they seem to have in common is Cristina, and now it's pretty clear that neither really trusts the other.  You gotta feel sorry for Meredith.  Left behind at the hospital, abandoned by her best friend and her husband (who now seem to be besties themselves), and dealing with Owen who doesn't seem to get how he's totally screwing up Cristina.  What Mer doesn't seem to understand yet is that she's been traumatized too, but because she's Meredith, she's kept it hidden as she frantically tries to take care of each individual member of her little makeshift family.  And Owen doesn't cut her any slack.  That OR blow-up between them is one of my favorite scenes of this season. 

Our Dr. Bailey declared war on fistula.  And won.  And celebrated as only Dr. Bailey can.  And picked up an admirer along the way.  Bailey and Nurse Eli?  Hmmm …. 

And Callie thought she'd really gained a new partner as she and Alex rocked that hip replacement.  Only to have Alex return to Peds and the allure of Dr. Stark (played brilliantly by Ally McBeal and Numb3rs alum Peter MacNicol.)  And then that knock on the apartment door and … a visitor from Malawi.  No hug.  No welcome home.  Just a door slammed in your face. Something tells me there are rough seas ahead for Calzona. 

A final word about Cristina and Derek.  Really Sandra and Patrick.  We spent two days up on Big Bear Lake shooting the fishing scenes.  Skeleton crew, led by Allison Liddi-Brown our Director, Herb Davis our gifted Director of Photography, and Jeff Rafner our resourceful UPM.  We all had a blast.  It was freezing cold, kinda rainy and incredibly beautiful.  Rainbows criss-crossing the early morning sky.  We don't get off our soundstages very often.  Last time it was the Iraq episode, which Joan and I also wrote (I guess I like vacations).  But Sandra and Patrick really loved working together, and the chance to be surrounded by nature just made it all the more special.  Then there was the drinking and laughing and gossiping that happened in the hotel bar that night … but I guess what happens in Big Bear ….

Comments

[Holly]

Best episode in such a long, long time. I wouldn't change one thing about it. Thank you. God, this was so good.

[joan]

i didnt read anything about mark and lexie, but thats okay!!! as long as theyre back together, this is the best holiday present from shonda rhimes to all d mcsexie fans!!!
LITTLE-BIG LOVE

[Steven]

I loved this episode! Yours and Joan's episodes are always amazing!
Mark and Lexie really made me happy!
Teddy's proposal, did NOT see that one coming! Really looking forward to see where that is going! Totally not similar to the Izzie and Denny story!
I love Cristina and Derek! They are a really good team.
I missed Arizona! That was a nice surprise! Really excited to see where that relationship is going. Although I must ask, why couldn't you guys bring Izzie back the way you brought back Arizona?
Season 7 is awesome!

[Enforce]

So I want to say, I am in love with Grey's writers. You guys are soooo, incredibly awesome. I read the blog every week and give you my critique as though it means anything because you allow us fans the opportunity to vent. We are so attached to this show. It really means something to us. So I'll say this, after the sexy Callie/Mark scenes, I hope you guys will have the courage to honor Callie and Arizona's relationship in an equitable loving and sexy way. I mean, does Callie have more passion for Mark than for Arizona? Don't think so. Ok, that's out of the way. Now I can say, I loved tonight. Every week I swear I have just seen my favorite episode and then you guys outdo yourselves. I was against the whole Derek and Cristina thing but I'm a believer now. Sandra's pic with the fish, all kinds of sweet. The discussion between Owen and Meredith was masterfully written. Sadly I felt that the acting was a little off. The writing deserved more. Bailey and new nurse, yeah! I am loving the residents, yeap, even April. Alex, my Alex. He misses Arizona too. Ooo, can we please see Arizona roll over Stark's lazy, back-stabbing face? As much as I've missed the Arizona/Callie interaction, I've missed Arizona with the tiny humans almost as much. Oh, and that line 'you look really pretty' freaking awesome! JCap rocked, ROCKED that scene. And Sara, well, she's my favorite so I'm biased but that last scene, she spoke volumes without opening her mouth. Ok, well, that's it. Except that if you guys feel compelled to have Mark topless on a few more scenes, I would be fine with it. Merry Christmas my dear writers. I shall miss you very much. P.S. Please let Shonda know that adding Caterina to PP was a genius move. I'm a new fan too PP because of her. And Kee Dee deserves an award.

[Jen]

I enjoyed the episode. Season 7 has been fantastic.

Sorry Tony but I don't view Derek taking Cris fishing for a few hours as abandoning Meredith. Please, it was a few hours of him trying to help his wife's BFF. That is not abandoning.

[anne]

It was a good episode but not a favorite. Just fyi didn't love the lap dance thing with Christina. I do feel sorry for Meredith she doesn't seem to get much support.

At last the answer to the question finally answered - why did Derek take Christina fishing? Owen! Loved the Mer and Derek chat about fishing in the morning . Meredith and Christina moment was very awkward. Derek and Mer talk at end of show in bed was good .

Loved Mark and Callies shower follies - funny!

The bowling with Bailey comment was funny! Derek can be quite humorous - I love seeing that side of him.

Bailey's competition for surgery is brilliant. She rocks as usual!! Miranda stumbling onto the fistula solution was great - the nurse was right. I hope she gives some credit to him and she should go on a date with him!

Mark and Lexie was great in this episode - loved the miss you scene, Mark's manipulating her into a drink with him and she came!

Derek and Christina in boat - seriously ... she studied?? Derek was amazingly patient with her (unlike Owen with Mer) and I loved the quietly comment - fishing should be quiet. I can't believe she caught a fish and a big one. The moment on the dock was touching. Fishing can be therapeutic I hear. I hope she does come back to being a surgeon. A great loss if she doesn't.

Teddy marrying the patient for insurance is a generous gesture. This frankly is what worries me about health insurance in some places people like him fall through the cracks because they run out of insurance or money. What price is a life?

I'm confused by Callie shutting the door in Arizona's face. Callie rocked the day with surgery but ended it on a sad note.

Two other comments - I take it by the christmas decor/music that this was our last show of the year. Wish there was a bit more Christmas moments (happy holiday moments - a couple scenes? ). Doesn't look like a Merry Christmas for Greys. When I saw the previews for January that confirmed it. The preview does not make me eager to see it though.

[anne]

Oops sorry bowling with Bailey comment was made by Meredith - not Derek. Still love that comeback.

[ohmygoodness]

How is it you fail to mention Meredith's miscarriage at all in your blog? Do the writer's not care what happened to her at all????

[Calzona shipper]

OMG thank you thank you thank you for the very last scene. JCap was flawless and beautiful. Heartwrenching. The door slam broke my heart into a million little pieces. Bring on the Calzona angst...just as long as they're together in the end. Is it January yet?

[Jen]

Bring on the rough seas for Calzona fans, but please, let us see it from both of their points of views, not just Callie's!

Great episode. Arizona's speech was heart breaking, especially knowing she's a rational, type A person who doesn't normally lead with her heart (And Jessica Capshaw's voice really made that scene hit home).

Alex knows his home is in Peds. It was nice to see he was hurting from Arizona's leaving too. Hopefully, he'll be more forgiving upon her return (should she get her job back).

Glad Meredith and Owen finally had it out and hopefully, we'll see Cristina working her way back into the blood and gore, where she belongs.

And honestly, Bailey and Teddy are awesome. Glad to see them getting some love.

[Chrys]

About time for Lexie and Mark! Always loved them together, was worried she might go for Avery, but I always thought that she and Mark never got over each other and it was awesome to see that tonight.

SO glad Alex went back to peds, that's where he belongs, I think that was so obvious even before it was first mentioned by Bailey.

Teddy was...well, kinda crazy! Like, painfully so to watch. It'll be interesting to see where that goes.

Owen and Mer = so compelling. But I don't really agree with Owen. Cristina was fearless too, she kept operating on Derek with a gun right to her head. She wasn't telling the guy to shoot her but she also was defying him as he held the gun to her. And don't you think part of the reason Meredith said to shoot her was not just to save Derek but also her best friend. A lot of blame seems to be going around and a lot is landing on Mer.

I like Grey's dark, personally, and I hope we see more about what others are dealing with and maybe hiding or burying. To me, Grey's feels very real now. Not pretty and shiny but more gritty, dealing with the aftermath of that kind of trauma.

Really loved this blog post as well as the episode :)

[Alex]

You're not going to say ANYTHING about this huge Teddy storyline? REALLY? I was floored when she said she'd marry him...

[Jaclyn]

Best episode since the premier IMHO. I was so happy to see Mark and Lexie working their way back to each other (finally!); enjoyed Christina and Derek becoming friends and really bonding through their shared trauma; the Owen/Meredith blowup was long overdue and I'm glad Callie didn't just immediately forgive Arizona because that airport breakup was brutal. So excited for January!

[Enforce]

Quick question, what happened to Callie's cartilage research? Everyone else is working on something special or getting grants but we don't know what's she's going to do now that she created cartilage from jello.

[Miranda]

Great ep, but a realy miss reading anything about Mark and Lexi ow and btw also about Teddy (but i could'nt care less)

[Donna]

Loved Mark and Lexie getting back together... but nothing about Teddy? I love Scott Foley, so I really look forward to this one. Teddy needs a good guy!

[nyla]

Callie slamming the door in Arizona's face ... EPIC!!
If Arizona really loves Callie, she's going to have to work for it. She was the one who screwed up - and it's good to see Callie not bending (as she's done in the past).

Also, LOVE LOVE Callie and Alex working together. Of course I knew he'd go back to peds (that's his "thing" - I'd expect nothing less), but they have great chemistry. So much fun.

Daniel Sunjata = HOTTTT!! Please stay, Eli.

Cristina had her breakthrough! Finally! It was great - and her and Derek's growing friendship has been great to see.

Screw you, Owen. I loved Mer stepping up to him.

Blah Mehxie ...

:)

[natorz]

Az was really missed on the show! Glad she is back. PLEASE let Cristina be normal again. I missed her just as much as I missed Az!

[Grace K.]

i freaking loved it, mark and lexie are amazing together! i cant wait to see what happens to cristina and omg arizona, i think i like callie single but we'll see thanks so much for the fab episode!

[AR]

Besst scene of the night was Arizona's return. Jessica and Sara really rocked that ending, thanks for the great dialogue and the chance to let these two actresses play the silences and the words to perfection.

Any chance you can elaborate more on this scene, and shooting it? You did a great job keeping it under wraps, by the way. Great way to end the episode. I can't wait to see what happens next with those two.

[Erica]

I don't feel sorry for Meredith one bit! Owen was right in that disagreement, Cristina is not Mer and her reaction is different.

[Pat]

Dark? This is the best season of Grey's ever and there have been some great seasons over the years. I've had over a dozen surgeries and rarely have bounced back as quickly as I'd have liked. Bravo to Shonda and all the great writers and actors (and directors and producers) of Grey's for keeping it real (or as real as a T.V. drama can be). You have more than your share of genius.

[Amy R]

Really great episode....there were so many great moments..It was an absolute delight to watch Bailey so happy...and the scene with Cristina and Derek while taking the picture...WOW..simply beautiful..
i m not a very big fan of Callie and arizona..and arizona coming back is just gonna shift the focus away from the core characters..but hey let's see what happens in the future episodes.
Mark and lexie...loved the look on lexie's face when they kiss..hope this time you keep them together for a long time...
And yes the OR scene with Meredith and Owen was great..i guess the fishing trip with Sandra Oh and Patrick Dempsey and the OR scene with Ellen Pompeo and Kevin Mckidd are some of the best scenes in the seventh season..
Thank you so much for a fantastic episode

[MRR]

JESSICA CAPSHAW/ARIZONA is back!!!! How awesome is she for only missing two episodes after having a baby? Now I'll be able to handle the hiatus... kidding. Kind of.

So, Mark and Lexie! FINALLY! Thanks for that! They're my favorite couple and I can't wait to see how you guys are going to deal with them. Especially since Lexie commented on how nothing has changed, that they're still in two different places in their lives.

Can I just say that I loved that final Callie/Arizona scene. As soon as that last scene popped up with Callie, I was like, "ARIZONA'S BACK!" And then Arizona coming back because she missed Callie. And Callie closing the door in her face? That was exactly what I wanted. I mean it was sad, of course, but since the moment Arizona walked away, I didn't want Callie to just take her back right away. Looking forward to seeing how these two get back together.

I want Teddy to be loved as much as I want April to be loved.

Still don't care about the Cristina storyline. Too slow and lame.

Owen is still annoying.

Derek looked hot with some scruff and the hat. Just saying.

[cha]

really nice episode. really realy liked it! seeing arizona back again just made my day! made it! :D even if she's been slammed in the face by callie. hihihi! :D i am really happy to see her again. & cristina & derek & the fish! but i hope cristina can get her groove back. i love hardcore cristina. i can't wait till the next episode! :D