'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

[Heidi]

I was not prepared for Reid to get shot in the head...I gasped. Good season finale, lacked a bit of emotional warmth, but pretty good. I was at a large hospital today and I kept thinking what if scenarios...so I guess it had an impact lol.

[kathy]

this episode was disturbing - more unrealistic than most - agree with other commentor - two hours and not one member of a swat team gets him? and Meredith and friend just STAND there watching Derek get shot and don't call anyone to tell them where the shooter is? Was this a shot at gun control? If it was, then it proves that if doctors had the ability to carry weapons the guy wouldn't have made it past the first nurse's station... I watch Greys to FORGET

[Beth]

I think that last nights episode was amazing. Filled with great moments for all the actors. My favorite moment was when Merideith was willing to give her life in exchange for husbands. I felt for her character. I would do the same for my husband.
As for Mandy Moore I think she did her best acting. She was not ment to be witty but believeible. She was a scare patient nothing more. I think you where expecting too much from her. She is not a oscar winning actress but i think last night might been the best actting i have ever seen her do.
It was a amazing season finale that left me on the edge of my seat for two hours. I look forward to what the writers and actors are going to bring us next year. If it is a half as good as last night it will be a season to remember.

[Morgan]

What kills me about this entire episode is the fact that the SWAT team shot him but then didnt take him down..They just let him walk off.

[Alex]

I was totally disappointed by the season ending episode. They so jumped the shark with a completely unbelievable storyline that it made it hard to watch! Even in a television show, you need to maintain some sense of "that could happen" and they blew it. When the SWAT team member shot Mr. Clark at the end of the first hour to save Lexi, I figured the rest of the episode would concentrate on saving the injured doctors and build that story. But then all of a sudden he is up and walking the halls again?? SWAT just left him there and went away??? That is when they lost me and predictability came in with Meredith losing the baby, who didn't see that coming?

[Deloice Wilson]

This show had my heart racing and wanting to pull out all my hair. This is one of my favorite shows and I really can't wait until the new season begin. So much was going on it last night that it was hard to keep up with who was dead or alive.

[JMC]

Too dramatic and can a writer write off a character w/o killing him. It's sick!

[Mary]

nobody has mentioned the fact that they got our hopes up that mar was pregnant then ripped it away!!!! i was so happy about that then they say she had a miscarrage!!!??? that is bull!!!! i cried thru the whole thing but when mar was helping owen as she was having a miscarrage I BALLED MY EYES OUT!!!!!!!!!!! OMG!

[ddmrh70]

This was one of the BEST episodes. The characters are maturing and the writing was stellar. It's fiction not a documentary so there will be some unbelievable things that you just have to swallow. All in all, the show has gotten better over time ,after veering off the road (ie George and Izzy hookup). It was a very well acted and suspenseful finale. Kudos all around.

[Mike Montague]

I rank this episode as one of the best ever...from Weber's dialogue with the shooter, ( I've had a great life...) to Bailey's shattering scream of despair over the elevators, I'd half expected to hear a GD at that moment..I agree it was a testament to Chandra Wilson's talent in that gut wrenching scene (I put my money on her for the 2011 emmys; although Chief Weber's strength in the face of the shooter's rage.)

[Sydney]

I almost #### myself just watching this episode, it was so intense and shocking, it didn't help that I had downed a cup of coffee before watching. This show was almost to much excitment for one night. almost.

[Dj]

Arrr Man, I believe this episode to be off the Hook ! - I usually fall asleep on it - b/c latly well ya ! but last nite - I could not - almost unbelievable..Even though I really enjoyed the season finale. My input on it Y did it take S.W.A.T. so long to come through and get this - they still didnt take him out.. He did it himself -WoW.. But never the less this is late nite TV. And as always there is room for what if - well ya what if you were the writer - than how would you have edited.. Yea - rite ! All in All I was totally engaged and enjoyed the whole 2 hrs.. It was very suspensful .. But like others i was wondering why the doctors act as if they didnt know how to assist with the victims.. Kudos to dr.bailey in her actinb roll with the dying dr....
and christina how did she eva cont. w. the surgery on mcdreamy w/ a gun to her head ? amazing.. Fact is my over all perceptive -- it was GR*T !!!!!!

[dedicatedtvdiva]

I haven't watched the finale yet but I am waiting on pins and needles for it to show in my country, can't wait.
The writers need to spin things up this season, more interesting cases and more personal issues among the doctor's of Seattle Grace/Mercy West.
I say bring back Preston Burke let's have a love quadrangle Christina/Burke/Owen/What's her Face.
So a few Mercy Wester's died, I am happy to hear my favorites are still there. I am not sorry to lose the George and Izzie characters, they were getting irritating.
I first started liking Grey's because of the interpersonal relationships and the medical stories. How many medical dramas have they been on TV????huh?
We tune in because we want to see what goes on in the lives of people who save our lives. How confused, crazy, etc. they are.
I will be back for the next season and the next. We have McDreamy, McSteamy, now bring another new face McHotty (and I don't mean Owen).

[sherry]

I have to say if one of the main characters had of died I probably wouldnt watch the show anymore. When george died it was hard enough for me to watch. I was really upset that Meridith had lost the baby though. I think that would have been a great way for next season to start out and her and Derek would have been pretty kool as parents. I hope that another pregnancy is wriiten in the future.

[Stacey]

I thought this was a very good episode. However, did anyone else find it odd, that after the SWAT team shot Mr. Clark, he still managed to walk around the hospital and get into the operating room while Christina was operating on Derek?

[Deb]

The following comments are in response to Amy's post (Amy's posts are in quotes)

"The season finale had a lot of gaps...Seattle SWAT was able to hit Mr. Clark just once...and only in the shoulder? Please." - This comment I completely agree with - any SWAT shooter would either shoot to take him out of commission or shoot to kill - in this case, they did neither which is extremely unrealistic!!

"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." - All of the doctors who were in lock down where they had access to a phone called 911 - they showed a segment of the police chief and Richard Webber listening to the frantic calls of the hospital staff reporting who was shot and who was killed coming out in a jumble outside the front doors of the hospital - can't agree with this statement because they did call 911! And where we live, even in the larger hospitals, cell phone rarely work!

"Then Meredith operating WHILE she's having a miscarriage? Seriously." - Agreed - I can't imagine anyone would be able to do something like that, even if it was her "post-it" husband on the operating table."

"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." - I can't agree with this one Amy! I began losing interest in Grey's when George died, although I thought that episode was one of the best! I'm glad Izzy is gone because that's one character who proved to be incredible selfish and self-centered, and way too naive to be a doctor much less a surgeon! This season finale had me glued to my seat, and I saw some stellar performances from characters who really stepped it up in this episode. I'm glad the former Chief showed his true colors and showed his former strength. Chandra Wilson's Bailey was amazing - the "nazi" as she used to be called, is my favorite character on the show! I do wish Owen would get of the stick and quite and Teddy, Yang, Teddy, Yang, Teddy Yang yoyo crap, though!

[Mark]

I thought the "Grey's Anatomy" season finale was intense and suspenseful. Yes, it was over the top and yes, it can be a bit maudlin at times, but it was exciting and pretty explosive for a season capper. I think the deaths were shocking Mercy Westers or not. The performances were quite good, especially Sara Ramirez, Sandra Oh, James Pickens, Jr. and Jessica Capshaw. Frankly, I saw nothing that Mandy Moore did that was wrong footed or problematic. She acquitted herself very nicely I thought. Finally, because she is so good she needs to be in a class by herself...Chandra Wilson is a miracle worker. If she doesn't win the Emmy this year, someone is not paying attention. I'll say it again: the great Chandra Wilson is a miracle worker!

[Mel]

I loved the show. Bailey's performance was great. Dr. Webber was fearless and Callie was wonderful under the pressure. Mr. Clark was even believeable. He played husband that had really lost it. I love the show the writers are great. I'm glad Izzie is gone. Her character was getting on my nerves way before she left. Love Sandra Oh, she's not just a talking robot anymore. Keep up the good work Shonda Rhimes and the rest of the writers. Big thumbs up!

[natalie]

I am and have always been a Grey's fan! But I have always been torn between what show is my fav, the best drama, between Lost, One Tree Hill, and Grey's. Lastnight's Grey's make it easy to choose!! I have never experianced a more dramatic finale ever!! Thank you Grey's writers!!

[Kathy Seifert]

I think it is unfortunate that with so much anger and violence in America the same was exploited in Grey's Anatomy. I see enough in the world and had enough of the finale. So I turned it off. Along with my respect for the writer's. I changed channels to something more positive on a topic of what can be done to elevate pain, not produce more of it. In spite of my liking most of the actors, I will not watch it next season. Too much killing and destruction just ruined it for me. I was very disgusted. The writers values are too low.