‘Grey’s Anatomy’: Something for the Pain

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Maybe “Grey’s Anatomy” should take a five-week break more often. The beleaguered medical drama returned last night with an episode that, thankfully, wasn’t as painful as a filed-down toothbrush to the spine.

That uncomfortable experience was reserved for the death row inmate, played by occasional “Grey’s” director Eric Stoltz, who was rushed to Seattle Grace after what seemed to be one heckuva prison fight. Considering some of the series’ recent soapy turns, I admit I worried that the serial killer, who’s only a week away from execution, would decide he had nothing to lose, wriggle out of his cuffs and set off on some mad hospital rampage. But so far, the storyline, which continues in the next two episodes, seems more interested in addressing a sticky moral and ethical dilemma: How much good should be done to help such a bad guy? Cool. That works. Especially because it further complicates one of “Grey’s” richest, most fully realized relationships — that between BFF’s Meredith and Cristina — in a believable, interesting way.

Tension’s been building between these two for some time, what with Cristina not being able to fully get behind Mer’s reunion with Der, and Meredith failing to stand up for her friend to the Chief after the whole Fight-Club interns debacle. Now, they find themselves on opposite sides of the ethics debate, acting all “silent ragey.” They’re both clearly hurting without the other, and it kinda hurts to watch — precisely because sometimes really hard, messy stuff happens and there just aren’t any quick fixes, even with your ‘person.’

The Cristina-Meredith situation also managed to lead to one of the episode’s genuinely sweet moments: Derek trying, hilariously, to console his girlfriend the way Cristina usually would, with loud music and dancing. The dude has no rhythm. (Finally, a chink in the McDreamy armor!) We haven’t seen much of Mer-Der since they settled into domestic bliss. Winning scenes like this one only make me miss them more. (Just one quibble: How is it possible that, in all their on-off years together, Derek had never told Meredith about the tragic circumstances surrounding his dad’s death? That seems like something that would’ve come up, especially since Mer’s lost a parent too.)

Elsewhere in the episode, a pediatric surgeon I don’t remember ever seeing before dropped dead, leading the Chief — depressed over the hospital’s sinking status — to hang a “Do Not Disturb” sign and check out for the day. (Now THAT’S the way to get back on top!) Bailey butted heads with the very blond, very young, sneaker-skating new peds doc (Jessica Capshaw) over the course of treatment for a young boy who’s been a longtime patient. And Sloan and Callie fought a losing battle over their attractions to interns Lexie and Sadie, respectively. Izzie also told Alex about Ghost Denny’s persistent presence but, hey, Alex didn’t get too worked up about it and, for this week at least, neither will I. We all know this bizarre story needs to end, it’s not, and it’s frustrating. But at least the birthday girl had sex with the living, breathing Alex this time around.

Now, what say you?

-- Shawna Malcom