‘Grey’s Anatomy’ returned Thursday, February 9th with the Valentine’s Day themed episode ‘All You Need is Love’. The series has a proven track record across its 8 seasons of delving as deep into the romantic lives of the Seattle Grace doctors as it does into the medical dramas surrounding them. This week's episode doesn't disappoint as it delivers big on love (for Meredith and Derek and Callie and Arizona) and lack thereof (for Lexie, Alex and Owen and Cristina).
As previously reported, the 'Hope for the Hopless' episode left some Flint area fans wondering if this is the end for Owen (Kevin McKidd) and Cristina (Sandra Oh). It certainly doesn’t look good for them at the beginning of the episode when Owen is freezing Cristina out and ordering April (Sarah Drew) to get rid of all the Valentine’s flowers.
Then a car crashes through the hospital and Owen shoves Cristina to the floor and out of its path. Even at the near miss from death, they don’t embrace and the devastation is all over Cristina’s face. He even goes so far as to tell her he’s moving out.
Owen turns to Teddy (Kim Raver) for comfort and she unleashes a very bitter speech about how much she hates him for putting the hospital’s needs above her husband’s death and vows to never speak to him again. The scene is particularly powerful for Raver and McKidd, because the emotion both actors convey is so real and raw. Owen looks as if Teddy’s words are a physical blow and knock the wind right out of him.
Sandra Oh does outstanding work portraying Cristina’s sadness and vulnerability over the impending end of her marriage, particularly when she reaches out to Owen and literally begs him not to hate her. He seems receptive to the reach out, but, what about all the hateful things he said to her? Can they both just leave them all behind?
Kathy Davis of Flint has watched ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ since its inception and is really rooting for Owen and Cristina to make it in the long run. She said:
‘Owen and Cristina have incredible chemistry. These last couple of episodes have been heartbreaking for them. I really hope they stick it out. When Owen ended up in the boiler room, I was thinking, please, may the PTSD not be coming back. And then when Cristina begs him, that was just so heart wrenching to watch. I am afraid he may never be able to forgive her for the abortion – and I honestly don’t know how they can survive unless he finds a way to forgive her and move past it.’
Chyler Leigh’s performance is also notable as Lexie contemplates being alone on Valentine’s Day. She watches a girlfriend who is furious with her boyfriend for letting her down every Valentine’s Day (for the last 8 years) by failing to propose. They have been in a car accident, and the boyfriend ultimately suffers complications and dies. The girlfriend is traumatized and heartbroken, and watching all of this, Lexie thinks about Mark (Eric Dane).
Leigh is incredibly gifted at conveying Lexie’s compassion and confusion and longing in her expressions. Lexie wears her heart on her sleeve, but she hasn’t had the courage to tell Mark the truth about how she feels.
She is babysitting Zola so Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) and Derek (Patrick Dempsey) can have some time to themselves. Julia gets called into emergency surgery and has to cancel her plans with Mark. So, he ends up babysitting Sofia so Callie (Sara Ramirez) and Arizona (Jessica Capshaw) can go on a romantic getaway.
Lexie decides to drop by Mark’s unannounced on the pretense of a play date for the babies. She knocks on the door and tells him that she wants to talk. She hears something in the background, assumes its Julia and says she’ll leave. Then Avery (Jesse Williams) appears behind Mark.
Mark tells Lexie he can ask Avery to go, if she wants to talk. Lexie chickens out, and says never mind, then both men convince her to come in and eat with them. She awkwardly agrees.
Oh, so close – but yet, so far for these two! If Mark was willing to talk, maybe they have a chance of getting back together. He enjoys Julia, but, admitted to Callie that he’s not in love with her yet.
Does he still love Lexie? Will she finally get the courage to tell him she still loves him the next time they are alone?
All in all, this is a strong episode that accurately depicts the ups and downs of love. Some other touching scenes include when Dr. Webber (James Pickens, Jr.) takes a surgery for Miranda (Chandra Wilson) so she can go on a date with Ben (Jason George). It’s his wedding anniversary, but, when he goes home to celebrate, Adele (Loretta Devine) doesn’t know who he is. Pickens and Wilson exude a father/daughter chemistry between Webber and Bailey that is always heartwarming to watch and is very special in this scene.
And, when Alex (Justin Chambers) reads a love letter from a 10-year-old boy to a 10-year-old girl who is being treated for a severe allergic reaction, there are not enough words for the magic the scene generates. He ends up telling the girl she picked a great boyfriend and her smile is big enough to light the entire hospital. Chambers is such a master at playing all the complex sides to Alex Karev. This scene shows what a soft and romantic heart Alex has. When is he going to find a love of his own?
One thing is certain, the writers and cast of ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ are masters at conveying the nuances and the complexities of matters of the heart for these characters who we, as an audience, root for and can’t help falling in love with ourselves.
Finally, ‘All You Need is Love’ reminds us all just that: love is the most important thing in life. It is something we all need and something we should never take for granted and should never fail to give.
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ airs Thursdays in Flint on WJRT ABC12 at 9 PM EST.
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