Reading this review some of you may draw the conclusion that I don’t like Grey’s or that as a minimum I’m picky and pedantic. So be it. The truth is I love this show, it’s been good to me and for me these last 10 years but I seem to live in a state of perpetual disappointment with it at the moment. There are so many great actors, writers and directors involved but week after week at least one of that triangle is lacking. I fear that this week our writers were struggling with the vast amount of story telling needing to be told. We were short changed on most story lines in a similar way to the second half of season seven.
Note: I mostly refer to writers in the plural in reviews when discussing storylines because these are generally multi-episode and thus are built by the collective of writers. I think the ‘collective’ have struggled to deliver the amount of stories they’ve had to tell. This episode however is not poorly written by the individual, Austin Guzman, but he struggles to maintain the balance so we get unsatisfying time jumps, too much story told off screen and flashbacks. It's rather a messy litter tray.
“Take it Back” was not a bad episode. It was mostly enjoyable, but I fear this is only because I am that loyal fan that will remain optimistic despite declining passion by the makers.
So let’s start with the brilliant stuff. And I do mean brilliant. Justin Chambers and James Remar. What a shame we only ever had a handful of episodes with these two wonderful sparring partners. We’ve seen a great deal of death on this show but rarely have we seen one as uncomfortable as this. Jimmy’s death was real, bittersweet and brilliantly portrayed. Alex’s heart is hidden beneath layers of carbine, created by his lost relationship with his absent father, but even he could not let his dad die without hope of closure. Was this Alex or the doctor in him? This was by far the very best Alex moment in the last five seasons, probably since Izzie.
And this makes me angry. Shame on you Shonda for forcing us to wait so long to dig into Alex.
Unfortunately the other side of this story is the farcical continuation of the Alex/Jo show, by way of a proposal that wasn’t actually a proposal (two proposals in one episode...well well well). Jolex is fast becoming the Slexie 2.0 without the chemisty (no, there is no chemistry between these two actors, any chemistry you see is merely the oasis of Alex finally finding love in a very dry desert) or the charisma of Mark Sloan. The older attending with the younger resident was not a story that deserved repeating and if it is repeated they should have improved upon it, and they haven’t. I want to say that I can’t see Alex and Jo going the distance but I feel that Shondaland will persist with it and force this pairing forward.
The second element of the show that really worked well came in the Jackson and April package. Though I’ve always liked the character of April Kepner, I have never been a fan of Jackson but even I can see that this couple do work. The clichéd ‘I love you’ cliff hanger at the mid season hiatus didn’t work for me but the romance and passion that oozed out of these two in 10.13 has not been seen on this show for some time. (If you’re still smarting at me for dissing Jolex, then think about the comprehensive slow burn satisfying way they developed Jackson and April over time and then think about the way they manipulated and manufactured Alex and Jo to be together almost instantly). Indeed, I was swept off my feet. April Kepner has always been the strong character that the writers haven’t made the most of, however, in 10.13 they finally brought her to the big table. I’m guessing that with the departure of Sandra Oh, the producers have to start casting the understudies in lead roles.
Now...perhaps I’m out of touch with Grey’s gossip so please fill me in...when is ABC going to offer Jason George a regular contract? The man is good. How is it he’s been hanging around our lovely Bailey for years now but we only ever get bits of him, small snippets, tasters. I know he has other commitments...has he made a commitment to Grey’s? The idea of a ‘big dog’ in the puppy kennels is very amusing and I love that he fronted up to Bailey finally and is staying at GSM as a surgical resident. Jason, you have such a great character and you’re such a great actor, please stay.
Ps. You’re hot too, and there’s a dearth of hot men on Grey’s at the moment.
Pause for a moment to miss Mark.
I’m done with the good bits, let’s move onto the car crash.
Meredith and Cristina have made up, have they? Did I miss it? I only know they made up because mid hiatus I saw a tweet from Shonda telling us they made up because apparently I wasn’t the only one who missed the fact that they made up in 10.12. What a let down that storyline was. I was all for a dagger shoved in their friendship right up to season finale. Actually what I really wanted was a true recognition that these two ladies have changed so much since they started their residency and that friendships must adapt and change to survive. I think I got wallpaper over cracks. The fact that these characters are now happily operating together and intervening when Alex wanted to kill Shane is good entertainment, but it’s too safe. Once upon a time Grey’s wasn’t safe. When did it become so?
Speaking of Shane. Am I the only one who thinks that Shane filed the complaints? There was a working assumption that it was a ‘she’. There are two ways this story will go – one, it will be the second half of the season story, and therefore run through many of the doctors’ stories. Two – focus will be on it for one or two episodes before business as usual. I hope it’s the former.
Shane is the most obvious resident on the basis that he is actually not a nice guy. I say that unobjectively because I don’t like the character but I also think it's true. Where are his redeeming qualities? On what basis would we/could we/should we 'like' this character. The drama will be higher if it's the least suspected. He actually initiated the benefits relationship with Cristina. This could be Cristina’s big ‘end’ story...the thing that motivates her to leave.
Yes, in theory, all of the residents could potentially complain on the basis of all three points, however:
Jo – is in love with Alex and vice versa. Their story is really the non-proposal.
Stephanie – not sure she’d go up against the Averys. She’s too broken hearted.
Leah – so much of her liaison with Arizona was off-screen that it’s difficult to feel the power behind the story, despite the fact that she is the most obvious candidate.
I could be wrong – and as you will all know, I frequently am J It’s probably the most obvious resident and the least complex story.
Did you all notice that Owen The Aggressor is back? I guess it was only a matter of time before he put in an appearance. His gentle softly softly approach has been his mask for some time now. Mask. The theme of the show. Actually it wasn’t, it was about choices and making big decisions and all of our doctors were doing this – marriage, jobs, houses – but the episode was also about hiding ourselves behind the masks we wear. The cat was more than light entertainment. Owen came out from under his mask, to reveal his true self and his feelings. Arizona’s comment about ‘regreting the decision in a year’ was a long awaited openness. Jackson and April continue to hide. Shane was unmasked by Alex. Alex had a temporary one only to remove it again by the end. This metaphor worked for me better than the big decisions because it seems to dig a bit deeper.
A quick mention for the other two stories going on which barely registered on the radar.
Derek and the President? There are two flaws with this story which bother me – firstly I am annoyed that the only thing that can trump Meredith is the highest power in the land. Really? Secondly the writers had to find a flaw in Derek but they really didn’t. He was a kid in high school and made a bad tackle. Derek even tells us that both of them were aggressive players, therefore telling the audience that his action was partially justified. A better flaw would be making a bad tackle while at college as an adult, where he can justifiably take some responsibility. That would provide him with a dent in his armour I could believe in. As it is his guilt is misguided, though generous. Just like with Webber they are struggling to find good stories for Derek and this little flaw is not cutting it with me.
Callie and Arizona – I’m so confused by this story. They’re on. They’re off. They buy a house in three weeks. The confusion continued with Arizona’s line “it’s not my home anymore”. I can believe that, however recalling Callie’s words about moving out of HER apartment after Arizona slept with Lauren I might question whether it was ever her home.
I didn’t hate this episode honestly, but it’s not one I will choose to watch again. No, I will watch the Alex bits again and again, especially the death bed scene. It reminds me of the dark twisted Grey’s of yesteryear. I vote for an Alex Karev, paediatric surgeon, spin off series where he's all bad-ass and falls in love with a grown up...
In the meantime I wait for 10.15, anticipating an improvement. I've no idea what's expected in this episode but it's written by Joan Rater, seasoned Grey's writer, perhaps equilibrium will be restored. We have to get through 14 first though.
