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.
