'Grey's Anatomy': Gone too far?

For a minute there it looked like "Grey's Anatomy" had chosen medicine over soap, character-driven drama over silliness. When this season opened with the Chief kicking butt and taking names because Seattle Grace had lost its prestigious rating, it looked like the writers room was calling itself on its own occasional lapses into absurdity and was attempting to find footing once again in the land of grown-up television.

For a minute there, it seemed like everything would be just fine.
Now, of course, even the most dedicated "Grey's" fan has had her (there cannot be a single male fan left, can there?) faith rattled to the point of simple bone weariness. After the departure of Last Real Doctor Standing Erica Hahn (Brooke Smith), the entire hospital seems to have just given up. They might as well start serving mai tais in the OR. Thursday night's episode may have pretended to center on which resident would get the first solo surgery, but seriously, did anyone actually care?

No, we were all too busy watching Izzie (Katherine Heigl), who we all now know, courtesy of Entertainment Weekly,  is not really having "the best sex in the history of sex" with Denny's ghost, she's having it with a brain aneurysm.  Which is different from a brain tumor, which showrunner Shonda Rhimes repeatedly denied for weeks. Either way, it's clinically gross. And pure soap. Up next: Izzie's evil twin and her possession by Satan. In fact, if rumors are correct and Heigl is indeed leaving the show (and really, Katie, now would be the time, even if you have to buy yourself out),  there's always Diedre Hall. After playing Marlena Evans for 107 years on "Days of Our Lives,"  Hall recently got the ax. Who better to play Izzie’s long-lost mother. She’s blond, she’s pretty, she's a doctor (okay, a psychiatrist), and she’s certainly played 19 different flavors of crazy.

If it were only Izzie run amok, there would still be hope.  But we also have the new heart-surgeon-with-Asperger’s (Mary McDonnell) rocking around critical care avoiding all eye contact and muttering naked truths — "your sister is dead and I'm here to harvest her organs" — like some craven soothsayer. Meanwhile, Callie (Sarah Ramirez) has transformed, as if by secret potion, from ambivalent, taken-by-surprise mid-life bisexual into giggling, eye-batting lipstick lesbian, getting the vapors any time new gal Sadie (Melissa George) flashes her pearly whites. (Sadie being the slim and pretty object of Sapphic desire preferred by male television executives everywhere.) Sadie's also the one who allowed Lexie (Chyler Leigh) and the other interns to take out her appendix while she was watching because that’s just the kind of "Desperately Seeking Susan" gal she is.

The only benefactor of all this nonsense is Meredith, who, by comparison to all this nonsense, suddenly looks like a tribal wise woman. Strangely, it wasn't any of these Bald Character Manipulations that made me realize that there are limits, you know, even in television. No, it was when Lexie showed up at Mark Sloan’s (Eric Dane)  door, presumably in the middle of the night, and began taking off her clothes saying "teach me, teach me" like … actually, I don’t think that scene  has precedent in modern culture, and for very good reason. The only sane viewer response was "click." (Which was not, I must admit, as dramatic a gesture as it sounds, since this was the final scene.)

"Grey's" has a terrific cast that every week does its level best to create believable characters under often strange and chaotic conditions. A good show always leaves viewers with questions, but one of those questions should not be: What on earth are the writers thinking? Literally. What kind of show are they trying to create?  One in which likable and sassy young people explore issues that are real enough that they resonate with thousands of viewers or a place where good actors can make steady money showcasing plotlines ridiculous enough to make the show a hot topic on blogs and chatter pages, which may, or may not, turn the heat up on the ratings?

Watching Izzie roll out of her sweaty brain-aneurysm-fueled bed of hallucinated sex to scrub in on that first solo surgery, it was hard not to think that it doesn’t really matter. Things may have simply gone too far.

-- Mary McNamara

(Photo courtesy ABC)

Comments

[Bren]

It's gone waaay too far. I thought George and Izzy was too far but this topples that!
I can't take anymore of this it is time for these writers to go. If this was a sports team the coach would have been fired already, the coach and assitant coaches need to be fired.

Call Donald Trump in there!

[donna]

last night's episode was sooooo bad that i laughed at times. You forgot to mention the vent/ wind-blowing scene with Christina and Dr.Hunt. Lame! And the robot doctor with Aspergers (Dr.Nixon)? Seriously? That was ridiculous. Isn't it illegal to coerce someone or ask them to donate their organs, like that episode about the kidney transplant domino surgery?

[Ann]

I'm so tired of complaining about this show...I've had it. Last night's episode was the last for me. What a waste of some very fine actors.

[Shelley]

Oh Mary. Thank you for saying exactly how I feel about this show. I used to LOVE greys, but I only watched a few minutes last night and turned it off. I don't know what happened to this show. Season 5 actually started off wonderfully and it felt like we were finally getting somewhere with these characters. Meredith and Derek, healthy together. Christina getting a storyline. Alex and Izzie, etc. Great patient stories. And then, one day I woke up and the show was HORRIBLE. I can't even watch anymore. I don't understand what the writers are thinking. They have a great cast, but each week there are new characters added to the show when old ones aren't being used. I don't recognize Callie anymore. I loathe Sadie and Lexie just officially became one of the most innane characters. And, is Patrick Dempsey even on the show anymore. We hardly see Derek. I give up. I've tried to express my views to the writers on their blog, but nothing changes. The show gets worse each week.

[mosippy]

OMG, Mary. Can you start writing for Grey's?? Please. You summed up my thoughts exactly and did so with deftness and humor, all without talking down to us. Imagine that. Thanks for speaking for those of us who actually have a brain but who still like to watch television once in a while. I'll look for your byline more often...

[Lynn]

This show had gone WAY to far, I'm about to quit watching! Don't the writers read the blogs!

[DeAnna]

Being the creature of habit that I am, I'm not ready to say that I am done with Grey's Anatomy, however, I too am left scratching my head.

I mean, what gives? Dare I say, seriously? Seriously! The Izzy + Dennie storyline should not have gone past one episode. That one episode could have bled into a second episode where they discover the aneurysm. But, for it to go on for WEEKS like this is simply... mind-blowing.. or perhaps mind-numbing. I don't know which. And don't even let me get started on Little Grey, who a minute ago was so deeply in love with George.

When Meredith starts to look sane, something has GOT to give.

[Alex]

What a truly awful episode that was.

Thank you, especially, for your comments about Callie. That's driving me mental.

I can't even really bring myself to comment about the Denny storyline. There's no satisfactory resolution to this plot, it's just a disaster.

[Bronwyn]

You have summed up *everything* exactly. Spot on. The writers need a serious intervention. The tying you to a chair with a bright light in your face kind. How could it go SO horribly wrong, all across the board? Is this just more evidence of ABC micro-managing creative decisions? Did it not stop with ABC's ham-handed firing of Brooke Smith? Because I can't explain otherwise how else it could be so stinkin' bad, on an embarrassing level, no matter where you look. I know its flip, but it seems like the writers have a brain aneurysm, too - but instead of seeing Denny, they're seeing a show with consistent characterizations, sensible plots, continuity, and adult romance. But, there's really nothing there. Just like Denny. When they had their interns operating on each other in the basement (bad enuf) and *no one got fired*!! (worse) I knew they had become a cartoon hospital. A bad cartoon hospital.

[may]

i cannot believe what the Grey's writers are serving to the viewers. having lost my boyfriend of 2 years to a tragic accident, i feel insulted by what they are writing about Izzie and Denny. Let the guy rest in peace, already.

And even without that, the scene at the very end with Lexie and Sloane was so awkward and I think I heard every single person watching scream "NOOOOOOOO!" Come on, Shonda Rimes, you and your writers can do better work than this. We, your viewers have been very disappointed for a while now and sometime soon if you still keep shoving cr*p like this down our throats, we are going to disable the Season Pass for Greys on our Tivos.

[stephanie]

YES THANK YOU MARY.

first of all, seriously what is wrong with lexie? "teach me, teach me.."
good god. i wanted to puke on her.

and izzie and denny.
i have no words,

but this show is out of control.

[Serena]

This show is awful. Mark and Lexie, ugh. He looks like her dad. Callie and Sadie have no chemistry, Dead Denny/Izzie, pathetic. Sick of Dixon, and she's only been on the show twice. Cristina is full of herself, saying she was the best and should be operating. Please! She has no chemistry with Owen. Where the heck is MerDer? How can EP and PD make that obscene salary and they hardly show them? ABC lied when they promoted MerDer this past summer. I was lead to believe we would see lots of them. We don't. We see them as bookends. Horrible. This show is crap.

[Maru]

Thank you.

S5 was advertised all summer beautifully. Promises were made by SR and Betsy in very plain language to all the GA fans about what storylines were going to be seen.

We tuned in for an uneven but okay premiere. We waited for 5 more weeks and it seemed like almost nothing happened (especially with Meredith and Derek).

And then suddenly I feel like I tuned in to a completely different show, overrun by secondary characters, latecomers to the party, just being a recurring character and suddenly the actor was made part of the cast of thousands.

And now it is just a joke. I would say I am sorry that I haven't seen much of Meredith and Derek, but I am actually happy for EP and PD. If they had more than 2 minutes on screen...they might be blamed for the critical and fan backlash which has become torrential and embarrassing.

If they wrote what they promised, they would be getting back to basics, the Fab Five, MerDer and maybe an appropriate amount of Cris and Hunt (although I am really starting to dislike the both of them). Instead, the show is an embarrassment.

More lies and broken promises to the GA fans. And if EP and PD are pissed and acting it on set (a rumor) I don't blame them a bit. They have been lied to and fed this crap for years....I'm sure they don't want any part of this. They are magic together and the show is falling down around them because they aren't even there. I'm starting to wonder if they looked at the scripts and said "HELL NO" and are getting shoved in the background for punishment. If that is what is going on...it was the best thing that could have happened to them.

Only a ton of the old-school style MerDer with fun and loving and bitching and being in a real relationship can save this show. And at this point, it might be beyond them to even to that.

[King]

I think I am the only Grey's fan who Doesn't hate the Denny and Izzy love affair. I love the Izzy's character in this affair, especially the line "not you, my head,...Shut upppp" while laughing. Denny is also always wonderful to see. And I agree, the sex is a bit too far, but not enough to stop watching. What would be enough to stop watching is if they kill off Izzy's character. She is FINALLY getting a good part (last season WAS TERRIBLE!!! in every way), Seattle Grace wouldn't be the same without her...and I guess Alex wouldn't be either.

Another reason to stop watching is Lexi's "teach me teach me" rant. How pathetic, and it doesn't even fit in well, if I was Sloan I would be wondering what she is rambling on about; what, she's a virgin now? It's lame.

I am glad Meridith stopped whinning. That was too painful for too long (allllll last season). Other then that, Grey's has made an awesome 5th season so far, mind you 4th wasn't anything to praise. And I'm still curious as how this Izzy Denny thing will unravel to the other characters...and Can they pleaaasseee make her daughter come back into the picture. Is she ready to see her real mom Yet?! You didn't forget about that did you?

[ssm1187]

Thank God im not the only one! While I'm loving the new red-hot doctor that Cristina is standing under vents with, the show has gotten so...blah... Izzie and her crazies, Alex and his achey-breaky heart, Sadie playing with Callie's head, Callie being a 13 year old girl, the creepy doctor that everyone is dying to impress at the cost of any semblance of bed side manner. I like this show, all I'm asking is that they not ruin it.

[Julie]

Mary,

Perfect and intelligent review! It is the exact thoughts I have about this deteriorating show that once was so great!

Silly, silly, silly is all that comes to mind and despite what other's blog about, I do not have trust in Shonda Rhimes' abilities any longer to write an intelligent and mature drama for us grown-up's to watch every week.

[Grace]

I totally agree. I gave up on Grey's after last week's episode, and for the first time in five seasons, didn't even bother watching this week. Seems I made the right decision... if I'd had seen it, I'd just be annoyed. To those who, like me, have given up on Grey's, I'd like to invite you to join me over at NBC on Thursday nights. The Office and 30 Rock are sooooo much better than the soap opera excrement that is Grey's.

[kara]

Gray's Anatomy has become like a dog chasing his own tail. I'm getting dizzy.

But here's a twist that could save everything: Have Dennie make good on his statement that he has 'come for Izzy'. Izzy dies,. dramatically and suddenly and Dennie and Izzy walk off into the sunset together. And since Gray's would die without Izzie, bring the two back regularly as resident ghosts of the hospital they died in.

[Ollie]

To be honest, I must be the only person left really enjoying this show. I have just watched the recent episode and have to say that Season 5 is miles better than Season 4, which unfortunately seemed a bit like a waste of time (blaming the strike) but every twist and turn so far, I have really enjoyed.
Nice to see Meredith not moaning and less MerDer stories and actually seeing some of the other characters. Izzie was terribly underused last year with rather lousy writing and stories (again, the strike) and at least this year, she has been given a story which has had some of us questioning what happening. Unfortunately, they have had to result to a story which lived with Season 2 (personally the best season/story on the show) and it seems that some people would rather the writers get new material, I understand that, but if the writers are at this pit stop, hey! why not reuse old material, I am enthralled and Katherine H is an amazing actress.
Other stories... by the end of the episode, I realised how beautiful the show is, with the montage... I love the Christina/Owen story and thought the grate was a nice touch. Callie is annoying me a little, straight, gay, bi? I have spoken to other people, and it seems she woke up one day and decided to be something else, however unrealistic this is, it's nice to see someone on prime time exploring sexuality.
Lexie and Sloan? I like the comedy and strain that Sloan had been going through, and have to say their recent 'teach me' scene was something they both needed, we all knew they were going to sleep together, shame it happened v quickly after Sadie said something...
And finally, Virginia Dixon? I love her, she is uncomfortable, upsetting but the show is doing what it is known for, breaking barriers and exploring other people. There are few people on TV with this form of autism and it's amazing to see it play out- to see how each of the other characters will react with her etc...
Overall, I am loving Season 5, it could be better and I am really looking forward to the next set of episodes, they has been some great news on the internet about them. Promo looks great as well :D

[DocCovington]

Thank you so much for this great article! It made my day. :-)

Axing Erica Hahn off the show was already bad enough. But thereafter, they managed to make it even worse!

So, after this week's episode, I am definitely done with watching this absurdity that once used to be an intriguingly fresh tv show.