It seems like it wasn’t that long ago that I was previewing the sixth season premiere of Grey’s Anatomy. Much has changed in the halls of Seattle Grace Mercy West since then … Oh, hell, who am I kidding? A whole freaking lot has changed since then. Aside from George and Izzy, there’s been babies and betrayals, massacres and musicals. Grey’s eighth season starts off in a place that’s not nearly as dark as season six did, but man … Most of the people in this hospital are definitely in dark-and-twisty-ville.
Meredith Grey is up the proverbial creek without the proverbial paddle. You’ve probably seen the preview, where Derek asks her “What did you expect to happen?” I couldn’t have said it better myself. I actually thought that Shonda Rhimes and crew had written themselves into a corner. I’m not sure that I could see any plausible way that Meredith could become a doctor again. Seattle Grace has survived the LVAD incident, which is all the more reason why Meredith shouldn’t skate by again. The one thing we should have learned about Meredith at this point, though, is that she’s far from done making stupid decisions.
While I don’t regularly cover Grey’s Anatomy anymore, I’d imagine it isn’t a secret to anyone that’s been reading CliqueClack for any period of time that I am decidedly not a fan of the Cristina/Owen pairing. They just plain don’t work. The cliffhanger — Yang’s pregnancy — is a story yet unresolved as we start the new season. The only thing worth taking out of this whole plot arc at this point was the righteous dressing down that one of them received. How these two manage to stay together while wanting such different things out of life baffles me (And to all the CocoNuts out there who now hate me … Love ya!!).
I didn’t really understand the choice of Kepner as Chief Resident. While she might have showed some potential at the end of last season, she was still nowhere near the doctor that Callie was at the same stage, and we saw what an utter train wreck of a Chief she turned out to be. I think one of the biggest questions that Kepner will face this season is how she gain the respect of her peers in her ability to do her job. The one person that I could really see mentoring her, Bailey, I doubt will have the time or inclination to do so.
While all of our heroes of Seattle Grace now pretty much hate Alex, he continues to be one of my favorite characters on the show. He doesn’t let being ostracized keep him from doing his job, and frankly doing it damn well. With him, though, it’s always about doing the right thing some of the time. Alex Karev might be a bastard … But he’s my kind of bastard.
Notes:
Clacked by Ivey West 
on Sep 15, 2011 @ 16:39 EST5EDT
I rewatched season 7 during the summer, and I have to agree with you about the Christina/Owen couple. Owen takes too much from Christina and I don’t think he sees her as his equal. He tries to take charge of her career and his “oh I just thought when you grew up you’d want children” train of thought is insulting to her. At first their being together was hot kinda, but now it’s just a train wreck.
I disagree about Kepner, I think she’ll make a good chief resident because like she said in a previous episode she realizes how important taking all the steps are. Most of the residents like to do whatever they want, but I think she will make them stick to how things should be done. Callie failed because even though she was a good doctor she was a lousy organizer. Plus I don’t think there really was any other choice.
Also honestly Meredith is kinda dumb (not for the first time!), she could’ve just said she just wanted to see if the Chief wife was going to receive the placebo or not or straight lied. While I appreciate honesty, like you said, what did she expect to happen. Many other patients now can’t receive the drug and the whole experiment is compromised. If she was so adamant about “what I did didn’t change the results” she should’ve stuck to hiding what she did.
*POST AUTHOR*
Despite the fact that we both think Meredith is dumb (Well, I just think she makes some dumb decisions), I actually think she would have made the best Chief Resident. Despite her dark and twisty nature (Which I don’t think will ever go away completely), she’s also the center. All the other residents listen to her and respect her. Cristina would be distracted by actually being a surgeon, the residents would like Alex, the attendings would still remember Lexi’s breakdown (Though I’m still curious how she started later than everyone else, yet there all at the same point) and I think Jackson hasn’t been around enough to sell himself to to the attendings to be the right fit.
Meredith, despite her crappy decision making (Another thing I’m not sure will entirely go away), would have been the best choice.
I love Cristina and Owen together, but I’m cool with your dislike of them as long as you aren’t irrationally cruel to their fans. It’s fair to have an opinion on the major couples of the show. I happen to think Mer/Der is about as unhealthy and effed up a relationship as I’ve ever seen on TV, and yet they’ve still got their adoring fans.
I’m not too thrilled with the Cristina/Owen story line that they’re going with because I can’t see a positive outcome for anyone in that situation, but I’ll wait and see how it all falls into place. What I am really curious is seeing how Alex gets the shaft from everyone when he clearly (drunk or not) did what needed to be done in telling on Meredith. She was the one in the wrong just in terms of science and scientific processes, much less overstepping personal boundaries, and yet again she will face no consequences for her actions. I’m tired of seeing Alex get crapped on all the time.
I adore co they do work its just they have had a lot of sh1t thrown at them
Nice review-thanks forteheran info xx
Love ya back! LOL I love Owen and Cristina. I just hope Shonda doesnt screw them up. I agree that Mer/Der relationship is very screwed up.
You obviously know I’m going to disagree with you on the Cristina and Owen front, but we will agree to disagree. (As usual.)
I am quite interested in seeing how things turn out for everyone. I wonder what this giant sinkhole represents for the various characters.
I can imagine how Kepner fares as the chief resident. She is the meekest of the bunch. I am decidedly excited to see how Alex and Cristina react to her attempts to manage them.
Personally speaking, I think that Alex should not have been so vilified by his fellow surgeons. Don’t we want people to reveal fraud on research studies? Yes, I understand that what Meredith did was not the worst thing to do, but as someone who works in research, I expect studies to be done with the utmost regard to research ethics. They are there for a reason. (Of course, this study would have realistically been double-blind, meaning that Meredith couldn’t have done what she did anyways. But that’s a discussion for another time.)
Anyway, thanks for the review (even if you keep poking fun at the Cristina/Owen fans). Seriously, be nice! (Jerk.) ;)
I’ve always gotten the connection between Yang and Hunt. Maybe because my husband and I are so opposite on many things. That said, I’m excited to see what’s in store for them. As long as it doesn’t involves some repeat of the triangle of doom, I’m ok it. They are often the best when they are trying to get through some huge obstacle.
This has left me even more anxious then ever. I wasn’t surprised the least when Kepner the most organized out of the bunch was selected as Chief Resident – I think it will be interesting to see her struggle to gain that respect that she hopes for but its not a shock to me that she may not gain it from character such Cristina and Alex which i can’t wait for – if it creates humor.
As for Owen and Cristina I would have to disagree with you i hope that the end outcome allows people to change there minds of them – in seeing that Owen is not all bad as they label him to be. I am hoping there is applicable explanation for there final choice – because whilst its said that they will still be with each other and find “normalcy” in there relationship I don’t think Shonda has realistically thought it through if she hopes for them to come back work through it together if they want two different things.
I can’t wait to see how it turns out for them all aside from my fandoms :) thank you for the review.
I agree with you on Owen and Cristina. She could do so much better. I was so pissed when he threw her out of her own house and she complied! I don’t think he should force her into having a baby that she doesn’t want. I don’t like the way he treated Mer in saying she was reckless in offering her life for her husband’s. I would do the same thing. I could do without April, Owen and Teddy.
I love Cris, Alex and Meredith.
I hope McDreamy can see past a stupid work trial and realize that love is way more important than work. He probably would not find a cure for Alzheimer’s so be real and go back to the woman he loves. Be McDreamy again!! I love MerDer and think they have incredible chemistry. I hope they only lose Zola, temporarily! She belongs with them not in an orphanage! Either that or give them the Mcbaby we have been waiting for!!
Can’t wait for my McDreamy Thursday’s again!!
Gotta disagree about Owen/Cristina. Really love them but don’t like the no win situation SR has put them in. OMG is it Thursday yet!