Far From THE LAST SHIP

Article originally published as THE LAST SHIP Review on Seat42F.

The Last Ship | Adam Baldwin, Eric Dane | TNT

TNT’s new summer ‘blockbuster’-style series is THE LAST SHIP, which premiered last night. In the pilot, “Phase Six,” the USS Nathan James, an advanced naval destroyer, is sent up to the Artic on a very secretive four-month mission. Unfortunately, at the conclusion of their tenure, they find a world racked with plague, most of the population dead or dying. Untouched thus far, and with a scientist on board who might be able to make a cure, the captain decides to remain isolated while they try to save the world.

The beginning of THE LAST SHIP is extremely obtuse. It’s a full third of the way through the initial hour before anything that is going on is revealed. This is frustrating to the captain, Tom Chandler (Eric Dane, Grey’s Anatomy, Marley & Me), but it’s equally frustrating to the viewer. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad “Phase Six” doesn’t follow a cookie cutter set up with predictable turns, but it’s also annoying when it seems like the earlier scenes don’t mean a lot, not even really introducing the characters much, just giving us unimportant elements that don’t fit together yet.

Once the action starts, though, THE LAST SHIP gets pretty good. The situation is certainly compelling, a bastion of hope in a dying world, a team of noble heroes doing their best against impossible odds. The ship itself is well-designed and visually impressive, and the action scenes are exciting, even if the Nathan James doesn’t seem to show damage afterwards. It’s absolutely a popcorn series, but it succeeds in telling a large-scale structure with high stakes.

The cast is well-stocked. Dane is terrific as the reluctant commander, angry at the position he’s placed in, but accepting of his fate and determined to do his duty. Adam Baldwin (Chuck, Firefly) makes a solid XO, Mike Slattery, whom will be at odds with Chandler, even as the two men understand one another. Rhona Mitra (Boston Legal, Strike Back) plays tough scientist Rachel Scott, who is protective of her work, and much more concerned about the greater good than any individual or crew of individuals. This central trio is one that could find their dynamics shifting, and will be a good group of headliners.

They are joined by a capable, if lesser known, batch of supporting players including Travis Van Winkle (Hart of Dixie), Marissa Neitling (Leverage), Charles Parnell (All My Children), Christina Elmore, and Jocko Sims (Crash). These people basically provide fodder to kill off and soapy stuff to keep the drama going in between battles at sea and helicopter chases. They do that in a serviceable fashion, though none stand out as being vital to the project at this juncture.

THE LAST SHIP, like the types of films it emulates, is drama-light. It’s good at getting the adrenaline coursing and making the audience feel tense, but won’t be something that can really be emotionally invested in, nor will the characters be the stuff that Emmys are won on. While most post-apocalyptic TV fare go the deeper route, there’s nothing wrong with being more flashy every once in awhile, and THE LAST SHIP seems to fit into what many people crave in the summer months, and so should fill a gap that not much else on television is currently filling.

For this reason, despite its weaknesses, I like THE LAST SHIP. It’s got the bones of a superior project, but is different enough from its peers to drown in comparisons. It definitely has a budget worthy of what it is trying to achieve, by TV standards, and while a few plot holes and far-too-easy coincidences pop out, it isn’t riddled with them so much that it becomes distracting, and some are necessary just to get the series going in the way it’s built, not likely to repeat later. I found it mostly an enjoyable, entertaining experience, once it got going.

THE LAST SHIP airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on TNT.

Grey's returns with a big gap

The events of the latest Grey's Anatomy season premiere, "Going Going Gone," pick up months after the plane crash. This does a couple of things. One, it allows them to jump ahead in the story without having to be bogged down in months of suffering. Two, it lets the writers dole out one character at a time, keeping fans guessing about the fates of some of their favorites until late in the hour. But rest assured, next week will return the action to last spring for at least one episode, so some of the missing pieces will be filled in.

Last year, many of the doctors were considering leaving Seattle Grace Mercy Death West. As they became attendings, they looked for other hospitals around the country from which to ply their trade. In "Going Going Gone," Cristina (Sandra Oh) is miserable in Minnesota, but she's the only one who transferred. And her inability to get on a plane after the trauma she suffered prevents visits back to Seattle. She isn't fitting in too well at her new digs, clashing with the doctors on staff (William Daniels, Boy Meets World, and Steven Culp, Desperate Housewives), so it's likely only a matter of time before she comes back.

The fact that Cristina's home hospital seemingly hasn't hired a new cardiac god yet should smooth the process. Is Owen (Kevin McKidd) reluctant to bring in a replacement because he misses Cristina and Teddy (Kim Raver, who left the series)? Or has he just not found the right person? Either way, this opens the door for Cristina's return, and that would be most welcome, as dividing the action between cities will grow awkward real quick.

Alex (Justin Chambers) has been trying to leave, but finds himself unable to do so, feeling guilty for not getting on the plane that crashed, and not wanting to abandon his friends. It's not a sign that he's stuck so much. He just feels a responsibility because he's a good guy. And no one really wants to see Alex leave, either, so when he decides to stay at the end of "Going Going Gone," it's a relief to viewers and the characters alike.

Tragedy affects different people in different ways. Last spring, the doctors consider moving on because of the bad things that have happened to them at Seattle Grace. But having one more event occur makes them remember just how much they care about each other. How can they look out for one another when they are spread across the country? They simply have to stay.

April (Sarah Drew) does something far more drastic than transfer: she goes back to work on a farm. Owen isn't going to let that be his protege's fate, so he goes and gets her. Is there a little bit or romance brewing between the pair? How might that affect Cristina's decision to come back, or the chemistry between them once she does? I learned to like April, but there is trouble here.

Others have suffered even worse fates. Derek (Patrick Dempsey) can't fully use his hand (haven't we seen this story before, back in season two-ish?), and Arizona (Jessica Capshaw) is left with an amputated leg. This makes things difficult for their loved ones, Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) and Callie (Sara Ramirez). But it also means there are lingering wounds that cannot heal just yet.

Derek and Callie have the added pain of watching Mark (Eric Dane) die. A fan favorite, Grey's regrettably decided that Mark should pass away, and "Going Going Gone" does it slowly and fittingly, with video tributes to him from throughout his life. Other characters may be killed off more quickly, but Mark gets perhaps the most touching, drawn out ending. I just wish we could take it back and keep him around, even if he is finally with Lexie (Chyler Leigh) in the afterlife.

Who I really feel sorry for, though, is Callie's daughter. Her father is dead, her second mother just lies angrily in bed, and Callie has to deal with grief and a young child. It's not fair to the kid. How can she avoid being scarred by everything that is going on around her?

Things aren't all mired down in hopelessness. There is a bit of lightness in "Going Going Gone," too. Bailey (Chandra Wilson) is happy to get a visit from Ben (Jason George, why is he not a series regular yet?), but romantic playtime with him has turned her from The Nazi into Booty-Call Bailey. It's funny that the character who began so grumpy and judgmental about sex in the workplace is now getting it on more often than anyone! I don't see the nickname standing, though, even with the warmer, fuzzier Bailey. Look for her to lay the smack down on the newbies (which include Gaius Charles, Friday Night Lights, Camilla Luddington, True Blood, Californication, and Tina Majorino, Veronica Mars, Napoleon Dynamite) soon.

Despite all of the dark drama going on, it's nice that the new interns are introduced in this episode, and we even get to see one do their first surgery. It provides a circle of life theme, that things move on, and new faces will soon fill the holes left by old ones. Having Meredith be the mean boss is also cool, a kind of "student has become the master" moment.

An interesting, sad, hopeful start for the new season. Watch new episodes of Grey's Anatomy Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Check out my website, JeromeWetzel.com! First posted on TheTVKing

Grey's Anatomy takes a "Flight"

This season of ABC's Grey's Anatomy doesn't end with happiness. In fact, it doesn't leave viewers with any good feelings at all. It's an uncomfortable hour of misery, with nothing resolved at the end. Which doesn't mean that it's bad by any means; the quality of the series is still quite high. The finale, "Flight," is just extremely unsettling.

Seattle Grace Mercy Death, er, West, sends six of its doctors to another hospital to perform a tricky surgery. En route, the plane goes down. It breaks apart, and the people and pieces are strewn throughout a forest. One doctor does not survive, and the rest are injured, as is the pilot. It's a gruesome scene, not made any better by the fact that the survivors are stranded, with no sign of rescue as the season comes to a close.

The worst part of this plot is the death of Lexie Grey (Chyler Leigh). Coming unexpectedly early in the hour, Mark Sloan (Eric Dane) holds her hand, confessing his love as she slips away. This is a truly heartbreaking scene. Despite the fact that Mark has a serious girlfriend, the chemistry between he and Lexie has never gone away. The expectations are high going into "Flight" that they will soon get back together, and Mark even tells her they are meant to be just before she passes. Sadly, this is now impossible.

Even more tragic is the fact that Meredith (Ellen Pompeo), searching for missing husband, Derek (Patrick Dempsey), doesn't make it back in time to say goodbye to her sister. Meredith finds Lexie, but assumes she will be all right while Meredith searches for her spouse. This is a mistake she cannot take back, and leads to an incredibly powerful moment of Meredith breaking down. Pompeo is mesmerizing as the grieving sibling who has lost so much, and now loses the only family she really has ever bonded with.

Losing Leigh will be a blow to Grey's Anatomy. She is a terrific actress who brings a joyful spark to an often angsty show. Her character helps Meredith come out of her dark shell, and she certainly brings joy to everyone she touches, including the fans at home. Unlike some past deaths, where there isn't too much regret that the character is gone, Lexie is a hard one to take. Next year will not be the same without her.

Soon enough, viewers learn that Mark is also injured pretty badly, though his damage is internal. There is a second suspenseful scene where Mark appears to say goodbye to Arizona (Jessica Capshaw), ready to join Lexie in the afterlife. This doesn't happen, thank goodness. While there would be a certain poetry to the two former lovers dying together, Mark has a baby girl that he must raise. And so, for now at least, Grey's Anatomy spares him.

As "Flight" closes, Arizona, Meredith, Cristina (Sandra Oh), Derek, Mark, and the pilot, Jerry (James LeGros, Mildred Pierce, Mercy), sit in the woods, darkness drawing in around them. Rescue needs to come soon if Mark is to survive and Derek is to keep his hand, something Derek could not happily live without. What a depressing way to end the season, no matter how great the acting and storytelling of "Flight" is!

Meanwhile, back at the hospital, no one even knows their friends are missing. Owen (Kevin McKidd) is too busy all day to take the phone calls from the destination hospital, asking where his people are. Sending his phone to voice mail may make sense at the time, but considering Cristina is one of those lost, this is not something Owen will easily be able to forgive himself for.

Owen and Cristina are not in a great place. They have been fighting for most of this season, and have been separated for quite awhile. But there is obviously still a deep affection between the two. Cristina does say she will soon be moving away, but it's not an easy decision for her to make. Perhaps the plane crash will realign her priorities, and the couple will decide to give it another shot. One can only hope.

Cristina and Owen's relationship is very interesting. While he is not the first romance to come along for the seemingly chilly Yang, she really values him in a way that is a bit surprising for her character. Cristina may seem tough, but when she talks about Owen, she does so with a vulnerability and rawness. Even after the abortion and the cheating, these feelings do not go away. They may have hurt each other deeply, but that doesn't mean they are necessarily done.

Teddy (Kim Raver) is done. She is offered a very prestigious job working for the army, but turns it down. Owen has been a great friend to her since her husband died, and she wants to repay the favor, seeing how deeply Owen is hurting over Cristina. Staying true to who he is, and continuing to support his friend, Owen refuses to accept her giving up this grand opportunity, firing her so that she must go. Tearily, they hug, and she departs.

Unlike Lexie, Teddy won't be missed so much. At times, she is a character one can relate to. But at other times, she isn't. The arc involving her marrying a patient actually turns out quite sweet, but it has been pretty uncomfortable watching her deal with the death. This story proves that Raver has the acting chops to hang. Considering the unevenness, though, and that her particular story has come to an end, it feels like a good time for her to leave. There might have been other tales to tell with her, but if she is going to walk out before they are all told, now is the perfect time to do so. Plus, it leaves an open spot for a new cardio god, which Cristina would be more than qualified to fill.

Teddy isn't the only one fired. Owen also lets April (Sarah Drew) go because she fails her boards. This isn't a cruel choice, even though April has no where else to go; it's just business. Owen and April have long been friends, of a sort, and it's doubtful Owen wants to release her. There has been no announcement of Drew quitting the series, unlike Raver and Leigh, so this seems like the sort of thing that will be worked out next season. No idea how, though.

Perhaps Owen has to let April go to meet Alex's (Justin Chambers) demands, as the two events happen at roughly the same time, and prior to learning that Alex decides against staying. Which, of course, he is unlikely to go through with, since Chambers just signed a new contract. So might Alex be willing to give a little to help a colleague out? If he learns of April's predicament, he very well might. Alex may act tough, but he's sweet at heart, and cares about the people that he works with.

Alex gets to show this side of himself in "Flight." Arizona is furious that Alex would leave after everything she has done for him. That's why she takes his spot on the plane. This is the opportunity of a life time, but Alex feels guilty for hurting her, of course, and calls to tell her so. His voice mail to her stays in character, but is exactly what he needs to say, within the constrains of being Alex. He isn't the jerk that he started out as, and Grey's Anatomy cannot afford to lose him.

The show can't loose any of the residents, soon to be fellows! Alex, Cristina, Jackson (Jesse Williams), Meredith, and by extension, Derek, all quit in "Flight" or just prior to it. This is a huge blow to the cast. All but Williams were at the end of their contracts, and might not have returned to the show. But now, they've all renewed. So what will keep their characters in Seattle? Perhaps they will be drawn together by this tragedy?

It's such a shame that these dark events have to keep happening to them, though. It has not gotten to the point where these sort of things feel forced into the story, but one has to admit that they do occur a lot. Cristina talks of wanting to leave simply because of the amount of bad luck that happens to the doctors at Seattle Grace. However, they also all have each other to lean on, and that just might be a good enough reason to take the risk and stay.

Webber (James Pickens Jr.) certainly wants them to stick around. He continues his tradition of throwing a dinner for the outgoing residents in "Flight." Strangely, only the main character residents seem to be invited, even though we know there are many more residents that work at the hospital. Regardless, it's a sad scene for Webber to sit at a dinner table and stare at the empty seats where Meredith and Cristina should be sitting. Hopefully, he doesn't take this as a sign of abandonment. He thinks he is losing them soon enough! If he believes they stood him up, he is going to be really hurt.

Which just leaves Bailey (Chandra Wilson) dealing with Ben's (Jason George) impending departure. See, Ben, who is not a main character, accepts a surgical internship in California. Bailey decides to marry him anyway, but they will now have to deal with a long distance relationship. This sort of arrangement might work fine for a few episodes, but both the character and fans will want Ben back. So can't Seattle Grace make room for him in their program? After all, Ben has already left the show before and come back, so it sucks to make him do it again. I smell the next main character for Grey's Anatomy, assuming his summer series, Mistresses, doesn't blow up. And it's a summer series on network television, so what are the chances of that?

This sad, tragic hour brings season eight of Grey's Anatomy, which shows no signs of its age, to a close. Luckily, season nine will bring almost everyone back in the fall! How exciting!

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here to read every Grey's Anatomy review I've ever written. To buy Grey's Anatomy DVDs and streaming episodes, please click here. Article first published as Grey's Anatomy takes a "Flight" on TheTVKing.com

"If/Then" introduces an entirely new Grey's Anatomy

On this week's episode of ABC's Grey's Anatomy, "If/Then," Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) wonders what her world would be like if her mother, Ellis (Kate Burton), didn't get Alzheimer's, and if Richard (James Pickens Jr.) left Adele (Loretta Devine) for Ellis all those years ago, thus raising Meredith as his own daughter. So during the hour, her world is seen drastically different than in the normal run of the show. Ellis is Chief at the hospital. Meredith is happy, bright, and cheerful, wearing pink, and best friends with April (Sarah Drew). She is also engaged to Alex (Justin Chambers).

But it's far from an ideal life. Meredith feels suffocated under the high pressure that her mother exerts. And she's not the only one. Alex can't help but stray with April, which crushes Meredith when she finds out. Ellis is not sympathetic. Bailey (Chandra Wilson) is so why that she gets fired for not speaking up at a critical moment. Derek (Patrick Dempsey) is still married to a pregnant Addison (Kate Walsh), but miserable, especially when he learns that the baby isn't his. Callie (Sara Ramirez) is pressured into cardio and marries Owen (Kevin McKidd), with whom she has several children. Meredith doesn't even know her half sister Lexie (Chyler Leigh), who is a coked up criminal. And Cristina (Sandra Oh) is shunned by all after the Burke incident.

"If/Then" is a classic "be careful what you wish for" episode. Meredith thinks that her life would be better with a more nurturing upbringing, but in truth, the obstacles she overcomes shape her into the great woman and surgeon that she is today. Why the others have to be miserable, too...? Well, that is just to make fans glad that everything is the way it is in "reality." Though, to be fair, if Ellis would have become Chief, things would definitely be quite a bit different at Seattle Grace. Just maybe not so different as they are shown in this episode. The message is clear: everyone is better off the way things are.

But are they really? After all, the beloved characters go through a number of dark, drama-filled experiences in the "real" world. Sure, Callie is happier married to Arizona (Jessica Capshaw), and Lexie has a much better existence when not living as a junky, but that doesn't mean that everyone's paths are easy, and that they all get happy endings. Which leads one to think, what if this different world were the series? It can easily be imagined as such, with the characters dealing with separate, but equally engrossing, challenges. Perhaps Ellis may have stifled the cast as the star, but perhaps not. The others would all still get their angsty stories, just in a different way. So really, either world is an acceptable one for Grey's Anatomy to explore.

Which does not mean the universe as it is in "If/Then" should be revisited. Grey's has chosen the series it wants to be, and it's too late to change that now. "If/Then" is just a fun little side trip to show another version of things, if different paths had been taken. In that, it's an amusing, welcome little experiment, but certainly not all that important in the overall arcs of the series.

The ending of "If/Then" seeks to restore balance. Despite everything that happens differently, Meredith eventually stands up to her mother. She also finds friendship in Cristina. Derek wakes up and realizes that he is completely unhappy, and should try to change things. Callie has a sweet moment with Arizona. Mark (Eric Dane) shows up at the hospital carrying Lexie, their lives intertwined. In this, the writers want viewers to believe that these people are destined to be together. It's a naive, and probably unrealistic, view of existence, but for a television series, it's a fitting ending.

Now, anticipation build up to get back to the normal timeline. After all, there is still much drama to work out there. Can Cristina and Owen's marriage be saved? Will Mark ever be back with Lexie? And, as heartless as it sounds, at least the not-so-great character of Charles (Robert Baker) is no longer around.

Grey's Anatomy airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.

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Grey's Anatomy is "Free Falling" and "She's Gone"

     ABC's Grey's Anatomy returns this week with two hours of new material. In "Free Falling" and "She's Gone," Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) worries about the consequences of screwing up Derek's (Patrick Dempsey) clinical trial, including being fired, losing her husband, and having her baby taken away. Richard (James Pickens Jr.) looks for a way to help her, while Alex (Justin Chambers) wants to make up for turning her in. Bailey (Chandra Wilson) pushes the residents to work as a team. Owen (Kevin McKidd) considers forgiving Cristina (Sandra Oh).

     Meredith's mistake is made with the best of intentions, but will have lasting effects. Derek's trial is over, and even though Derek knows why Meredith did what she did, and others are urging Derek to get over it, he just can't. His stubborn streak is ruining the marriage. He is willing to be civil to her in front of the case worker so that perhaps they can keep their baby, whom he does love. But he won't even look Meredith in the eye, let alone talk to her. Is this something they can survive as a couple? It certainly doesn't appear that way.

      Professionally, Meredith's screw up kills her career. She is fired, and no matter how many phone calls Richard makes, he can't find her another one. Alex is willing to lie and take the blame, since after all, he is the one that reported her, but Richard refuses to let him. Instead, Richard decides to take the fall, since Meredith's actions helped his wife, Adele (Loretta Devine).  Unlike Meredith, Richard probably won't be fired. He is near the end of his career, and can blame age and love of his wife for it. But he certainly will not get to stay chief of surgery.

     In the end, Alex does manage to get back in Meredith's good graces by lying to help her keep her baby. Unable to solve her professional problems, he assists Cristina in staging a cover story for why Meredith steals her baby and goes off the grid for four hours. Derek is forced to go along with the lie, but isn't happy about it. Then Alex is there to comfort Meredith, and she lets him, indicating that he is forgiven. Alex will never be her lover, and won't replace Derek, but at least something in Meredith's mess is beginning to heal. The baby is gone, but probably only temporarily.

     Unlike Derek, Owen is able to begin to repair his own marriage. Meredith points out that Cristina truly loves him, and that's why she keeps putting off her abortion. By relating her own experience as an unwanted child, Meredith is also able to make Owen see that having the baby is a mistake for Cristina. Owen does love Cristina, and that is why he is able to put his dream of being a father aside for her. While with her, he cannot have kids, and that's just the way it is. This is a nice story, since Grey's Anatomy already had to convince one unwilling parent to change her mind last year. Now we get to see the other side.

      Speaking of Arizona (Jessica Capshaw), she and Mark (Eric Dane) are finally in a good place, sharing parenting responsibilities. This means that Callie (Sara Ramirez) is no longer in the middle of a feud, and they can all move on and happily raise their child together. It's a relief, after so much fighting, to see the three working as a unit. After all, any tension between them can only be bad for the impressionable infant.

     As the Grey's Anatomy premiere begins,. Lexie (Chyler Leigh) is happily in the arms of Avery (Jesse Williams). How long might this last? Mark is already hinting once more to Avery that he's coming back for Lexie. Lexie and Mark have been broken up for quite awhile, but Mark's feelings still haven't cooled. Considering that it was his daughter that drove them apart in the first place, a reunion will not be easy with this three-way parenting experiment Mark is now involved in. But perhaps, since there are all already so many adults to raise that baby, Lexie can be with Mark without having to take on the role of mother. Because, really, she belongs with Mark much more than with Avery.

     Also growing in a family way, Teddy (Kim Raver) is head over heels in love with her husband, Henry (Scott Foley). Theirs was a marriage of necessity, but has become one of love. When Henry goes back under the knife, a not uncommon occurrence with his medical conditions, Teddy acts like any other worried spouse. She questions everything, and wants to know how he is at all times. Even the brief amount of time she gets into the OR, she makes herself a nuisance, not a help. It's actually pretty sweet, because it shows that she really cares for him, and not just the way she kind of did before.

     Finally, Dr. Bailey is tired of the residents not getting along. This can be at least partially blamed on the selection of April (Sarah Drew) as Chief Resident. None of the others respect her authority, or listen to her when she tries to implement new systems. This leads to an almost tragic mistake, so Bailey forces them all to work together. Surprisingly, the exercise does not force leadership in April, but it's Avery that steps up. That doesn't mean he should replace April. But if he's got her back, she's bound to start doing better after a very rocky start. That's good, because Bailey needs to focus on taking over Richard's study, not worrying about fighting doctors.


     Grey's Anatomy airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.

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Grey's Anatomy finds an "Unaccompanied Minor"

     Creator Shonda Rhimes likens this year's season finale of ABC's Grey's Anatomy, "Unaccompanied Minor," to last year's shooting massacre finale. However, this time around, the bullets are metaphorical instead of physical. It's an apt analogy, as many of the main characters suffer serious emotional pain in the episode. Derek (Patrick Dempsey) is disgusted to learn that his wife, Meredith (Ellen Pompeo), tampered with his Alzheimer's trial. Chief Webber (James Pickens Jr.) goes easy on Meredith once he realizes Meredith has acted to help his wife, but Derek can't bring himself to forgive her. Owen (Kevin McKidd) begs Cristina (Sandra Oh) to consider having a baby once he learns she's pregnant. She makes an appointment for an abortion, and he kicks her out of their house. Alex (Justin Chambers) betrays Meredith, despite the fact that she is the one person who has always been nice to him, and the rest of the staff loves her. It costs him his chance to be Chief Resident, and everyone's respect.


     Rhimes has said that Meredith and Derek are in it for the long haul, and confirms that this latest fight is merely a set back, not a permanent split. However, it does expose a fundamental difference in the outlooks of both characters. Meredith sees the world in shades of grey, and has been willing to cross lines if she believes she is helping someone. Derek believes in black and white; right and wrong. He has strong convictions, and is not easily swayed to bend those beliefs. In fact, Derek is likely the only character that will not see Meredith's actions as justifiable, considering she acts to help a dear friend's ill spouse.

     The question is, how long will it take Derek to cool off? Meredith gets to bring home their new baby in "Unaccompanied Minor," adoption pending, and Derek doesn't know that yet. Will a child be enough motivation to draw him back to her, considering how much he wants to be a father? It's hard to say, because he is a very stubborn man. Certainly he will immediately want to be involved in the kid's life, but that doesn't mean he'll be moving back into the house. Unless that is a requirement to finalize the adoption, and then who knows what he'll be willing to do. He's likely to reconcile for the baby long before he actually forgives Meredith.

     Alex has always been a complicated character. At his core, he is a good person with a compassionate heart. But he has been hurt so many times that he tends to act like a total jerk, a fact that turns many people off. Because Meredith deals with the layers and murkiness in all things, she finds it easiest to embrace Alex. He betrays her very deeply by outing her trial tampering to Owen, who in turn is forced to tell Derek and Webber. But although Meredith lashes out at Alex and tells him to move out of her house, which he does, she is already looking for him at the end of the episode. She is angry, but she still wants him in her life. He is very lucky to have her.

     Unfortunately for Alex, not everyone is as forgiving as Meredith. Owen tells Alex that he would be Chief Resident if not for his ratting out Meredith. This not only demonstrates that Owen understands Meredith's actions, but that sometimes it is right to do the wrong thing. Alex only told on her to win Chief Resident, and by telling on her, he costs himself the job. What's more, in his cloud of rage over losing the position, he tells Lucy (Rachael Taylor) to go to hell. He will probably never see her again, and that is sure to be something he comes to regret.

     Rhimes confirms she wants Alex to be happy, so there is still hope for his character. In fact, had Taylor not been cast to star in Charlie's Angels next season, and had the series not been picked up, it is likely the writers would never have had Alex burned that particular bridge. In this case, real life gets in the way of a really nice romance.

     Extremely uncertain is the future of Owen and Cristina, whom Rhimes says she hasn't decided whether to break up or not. They rush into marriage in the wake of tragedy, and Cristina is still not used to relying on another person. She makes the decision in "Unaccompanied Minor" to have an abortion unilaterally in spite of Owen's pleas. She does not get the concept of a couple, or making decisions together. While it is completely within character for Cristina to not want to be a mother, it is a big step backwards for her to not even consider Owen's feelings.

     Or does she? Cristina has shown a willingness to think of Owen, especially this past year. It is very possible that she takes Owen's wants into account, and decides against him anyway. In which case, the failure is in communication. As an anti-people person, Cristina never develops the skills to adequately relate to others, and as close as Owen is to her, and as much as he understands her, it is easy to see how he could mistakenly think she is being uncaring when she's not.

     Bottom line, it's never a good idea to bring a child into the world that is unwanted. Owen may be willing to do the lion's share of the work in raising a child, but once the baby is born, there is no way Cristina can turn her back on the tyke to concentrate on her career. She is a human with real emotions, and a child would force her to be more nurturing. That is what she is rebelling against more than Owen. She has no desire to be put in that position. Were she to go through with having the baby, she would do the right thing by the child. Which makes the decision even more complex.

     Will Meredith's decision to cheat on the Alzheimer's trial have any lasting effects on Seattle Grace / Mercy West or Chief Webber? Webber does suspend Meredith, but if she had acted for any reason other than to save his wife, she would be fired. There will be an investigation from outside the hospital, and while Webber has a lot of leeway as Chief, it's certainly possible he will be found to be going too easy on Meredith. She is not out of the woods in losing her job, nor is the Chief safe in his.

     The hospital at large can still be negatively impacted, too. With Meredith's actions, the FDA may decide SG/MW is not a secure place to do research. They could lose credentials. Webber has worked very hard to increase the positive reputation of the hospital recently, and Meredith's actions may lead to a backslide in those efforts. While Weber will feel it is worth it, the rest of the staff won't be so forgiving. Meredith is arguably the most beloved doctor on staff right now. That will not last.

     Is this the end of Mark (Eric Dane) and Lexie (Chyler Leigh)? After seeing what a stand up guy Avery (Jesse Williams) is, Mark voluntarily backs off from his pursuit of the younger Grey. But Lexie admits that if Mark keeps pushing, she will go back to him. Though she says she is happier with Avery, is it possible for Lexie to put aside her still very strong feelings for Mark and truly move on? Avery is a great character, but he just doesn't feel quite right with Lexie. Hopefully this triangle is due for a shake up early next season.

     Teddy (Kim Raver) has a decision to make in "Unaccompanied Minor," and it's not an easy one. She is reunited with Dr. Andrew Perkins (James Tupper), and falls right back into bed with him. But she is now married to Henry (Scott Foley). Their marriage is one of convenience, done for insurance purposes, but there is undeniable chemistry growing between them. She stops by to visit Henry during dates! Both Foley and Tupper are fantastic actors who would be a good thing for the series, long-term. Henry ultimately makes a move for her, and she chooses him, so Foley will be returning next season, while Tupper likely won't.

     Less noticeably, Bailey (Chandra Wilson) takes a big step in her relationship in the finale. She has been dating Eli (Daniel Sunjata) all season, and she allows him to come over to her place, even though Bailey has her son. This is a big step, showing that the two have moved well beyond a casual, sexual relationship and into more serious territory. Poor Bailey didn't deserve her divorce, and it's heartwarming that she has some happiness on the horizon.

     April (Sarah Drew) is promoted to Chief Resident. Though she is a dark horse in the race, her efforts in developing a vital checklist, as well as consistent hard work, mean that she deserves the honor. Her attention to details and rules likely point to the fact that she will be a good Chief Resident. What is worrisome is her personal skills. She is only just starting to be liked by the other doctors. While there is little doubt April will stand up for herself, there is a worry she will make unnecessary unpopular decisions, alienating her co-workers once again. In a perfect world, April will be excellent, as there is no need to revisit a lonely April.

     Finally, with all of the character development going on, Grey's Anatomy finds time to sneak in a truly
moving patient story in "Unaccompanied Minor." A plane goes down, and there is only one survivor, a young girl. As the child's mother is not at the hospital, a number of families who have lost their loved ones, spurred by one mother, decide to wait at the hospital and get updates on the girl. When the mother does arrive, they offer her comfort, and don't go home until everything is all right. It's a truly inspiring story of strangers coming together totally unselfishly, and a credit to the writers to fit it in with all of the various plots that need addressed in a season finale.


     Grey's Anatomy will return next fall to ABC for an eighth season, the last the original cast in contracted to do. Which means it could be Derek, Meredith, Alex, Cristina, Bailey, and / or Webber's last season, depending on what the actors decide. You will not want to miss it.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for all of my Current Season Reviews.

     To buy Grey's Anatomy DVDs and streaming episodes, please click here.

Article first published as TV Review: Grey's Anatomy - "Unaccompanied Minor" on Blogcritics.

Grey's Anatomy sings the "Song Beneath the Song"

     Surely, reviews about the musical episode of ABC's Grey's Anatomy will be mixed, as they often are for any type of big risk that isn't hands down brilliant. Grey's did a lot of things right. They stuck to the style of music their fans are accustomed to, indeed, using many of the songs made famous by Grey's promos. They also let their strongly gifted actors sing, while not forcing the entire cast to participate musically. As for complaints, I could see some saying there is too much music. Ten songs are used in the hour, compared to four to six for a normal episode of Glee. But overall, I'm pretty pleased.

     The best songs are the crowd pleasers, of course. Big ensemble performances of Jesus Jackson's "Running on Sunshine" and THE Grey's anthem, The Fray's "How to Save a Life", are a visual and auditory delight. The weakest point, in my opinion, is the very first. I have complained lately of shows jettisoning their theme songs. Grey's theme, "Cosy In the Rocket", was abandoned long ago. But the series only teased by letting a few lines of the song be sung just before the title card. This is the perfect opportunity to bring it back, at least for one episode, and instead, they only allow a small taste.

     Sara Ramirez, who plays Dr. Callie Torres, is at the center of the episode, as she is badly injured in a car wreck, and the one hallucinating the singing as the staff tries to save the life of her and her unborn child. Ramirez won a Tony for her performance in Spamalot on Broadway, so it is no surprise that she sings in seven of the ten numbers. Her biggest highlight is probably The Story, made famous by Brandi Carlile, where Sara shows her true range and belting capabilities. Plus, the cut shots throughout the song made it look neat.

     Other featured players are Kevin McKidd as Dr. Owen Hunt and Chyler Leigh as Dr. Lexie Grey, who both have their own solos, as well as participating in group numbers. Chandra Wilson's Miranda Bailey and Jessica Capshaw's Arizona sang in multiple songs, but didn't have their own. Other actors, like Justin Chambers (Alex Karev), Eric Dane (Mark Sloan), Scott Foley (Henry), and Daniel Sunjata (Eli) only get the briefest of moments, which is more than Sandra Oh or James Pickens Jr. did. Sarah Drew's April is somewhere in the middle ground, getting to sing in several songs, but never really being featured. But it works out, because if they are bad singers, we don't want to hear them anyway (I'm looking at you, Alyson Hanigan, whom I adore, but whose "This line's mostly filler" may have been the most out of tune moment in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer musical episode.)


     I am left wondering why Kate Walsh's Addison Montgomery is even brought over for a crossover during this episode. A veteran of The Drew Carey Show, which periodically did big numbers, I expected some sort of singing from her, but am disappointed that she doesn't appear to sing at all. In fact, she is barely in the hour. I guess she is only here to shake Dr. Lucy Fields's (Rachael Taylor) confidence in herself as a doctor, which she more than adequately does.

     Near the end of the episode, I kept thinking this would be the perfect time to kill off Callie. I'm a fan or Ramirez, so this is merely a musing from a storytelling perspective, not because I want the character gone. Arizona and Mark are at odds, but then make up. Having the two of them raising a child together without their connective tissue would have been interesting. As Arizona is a lesbian, it is unlikely the two of them would have ever made a go romantically, but it would have been a kind of cool story idea. I do wonder, based on next week's previews, if Callie's baby will die instead, thus making Arizona and Mark's budding friendship struggle into fruition on its own, without the aid of a shared child.

      It is amusing when shows poke fun at themselves, and acknowledge the unrealistic things that often happen within the confines of the various plot arcs. This week, Alex dubs the hospital "Seattle Grace / Mercy Death," instead of West, as the last word actually is. This references that a lot of doctors have suffered a lot of tragedy there. Because this is a TV show, and drama is needed to keep it moving along, that is not unexpected. But most real hospitals don't have such a high rate of serious happenings in their staffs, so it's nice that the writers let Alex mention it, tongue in cheek.

     Is Grey's heading for a showdown between Teddy (Kim Raver) and Cristina (Sandra Oh)? I think it's a nice throwback that Cristina pulls outs a Burke procedure to save the day with Callie this week, but it puts her at odds with her mentor. I'm starting to think the hospital isn't big enough for the both of them. I guess it's time that one of our interns grows into an attending, and it makes sense that Cristina would reach that pinnacle first, as she has already more than adequately proven herself. But I don't see two cardiothoracic surgeons peacefully coexisting. I admit, I'm surprised that Teddy is still here. As much as I like Raver from her time on 24, she seems like such a temporary character whose usefulness is past. Perhaps by season's end, she will ride off into the sunset with Henry or the returning Dr. Andrew Perkins (James Tupper).


     Also well handled is the maturation that romance on Grey's has gone through lately. In the early days, many of the characters simply sleep together to release stress in high pressure situations, or because they are drunk. Nowadays, it seems everyone is involved in an actual relationship. Lexie chooses Jackson (Jesse Williams) this week over Mark, cementing that there is something more to them than just a hookup. Henry is pursuing romance with his wife-for-the-insurance, Teddy, having asked her on a date. Alex and Lucy, as well as Bailey and Eli, have been simmering slow builds, flirting and developing chemistry, not just falling into bed together.

     And Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) and Derek (Patrick Dempsey) are having a real marital issue, struggling to have a child in Meredith's 'hostile womb'. It's such a more serious and interesting challenge than Meredith and Derek's long dance with on-again, off-again romance. I can't wait to see them move into their dream house, currently under construction. What a cool new set piece that will be! And I want to see them as parents, the next logical step in their evolution. Who says that long-term monogamy makes for bad dramatic television?

     Of course, Arizona, Callie, and Mark may be playing parents much sooner, as Callie's baby did come out this week. Oftentimes, babies can be a drag on a series. While they provide some fun plots, much of the time they need to be away with some rarely seen babysitter, as they just get in the way of most stories. Yet, somehow Grey's seems ready for an actual child who fits into the larger scheme of things. We have seen so many characters grow into mature people, and parenthood is a part of a complete life for many couples around the world.

     This seventh season has been such a wonderful rebirth of the aging drama. While Grey's has managed to stay enjoyable most seasons, some story arcs have floundered. The shooting last May re-energized so much, forcing the characters to figure out who they are, and who they want to be. Rather than jumping the shark, it's kind of forced a move into a whole new series that will have legs for years to come, rather than slowly dying out, which looked like a possible outcome previously. I must give major props all around to everyone involved in this season.


     Grey's Anatomy airs Thursday nights at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.

Article first published as TV Review: Grey's Anatomy - "Song Beneath the Song" on Blogcritics.

For frequent mini-reviews and occasional TV news, follow Jerome on Twitter.

Click here for an alphabetical list of all of Jerome's Current Season Reviews.

JWTV Quickie: Grey's Anatomy - "This Is How We Do It"

     All in all, we got a pretty average episode of ABC's Grey's Anatomy this week. The most moving plot is probably Chief Webber's (James Pickens Jr.) crusade to get his wife, Adele (Loretta Devine) into the Alzheimer's trial that Derek (Patrick Dempsey) is doing. It's hard to watch Adele, struggling with her disease, not even wanting to admit out loud that she is sick. Richard was in denial for awhile, but now that's he's on board and full supportive, his wife is resistant. Derek agrees to break the rules, following Weber's example, but when Adele misses qualification for the trial by one point, Derek's wife, Meredith (Ellen Pompeo), tells him it's over. We'll see if Derek follows through on that or not.

     Poor Cristina (Sandra Oh). It totally isn't fair for Richard to put Owen (Kevin McKidd) in charge of picking Chief Resident. Owen is going to have to have inarguable proof that Cristina is better than every single one of the other doctors if he is going to name her to the position. I know Richard doesn't care about the politics, he is just placing his trust in a highly qualified doctor. Unfortunately, Cristina is kind of sunk now. I can't see Owen maintaining much credibility if he gives the title to her, so he probably won't.

     Anyone else see Star Trek: The Next Generation's Counselor Deanna Troi, Marina Sirtis, stop by? Yes, that was her in the bed with the accent, playing the clinical trial patient who leaves the hospital to allow her gay son to stay with his boyfriend. She is almost unrecognizable from her TNG days, but it is great to see her again.

     Should Teddy (Kim Raver) be with Henry (Scott Foley)? Debate in the comments below. I could go either way on this one. I loved Raver on 24, in spite of the haters, and I thought the had good chemistry with both Owen and Mark (Eric Dane), as well as Andrew (James Tupper), who will soon be returning to the show. All these men! What is a girl to do?

     I am kind of liking the vibe between April (Sarah Drew) and Stark (Peter MacNicol). I know she says she wants to be friends, but I can see it growing into something more. She definitely has a fondness for him. I think she only distances herself because Alex (Justin Chambers) is giving her crap. Alex, meanwhile, is also stirring things up with Fields (Rachael Taylor), who is playing hard to get until Meredith vouches for Alex and she starts to turn around. These are fun new relationships. In spite of myself, I'm also kind of liking Lexie (Chyler Leigh) with Avery (Jesse Williams) even though I'm a big supporter of Lexie and Mark. Ah, well. Find happiness wherever, right?

     It may be unpopular to say, but I am already tired of the Mark / Arizona (Jessica Capshaw) animosity. Get over it already! Don't even get me started on the 'surprise' ending, when Arizona and Callie (Sara Ramirez) got into a car accident! Look, I can see why Callie took off, and left off, her seatbelt. In fact, I didn't even notice at first that's what had happened. But Arizona constantly looking away from the road while she was driving drove me crazy! No freakin' way! Especially with her pregnant girlfriend in the car. You could see disaster coming from a mile away. Come on Grey's! You can do better!

     Next week, the musical episode! I am super excited! Expect a longer, more detailed review for that one. Grey's Anatomy airs Thursday nights at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.

For frequent mini-reviews and occasional TV news, follow Jerome on Twitter.

Click here for an alphabetical list of all of Jerome's Current Season Reviews.

Grey's Anatomy Gets Trendy

     It was a publicity stunt meant to connect the show with the times. Dr. Bailey, (Chandra Wilson) the character, tweeted during her surgeries, and internet-savy viewers could follow the tweets on a real twitter account. I signed up for a bit, but getting mostly medical jargon delivered to my phone, especially when the episode, "Don't Deceive Me (Please Don't Go)", was on (I didn't watch it live, as I don't anything - thank you TiVo!) and the tweets were coming rapidly, got annoying very quickly. I unsubscribed about ten minutes after the episode began.

     As for the story playing out on screen, it was not nearly as bad. Dr. Bailey tried to convince a skeptical Chief Webber (James Pickens Jr.) that tweeting to residents and interested parties all around the world was beneficial for everyone involved.Webber demanded she stop until, after defying his orders at the pleading of Drs. Kepner (Sarah Drew) and Lexie Grey (Chyler Leigh), he caught her, the surgery went wrong, and helpful tweets allowed a saved life.

     Yeah, it was a bit of a stretch. I don't understand how all those doctors had time to follow someone's tweets when the ones portrayed on ABC's Grey's Anatomy are always running around so harried. Certainly, it was a big distraction from their jobs. But I could see med students possibly getting interested, and I could easily imagine a plot where one of the regular interns or residents on the show got obsessed with some doctor's tweets far away, so it didn't seem all that unlikely. Though, yes, it was pure pandering.

     Meanwhile, it seems that Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh) is fully back to work. While trying to score points with Teddy (Kim Raver) towards the chief resident title that one of our beloved characters will soon earn (because, of course, only the main characters in the show achieve anything at Seattle Grace-Mercy West), Avery (Jesse Williams) tossed her recent leave in her face. It appeared Cristina was having a break down after that, making Avery feel incredibly guilty. After all, he had been there to witness her trauma. But, as it turned out, she's fine, and was just faking it to gain an edge over him.

     That is classic Yang. She can let things roll off her back and play on others' feelings because she is highly competitive and cares about the job over anything else. Yes, Cristina went through a lot, and I think there will be lasting changes to her personality. But there is no reason to throw out a whole character, having been built up over the past six and a half seasons, and so I was delighted to see the first old-Cristina story this season. Very good.

     Now that Cristina is fixed, there are still a number of ongoing problems that need screen time to work themselves out. Perhaps the one most fans are passionate about is the broken relationship of Callie (Sara Ramirez) and Arizona (Jessica Capshaw). That arc got a huge leap forward this week, as Callie parked herself on the examining table of her new baby doctor, Lucy Fields (Rachael Taylor, making her debut in a multi-episode arc), and she turned her stress and worry about Arizona's future commitment onto worrying if her barely developed fetus was OK. Of course, it was; Grey's has suffered too much tragedy lately to add another to the heap just yet. But the tantrum gave Arizona the boost to really prove she was in this for the long haul. The duo are not completely good, but they are well on their way. Plus, the coming three-way parenting with Mark (Eric Dane) is going to be comedy gold!

     Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Mark and Lexie. The baby is biologically Sloan's, conceived while both couples were broken up, but Lexie stormed out angrily after learning the 'good news'. I can see why she'd be upset, but her comparing it to the story last year, when Mark's practically adult daughter showed up, was unfair. A baby and a young adult are two totally different situations. Plus, Mark and Lexie are perfect for each other. Perhaps Lexie doesn't want or isn't ready for kids, but she can have plenty of life with Mark, too. Let's hope Little Grey comes around, because I can't take much more of Mark pining for her, and I don't see him moving on anytime soon.

     Derek (Patrick Dempsey) has begun his clinical trials on Alzheimer's patients, and as we'd seen discussed before, not brought his wife, Meredith (Ellen Pompeo), along for the ride. That is a crying shame, considering her family history. Luckily, Alex (Justin Chambers) pointed that out to him, so it looks like Meredith will soon be by Derek's side once again, professionally as well as personally.

     Does having a mother who suffered from Alzheimer's put Meredith too close to the situation? I understand why her history would distract Derek, who would be concerned about his wife instead of totally focusing on the patients. But Meredith has more than proven herself a great doctor, and so it makes sense, too, to include her, especially when she will have such strong motivation to solve the problem. Some wonderful breakthroughs have occurred in science when the researcher had family or friends giving him or her a personal stake. I think a Derek-Meredith partnership on this project will not only solidify their power couple status in the medical world, but is bound to be successful. At least, from a TV writing stand point, that seems the path to take. Let's just hope Meredith's problems getting pregnant don't screw it all up.

     Alex, one of the best characters in the series, removed himself from Derek's study after discovering that he couldn't handle lying to the patients and their families, giving them the false hope needed to make the study work. This is just one of a recent string of areas where Alex has tried his hand at something new, and found he didn't like it nearly as much as pediatrics. It always comes down to perference, never a lack of skill. I understand he is still somewhat in his student phase, but it's time to commit Alex totally to Arizona's tutelage. He is awesome in peds, and that's where he belongs.

     If you thought Owen (Kevin McKidd) seemed mysteriously absent from this week's episode, there was good reason for that. McKidd directed it, though only found out he would do so four days before the story began shooting. Add to that, this was McKidd's first directing experience, though he'd been working in preparation for awhile, he was really far too busy to be a central part of the story. I think it is a credit to him that I didn't pick out an odd directing style, but instead a great, consistent episode in a fantastic season. Though I miss Owen, I hope McKidd gets more opportunities to hone his other skill. He did a fine job, as far as I can tell.

     Grey's Anatomy airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. on ABC. If you've drifted away because of substandard plots the past couple of years, come back. The show has not only fixed its bugs, but is currently soaring.


Article first published as TV Review: Grey's Anatomy Gets Trendy on Blogcritics.

For frequent mini-reviews and occasional TV news, follow Jerome on Twitter.