"The Price" of Great SCANDAL

Article first published as TV Review: 'Scandal' - 'The Price of Free and Fair Elections' on Blogcritics.

ABC’s Scandal is a fast-paced thrill ride in the political world, but even compared to itself, its recent season finale, “The Price of Free and Fair Elections,” is bonkers. Perhaps the writers are rushed, ending the season earlier due to their leading lady’s pregnancy, or maybe they are just obsessed with topping December’s excellent mid-season ender. Whatever the reason, this hour is one to remember.

The framework of the story is set around election week. There are only days to go before the public votes on whether to keep Fitzgerald Grant (Tony Goldwyn) in the Oval Office. At the start of this episode, he’s ahead in the race. Then tragedy strikes and Vice President Sally Langston (Kate Burton) surges in the polls. Then another tragedy his and Grant wins. Viewers are left guessing right up until the end if there’s another twist around the corner. Scandal might have a tough time continuing as it is without a Grant presidency, but it seems like the type of series that might take that chance.

One wonders if Scandal is so cynical to believe that this is how politics work, or if it’s just trying to be the most soapy, angsty-filled drama on television. Surely creator Shonda Rhimes isn’t accusing our sitting leaders of election stealing and murder at their own hands. But there’s a point made here that this is how the system is set up. This is a dreary world, indeed, if what Scandal portrays is the only way national government can function.

Most shocking in this mess, is the action (or rather the inaction) of Cyrus Beene (Jeff Perry). He’s been through a lot, his husband having been recently murdered and all, but even so, it’s surprising to watch him willing to let innocents die. It’s one thing (albeit one terrible thing) to allow a political rival and betrayer like Sally stay in harm’s way to ensure Grant will win the election. It’s quite another when there are bystanders in the line of fire. Cyrus knows this, but he doesn’t warn anyone. This is a harder, colder Cyrus then we’ve seen before. Without his love for James, is there nothing likeable left in the man?

Grant, on the other hand, has never been more sympathetic. Learning about his wife, Mellie’s (Bellamy Young), rape at the hands of his father, Grant stands by Mellie instead of following his heart to Olivia (Kerry Washington). Then, we watch as Grant loses his son, Jerry (Dylan Minnette), to poison. Finally, at his lowest point, Grant reaches out to the woman he loves for comfort, and Olivia ignores his call. Grant may still be president, but he is broken, and through no fault of his own. Grant isn’t perfect, far from it, but especially in “The Price of Free and Fair Elections,” he is a victim of circumstance.

Olivia, for her part, is justified in leaving. Her life sucks, serving Grant professionally, but unable to be with him. She’s right that so many bad things have happened in the past few years, even if blaming herself as the common factor doesn’t quite hold up. Of course she wants to get away from it all. And when a handsome man whom she’s slept with, Jake (Scott Foley), who has also done bad things but wants to start fresh and doesn’t care about Olivia’s baggage, why not let him come along? The two fly off into what could be a happy ending.

It won’t last, because Olivia, despite her best intentions, will never be happy to sit idly by on a beach. Nor will Jake, I imagine, given his most recent position as the head of the secret government organization that Olivia’s father, Rowan (Joe Morton), has been reinstated to and will likely kill Jake should the man come back to town, daughter’s happiness at stake or not. Not only will the couple soon be zooming home, but it’s hard to imagine they’ll stay together, Olivia never being able to get over Grant.

Did anyone else not see the turn coming that Rowan is the one who murdered Jerry? We know Rowan is evil; it’s necessary to do his job, and he’s never really pretended otherwise, though he has motivations for certain actions. But to kill a child just to get what he wants? A child who has done nothing to him? Ruining a family forever? That’s a whole new low, and it definitely begs for a schism in the repaired relationship between Olivia and Rowan. Olivia has to come back and dismantle B-613 all over again because it cannot be allowed to stand, with Rowan at the head or otherwise, as leadership for this organization is corrupting, as seen in Jake this year.

I’m sure Olivia’s organization will be glad to have Olivia back. Abby (Darby Stanchfield) can’t run things herself, and that’s the position she’s in. Harrison (Columbus Short) may very well be dead, at worst, and in B-613′s clutches, at best. Quinn (Katie Lowes) and Huck (Guillermo Diaz) are in the middle of their kinky, sick romance, so they won’t be of much use. That just leaves the redhead to handle things on her own, and she doesn’t seem quite up to the task.

What could happen, is that Abby puts her resources in the hands of boyfriend David Rosen (Joshua Malina) to help take down B-613, as Jake leaves Rosen some tools with which to do so. Again, I don’t think the two of them could accomplish this without Olivia’s brain- and will-power, but at least they could start. This is a hero’s journey, the knights off to slay the dragon, so it will be something to root for them on.

Rowan didn’t kill the mother of his daughter, Maya (Khandi Alexander), though he says he does. This is a good thing because she’s a terrific character and door remains open for her to return. But why does Rowan choose to let her live? She’s a terrorist and a woman that broke his heart. There’s definitely no going back for the couple, and she isn’t of much value alive. She doesn’t have lots of useful information, being out of the game for so long. She has murdered many. Rowan’s reasons for keeping her are unclear and puzzling.

“The Price of Freedom and Fair Elections” is a heck of a wild ride and that’s a good thing. A lot happens in the installment, but that’s how Scandal works best, rocketing along at top speed. Somehow, it manages to keep story and characters balanced while doing so, rarely knocking off anything and leaving it behind, and always going just slow enough to avoid missing its stops. I greatly look forward to see what Rhimes and company cook up for season four.

Scandal will return next fall on ABC.

SCANDAL Makes a Heck of an "Exit"

Article first published as SCANDAL Makes a Heck of an "Exit" on TheTVKing.

I am ashamed to say I fell behind on ABC's excellent Scandal this fall. But marathoning through the recent installments, culminating in "A Door Marked Exit" this past Thursday, I was very impressed. The entire run has been built expertly, stringing along various bits that mesh together in the most exciting and unexpected of ways, and ending with a number of absolutely stellar performances by several cast members.

The biggest shocker going into the finale is when Vice President Sally Langston (Kate Burton) kills her husband, Daniel Douglas Langston (Jack Coleman). Daniel has been cheating on Sally with James (Dan Bucatinsky) and is intent on leaving her, destroying her political career, but I think it's more Sally's personal pain that causes her to snap and lash out. She's been played for a fool by a man she loves and trusts, and she isn't the type to let him get away with it.

Sally calls Cyrus (Jeff Perry) to clean up the mess. Since James is Cyrus' husband and Cyrus is aware of the cheating, something he and Mellie (Bellamy Young) set up, though Cyrus hadn't expected James to go through with it, this may not be the best situation for Cyrus to go into. Cyrus keeps things together enough to get rid of the body in a non-suspicious way, using his power and influence. But he is also deeply affected, vomiting in a moment of weakness.

The performances by Burton and Perry are both amazing. Burton's shock and Cyrus's grief, both knowing that they bear direct responsibility for the circumstances and not being sure how to handle it, comes through. Both manage to capture all of the layers of the event, making them sympathetic, in spite of the despicable things they have done. Wow, they've come a long way since their days as Meredith Grey's parents!

The full weight of Douglas' death had not yet settled. Mellie Grant, at least, thinks she has Sally right where she wants her, blackmailed into not running against President Fitzgerald "Fitz" Grant (Tony Goldwyn) in the upcoming election. But once Sally starts thinking clearly again, she may decide revenge is the best strategy, as she has every reason to blame Mellie and Cyrus for pushing her into the deed. With the deliciously calculating Leo Bergen (Paul Adelstein, Private Practice) figuring out the truth and wanting to help Sally win, she might have a shot.

The more interesting question is, will Cyrus and James' marriage survive? They've been pushed to their limits before by one another, but unlike in the past, Cyrus is utterly broken when James leaves this time, a man who has lost the most precious thing in the world to him, and he's too upset to try to manipulate James back home. Instead, he offers James his dream job, something that could lead to professional trouble for Cyrus, and that only brings James back to the house, not doing anything towards repairing their emotional bond.

This raises the debate of when is a relationship dead? James has always used Cyrus for his own gain, but now it appears that's all that's left between them. Can Cyrus really be happy if James never forgives him, James only sticking around because he would have to give up the lifestyle to which he is accustomed if he left? I really hope they can move past this because, despite what Cyrus has done, he definitely cares about his partner.

Other relationships also remain broken. Huck (Guillermo Diaz) has no intention of welcoming Quinn (Katie Lowes) back into the fold, even though she can forgive him for torturing her, pushing her into the arms of Charlie (George Newbern), who would turn on her if ordered to do so. Jake (Scott Foley) has given up on having a relationship with Olivia (Kerry Washington), since Olivia is back to sleeping with Fitz. And Olivia isn't on good terms with either of her parents.

Olivia's mother, Marie (Khandi Alexander, Treme), is an escaped con who returns to D.C. with unknown motives. She may want to get even with her husband, Rowan (Joe Morton), for locking her up all of these years. She'll definitely want to get to know Olivia, and probably won't like it when Olivia turns less than receptive, now that Olivia knows how bad a person Marie is.

Rowan also can't be happy with his daughter, knowing Olivia's boyfriend has him removed from his post, with Jake taking over the shady organization.  Rowan surely has connections that can help him retake his position. And Jake's seat gives Fitz new powers no president should have. Time will tell if Jake can be a better leader than Rowan, with or without POTUS consent. It's all kind of a mess.

Not to mention, David Rosen (Joshua Malina) will now be on Sally and Cyrus' scent for the coverup of Daniel's death, even if lead James recants, now that a second person, Shelby Moss (Julia Cho, The Lizzie Bennet Diaries), has come forward with solid evidence.

Scandal delights at keeping every character off balance, each always scheming, forming alliances when it suits them, and working to take others down. It's not like Dallas, in which everyone vies for their own power, as some actually have noble intentions. But it is a well-written, well-performed Shakespearean drama of screwed up people, ripe with constant betrayals, murders, and secrets, making for a fast-paced, compelling series.

Scandal will return for its uninterrupted spring run on ABC in a couple of months.

The SCANDAL? "It's Handled"

Article first published as The SCANDAL? "It's Handled" on TheTVKing.

ABC's Scandal's season three premiere, "It's Handled," ranks among the top five episodes of this series so far, and that's saying something. It's an intense, twisty piece of drama, with some surprises, at least one big revelation that absolutely makes sense, and some wonderful extended, character-driven scenes. In short, it's everything you want from the show.

"It's Handled" picks up right where last spring's finale left off, with Olivia (Kerry Washington) on her way out of town, courtesy her estranged father, Rowan (Joe Morton, Eureka). Rowan has a plan: have Olivia lie low for eight months, then he'll set her up a new life anywhere in the world, other than D.C. Shocked and speechless, Olivia allows him to put her on a plane.

We know Olivia cannot leave, but it's Cyrus (Jeff Perry) of all people that talks her into staying with a quick phone call. These two have a strong, strange friendship. Sometimes, their purposes are at odds with one another, and that creates major conflict. But it's clear Cyrus still wants her around, even when she causes him a headache. He hasn't figured out how to deal with the fallout of Olivia being outed as Fitz's (Tony Goldwyn) mistress yet, but he insists that she remain in town, and then he'll formulate a plan.

It's very surprising that the help Cyrus gets to make said plan comes not only from Mellie (Bellamy Young), who has her reasons for not wanting the real story out there, but also from Olivia's own team. Harrison (Columbus Short), Abby (Darby Stanchfield), Huck (Guillermo Diaz), and Quinn (Katie Lowes) go into damage mode, considering Olivia as they would any client. Their solution is to throw the press onto some poor, innocent girl, leading them away from Olivia's scent, and Cyrus helps them put it in place.

The team isn't trying to act against Olivia's wishes. But her wishes are that they just stay out of it, as she says "It's Handled," and that is not in their nature. They can't sit idly by and let things happen, no more than can Cyrus, who first puts together a kill file on Olivia before embarking on this path. All of these people care about Olivia and are trying to protect her. Inadvertently, they do the opposite, screwing everything up. From her perspective, anyway, as her reputation and business may be the better for it.

You see, Olivia has a plan, and that's to come clean about her affair. She gets Fitz and Mellie in a room to talk about how to control the story, and plan on going with the truth. This is Mellie's nightmare, but she goes along with it to stall for time. Mellie worries that this story breaking is the first step towards Fitz and Olivia having a real, public relationship, and her being shoved out of the picture, which is exactly why Fitz is the one that leaks the affair in the first place; he wants to be with Olivia, not Mellie. Olivia's people sabotage this.

Is there a chance for Olivia and Fitz to ever be a full-fledged couple? Everyone around them seems to think that idea is crazy, as does Olivia. Yet, it's something that Fitz really, really wants, and I think she does, too, though she tries not to let herself. It could happen after he leaves office, but with a re-election campaign looming, that could be awhile and he's impatient. No one can have it all, though, not even the president, and this mess does not have a clear path through it.

I love Scandal because it creates these very complex situations with lots of moving parts, each affecting the others. Every character is operating through their own motivations and values, and those bump up against everyone else's, sometimes working together, and sometimes destroying. Somehow, the writers keep these all wonderfully balanced and juggled, providing a great big picture when one steps back.

Despite all this chaos, things will settle down soon enough, and the characters can move onto the next crisis. The only real fall-out I see caused by the events in "It's Handled" will come from V.P. Sally Langston (Kate Burton). Fitz and Sally have never gotten along, but they have a real, mostly honest conversation in this episode. Fitz apologizes for screwing up, and pledges to do the right thing. Sally believes him. Through it's not Fitz's fault that Cyrus, Mellie, and the gladiators screw up his plan, if he goes along with it, Sally will feel betrayed. And he has to go along with it to maintain his office.

What can Sally do? Might she campaign on the truth, using what Fitz tells her to try to beat him in the primary elections? That would make sense, and it seems like it would take a miracle to be able to combat that platform. Or, she could force Fitz to her will with the threat of such exposure, which she might do if she feels her goals are justified, even though that doesn't seem to be her style.

The scene between Sally and Fitz is a real, raw moment, a powerful bit for the series. As is the three-way meeting between Fitz, Mellie, and Olivia. And the moment in which David Rosen (Joshua Malina) comes to Olivia "as a friend" and seems to sincerely offer to help. It's all of these combined that ranks "It's Handled" among the best hours of television this week. Where will the story go next?

Scandal airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET on ABC.

Not quite "Blown Away" by Scandal

Scandal - "Blown Away"
Grade: 88%

ABC's Scandal has a clever concept, big scales stories, and a terrific cast. But it still fails to deliver on its potential week in and week out. The issue may be the episodes that tackle large issues, and then seek closure at the end of an hour, keeping the series from breaking out into a true serial. Or it could be that when larger tales do play out, the situation keeps seeming worse and worse.

This week's fall finale, "Blown Away," is thankfully much more serial than procedural. Huck (Guillermo Diaz) is set up for shooting President "Fitz" Grant (Tony Goldwyn), but while his friends try to protect him, he doesn't do himself any favors, tracking down the real killer, Becky (Susan Pourfar), whom he is in love with. All of this plays out admist struggles for power, as the players in Washington won't even wait for Fitz to die before taking control of his office.

The action and mythology parts of "Blown Away" are what Scandal should be every week. The 'B' grade for the episode stems mostly from the fact that it doesn't feel like much of the rest of the season, and only now, well into a second year, are things ramping back up, as they did in season one. That, and things do get a tad predictable. As well as a couple of other issues that I'll get to shortly.

Poor Huck cannot be blamed for trusting Becky. His head is messed up as he struggles with his past and his addiction to killing people. It is because of the way he is trained by the government, and without Olivia (Kerry Washington) to keep a close eye on him, as she is wont to do, he begins to stray. It's no wonder he is easy pickings for another assassin on top of her game.

In the end, Huck decides to do the right thing, but like his relationship, he does so sloppily, giving Becky the chance at escape, but not before slaughtering people that Huck cares about, and leaving him on the hook for a serious crime. Viewers know that Huck will probably eventually be exonerated, even if Becky isn't caught. But that doesn't change the fact that he is in a dark place, and in no condition to handle what comes next. Hopefully, Scandal will allow Diaz to play out this plot to its fullest, taking Huck even deeper into the mire, and making it quite awhile before he can function as a full-fledged member of the team again.

Huck isn't the only one falling through the cracks. Quinn (Katie Lowes) is obsessed with figuring out what happened to her, finally having her suspicions that Huck and Olivia are involved confirmed in "Blown Away." Abby (Darby Stanchfield) is continually drawn towards what she sees as an unhealthy relationship with the "enemy," David Rosen (Joshua Malina). Harrison (Columbus Short) is basically left to run the group, a task he is not yet able to do effectively.

Perhaps a lot of the last few episodes have allowed the various members of Olivia's agency to stray because she herself has her attention divided. Back to flirting with Fitz, acting as the doting girlfriend, gossiping with Cyrus (Jeff Perry), and working at the White House, she has let other things slip, and she should blame herself at least as much as anyone else that her group is fracturing.

Not that I'm complaining about the Olivia / Cyrus scenes. They have been among my favorite parts of the fall run, revealing the depth of their affection for each other, and how they once worked together so well on the campaign.

But the fact of the matter is, Olivia's world is slimy. Politics are disgusting. Watching Vice President Langston (Kate Burton) assume the president's office, seeing Hollis Doyle (Gregg Henry, Bunheads, Hung) take control of the new leader, being betrayed by Justice Verna Thornton (Debra Mooney), it becomes more and more clear every day why Olivia left them behind. Her getting dragged back into it now makes her just as damaged as the rest of her team. Scandal is no West Wing by any stretch.

I do worry that the conspiracy story will ruin Olivia and Cyrus as sympathetic characters. Finding out that they rigged the election for Fitz, on top of everything else, and worked with the likes of Verna and Hollis, makes them difficult to root for. The more we learn about their actions, the more despicable they become. The writers may eventually try to smooth this over by giving a good reason why Fitz needed to win, but at that point, will it be too late to salvage their reputations?

There is also bound to be collateral damage before they can overcome their past. James (Dan Bucatinsky) is the most likely victim. It appears for a moment in "Blown Away" that he might be saved, when Cyrus agrees to give him a baby, and James vows to quit his job. But James is only fooling, knowing Cyrus is onto him. The love Cyrus has for James looks real, at least in as much as Cyrus is prepared to love another person. What will it do to Cyrus if James is killed? Or, at minimum, if their marriage is dissolved? Their union seems unrepairable at present.

By the end of "Blown Away," it appears that the writers have themselves in a corner. Will they be brilliant enough to get out of it, without tossing believability aside, or ruining all of the characters? Only time will tell, but there is no obvious path to redemption from here.

Scandal will return to ABC Thursday, January 10th at 10 p.m. ET.

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Article first published on TheTVKing

The Good Wife takes the 'Long Way Home'

In last night's installment of CBS's The Good Wife, "Long Way Home," Alicia (Julianna Margulies) must once again represent Colin Sweeney (Dylan Baker), this time as he faces the outcome of a sexual harassment suit. Unfortunately, Colin is keeping her guessing as to whether he is committing perjury or not, making her job more difficult. And, of course, she has plenty else going on, too, learning that she will soon need to find a new place to live, and also having difficulty with her mentee, Caitlin (Anna Camp).

Baker's Sweeney is always a pleasure. He's a manipulative, borderline psychotic troublemaker, so it's not like he's a nice character. But Baker plays hm with such talent and grace, constantly keeping viewers guessing what Sweeney's real motivations are. It's a prime part for the actor, and one that he excels at. "Long Way Home" is no exception to that recurring performance.

In "Long Way Home," Sweeney is trying to wrest control of his company back from his rival. This power play is interrupted when a young woman named Isobel (Morena Baccarin, V, Homeland, Firefly) steps forward with a child that she says is Sweeney's, and accuses him of improper conduct. He denies it all. The rush for Alicia, Caitlin, and the firm is on to prove that Sweeney's competition is behind the stunt. Except, Sweeney begins lying under oath. Then so does Isobel, to the dismay of her own attorney, Victoria Adler (Kate Burton). And then Sweeney and Isobel come to an amiable agreement, raising the child, who is, indeed, his, together. What's going on?

Well, it's pretty clear that Sweeney has once more gamed the system. If a connection between Isobel and Sweeney's foe can be established, which is what appears to happen during the machinations, then Judge Friend (Bebe Neuwirth, Cheers) must rule in Sweeney's favor, removing the competition from the game. So there is plenty of motivation for Sweeney here to stage such a connection for his own benefit. Add to that, Isobel is a softcore porn actress, meaning, she can fake things decently, and how comfortable Sweeney is with his son, it looks like Sweeney used Lockhart / Gardner all over again.

Which is fine. After all, Lockhart / Gardner gets a big payday. Being oblivious to Sweeney's plans, they are not culpable in the illegal activities. And other than a suspicion, the lawyers can prove nothing. Nor do they have any desire to do so, as it would simply lose them money and get them into trouble. Not to mention, if they turn on him, Sweeney would go to someone else next time, costing them even more. And with a devious, intelligent mind like his, there is sure to be a next time.

All told, "Long Way Home" is a fantastic return for one of The Good Wife's best recurring characters.

Too bad Caitlin won't stick around to enjoy the spoils of the victory. She chooses to give up the legal life to be a stay-at-home mom, a decision that baffles Alicia, perhaps because Alicia sort of regrets having done so herself. Alicia tries to convince Caitlin to stay, to no avail. It might be a good thing for Alicia that Caitlin is leaving, considering a rivalry seems to be building between them. But The Good Wife fans will definitely miss Camp's terrific presence.

Hopefully Caitlin's uncle, David Lee (Zach Grenier), won't continue to blame Alicia for running Caitlin off, as he begins to this week, as it is very clear that Alicia has nothing to do with the resignation.

Adding to the office chaos, Will (Josh Charles) is treading carefully, now that he's back at work. He still cannot have any involvement in the legal proceedings of the firm, and Lionel Deerfield (Edward Herrmann, Gilmore Girls, The Practice) is on hand to make sure that Will doesn't cross a line. Will's return calms the power vacuum, but will he be able to keep his nose clean for six whole months, resisting the career that is his calling?

In "Long Way Home," Alicia learns that she must find somewhere else to live, as her rental unit will soon be sold. She can't really afford to buy the place herself. Peter (Chris Noth) suggests impropriety is afoot, in that they are not giving her enough notice. This is something Alicia may end up fighting in court, but she is still likely to have to move eventually, and so, not wasting any time, she begins looking.

One possibility is buying back her old house. Grace (Makenzie Vega) and Zach (Graham Phillips) are all for this plan, as it is back on the market, but Alicia isn't so enthusiastic. She claims it would be a financial hardship for her, which may be partially true. But then Alicia asks Diane (Christine Baranski) for a raise, so the money thing might not be an issue, long-term. No, there's more to it than that.

Alicia' visit to the house reveals a vulnerability, as she is overcome emotionally with memories of her time there. At first, those memories are happy, as she recalls her children. But when Peter's image is evoked, they turn upsetting. It may very well be that Alicia doesn't want to remember her marriage any more than she has to, now that it has fallen apart. This is reason enough not to return to the home. Alicia has moved on and built a new life for herself, and getting back her old dwelling is a step backwards, not forwards.

While no reconciliation seems imminent, Peter has his own troubles in "Long Way Home." He orders Cary (Matt Czuchry) to investigate reports that two co-workers had relations on Peter's office couch. When Cary comes forward with the guilty party, Peter fires them. But then Cary confesses his own indiscretion. Peter wants to slip it under the rug, but Cary tells him this is not possible, especially because others in the office know. What to do now?

Would Cary have come forward if Geneva (Renee Goldsberry, One Life to Live) hadn't pressured him to? It's hard to know. Geneva wasn't going to turn him in, so Cary could have escaped consequences, other than the damage to his reputation. But Cary is a stand up guy, and so one would like to think that he eventually would have confessed anyway. Cary understands that one must admit their mistakes and suffer the consequences, and that's what he does. Now he can move forward proudly, rather than hide this shame.

Peter has the tougher choice, and that's deciding what to do with Cary. Peter can't stand to loose his right-hand man, but neither can he let Cary continue on, unpunished. How much discipline is needed to satisfy the rest of the staff, but not damage Cary's standing too much? It's a fine balance, to be sure.


Next week's episode features the return of Tammy (Elizabeth Reaser), and so , like most installments, it's one not to miss! Catch The Good Wife Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on CBS.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! To buy The Good Wife DVDs, please click here. Article first published as TV Review: The Good Wife - "Long Way Home" on Blogcritics.

"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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Things looking Grimm

     Last night, NBC's Grimm premiered. In "Pilot," Detective Nick Burckhardt (David Giuntoli, Priveleged) begins seeing people morph into strange creatures. His dying Aunt Marie (Kate Burton, Grey's Anatomy, Law & Order), who raised him, warns that he is the next in a long line of Grimms, tasked with hunting down the supernatural. Since she will be gone soon, he is inheriting her powers. This comes in handy, as Nick is soon investigating a serial killer who goes after girls in red hoodies. Luckily, he meets Eddie Monroe (Silas Weir Mitchell, My Name is Earl, Prison Break), a reformed big bad wolf, who reluctantly tells him about the supernatural world, and helps him track down the killer, a postman (Tim Bagley, Monk, Web Therapy), who happens to be another Big Bad Wolf with a Red Riding Hood complex.

     Basically, Grimm is a crime procedural with a heavy supernatural twist. This makes it hard to figure out, exactly. With David Greenwalt, a creative force for Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel on board, Grimm could start off with cases of the week, and grow into something truly special. Or it could continue this format for years to come and grow boring. Or it could pull off the rare feat of a procedural, making enough character development merge with whatever the crime is, and end up being successful because of the people in the series being extremely interesting. A cynic would think the middle choice is most likely, and looking at the fare on television, that is probably true. However, with a wonderful cast and cool mythology, Grimm certainly has the chance to be neat if the network lets it, and the writers and producers are so inclined.

     Poor Burton takes on another character that won't be long for the series. She does a similar thing in the first season of Grey's Anatomy, setting up the central character, before bowing out and letting them stand on their own. She surely won't be alive by season one's end, at the latest. It's too bad, because she makes Marie creepy and mysterious, loving and dangerous. It's a really complicated character, and Burton is up to the task. Thank goodness, even though the part may be temporary, an actress with skill is cast.

     How long will Nick stay with Juliette (Bitsie Tulloch, Quarterlife, Lonelygirl15)? She is someone that can go a number of ways, thus making her character a good one to put in the mix. Nick and Juliette are living together, and he wants to propose to her. But as Nick's Grimm destiny manifests, Marie warns him to dump Juliette, as being the spouse of a Grimm is far too dangerous. So in Grimm, Juliette, who is currently a main character, will have to go one of two ways. Either Nick is done with her, after much agonizing, and likely some serious threat to her life, which may or may not result in her death, or she bucks up and becomes a talented hunter alongside him. The latter option is the more unexpected one, and the more people helping Nick, the better his mission will go. That would be a step towards Buffy, and a sign that the series is on the right track. But maybe she'll just die, which would be boring.

     Nick and Eddie's partnership, while not at all original, has pretty good chemistry. Like so many other team ups that both characters are not equally as enthused about at first (see: White Collar, Bones, Castle, etc.), they will become fast friends very soon. Which is fine, because both have back stories that will serve to enhance the show's mysteries. Neither performer has had real starring, meaty roles before, and it's time to give them the chance, especially Mitchell, who has shone is recurring roles on popular series. In "Pilot," they seem capable. They relationship will be the heart of the series.

     On the other side of things, in what will surely clash with Nick's new career, he already has a partner in Hank Griffin (Russell Hornsby, Lincoln Heights). Hank knows nothing about Nick's new abilities, but does seem to notice that Nick is now getting "instincts," which lead them to the bad guys. So Nick keeping the two sides of himself a secret is out. Hank's direction is nearly the same as Juliette's, though he probably won't just get reassigned and disappear. Either he becomes a valued ally, or he dies. Again, if the show is going for a strong ensemble with some serious serial staying power, he needs to step up. It would be a shame if Nick loses all of his connection to the human world, so minimally, either Juliette or Hank should stick. Both would be preferable.

     Lastly, Nick's boss, Captain Renard (Sasha Roiz, Caprica, Warehouse 13) is working with some of the creatures that Nick must hunt. Is he a baddie, too? What are his motives? First glance makes him see evil, but that is not necessarily the case. It's nice to see the great Roiz isn't regulated to toothless, bit part boss, but is instead an integral part of the larger story. The questions I have about Renard top all others to date, so he really makes Grimm worth looking forward to.

     Watch Grimm Fridays at 9 p.m. ET on NBC. The series also stars Reggie Lee (No Ordinary Family, Prison Break).

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The Anatomy of Grey's casting drama

     Casting drama is all the rage over at Grey's Anatomy.  While characters have rotated in and out almost since the show's inception, there has been a lot of news as of late.  Most notably, Dr. Teddy Altman (Kim Raver, 24, Lipstick Jungle), after only a handful of episodes, has been picked up as a full time cast member.

     Of the original characters from the pilot, three have long been involved in controversy and infighting.  The first, Isaiah Washington, was let go way back in the spring of 2007.  While that should have ended it, T.R. Knight seemed to stay unhappy until he was let go last spring.  Now the final member of the trio, who has also had her share of saying the wrong thing in interviews and when accepting awards, is trying to be released, and rumor is, she's going to get her wish.  Katherine Heigl (Knocked Up) still has a year left on her contract, but she has been largely absent from this season, and it would not be a surprise if they just let her get out of their hair.

     In happier news, Grey's has recently recast two of its older characters to do a flashback to 1982 in the February 18th episode, entitled "Time Warp".  J. August Richards (Angel, Raising the Bar) will take over for James Pickens Jr. when he plays young Richard, and Sarah Paulson (Studio 60 On the Sunset Strip) will play the younger version of Ellis Grey.  Sarah, in particular, resembles Kate Burton, the actress who played Ellis in fifteen episodes of the series.  We will also see flashbacks for Dr. Bailey (Chandra Wilson) and Callie (Sara Ramirez), but the actresses currently playing those roles will stay the same, as it won't be as far in the past.

     Grey's Anatomy airs Thursdays at 9pm on ABC.