'Grey's Anatomy': Who cares if Meredith and Derek reunite?

Am I the only person on the planet who doesn't care if Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) and Derek (Patrick Dempsey) get back together? I mean, of the millions of "Grey's Anatomy" viewers, of course. Many, many denizens of Earth don't even know the show exists. (Yes, it's true, all those magazine covers to the contrary.)

I know showrunner Shonda Rhimes has been beating the "reunited" drum like it's the answer to all our prayers, but, frankly, I feel like it may be a case of too little too late. Poor old Derek has been pushed and pulled so many times, in so many different directions that it's hard to think of him as McDreamy anymore. He's more like McWishywashy. And Dempsey is back on the big screen in a fairly big way, so you have to wonder how long he's planning to stick around ye olde Seattle Grace.

Meanwhile, Meredith, though certainly becoming more believable and sympathetic this season, feels less and less like a main character, the show's title and voice-over notwithstanding. Which is just fine--part of last season's problem was its discovery (alas, too late!) that killing off Meredith's mom was not a good idea. Without the original spine of the mother/daughter conflict, not to mention the whole child-as-caretaker issue, the Meredith character could not carry the show.

This season, Meredith seems to be developing a spine of her own (yay!) while everyone around her is following suit, becoming deeper and richer people, which makes the the show a true ensemble of doctors who increasingly resemble adults. Double yay!

So last night we saw Karev (Justin Chambers) face the possibility that he might be a father while Izzie (Katherine Heigl), who was dying to tell him that Ava/Rebecca (Elizabeth Reaser) wasn't actually pregnant, kept her big mouth shut. Mark had to contemplate his hound dog ways when a scorned-nurses boycott shut down his surgeries (a troublesome scenario that one would not like to think could actually happen, even to a plastic surgeon) and everyone on the staff was forced to fill out a "date-and-tell" form, the legalities of which, again, give one pause. Callie (Sara Ramirez) continued to act like a seventh grader, having obsessive closet sex with Mark because Addison (Kate Walsh) had wondered aloud if she and Dr. Hahn (Brooke Smith) were a couple.

Most important, however, was at long last the not-so-dear-departed Preston Burke (Isaiah Washington) got his comeuppance. When he wins a prestigious award (not clear for what exactly, but it's prestigious enough for him to be in the newspaper!), Cristina (Sandra Oh) seems to shut down, not even rising to the bonding bait of Dr. Hahn's diatribe about sexism in medicine.

But at the end of the show, in a terribly contrived scene, she finally says what so many of us have been thinking for so long: that Burke is an egocentric fraud who used Cristina and then ditched her without so much as an e-mail of apology. For those of us who never liked Burke (smug, judgmental), it was a lovely moment, and praise to the writers for not even mentioning the untimely death of "Bionic Woman," to which Washington fled (though they did manage to wedge in a funny little reference to "Knocked Up").

In general, all the story lines are more subdued, but that's a good thing considering the hyperkinetic silliness that afflicted the show last season. The season finale looms, and while cliffhangers are always good, this one probably won't involve Meredith on the brink of death or some other soap-on-Ritalin development. "Grey's" is far from somber, but it does seem to be settling in for the long haul. And so, it seems, will Derek and Meredith. But with so much else going on, that just doesn't seem to be such a big deal.

-- Mary McNamara

Comments

[krystek]

I care about them getting back together, I know the show doesn't exist it's a made up stories but real life surgeries. I'm a huge fan of Meredith and Derek, I care about them getting back cuz they didn't have a good relationship at first, they had issues, secrecy and other problems. Now that Shonda will get them back together 'for good', they could have a talk I mean a real conversation about family and trust. So I care about them, I don't care what you say it's your opinion and I respect it.

[Adrien]

I've tried to watch Grey's but the concept of Doctor's in relationship turmoil while trying to practice medicine is so old. It's been done since the Radio serial of the 30's and 40's and there is nothing new about it. Add on the Mc factor and it descend into utter nonsence. McDreamy, McSteamy, McNauseous and you've lost me.

The fact that these Doctors are all relatively good looking, the ladies always have makeup on and the ladies and gent hair is perfect also bothers me, I know it's a soap but come on go to any hospital in the land and interns, residents and attending mostly look like tired over worked people who get to the barber or hairstylist once every 6 month or so and forget about wearing makeup. Obiviously if I want a somewhat realistic representation of the medical community I should watch ER, while it's still on, but for mindless relationship crap any other show on TV is better than Grey's. Maybe that's why I prefer to watch CSI on thursday it at least keeps the emotional crap to a minimum.

[justme]

I care about Meredith and Derek getting back together. Them, together are the heart of the show. As the strong, healthy couple of Grey's they will be able to carry the show. And there is no denying the magic and the chemistry that exists between Pompeo and Dempsey.

[Carly]

I don't care at all about Meredith & Derek. I never found Meredith to be a likable character at all. Yes, she's more tolerable this year but to me she is still the character I care about the least. The Meredith/Derek relationship was written like they were teenagers and it sucked the life out of the show. Them apart is what I really liked about this season after being so unhappy with the Meredith/Derek drama of season 3. I like each of them better as characters when they are not together. Putting them together may kill the show for me. I don't want to watch more seasons about Meredith trying to have a normal relationship with Derek. I watched that for 3 seasons and don't need it repeated.

[Emma]

I care if Meridith and Derek get back together! I haven't tuned in for 4 seasons and watch for my favorite "root for" couple to not get back together. And I like the idea of Shondra Rhimes not waiting till the end of the show to do it!

[Patrick]

I used to be a huge fan of this show. Then in the second season, as soon as Meredith's panties appeared on the bulletin board, I was done. We get it, she's a total whore. I was among the people who was rooting for her to die during the ferry fiasco. They're both boring and I still don't get why Dempsey's character isn't called McFugly.

[Cathy]

I reckon Meredith and Derek make a good couple, Shonda revealed that they are going to get together at the 2 hrs. Season Finale: Freedom and I can't wait!!

[JULIA]

I LOVE MER/DER!

AND Ellen and Patrick are this show...they're amazing.

I watch because i love the medical stuff and most of the other characters(rose has to go)

but i will say Mereredith and Derek are the number 1 reason why i watch and it's because the chemistry between Ellen and Patrick is far too good

[Claire]

Well here's how I see it. Meredith and Derek are and have always been the core couple of this show. They have sold this show on magazines and through ABC promo's for 4 seasons now. On boards/blogs and the net, they are STILL the most talked about pairing on the show and writers (such as this one) know it. Many writers TRY to find different angles about Grey's Anatomy and what happens with the show, but many STILL take this approach full well knowing that if they bring up these two, they will CREATE a buzz. What I would wish from this writer as I do for many writers who take this cheap route to create a buzz over any article of real substance is that they would avoid the "easy get" in coming after this TV couple and try to write an article of substance pertaining to this how, butt sadly, here's another example of a writer who uses the most popular show couple to try to gain some readers. It's sad really. Please writer, do us a favor and TRY writing something original for a change.

[Amy]

You claim not to care about the characters Meredith and Derek yet you writer an entire article on them. I find that really interesting. If you don't care about them (as you claim) then why bother? It's because this couple is THE couple of the show. The very fact that you went on at LENGTH about hem is the very reason Shonda continues to make them the star couple. You can't quit writing about them, fans can't quit talking about them and tv shows ONLY bring them up. When you stop, when fans stop, maybe then Shonda will stop, but from reading your article, I doubt that will happen. Seems someone "protests too much" here don't you think?

[Nancy]

I do care about Meredith and Derek getting back together. In fact, that is the only reason that I am continuing to watch this show. I agree the show has taken a turn toward silliness in the last couple of years and I nearly gave up on it after the January 11th episode. No way was I coming back after the strike with Rose and Derek together. But, Shonda deciding to announce a mer/der reunion has drawn me back in. And, guess what, these first few episodes have been pretty darn good. I just hope Shonda doesn't screw it up again. Mer/Der make the show for me. I wish it wasn't so, but I'm addicted.

[maddie]

well you may feel that way, but millions dont. its fine if you dont like meredith and derek as a couple but it bothers me you cant stand meredith at all. shes wonderful- ellen is an amazing actress, and her character is flawed- which i love- and has been through hell, and yet still standing. her character gives me hope, or as alex would say, "meredith makes me feel like screwed up people have a chance."
merediths changing this season into the person she was in s1. now that her mom is gone and she has the support of her sister and shes in therapy she may be able to love again- which is hard to do when youve had no example whatsoever and have been ignored throughout childhood- and i think it will be a beautiful thing to watch her evolve.
cant wait for merder back together!

[Cathy Viviano]

As one of the biggest Grey`s Anatomy fans on the planet Earth, I BELIEVE THAT Meredith and Derek will get back together--Derek will break his relationship with Rose Nurse.