Mastodon Mastodon Mastodon Mastodon Mastodon Grey's Anatomy - Can We Start Again Please - Review


    Enable Dark Mode!

  • What's HOT
  • Premiere Calendar
  • Ratings News
  • Movies
  • YouTube Channel
  • Submit Scoop
  • Contact Us
  • Search
  • Privacy Policy
Support SpoilerTV
SpoilerTV.com is now available ad-free to for all premium subscribers. Thank you for considering becoming a SpoilerTV premium member!

SpoilerTV - TV Spoilers

Grey's Anatomy - Can We Start Again Please - Review

14 Nov 2014

Share on Reddit

Agghh....these two women are driving me crazy. For the love of a higher power when will Callie and Arizona remember that they have a child? If it’s not Callie out boozing again with Meredith it is Arizona masturbating her career. Both have apparently forgotten that they have a child in the middle of their mess.

And breathe. Sorry, I had to get that out quickly.

Before I kick off proper, I extend many thanks to Robert for chivalrously stepping in last week at the very last minute, and producing a great review. That’s wonderful team work down here at the virtual SpoilerTV headquarters.

How good is this season turning out to be? Whatever stuff they are smoking down in that writers’ room should be patented. It’s working. I’m now saying this every week, season eleven continues to knock out episode gems. 11.07, Can We Start Again Please, was not only thoroughly engaging but it was riddled with plot points which continue to consolidate and integrate the cast. For me the ensemble cast has always been a positive aspect of the show, the multiple threads and characters is stimulating and dramatic. When the cast is used very well, with plot lines weaving in and out of each character drawing them together with key central themes then any accusations of bloating seem out of place. It is only when there are too many story arcs on the tangent of the main central story, where they are not connected at all, that the cast appears swollen, too many cooks and not enough dishes – or some other analogy that works ☺. At the moment we can see the connection between the characters. Not only that, the stories that connect them are exciting without being too melodramatic. There are exceptions – the residents, Bailey - but compared to seasons past this set of characters and this particular cast is working very well, using epic stories and known characters' history.

Arizona finally has story of her own. Yes she has had them in the past – she did have her leg chopped off which was a pretty big story. But the leg was inherently connected to Callie. This time around however she has her own thread in the hospital allowing her character to develop individually. Dr Herman has provided her with an opportunity far too good to pass up but the viewer can already see the problems and challenges ahead, which will integrate this story further into the season and wider cast. Dr Herman should be reporting her illness to the Chief. And if she doesn’t Arizona really should. In addition her brain tumour will no doubt provide much excitement for the Shepherd siblings further on down the line. The duration of this illness will very happily coincide with late season and season finale when Arizona will emerge from her accelerated fellowship uber qualified and a rock star for pregnant mums west of the Mississippi (or whatever the statistic was a few episodes ago). But at what cost will she be this rock star? It seems pretty clear at the moment that Arizona has quite forgotten she’s a parent. She prioritized Herman’s need for her to be at beck and call over finding an apartment in which she can ensure Sofia has a second home.

And Callie. Well she’s turned on her bitch switch (which I secretly love btw) and is having a fabulous time pretending to be young free and single. Single she may be, I note her reference to Arizona as ex-wife already but free she is not. And here lies the rub....Callie did not sleep the previous night because Sofia is asking questions. Perhaps it’s the parent in me but dear God the woman needs to sort herself out. If their four year old daughter is insecure and scared of what’s happened between her two parents why the hell has one of them taken off on a boozy night out and the other focusing on her career. I love this story. It’s making me mad, the girls are irritating me but I love it. It has all the makings of drama and is so in character that I’m hearing the sweet spot as the writers nail the dialogue. This is going to get ugly, rock bottoms await (note the reference by the Dr Shepherds) and I can’t wait.

So speaking of the Shepherds....Amelia has been outed in the most magnificent way. If you were not a Private Practice viewer then Amelia’s past would be something of a mystery. Now you can see it’s an ugly past, which is why the introduction of her very dark character into Grey’s is so wonderful. There was no gentle discovery. In an act of treachery by both her fellow addict and her own brother Amelia fell down with a crash. She was betrayed by her entire support network – her meetings and her family. Except for Richard. He was there. Richard, who was previously forced into recovery by Derek was able to restore Amelia’s equilibrium. The most beautiful aspect of this story arc and of the entire episode was the exposure of Derek and the connections made with Derek and Amelia’s tragic childhood. Perhaps the most crucial element to the success of season eleven so far is the commitment to the characters' stories, their history through the show and, in the case of Amelia, from Private Practice. There was even a nod to George this week – instigated by Alex which was a nice touch – during a very nostalgic scene in Meredith’s childhood home. But while that scene was nostalgic the constant links back to the past are not done for reminiscence, nor are they seen through rose tinted glasses. In season eleven the past being replayed is brutal whether that be shootings or affairs. Derek comes through this episode a broken man, in a way which is very real and that many people can relate to. It was perhaps the most honest that Derek has been throughout. Any previous arrogance and egotism is forgotten as his vulnerability pushes through the gruff unshaven exterior. It was endearing and cast a sharp contrast to Meredith supping beer with her mates. I love this story too! It’s honest and entirely believable.

Side note: It is fascinating that both Derek and Arizona showed their vulnerability this week. Was this intentional of the writers or just coincidence? Arizona never asks for help and she does several times. Derek never admits fault or weakness and yet he does so not only in front of his sister but also the board.

There were some things this week that did not sit well, and I apologise in advance to the Jo lovers out there. And the Stephanie lovers too. I have completely bought into Amelia and Maggie on the show. To me they have settled into comfortable gaps in the cast, they provide the opportunity for integrated story and their peer status with the attendings allows for equality in the delivery of the story. Their stories do not jar. This is not the case with Jo and Stephanie whose stories leave my thumb twitching to press the fast forward button. My money is on Jerrika Hinton being ditched by season finale, if not before. And if I were Jerrika I’d be constantly on the phone to my agent getting auditions. Unless she is destined for an affair with the one single male attending or the many single female attendings then her appearance on the show is moot. And really, am I the only one who crossed my fingers and prayed that Jo would mess up her surgery badly and get sacked? Of course we can see her jealousy burning and at some point she will throw her toys out of the pram with Alex and demand he be rid of his friends but as a character she is superficial and her fingertip hold on the edges of the show only marginally stronger than Stephanie’s.
I want to be constructive about Jo but I’m really not sure how the writers can legitimately improve her.

Before I finish up it's worth mentioning the loveliness that is April and Jackson. For those of you that despair of my lack of love for Jo (if anyone does) then take hope that during the course of five seasons I have come to really like Jackson. Their story is low key so far this season which is not surprising given the scale of the imploding relationships so far but I have hope we will see a meaty Japril story before long. But please God don't make it Arizona operating on April's unborn child...

Next week is the mid season finale, earlier than last year and I’m glad. This season is so good that we need the break to take stock of what’s going on. For all the reminders we have had so far this season of where Meredith came from and how her life has morphed into what it is now in Can We Start Again Please we get to relive the cruel past of another show stalwart, Derek, and with that vivid picture the warning lights have switched on. With intriguing camera trickery and compelling dialogue Derek (and Amelia’s) wounds are exposed, Callie is spiraling downwards, Arizona’s walls have come up, and Meredith has her blinkers on. I can feel the rumble of foreshocks. Bring it on.

Brouhaha
Maxine (aka Brouhaha) is a Grey’s Anatomy devotee, from the very beginning and through the dark period of George and Izzie as a couple. Her other TV 'loves' include the British series Foyle's War, Criminal Minds and TBBT. In real life she's a new mum, self-employed and can often be found arguing about politics or current affairs, attempting to write fiction and buying hair products. Maxine reviews Grey's Anatomy. Got a question - go to Tumblr ask!
Recent Posts (All Posts)



36 comments:

  1. Grey's is love, Grey's is life!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Me, too! It is pure gold :) Great review, BTW. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jealous Jo pisses me off to no end. Can't she just be grateful she has a house to live in and a bf?! She's annoying. But not as annoying as Arizona. Arizona apparantly doesn't know she's a mother or a board member for that matter.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Jo needs to get off the show.She is beyond irritating!
    Great review!After all these years,GA has still got it!The season had a shaky start but past couple of episodes have been perfect!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Someone else who needs to get of the show is Stephanie, mainly because she doesn't actually do anything. Why she became a regular I will never know.

    ReplyDelete
  6. probably coz the other two interns who got the boot were even more dull!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Yeah, bring it on. :D
    I love this season so much.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great review, as always! I completely agree with you about Jo, and Stephanie. I'm hoping they having something planned for Stephanie, as she has been on the show for 51 episodes, and has yet to have a big storyline except the whole Jackson relationship. An episode or two ago she only said two words which I think were "got it". So I am rooting for them to ditch her character, as even when she is on screen she isn't all that interesting. As with Jo, she needs to cut the jealously out, as it isn't an attractive look on her.


    I really like Amelia, and Maggie really great additions to the cast. Here's hoping that Kate Walsh could come back to deliver April's baby, now that her show Bad Judge is cancelled. I always loved Addison.

    ReplyDelete
  9. They should have just got rid of all four of them, the cast is way to big as it is.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Completely agree.I never got accustomed to any of them.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I still don't know how Callie is a board member. Did she use Sofia's money? How is that legal?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Didn't she inherit from mark?? Plus she comes from a wealthy fam. But I don't recall the details.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Sofia inherited from Mark. I think she just used Sofia's money. Another detail we will never know.

    ReplyDelete
  14. - You're mean.
    - Yes, indeed, I am.


    Was I the only one that felt a bit of a touch of the old Nazi being back in this exchange?


    And surprisingly enough, Callie was right about the MerDer shoe (Derek's individual crisis of conscience aside) - I was feeling all the intensity & despise in her eyes during that board meeting (having someone we love not being who we thought they were [anymore] - that's gotta sting) and I'm sure it'll blow up next week, especially given the info from the press release.

    ReplyDelete
  15. As much as I enjoyed Bad Judge I couldn't help but get excited about the thought of that...But as far as I recall Kate Walsh said she's done for good with the Addison character...here's hoping Shonda will persuade her, though!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I hope she does, she was one of my favorites.

    ReplyDelete
  17. It was good to have Bailey back, the old Bailey.

    ReplyDelete
  18. *sighs* yes it's an inevitability that April will have problems and given Arizona's new specialty it all fits in too nicely.

    ReplyDelete
  19. thanks! I don't think we'll be seeing anything of Kate Walsh. Her specialty, while not the same as Arizona's new one, is too close. I suspect it will be Alex and Arizona's 'baby.
    Amelia and Maggie rock!

    ReplyDelete
  20. thank you. I actually think the season had a great start. It's been really well presented.

    ReplyDelete
  21. the only one worth anything was Mousey.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I've found the fast forward button useful when watching Jo. I don't mind Arizona so much, to me her and Callie both need a kick up the backside.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I'd imagine the money was left in trust to Sofia, with the trustee as Callie, thus able to 'invest' the money as she thinks appropriate.

    ReplyDelete
  24. thank you.
    It's so good this season.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Yes they do! I still have hope that we will see Addison in a future episode, however unlikely it probably is.

    ReplyDelete
  26. I love the story-line of Arizona and Herman. Finally we can see Arizona without Callie.

    ReplyDelete
  27. the best way to bring back Addison is not for her professional skills but in her capacity as best friend in order to 'save' Callie. Callie is headed downwards, it would be good to bring back Addison of the "are you speaking the vagina monologues now?"
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKeM8R_nYMI

    ReplyDelete
  28. I never thought of that, that would work. She, and Callie had such a lovely friendship.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Brilliant episode, and this is one of the best seasons of Grey's, something I'd never thought I'd say about a season absent of Sandra Oh. As for Jo and Stephanie, I've always loved Camilla Luddington, but I agree Jo isn't the best character, but I really do like Stephanie. I think she has real potential, but I agree that they might just ditch Jerrika. I like Stephanie, but if they're not going to give her something worthwhile to do, they should just cut her loose. The only thing I disagree with in this review is April. Her story has been a little TOO low key for me, and I hate that Sarah Drew is getting so little to do. Since she was a guest star being tormented by Lexie, I've loved her. So it really bugs me that she's not getting them focus she deserves.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Amber Fuentealba28 January 2015 at 05:00

    I absolutely agree with your review... everything, Alex has been my favorite from season 1, and the show needs to stick with the originals and build on that. Jo and the other one feel wrong and I also fast forward through the scenes... tbh the only people I know rooting for them is my daughters friends (16 years). I am excited to have found a sensible review! I will check in later, thanks!

    ReplyDelete

NOTE: Name-calling, personal attacks, spamming, excessive self-promotion, condescending pomposity, general assiness, racism, sexism, any-other-ism, homophobia, acrophobia, and destructive (versus constructive) criticism will get you BANNED from the party.