'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

[carolanniejoan]

This episode was truly hard to watch, I agree----very tense, very stressful, very shocking. But, the operative word in "lock down" is LOCK. Are there no locks on hospital doors? The killer had free rein to roam and enter wherever he liked which was horrifying but seemed unrealistic. But what do I know? Maybe there are no locks on OR doors, or patient rooms.
The other mistake, in my opinion, was the false choice given to the killer: suicide or life in prison (on the assumption that the SWAT guys would arrest him). Have the writers never heard of "suicide by cop"? He could have shot Webber and then just run towards the cops waving his empty gun and been killed instantly.
Future story lines: Alex talking to Izzie, not Little Grey in his delirium. Was she saying "ILY" just to keep him going? What will McSteamy do now---back to Teddie?
Bailey was a mega-star-----I bet she provoked more tears than any other person/situation in the show. She continually blows me away (ooops, bad figure of speech given the number of the blown away on this finale).

[Margaret Simpson]

This show while never strong on being realistic at least tried. Last night's big finale was absurd. Doesn't it seem odd that Mr. Clark managed to meet up with every Doc we know and love (or hate as the case may be) Why didn't Mc Dreamey's heart just implode in his chest from that shot? How come the shooter was such a good shot when it was his first time with a gun? Why did he immediately shoot everyone else but let the two chiefs(the people he was gunning for after all) have their say. Whats up with the swat team? They really stink don't they? What a load of horse apples. I couldn't wait till it was finished.

[GREYSLOVA]

Keep it real people this was a TV show does anything on tv ever go the way it does in real life..NO!! I think the show was a heart stopper and left me on the edge of the bed. No one single person can say what they would do if faced in an emergency situation we don't know that until faced with it. I love GREYS and always will it will be one show I won't ever forget. Thanks Greys

[Cathy Emmons]

My two daughters (17 and 18) and I have watched every episode and sat through all the tearful parts (with boxes of Kleenex in hand most of the time). Last night's episode scared the crap out of all three of us. From the moment the first shots were fired and we all screamed like babies (I'm suprised the neighbors didn't call 911!), we were riveted. It was the most intense, violent show I have ever seen on TV, but one of the best Grey's in a long, long time. We were all totally exhausted when it was over.

[Marcell]

Brillant! From the preview, it was pretty predictable what was going to happen, but I still was blown away.

[S. Maas]

Holy Crap! I think it was one of the strongest endings ever for a show. Like many here who have posted - Grey's was beginning to feel a little benign and trite - but the finale definitely felt like a whomp! I couldn't believe it and couldn't turn away for a second.

While I'm definitely not a fan of gratuitous violence, I believed and kind of expected Mr. Clark to go a little crazy after seeing him a few eps ago. I don't know that I expected all of this. My only one and only complaint.. if the Swat team could have gotten a clean shot (which they did) - it would have been over at that point all together.

All in all - I loved it! Great writing, great acting!

[tallisa jewell]

i loved this ending. but it really did have alot of e.r in it! just the body count was higher! ive noticed they have used alot of e.r type things in the show... has anyone else noticed?

[Rose Gonzalez]

I am surprised it wasn't mentioned, what tore me was Meredith's miscarriage and Mark's face as he watched Lexie go to Alex (I still believe Lexie and Mark belong together). But I hope this is marks a new beginning for Greys and a finial good bye to that bad witting from season 5. Also it appears Alex still loves Izzy with every fiber of his being (what does this mean, maybe she might come back?) I think Hegel should come back. She can savage her horrible reputation, and it beats starring in terrible typical movies with no substance- and playing the SAME CHARACTER every time.

[Susan Alexander]

Wow...great episode...sorry but won't miss anyone that died..forgetable characters.. Loved seeing Dr.Bailey..she was the best actress of that episode. Didn't even know that was Mandy Moore but again very forgetable. Only thing I didn't like was Meredith losing her baby the way she did. Was upseting to watch. Grey's is continually getting better and love the show...keep up the good work.

[burbankviewer]

Too much. It became laughable to us when a surgeon announces she's having a miscarriage while performing surgery. We thought she might run in to her husband, undergoing surgery "next door" and tell him, and maybe throw in that the baby wasn't his. Then perhaps there could have been an ebola outbreak at the police command post and the former chief of surgery could tell the shooter "Luke, I am your father." Seemed like they had a big box of melodrama and threw it all into the finale. Don't watch Grey's too often because I don't get into the characters - too whiny, childish, and always sleeping with each other and fighting about it, during surgery. Can't compare with the earlier years of my favorite medical drama, ER.

[Brittany]

I agree it would have made a bigger impact if a regular had died, but after spending two hours painfully crying and screaming, "No! Don't do it!" at my television, I'm glad everyone made it. And we don't know that Alex will make it anyway. This was an excruciating episode to endure and I hope to see some serious awards for these actors. So much happened I can barely process it.

I completely disagree about being straight from Columbine with Clark asking if they were surgeons. He was angry at surgeons. That's who the problem was with and who he decided to target. He only wanted to hurt them. This man was seriously messed up, but you could still see the pain he had even with a gun pointed at others.

The most devastating thing is going to be what happens to Meredith next season. She was so happy at the beginning of the episode about being in love and the baby and even in how she saw Seattle Grace as a home. I have a feeling she's going to get broken again and maybe even quit working there. Maybe she'll quit surgery or being a doctor altogether.

All in all, this episode was phenomenal and riveting, yet devastating. GREAT TELEVISION

[d1man]

Stupid. This was worse than daytime soaps.

[Brittany]

Oh yeah! 5 swat team guys!?!? REALLY!?!?!? I'm definitely not moving to Seattle if that's how they roll!

[Kathryn Carter]

I hadn't watched Grey's Anatomy for over 2 years, and had been a constant viewer, before I stopped watching. I saw the preview a couple of days ago and decided to watch the finale. I was very impressed and glued to my seat! The acting and the drama was in my opinion, outstanding. I will return to watch next season and hope it is as good as it was when it first aired. Last night was a winner!

[Sewing Fanatic]

This was a fantastic episode and in no way did it remind me of Columbine. I thought Chandra Wilson was AMAZING and don't understand the Mandy Moore criticisms at all. I'm glad Izzie is gone and don't miss her and her whining and cheating at ALL!

Don't understand tho' why Burke can't come back now that Izzie and George have moved on because seriously he was soooooo good and that would throw such a monkey wrench into Cristina & Owens romance.

To me it was an awesome episode - Shonda Rhimes is an amazing writer!

[Barb]

It was very exciting, but I'd like to see the show become a little more believable or realistic. The Doctors need to grow up a little.

[Phil Lathby]

That's because you've never had a gun pointed at you. As someone who's been robbed at gunpoint I can tell you that in the moment you think of nothing but staying alive. "Staying cool" blah blah only happens in movies. This was a reasonable portrayal of how people actually react when faced with their own potential death at the hands of another person.

[Rita]

It was a terrible program. Way too violent. Two hours of a shooter roaming through a locked-down hospital? I just started watching this season. I may not watch it next fall.

I'm blogging about it on my blog The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide.

Rita

[Justine]

They all called 911. Or did that scene of compiled 911 calls only come on my television. That was when Richard snuck in. Everyone paid such close attention to make lists and nit pick little details, but seemed to not have notice that the doctors that had patients called 911. It showed their names on the computer. I love this show. It is my only show that I have to watch. It was awesome! If you guys hate the show so much...watch something else...it is a simple concept.

[Snooki]

They can do better than this. Not realistic for me. Clark's shooting was too arbitrary considering he had targets in mind. "I never meant to kill all those other people?". C'mon. It did feel as if newer characters were introduced just to be "offed". Easy to feel this. Really not necessary to hit so close to home with mass murder-like scenario. They have creativity and success on their side. Didnt need to go there. Still perplexed how intimate, relationship dilemmas are rectified in the midst of surgery and other drama -atypical to layman I guess but all in a day's work for surgeons! Overall, too over the top- not believable.