EXPLORE All The Shades of Grey

I have to get this off my chest. I just…I don’t understand. I was skeptical of Denny’s “return” last week. But I’m willing to leap with Shonda. And this week, I actually liked it. Way liked it. Because Denny, let’s face it, is a neat character. But then the final scene came - a final scene in which Denny should have disappeared or made some big revelation or something. And instead…Denny became real. And I just don’t get it. No offense to the writers, but they really need to make it clear what the purpose of bringing Denny back is - and they need to do it SOON. Especially considering in the promos for next week, we’ve got Izzie HAVING SEX WITH A DEAD GUY! I know there’s purpose. Shonda wouldn’t bring Denny back for absolutely no reason. There’s this great, big purpose. I can feel it. But…we need to know what it is.

That being said, I think this storyline, while jumping the shark in a way Grey’s has never jumped the shark before in its entire run, will be incredibly interesting to watch - that is, once we figure out what the purpose of it is.

Moving on. “These Ties That Bind” was amazing. In every sense of the word. People were so worried about the two new characters, Sadie and Virginia, but they were actually not seen very much. And Virginia is so interesting. I think putting a surgeon like that in a place like Seattle Grace is an amazing move. Really smart. And it will be so interesting to watch her. But we never found out what happened to Erica - that was the major flaw of the episode. There was this whole build-up of it, and just nada. I have a feeling we’ll find out at some point…right?

To be honest, it was nice without Erica there. The tone was much happier and fun, much less grouchy. And I loved the patient storylines. Most of the time I really could care less about them (let’s face it, I watch this show for the relationships), but tonight they were really interesting. I liked that so many surgeons were working on the same patient - there was some great interaction. I love it when all of the characters interact.

Sadie. I don’t know what I think of her yet. We didn’t see enough of her. I think she’ll make for some very interesting progress in Meredith and Derek’s relationship (SO GLAD TO SEE THEM INTERACT TONIGHT!), but I just don’t know yet. However, my jaw dropped to the floor when she sliced her back open. I couldn’t believe it.

I’m so excited at the prospect of Lexie and Mark too! I think they would make an AWESOME couple - they are just too cute together (I don’t know if the words “Mark” and “cute” go in the same sentence, but, hey, there’s a first time for everything). And the Owen/Cristina kiss totally caught me off guard. I just can’t figure out where they are at, but I don’t think the characters can either. That’s one of the things that is making this season so compelling - Shonda has introduced these new characters with these amazingly intersting and different backgrounds that are so interesting to watch how they manifest. (Which is one of the reasons I found myself simply loving Virginia!)

Just overall, I thought tonight’s episode was brilliantly produced.

OH MY GOSH! I just realized - Where the hell was George/TR Knight in this episode?! He had one scene! His character has been noticeably absent for weeks now - and it isn’t cool. George is integral to the show - he needs more screentime. Come on, people!

Anyways, besides the absence of George, I thought tonight’s episode was great. Stacy McKee is an awesome writer, and she did a great job. This episode felt like the “classic Grey’s” and was very well balanced. It was funny and shocking, and, well, it was just a good time.

But at this point, I have no idea where Shonda and Company are heading with the storylines. Which makes me just so much more interested to watch.