Grey’s Anatomy – The most depressing Valentine’s Day ever

Yes, there were moments of lovey-dovey-ness, flickering candles, lingerie, kissing and even a romantic dinner.

Meredith and Derek were practically giddy and glowing as they charmingly sought out a location — other than their bedroom — where they could get busy without scarring Zola for life. (Loved Meredith’s refusal to do it in front of the rubber ducks in the bathroom … By the way, when are they going to give their roommates the boot?)

Callie impressed Arizona by transforming Derek’s woodland trailer into a swanky, candlelit boudoir with fine fabrics draped all about and sexy lingerie dripping off of a bed.

Then there was Ben, who made a touching grand gesture: Demonstrating that he truly understands Bailey and that he loves her anyway. Unlike Bailey’s ex-husband who was perpetually furious with her for logging late hours at the hospital and canceling dates because she was caught up with a patient’s case, the good humored Ben figured that Bailey wouldn’t be able to finish up in time to make their dinner reservations so he arranged for a gorgeous, romantic meal to be served, starched linens and all … at the hospital, ready when she was. He knows her. That’s sexier than all get out.

Those were the high points of this Valentine’s Day episode of Grey’s Anatomy. All the rest of it, total bummer.

Richard — whose wedding anniversary is on Valentine’s Day — planned to, uncharacteristically get home early to celebrate with Adele. Yet when he accomplished what Bailey couldn’t, he was greeted like a stranger, his wife unable to recognize him as Alzheimer’s has now stolen the memories of the love of her life. His wife, the woman with whom he could reminisce about their marriage, is, for all intents and purposes, gone.

Then there was Teddy, freshly widowed, who’s an open wound spouting fury at Owen, whom she actively despises for keeping the news that her husband had died from her until she finished operating on a patient. My prediction: Teddy’s anger toward Owen isn’t really about him or Teddy being livid about how he handled the situation. It’s about how fleeting her time with Henry was and how that reality has devastated her. I’m willing to wager that the powerful feelings, that tantalizing chemistry those two had for one another in Iraq will resurface once the shock of Henry’s death fades, particularly if Owen and Cristina remain estranged.

The icing on the cake was Owen and Cristina, specifically Owen telling Cristina, without deigning to look her in the eyes, that he was moving out, leaving her to sob, alone, in an elevator. Happy Valentine’s Day, I’m outta here lady. The proud Cristina was reduced to begging (which reminded me of Meredith begging Derek to “choose” her over Addison) Owen not to hate her as they stood in what was once “their” special spot in the hospital. It was left ambiguous as to whether their last scene was a reunion or just a transitory moment, nonetheless, it was drenched in melancholy.

The gloom of their story was topped only by that proposal in a locket, a proposal from a dead man, a proposal his longtime girlfriend will never hear. At least we didn’t have to witness the grieving girlfriend see that locket and realize that he was actually going to give her what she craved. At least there’s that.

Clacked by Meredith O'Brien
on Feb 10, 2012 @ 13:15 EST5EDT