The evolution of Dr. Isobel (I’ve been spelling this wrong, blasphemy) Stevens has been a polarizing one. In television, any given storyline can change the likeability and fanbase of a character. In “Grey’s Anatomy,” a place where characters constantly make mistakes and are surrounded by extreme situations, it’s easy to let a character go too far. Now that Izzie is diagnosed with a life-threatening ailment, let’s look back at where she started and where she’s ended up. After all, this could be our last chance…
Season 1 introduces Izzie as the hopeful, warm and optimistic intern. Compared to Cristina and Meredith, she nicely offsets their dark energy with her bright hair and even brighter personality. As a television rule of thumb, you can’t hate the optimist. Perhaps it seems naive, but Izzie is also a doctor, which means she’s incredibly smart.
Izzie, the optimistic, smart doctor. You can’t get a better spot in an ensemble cast.
She’s also incredibly attractive. But beauty can only take you so far. So Izzie also grew up in a trailer park. In my opinion, she represents someone who doesn’t take their blessings for granted, but also someone who doesn’t let their present control their future. She is optimistic because she knows overcoming obstacles is entirely possible. Remember the locker room scene where she shows everyone exactly what her body says about her? She makes an example out of herself, which comes back later.
So, what are her flaws? Well, she does believe in people, but sometimes she ends up hurting herself in the process. She falls for Alex because she believes his attitude is just a disguise. It’s true, but can she fix it? The good girl always falls for the bad boy, but the happy ending is never a guarantee.
It’s also how she treats her patients. She’s talented and focused and hard working, and then she meets Denny Duquette. One of the most captivating storylines of the entire show, this is where Izzie lets herself go. Looking back, it’s amazing how the writing and the acting and all the emotion blind us from Izzie's terrible mistake. We’re seeing things in her shoes, so we root for her to the end…until her mistake comes back to haunt her. By the end of season 2, not only does she take the spotlight, but she’s left in a place where we want her to get back up. We want her to be happy more than anything.
So she comes back. Still, to recover from losing a loved one on a television show is tricky, because it has to take a long time, but not take a long time all at once. Even if we care, we get bored. Still, this is television, not the real world. But still, she comes back and continues her path to being a great doctor.
Unfortunately, season 3 is also when the wonderful Callie Torres becomes a series regular. Callie and Izzie? Not the best of friends. They get on each other’s nerves and they get jealous. Showing Izzie as someone who can’t see someone’s good side is the first sign that she’s in trouble. Just when a solution is needed, Izzie sleeps with George.
George and Izzie have sex. Let’s imagine that for a second. Four words: doom.
Sometimes, the good intention of making a fine point does not mean the point needs to be illustrated on prime time television. Izzie, the beautiful, smart, dedicated doctor, becomes the other woman. We stop seeing her other attributes except for the cheating part, the betrayal part, and we have to hate the betrayal part.
Izzie goes down all the way into season 4, where things do not get better. She breaks a marriage and dates the husband. Now, Izzie represents the person justifying making other people we care about, miserable. Oh no…
So “Grey’s Anatomy” takes it all apart and starts over. More than ever, Izzie has to stand strong in a bad situation. So, Izzie starts to have hallucinations of Denny.
At this point, I realized why Izzie has been bombing for so long. Addison was the other woman who became a fan favorite. They try it with Izzie; it doesn’t work. Meredith comes in touch with the afterlife. They try it with Izzie. Not only does it not work, but it drags on for months. She’s the repeater, and repeaters don’t fare well in television.
Now, Izzie’s sick. This is where she starts to stand back up. She uses herself as an example for the interns. She remains calm standing before death. And, the rest of the cast have to imagine their lives without Isobel Stevens, along with the audience. This is where all our death wishes might actually come true, but does it make us feel good?
Yes, the arc of Isobel Stevens fell off the deep end at one point. But now, she is once again at the center of our attention. At the end of the day, can we forgive all her mistakes? Will the show be better without her?
Let me know. What do you wish to happen to Izzie?
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