“Mo’ money, mo’ problems”, as it’s eloquently put by Cristina Yang…
The results of a long awaited test are nerve-wracking. But this is more than a test. This is the beginning of yet another change. Win or lose there are changes happening all around the doctors of Seattle Grace-Mercy West. The plane crash responsible for that change has disrupted the simplicity of their lives, left two of their friends dead, left Arizona without a left leg, and Derek with a damaged operating hand. And they are now bestowed with a big fortune that will likely lead to even bigger conflicts between the doctors of Grey's Anatomy. As the survivors of trauma move forward, it will become clearer that this is just the beginning of what may be the end of their beloved hospital, where they have all loved, laughed, fought, saved lives and more.
Jumping a whole month forward after Bailey’s wedding and Adele’s death, the time of change continues to roll on for everyone. There are certain things that end and begin all in this very special installment, that transitions the story it has been telling thus far. The doctors/plane crash survivors didn’t lose the war, but it certainly doesn’t feel like a victory. When one is hit with fifteen million dollars, their whole life changes. But is it for the better? It certainly doesn’t erase the fact that they’ve lost two great fellow doctors and friends/family members. There is the inherent and immediate shock that comes with a situation like this and Meredith, Derek, Arizona, and Cristina are all conflicted, while Callie chooses to see the brighter side of things. No one’s saying she’s clairvoyant, but Callie’s assertions that the survivors celebrate the fact that this mess is now behind them is admirable. Only if she knew…
The plane crash survivors aren’t the only ones moving forward from trauma. Dr. Richard Webber is conflicted as well. He’s been cleaning house, avoiding surgery and avoiding Catherine Avery. It’s understandable that he would be withdrawn. The guilt Webber feels for leaving Adele to have fun with Catherine is shattering. It stems all the way back to the past of him not spending his life with his wife, but with his profession and another woman, Ellis Grey. Richard feels as though he has failed at being the good man that he promised he would be when he and Adele got married. It’s rather heartbreaking to watch as Webber rids of all the reminds him of the times he has betrayed Adele, which is more than once. With all of that guilt and suffering alone, some, like myself might be wondering if he plans on finally calling it quits. Is Adele’s death the final straw for him, or can Catherine or maybe Meredith help him to find some semblance of happiness left to go on from here? Richard Webber is one of the biggest characters in this series and an icon at Seattle Grace-Mercy West, him leaving would be a monstrous change.
One’s whole life can’t be about the cookie. People have to move on, and so does April. Her and Jackson’s relationship has been altered quite a bit since their breakup and even Meredith and Cristina can see that she’s becoming painfully distracted. Maybe its time for April to get her own groove on, rather than having her pine for Jackson, who has clearly moved on with intern Stephanie. Jackson has moved on so quickly and gotten his groove back that he’s become even more confident in his surgeries, perhaps even a bit cocky, as he takes on an old patient of Mark’s and proves himself admirably as quite a skilled surgeon. I just wonder if his cockiness might cause him to slip at some point. Jackson and April agree to just be friends; however, April’s conflicting emotions are still missing her up. I can’t say that I’m that invested in Jackson and April at this point in time, with everything else going on, but it’s a nice distracting subplot that will hopefully develop into something more dramatic for the both of them.
Bailey’s honeymoon wasn’t the ideal romantic getaway that she may have wanted. And it’s not great that she is reminded of just how odd her situation was when she and Callie deal with an older couple that are desperate to find the steam in their marriage after 45 years. From attempting odd stripper pole moves called the “Sexy-flexy” and vagina bedazzling (“vajazzaling”), it all ends in disaster and embarrassment. April bluntly informs the husband to take charge and just do it. Literally! But for Bailey, it only reminds her of the “sandy cookie” that she endured after only having sex with her new husband, Ben once during their honeymoon. Sad, but grossly hilarious at the same time, and it surely made Callie feel better about her own lackluster sex life. Not exactly the best step forward in her new marriage, but Bailey is determined to make it work.
Cristina and Owen, although fresh from signing their divorce papers, are starting over. It feels like a new start. They spent two years married to one another and had to find out the differences about one another the hard--very hard way, but now they know each other and what they want. This is the fresh start Cristina and Owen both needed and while they aren’t sure what to label it, maybe it is good for them not to have a specific category on what they are at the moment. That’s where they went wrong the first time. And while this fresh start for Owen and Cristina doesn’t solve their problems with one another, like Owen’s want for a baby and Cristina’s disapproval of being a mother, it does give them a chance to stand back and slowly establish what is appropriate for them to work as a pair. Even if they’re just having hot and fun sex with one another right now, the relationship fixing will, I presume come next.
In the middle of all of that, there is Derek, who is almost irrationally putting blame upon Owen for the crash, which I think is simply an idea that was put in his head by the lawyers. Honestly, we all know how stubborn Derek Shepherd, the neurosurgeon can be, and right now he's just looking for someone to blame. Owen being the Chief of Surgery, is the perfect individual to direct his frustrations on, however wrong they may be. Owen was thrown into being Chief of Surgery in the midst of all the craziness that happened in the beginning of Season 8, so it's somewhat understandable how he could fumble in this situation that left two of his doctors dead and other's injured physically and emotionally. However, let us not forget when Derek was Chief of Surgery, he let in some trauma of his own, but in the form of a mass murder shooting, after making a quick decision that killed and injured more than six doctors, in Season 6. Derek and Owen have been in leading positions that they both stumbled in. Both of which lead to tragedies that scarred them all for life. Derek's irrational blame on Owen is just a bit ridiculous, given the circumstances, and I think he needs to focus his energy on getting full function to his operating hand back.
I'm loving intern Heather so much. She's so quirky and has a weird innocence to her. Everything that comes out of her mouth gets such a fun reaction. And she's growing as a doctor as well, under Meredith's guidance. Fantastic!
Alex and Jo have charmed their way into becoming the ideal couple, at least so far. They are just friends--buddies as of now, but we all know where this is going. Jo insists that she sees Alex as more of a brother; however, it is clear that there is more to these two jokesters and partners in crime. Their definitely a pair with chemistry and they have a great deal in common. Even when Alex and Jo are bickering at one another like two cute high schoolers who won’t admit they like each other and making bets on a heated ping-pong game between intern Shane and attending Derek Shepherd, there is a slowly growing relationship developing. This is different for Alex though. He is so used to sleeping with women before hanging out with them and getting to know them personally, that it almost throws him off that he is actually becoming friends with a female intern that he though he would despise after their first meeting. Of all the relationships on the series that are developing right now, this is the one I can’t wait to see more of in the upcoming episodes. Alex deserves someone that is on the same level as he is--even if that level is him living in a friend’s old house with no furniture or cups. And Jo bought Alex a couch! With the money she won from their bet, but still. She obviously like Alex enough to still be hanging around with him, in his empty house. Even if it is a hazard that Chief of Surgery, Owen might come in groping her in the mornings. So awkward.
The settlement that Meredith, Derek, Arizona, and Cristina have gotten will change their lives forever. But more than they think. The dinner that Callie sets up for them puts (almost) everything into perspective. This settlement--this dinner commemorates the beginning of a new life full of wealth and friends. They lost two soldiers during their battle with the trauma that truly tested them, but they’re alive. And it’s time to move on from all of the horrible things that are weighing down on this victory. And in moving forward, there is the outing of truths, namely Meredith finally announcing her pregnancy, not just to her Twisted Sister, but to those she survived with.
The big question is what they will all do with their respective fifteen million dollars? And the even bigger question is what will happen when they acquire it from the hospital? There is always a trick to every settlement isn’t there. The bomb dropped on Owen is one that marks the beginning of the end of Seattle Grace-Mercy West and possibly all of the doctors’ careers. The fact that Arizona replaced Alex on the plane twists this case into a new, traumatic direction. While the plane crash survivors celebrate, an even bigger conflict rears its head. The hospital will go bankrupt due to this event and the face of change might put the doctors at odds. Grey's Anatomy is kicking it up a notch! What Owen will do with this huge bit of information is yet to be determined; however, ignorance can only be bliss for so long. And then there is the end--Or the beginning. I’m not sure of which yet… “The Beginning Is the End Is the Beginning” gets 4 out of 5 stars!
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© Patrick Broadnax 2013
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