'Grey's Anatomy': Adrienne Barbeau, merger madness

October 1, 2009 8:29 PM

Tonight's "Grey's Anatomy" was a frenetic jumble of anxiety, paranoia, and panic -- and a couple of moments of redemption. It was an obvious metaphor for the economy and our general anxiety, but it felt more real than hackneyed.

The Chief has spent the three days since announcing the merger holed up in his office, trying to figure out who was staying and who was going -- and, like the gold-star manager he is, has let his staff twist in the wind. It's awful to have to make choices about firing people, but there are ways of making this worse, and this is one. Seriously, Chief -- step up or step off, because you've been behaving like a bonehead for way too long. And, thankfully, Derek tells him as much.

So everyone's staying at the hospital for days on end, terrified to go home, terrified to sleep, terrified to make a mistake, and speaking way too quickly for me to properly transcribe any quotes. Izzie dons a long, auburn wig that actually doesn't look half bad (her mom sent it to her) and hauls herself in, determined to work while she still has a job to come to. Alex is trying to make sure she doesn't overdo it. Derek's barely containing his fury at the Chief. Mark is incredibly sanguine -- or cocky; I can't decide which -- about things working out well. Owen the trauma surgeon is trying not to think too far ahead. Meredith, whose freaky childhood has made her calm in the foxhole, is optimistic. Lexie and the rest of her resident class are freaking out with a capital F. And Cristina is sucking up to Arizona, convinced that peds is the safe specialty that'll make it through any cuts.

A woman (Adrienne Barbeau, looking really good) and her schizophrenic adult son (James Frain) are brought in, injured in a car accident. His wrist is mildly hurt, but he's convinced that aliens have impregnated his mother -- and judging from the pulsating mass in her abdomen, he's kind of got a point. It turns out to be a massive aortic aneurysm, but she refuses surgery because she can't leave her son. She spends most of her time in her initial exam talking to him, calming him down, and going through the rituals of distraction that help him block out the voices in his head.

Lexie totally gets how to help him, but things (of course) go awry when she's treating his wrist, and he ends up escaping and being chased through the hospital by security. After he takes an exceptionally nasty fall down the stairs, he ends up with a bleeding spleen -- which ends up being the way both Lexie and Bailey (who's been spectacular in trying both to cope with the merger and trying to convince her patient to have the operation) convince the mother to go into the OR. If they both have surgery, they can stay together -- and they make it through alright.

Cristina's attempt to relate to children -- which anyone in their right mind could see from miles away would be a disaster -- goes down in flames. And it gets worse after Callie tells Arizona about Cristina's plan -- she's predictably furious, which doesn't exactly quell Cristina's fears that she'll end up cut. And given how she seems to have no real sensitivity for the feelings of these kids -- I mean, not being a kid person is one thing, but come on. However, their surgery -- pretty much reattaching the arm of a newborn whose limb was nearly cut off during an emergency C-section, using an umbilical artery -- is pretty cool.

Alex turns out to be a big hero, trying desperately to keep Izzie on her meds regimen and force her to take care of herself, even when she pushes herself too far by being on her feet for a five-hour surgery. But for a few hours in surgery, she actually forgot that she has cancer and that George is dead -- and that's some blissful amnesia.

When the axe finally comes down -- in the form of an e-mail from HR -- the core group is safe. But the anxiety doesn't dissipate -- and of course the best way to handle it is playing baseball and beer, complete with Cristina actually getting a base hit.

Some choice moments:

Arizona laying down the law with Callie to tell her she can't consider moving to Portland. I like their relationship, and I like that Callie is finally being allowed to settle into a groove and not be such a spazz. Arizona is good for her.
Lexie and Mark, pretty much the whole way through. She's great throughout the episode, and Mark doing the "Can I get Lexie back?" thing to keep her from panicking is great.
Cristina's speech to Owen about the Chief's goes list and stays list is pitch-perfect. She's so churned up about being on the "stays" list and not being on the "goes" list that he can't help but kind of laugh at her. "That list is everything -- it is my future. It is my salvation. The list is life." Seriously? Schindler's List? he asks. "I'm Jewish -- I'm allowed."

What did you think? A whole lot of frantic and not much else, or did you find the scenario plausible? Do you like that Grey's is exploring the hysteria of the economy, or do you watch to escape it?

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in ABC, Grey's Anatomy

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| Comments (14)

14 Comments

I agree about the Chief. Making everyone freak out is not good for patients or morale.

Owen and Arizona are great additions to the cast. I like them more and more every week. I to like Arizona&Callie together.

Cristina and peds is a big no no. Surprisingly I think that should be Alex's speciality. Always did like him with teen/kid patients.

Lexie and Mark are amazing together and I really enjoyed Lexie this week. Bailey and Lexie working together was great.

I like the developments in the chief and Derek's relationship.

Promo for next week is too soapy and too hero Meredith like.

Kelly | October 1, 2009 8:55 PM

Completely agree about the Chief. He needs to stop sulking in his office.

I kept having flashbacks to Marshall from Season Two. He was the guy from Mercy West who killed the pregnant lady b/c he fell asleep at the wheel after he stayed for an extra 12 hour surgery. If the doctors are that sleep deprived, mistakes are going to be made. Scary.

Awesome episode. I'm looking forward to next week already.

Lindlee | October 1, 2009 9:53 PM

The Chief is an ass.

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), has set forth work limits which any program must adhere to in order to maintain accreditation. One of those is a limit of 30 hour shift. If the Chief would get his head out of his ***, he would send the residents home to ensure they are abiding by this or he is risking the whole program -- or as someone else pointed out-- an exhausted doctor making mistakes.

Joey | October 2, 2009 6:10 AM

I liked how Alex stepped up to the plate.

He was actually very sweet, especially when he fed her and then sent her back into the O.R.

But, it was also sane and healthy when he told her he couldn't be her nurse.

A good show for Alex last night.

alia | October 2, 2009 7:31 AM

I think that instead of killing George off the show. They should have killed the chief. I will miss George.

Jamie | October 2, 2009 8:03 AM

They need to get the merger over. If every show is going to be this crazy, it will get old fast. Mark and Lexie was my favorite but they all need to chill.

Baby story line was sad but very captivating.

I love James Frain. He is great in everything I seen him in.

mel | October 2, 2009 8:54 AM

So can we assume that Daddy Grey needs a liver transplant and Meredith will give up part of her liver to drunk old Dad. Thus a reason for an actress to go on maternity leave??

jbw | October 2, 2009 10:23 AM

And as ALWAYS, loved Cristina...the way she lied to Arizona about loving kids, her explanation to Meredith about going to peds, her face when Arizona pinned the bear to her labcoat and then told her to play hide-and-go-seek, and her face again when Owen plopped the batting helmet on her head...and she gave a heart-felt, real hug to Meredith after she hit the ball...the Cristina from the first season would have NEVER been so comfortable hugging like that...

Next week's ep looks good! Hope Thatcher doesn't develop hiccups.....

Ginni | October 2, 2009 11:49 AM

The show was major boring last night. I really wish Izzie and Alex would just go away.

Jocephus | October 2, 2009 12:50 PM

After this episode, I really wish Derek had become Chief of Surgery because Richard sure as hell isn't doing a good job. He's got his residents freaking out, he's hiding away in his office and probably the worst thing of all - he fires all those staff members via email. Email. Seriously. I know there's a lot of staff there, but seriously...if he can gather everyone like he did last week to announce the merger, surely he'd be able to gather the affected nurses/doctors and inform them that they no longer have a job. That last act made me dislike Richard intensely and wish Derek was CoS, because he took the time to comfort those who had been fired and offer recommendations.

The last scene was really nice and what was needed after the hyper madness surrounding the merger.

"The list is life." That made me laugh. I love Christina/Owen.

I also love Arizona/Callie. So far, so good there.

Meredith is so healthy emotionally, it's almost frightening. She was so calm and normal throughout the episode. Props to Ellen for her performance this week, but also last week, when Meredith finally broke down over George. Beautiful scene and the first time ever in the entire series Meredith has made me tear up.

Liked Izzie's mention of George. Her wig was too creepy, I preferred the wispy blonde hair. Alex was so sweet to be that attentive to her, but he was right - she needs to look after herself.

Love Lexie. Love Bailey. Nothing different there; Chandra and Chyler were so good.

I really enjoyed this episode. The merger story is an interesting one and I'm looking forward to seeing where it's headed.

Tom | October 4, 2009 2:44 AM