Grey’s Anatomy – Recap & Review – Going, Going, Gone

photo: abc

Grey’s Anatomy
Going, Going, Gone

Original Air Date: Sep 27, 2012

Karen Belgrad – Senior Editor
Karenbelgrad@thetwocentscorp.com

That was, without a doubt, the most exhausting hour of television I have ever watched. Between the plot reveals, the new interns, and 5PM, the hour was almost dizzying in its intensity.

Last season ended with the horrific plane crash. But tonight we are spared the immediate aftermath. Tonight we pick-up approximately two to three month after the crash, so let’s get to where and what and who are favorite tortured doctors are up to…

Karev: Has put off his move to Hopkins since the plane crash. In that time he’s managed to hook up with most of the new interns and mostly acted like a cocky ass. But his evolved sensitive side still shows through, no more so than when he stands guard at a supply closet as Callie cries inside (more on that in a bit). He’s coping with a bit of survivors guilt, since he was supposed to be on the plane, which is his driving motivation to get out of Seattle and over to Hopkins. But learning that the new pediatrics attending, Dr. Mel Barnett (played by Phillip Casnoff) plans to move his African orphans programs to UCLA, and maybe the broken people he’d be leaving behind, Karev decides to stay in Seattle.

Cristina: In Minnesota, Cristina is facing a wintery mess that doesn’t quite match up to current local weather conditions. She’s also dealing with a chipper Dr. Parker (played by Desperate Housewives’ Steven Culp) and old fashioned Dr. Thomas (returning William Daniels, who was her exam proctor). She hasn’t visited Seattle, due to her inability to get on a plane. She’s bored senseless by the old-fashioned methods and go-team attitude of the hospital, to the point where she snaps at Dr. Thomas for trying to take over her surgery. Dr. Parker orders her to take some R&R, explaining that there are no superstars there; the patients and hospital are the superstars. So, I don’t see Cristina lasting there much longer, do you?

Bailey: Ben surprises Bailey with a visit from California, making her giddy like a schoolgirl and horny like a … well, you know. Her giggling is not lost on the interns, although she does shut them down the ones lurking outside the on-call room with a swift glare. She is intrigued to learn she has a new nickname (post-Nazi) from Richard, but less than thrilled to learn it does not garner respect or fear. Karev breaks it to her that she is now, due to her Ben-coinciding happy attitude, known as BCB. Yes, our once feared resident is now sporting the moniker of “Booty Call Bailey.” I see a bit of return to stern in her future.

Meredith: Meredith is having no problems striking fear into her new interns. She’s now earned the nickname Medusa, for her ability to turn them to stone with a glance. She’s certainly picked up the season one Bailey-attitude, with her scathing remarks, and also season-one Dr. Burke’s moment of turning George into 007 with the intern-appendectomy. She chooses intern Jo Wilson (played True Blood’s Camilla Luddington) for the torture session, and the example is made, as the new doc tears the cecum, freezes, and just like O’Malley before her is humiliated in front of her classmates. But as the oft-mentioned 5PM arrives, Meredith panics and heads for the airport to see Cristina. But once she gets on the plane, she panics, exits, and heads to the airport lounge to Skype with Cristina and drink with Alex.

Derek/Callie: Their stories truly overlap this hour, as we learn that Callie has recently cleared Derek for a return to surgery. His previously mangled hand appears well-healed, but once in the O/R, after saying his phrase “It’s a beautiful day to save lives”, his hand goes numb, and he drops a surgical instrument. With all the stress of the day… we’re lead to ….

5PM: This is the time that was set in stone all hour. The time when everyone knew what was going to happen and why. And all of us viewers are saddened (if not surprised) to learn that at 5pm, they will be turning off life support for one Dr. Mark Sloan. I admit, I am a huge Eric Dane fan, but it was previously announced that he was leaving the show, so although it wasn’t a huge bombshell, I did find myself reaching for the Kleenex. Mark had left a living will, a directive stating that after thirty days, if he showed no improvement, he should be removed from life support. So after a day of watching Callie try and arouse him awake and Avery talk patient care, it was time to pull the plug on our favorite lothario. I began to get choked up when Avery told him he would take the “Plastics Posse” from here. But when Callie and Derek, after Richard talked them through the steps (so they could have a moment to process what was happening), sat at his bedside as he was extubated, real tears began to well up. His two closest friends watched as Mark’s blood pressure dropped and he took his last breath.

Mark Sloan , 1968-2012

Throughout the hour we saw private Mark moments, shown as flashes of home videos. In 1994, he promised Derek to be the best man ever at Derek/Addison’s wedding, while wondering why a man would settle for one woman. In 2007, we saw his botched attempt to film a sex tape with Callie. In 2009, he offered up a sentimental speech for Callie and Arizona’s wedding, expecting them to be together in sixty years, hoping the same for himself and Lexie. In 2011, he welcomed home his daughter with Callie and Arizona and lulled her to sleep. And in 2012, he taught Avery a surgery technique without breaking a sweat. Oh McSteamy, you’ll be missed and we’ll always have memories of this image.

Arizona: Lastly, we heard many mentions of Arizona throughout the episode, but no indication as to whether she lived or perished in the plane crash. At the very end of the hour, Callie returned home to her wife and challenged her to get out of bed and be an active part of their family. And Arizona turned towards her and snapped that Callie cut off her leg. And with that, we see a visual of Arizona’s left leg amputated.

Other bits: We met other interns, Shane (Gauis Charles), Stephanie (Jerrika Hinton), and Heather (Tina Majorino), but they didn’t do much besides complain about Meredith’s attitude. Owen told Dr. Wilson that there’s no room for tears, and Meredith isn’t mean, but strong. And then he flew off to the farm to bring April Kepner back to Seattle, as she is the one do-over he gets.

And that was that for the frantically jam-packed season nine opener. I know hospitals get new staff, but this hour definitely felt overstuffed with cast members. I’m not sure we need four new interns, and I hope they’re more background than self-mutilating Sadie a few seasons back. And did Dr. Wilson really say that Meredith was in a plane crash where people “died, almost, or something.” Wouldn’t it be bigger news and gossip, even months later?

So now you have my TwoCents, be sure to share your TwoCents, comments, and feedback below!