EXPLORE All The Shades of Grey

"Life During Wartime" was an...interesting experience for me tonight. I had really no idea what to expect from the episode, so it turned out completely different than I was imagining it would. That didn't necessarily mean it was bad - because it by no means wasn't. It was a really good episode, but I also have to say I don't think it has been the season's best. I think it was an incredibly interesting episode but it was necessarily a gripping episode.
I think the flaw of the episode was that the characters were so...angry tonight. There was comedy to balance it out and I think the last two acts made up for it, but I found that I was really annoyed (especially at Richard and Erica - I consistently find that I'm liking her less and less) during the episode. However, like I said, the last two acts made up for it - what with Cristina and the emotions and George and Lexie and Izzie and Alex.
At the same time, I think this episode had a harder time with balance than the previous of the season. Curiously, we haven't seen much of George even though he's been promoted for over two weeks now. Patrick Dempsey and Ellen Pompeo seemed very absent as well.
However, this episode also had some really great qualities. I loved seeing the human side to Erica at the beginning, even though it was smashed by the end of the episode (and based on next week's preview, I'm betting I won't change that opinion anytime soon) and really just the more human sides and even backstory insight into all of the characters. Katherine Heigl was so sweet in tonight's episode, I though! And I'm thrilled to have Owen back as well - I think he's going to be a great addition to the cast, as evidenced by his scene with Mark and Derek.
The pig thing to me was totally shocking - and I was worried at first, I'm a total Izzie on these things. But I think the episode handled this storyline incredibly well, and while I'm sure some people will be pissed, most people will be OK with how it was portrayed.
So, overall, I thought it was a good episode but that it didn't live up to last week's simply amazing "There's No 'I' in Team."
As for next week's "Rise Up" - I AM SO EXCITED. Seriously. I actually had a revelation that Izzie was going to have to deal with the guy she stole the heart from in this episode about a half an hour before the show came on here - AND I WAS RIGHT! It's going to make me hate Erica even more, but I am so excited to see where this storyline goes - in my opinion, it's brilliant.
This episode has a very mixed reaction on the boards. Of course, all the animal fanatics are out damning the show for "Doing those horrible things to the pigs," but that's to be expected. Some people loved it, but I'm finding that most people pretty much just thought it was "OK." As much as it pains me to say it, I think I have to agree with them. Something was just off about this episode tonight. Sorry.

It was a good episode and a great effort and it certainly had some interesting storylines, but it just didn't par up to the rest of this fantastic season. On the bright side, next week looks simply amazing. This is what people have been waiting for since...oh, season three.