The Dope Box TV Blog

This may contain future spoilers so stop reading here if you don’t want to know. Most of you have probably read about the Grey’s Anatomy rumor being reported. If not, here’s the gist: An original member of Grey’s is supposedly not getting along with producers and will be leaving the show. I instantly thought of Katherine Heigl, who has fought with producers over salary and pissed off writers after withdrawing her name from Emmy consideration and releasing a statement about not having been given material worthy of a nomination. But I don’t think it’ll be her who leaves (much to her chagrin) for two reasons: 1). It’s been reported frequently that she’s under contract and therefore can’t make an exit. 2). It’s also been reported that the soon-to-be-offed character has been a subtle part of the storylines this season. It’s not exactly inconspicuous to have crazy sex with a figment of one’s imagination.

My prediction is that it will be Dr. Shepherd (McDreamy) who leaves. He’s been almost absent this season, mainly popping into scenes for one-liners. Last episode he had a line that I believe was written to foreshadow his departure. He said, “I’m sick of the death.” He was heavy-hearted, depressed even. And, other than Heigl, Patrick Dempsey is the only cast-mate to have a real career outside of the show. He also made it clear he isn’t happy being a puppet for ABC producers when he was on Ellen last month (during the Erica Hahn lesbian controversy). Anyway, they said he won’t be killed off, which is good. Although, as we all now know, death wouldn’t guarantee he’d be gone permanently.

Update: TR Knight has decided to leave the show. Although I considered him before making my prediction, I was sure he wasn’t dumb enough to give up such a great meal ticket when he’s got nothing else going on. But I was wrong. Most of you can now rejoice: McDreamy stays! For now, anyway…

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Grey’s Anatomy, All By Myself, ABC TV Series, Episode Recap & Review Blog

All the second year residents are waiting to see who gets the first solo surgery. Interns are spying on the attendings’ powwow to see if they can read lips and catch a name. The only person not in contention, because the chief deemed her most responsible for the Intern Basement Cutters Society, is Christina. Bailey, swagger in full swing, talks about how she was chosen in her time. By unanimous vote, Christina is the selected one and she’s forced to hand over the win to her most deserving peer. Everyone assumes she’ll pick Meredith since they’re BFFs but people still campaign for themselves. Karev, unable to kiss ass, simply does a rundown of how the surgery, a leg amputation, will go.

In addition to choosing someone other than herself to do the surgery she desperately wants, Yang is given the job of wooing Dr. Dixon. The chief is set on having the socially awkward, Asperger’s-afflicted surgeon become the new head of cardio at Seattle Grace. A position with a revolving exit door, something like being a Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts.

Two teenage sisters get in a car accident, fight with each other at great length, and one tells the other: “I hope you die.” The moment she said it I knew the sister was a goner. Sure enough, after leaking disgusting things out of unfortunate places, she ends up losing all brain function. While the comatose teen lies in bed, unresponsive to touch or sound, her family surrounds her in disbelief. Dr. Dixon, having no ability to feign social aptitude, continually says “I’m sorry for your loss” while telling them how totally dead the girl is and that she’d really really like to harvest her youthful, viable organs. The scene becomes tough to watch when the younger girl tries frantically to wake her sister up and yells at downer Dixon to get out. Meredith breaks her stony exterior and tearfully tells the girl no matter what was said or what happened between the two of them, her sister loves her. It seems as though Mer is talking from personal experience. Is she finally breaking down the Lexi wall?

Speaking of Lexi, Sloane is trying his best to be a good boy and avoid her. This effort to deter any flirtation makes him extra cranky whenever she’s around. Also getting all hot and bothered: Callie. Unbalanced intern Sadie (whose mystery father pulled strings to save her job after she got all scalpel-happy) flashes flirty smiles at the nouveau lesbian. It’s unclear whether she’s messing with Callie or has a real interest. Whatever the answer, she’s made Callie a clumsy, stammering mess. It would be cute if it wasn’t a complete disaster waiting to happen.

While the Calliope/Sadie union hasn’t been consummated as of yet, the Lexi/Sloane one got a jump start. Lexi shows up at Sloane’s apartment and strips off her clothes while repeatedly saying, “Teach me.” The way she says it makes her sound like a little girl, rather than a sexual woman who is initiating a seduction. And it was super annoying. The poor guy tries to kick her out, warning her he’s bad, but is eventually ensnared by the lure of boobs. For a teaching hospital, they seem to do very little actual instruction outside the realm of sex.

Izzie, looking especially hot for a lunatic, goes everywhere with Denny Duquette now. She jokes with him in public, gets intimate in hospital on-call rooms, and talks about the mind-blowing, drop-on-the-floor-and-die sex she’s having with him. Of course, she doesn’t come right out and say, “Denny has risen from the dead and we’re doing it.” George is the only person who seems to notice how peculiarly she’s acting.

So help me, I’m actually starting to ignore the obvious absurdity that is Denny’s return and just enjoy having the guy around (which inevitably means they’ll exorcize him soon). I’m done trying to scrutinize Shonda’s reasons for bringing him back. I’m no longer guessing if he’s a hallucination or a real poltergeist. The ongoing analytical process just makes me sleepy and I’m no closer to figuring out what is actually going on. You win, Shonda. Uncle. I’m just going to watch and wait and hope Denny takes his shirt off a few more times before he vanishes for whatever nutty reason you choose.

Alex is completely unaware of the competition he’s facing. When he kisses Izzie, Denny is right there, aghast at having to watch his lady get smooched by another dude. His reactions are amusing, especially when he points at Alex in that I’m-gonna-get-you-after-class kind of way.

Without knowing his girlfriend’s dead fiancé is in the room, Alex professes his love for Izzie, following news of Yang choosing him for the solo. He thinks she’s been weird because she’s in love with him too and is apprehensive about the possible disappointments she faces. He tells her she makes him “want to be better.” I know that’s supposed to be a romantic statement but it always makes me uneasy. Like it’s now her obligation to be with him so he can be a decent human being. So he picks her to assist during the amputation and when she’s late he starts freaking out. I’m not sure I like this new vulnerable Alex. I enjoyed the pomposity of old.

After naming Alex the winner, Christina has an emotional breakdown. She tells the group that if she doesn’t deserve the surgery then none of them do since they were all in charge of the interns. A valid point. Hunt follows her into the hall where she stops to cry and tells her, “Not here.” He motions to the stairwell, takes her to some basement-y room, tells her to stand on a vent and wait. A huge gust of air makes her let out orgasmic laughter and somehow magically clears her head. After telling her “anything can happen on a vent,” they make out passionately. I like the pairing of the two of them but that scene was bizarre. Are they trying to get creative with rendezvous locales?

“There will always be surgeries; there won’t always be fiancés come back from the dead.” -Izzie