'Grey's Anatomy': It's not a finale without a body count

"Grey's Anatomy" has a history of strong finales. With the exception of Cristina's wedding -- which I'll excuse because that was the year of the writers' strike -- each season-ender has been poignant enough to move me to tears. This year, I was too stunned to cry.

The finale, "Sanctuary / Death and All His Friends," turns the hospital from a sanctuary into a battle field. Mr. Clark returns, still upset by his wife's death at the hand of Webber, Lexie and McDreamy despite the board's ruling that the doctors made the right decisions.

This time, he wants revenge of the "eye for an eye" variety, and he's got the jacket full of ammunition to prove it.

It's been 11 years since the Columbine High School massacre, and only three since the Virginia Tech massacre. Despite the fact that "Grey's Anatomy" takes place in a hospital, not a school, the episode couldn't help but recall those memories. Like a school, a hospital is a safe place. It's somewhere people go to be taken care of and nurtured. To be honest, this episode was hard for me to watch.

Death is a common occurrence on "Grey's Anatomy;" someone dies in nearly every episode. However, it's never been a violent, intentional death at the hand of another human being. I don't know what the body count was from Mr. Clark's shooting spree, but I expect we'll find out next season. What I do know is that Seattle Grace will never be the same.

The good

Even in the midst of hospital chaos, the Seattle Grace doctors never lose their signature "Grey's" style of speaking. Arizona's line, "Do not alarm the makers of the tiny humans," was spot on. Later, when things got more dire, Cristina still sounded like Cristina. "I can't do this if you're in there staring at me with big, sad, don't kill McDreamy eyes." The best thing about "Grey's" is that the characters remain consistent. They may be consistently childish or consistently boring ... but they're consistent.

As always, Chandra Wilson blew this episode out of the water. The range of emotion Bailey experienced in tonight's episode was epic, for lack of a better word. The work that Wilson puts into her role really comes across on screen. You get the impression that the emotions are genuine, when in actuality, an enormous level of thought and commitment must go into each scene.

I was thrilled to see Callie and Arizona reconcile. I've made no secret of the fact that I think Sara Ramirez and Jessica Capshaw are the strongest actresses on the show, and their interactions make for some of the most emotional scenes, and some of the most funny. My only concern is that a reconciliation in such a time of crisis can't last.

Dr. Webber really shined tonight. At the beginning of the season, I was so disappointed in him. We'd invested so much in his character just to see him let the hospital down. Tonight, he proved himself a Chief again, and I hope that while Derek is recovering, he cedes the throne to Webber. When he told the officer, "I'm the Chief -- I'm the former -- look, this is my hospital," I truly believed him.

The bad

I've been a fan of Mandy Moore's for years, but I don't think her performance added much to the episode. As this week's big name guest star, all eyes were on her. So why was her dialogue so unnatural and so exposition-heavy? Though the writers remembered to keep the regular characters witty, Moore's character fell flat. I hope she returns for an episode or two next season to redeem herself. After enduring a trauma like this, it would seem odd for her not to forge a relationship with Bailey.

I'm probably going to get reamed for saying this, but I think that the episode would have had more emotional weight if one of the regular doctors had died. Reed and Charles were the only people killed that we recognized, and not only were they the new alien Mercy Westers, but they were also our least favorite Mercy Westers. It almost feels like they were introduced just to be killed.

After Columbine, rumors spread that the shooters asked victims whether they believed in God, and shot them if they said yes. Those rumors were later disproved, but when Mr. Clark asked the hospital staff whether they were surgeons and then shot them if they said yes, it hit a little bit too close to the mark. Since when is "Grey's Anatomy" the show that's "ripped from the headlines"? There are ways to establish fictional tragedy without borrowing so heavily from real tragedy.

This season has been jam-packed with big changes. It seems like a lifetime ago that we were wondering (well, sort of) whether Izzie and George would live or die. Certainly, such a tragic and traumatic event will make even bigger waves. I have a feeling that the Seattle Grace we return to next season will be a very unfamiliar, very scary place.

What are your thoughts on the episode? Were you as shocked as we were by the death toll? Who will you miss the most? Chime in with your expectations for next season in the comments below.

--Carina MacKenzie
twitter.com/cadlymack

Photo: (top) Ellen Pompeo, left, as Meredith and Sarah Drew as April.

Credit: ABC

Photo: (bottom) Mandy Moore as Mary. 

Credit: ABC

Comments

[evie]

At the end of the day, while it was can't-turn-away television, the absurdity of the shooter not being caught for nearly two straight hours (24-style) didn't bother me the most. What bothered me was having practically every doctor (surgeon!) completely fall apart when faced with this crisis. I mean, they are DOCTORS. What the hell was the deal with them acting as if they had never seen a crisis before in their lives?

Sure, they don't fear for their lives every day or see friends die, but do they see huge, catastrophic traumas? Um, yeah. Every day. And yet, one after another, they froze. Choked. Gave in.

I didn't buy it.

And don't get me started on Mandy Moore.

[Vanessa]

I hope this episode marks a return to the strong writing and characters that drew me to Grey's when the show began.

I had gotten so fed up of the childish behavior (how old ARE these annoying people??)... the stupid bickering and inane narcissism (you're really going to confront your boyfriend about your relationship during open heart surgery? With apparently zip concern for the fact that you've literally got someone's life in your hands. Seriously.)... and behavior so incredibly unprofessional that it was a running insult to any competent medical professional. All of it had driven me away from the show for the last couple of years.

Even though I missed the first 20 minutes of the finale (told you I'd stopped watching), when I got around to clicking in, I was absolutely riveted. Didn't even switch during the commercials in case I missed even one second. I'd all but forgotten that Grey's could be this good.

Seriously.

As usual, some standout performances by Sandra Oh, Chandra Wilson, Sara Ramirez and Jessica Capshaw. I suspect we'll be seeing some of these folks at the Emmys.

Rocked it out of the park. I'll be watching next season.

[Fabio]

Actually the writters strike was on for season four, when Meredith reconciles with Derek and does the blue print of the house with candles and he breaks up with Nurse Rose. Season three's finale was Cristina's Wedding and not the writters strike and it was a strong ending. It showed a different side of her character which I loved because it made her seem more human as she broke down after she was left at the alter by Burke.

[reqa]

i think that this episode was great. only the tabloids would talk about high school shootings. it was about a man upset about his wife's death getting revenge. the scariest part was wen reid got shot point blank in the head scary. but in the end, i knew that the major characters were gonna survive. no way were they going to kill owen or derek or karev. good season finale but kinda predictable. cant wait for next season.

[Ted]

This was the most violent thing I've ever seen on television, and I found it incredibly exploitative. It didn't say anything new about human nature, or medicine, or gun violence -- all the bits of drama between shootings was just a pretense to get viewers to tune in to something that seemed a lot more like "Saw V" than "Gray's Anatomy." The producers really didn't seem interested in anything other than shock, and in upping the body count from those "special" episodes of "E.R."

There are some TV episodes I like, and some I don't like. This is one of the few that I actually regret having seen.

[Kelley]

"...Sara Ramirez and Jessica Capshaw are the strongest actresses on the show..."
Absolutely. Best Actresses, most loving relationship, and so very funny together. Arizona is my favorite character actually. She is just so likable and respectable and different. Loved the "makers of tiny humans" line and the way they got each other through the trauma. AND SHE MENTIONED GEORGE. It's been so long since someone mentioned my beloved George.

"It almost feels like they were introduced just to be killed."
I kinda think they were...

Agreed that it would have felt more authentic if a main character died, but like you said, it was only a year ago that we lost George. But if you're gonna have an apocalypse, you can't just bring Cas AND Bobby back in the second to last scene! At least leave Bobby dead so there is some emotional resonance. Wait, wrong show ;)

I also think Sandra Oh and Ellen Pompeo rocked this. Ellen especially in the light (for her) first half of the episode and Sandra before/during surgery.

[Mohammad]

it was a great finale! this has actually been a really good season, way better than last year. i'm glad izzie's gone.

p.s. the cristina wedding finale was the year before the writers strike, the writers strike season was season 4 (that was the finale with the candle house and everyone kissing)

[Ron Demahi]

It's so fashionable to pick on Mandy Moore, anyone who saw the episode will say she did an excellent job. Get your nose out of your...ah nevermind.

[Carol White]

The episode would have been much better without a million commercials. It was two minutes of storyline and 5 minutes of commercials. It was a good episode not really believable (if the cops were that inept we would all be in trouble) but it was very entertaining. You were on the edge of your seat for the whole two hours. Look forward to the next season.

[Joy]

The season finale had a lot of gaps...Seattle SWAT was able to hit Mr. Clark just once...and only in the shoulder? Please. Why didn't Dr. Bailey call 911 for help with Percy? She was dragging his body down the hall past a nurses desk, not to mention all the cell phones available. Then Meredith operating WHILE she's having a miscarriage? Seriously.

Grey's Anatomy is a sinking ship that should have been cancelled seasons ago. It's been on a downhill slide ever since Izzy did surgery on a deer.

[cc]

It was absolutely crzy. By far the best episode I have ever watched. I was exhausted afterwards.

[lila]

Does anyone else think April is the most annoying doctor/girl/character/actress EVER? I thought so before this episode, but all that blubbering and stuttering and talking about pigs made me really wish she was the first to have gotten killed. Why why why did they bring her back??

[Amy]

I did not make the connection to Columbine while watching in the least. Doesn't bother me.
While it may have made for a more dramatic episode if a regular doctor had died, I really don't think viewers could have recovered. The only way I'm not entirely depressed today is that I know all my beloved Seattle Grace doctors are ok. George and Izzie were enough.

[S]

Loved the finale..BUT I have to say that the part where Mr. Clark was about to shoot Lexie was a little unrealistic in my eyes. The SWAT team would not have shot him once and stopped..only to allow him to wander back down the hall..at that point I believe they would have shot to kill or shot more than once and it would have been over..

[Amy]

I really liked the last episode. I too have been thinking that the show hasn't been as good as it could be. Too much childish behavior of the Doctors in their own time. All the sex that goes on is crazy.

Anyway, the only problem I had with the final was when the shooter ended up in the OR room when Christina was working on Derek. I didn't realize the Operating rooms were connected? How could the shooter get into the room without going by Meredith and the other "chatty" doctor? A minor detail, I know, but other than that, I was at the edge of my seat the entire time. Some great TV happened!

[DC]

From the first 2 shootings I was riveted, but as it went on I thought it wasn't believable. As someone else mentioned..so many cell phones...SWAT shooting him, then he got up and began terrozing again? So many opportunities for him to be taken down...just not believable, so it made the drama a little cheezy. Great, but could've been better.

[Jessica nohava]

I was absolutely saddened and amazed by the show. The dialogue had me crying almost none stop. While Reid and Cooper are old Mercy Westers, their death and the effect it had on the other doctors was no less than profound.

Also, in response to Joey's question, "Why didn't Dr. Bailey call 911 for help with Percy?" She did call for help all the doctors called for help but if you remember the cops were getting the 911 calls but not responding. Which, is one of the reasons weber decided to go into the hospital.

[Jackie]

Best finale of all time, even though it scared me alot.

[Andrw]

Forget that she mentioned George. Even Erica Hahn got a shoutout. Not to mention all the former interns of Mer, Cristina, et. all showing up again.

[Ash]

Ried and Cooper?? I think you mean REED and CHARLES. Whatever happened to fact-checking?