I kinda think we're talking almost at cross purposes here, which is my fault for not being terribly articulate. Wanting to just swap Reed for Meredith or Cristina wasn't my point – that totally would have changed the way the whole thing would have played out, although I do think that the interaction and the different reaction brought about by a different dynamic would still have been interesting and meaningful (and would really like for someone who is still alive to at least know something of the turmoil Alex went through as a result of Izzie leaving him, just because it's depressing to think that he was that miserable for that many months and nobody noticed or made any effort to reach out except Reed, who was a stranger – heck, Bailey played a huge part in bringing about that marriage, but barely acknowledged its demise, for eg).
I think I finally put my finger on what it is about that storyline and that episode that pinged me me. It's the fact that Cristina's part in it gets no pay-off. The fact that she has an established connection with Izzie and Alex – more than that, has an investment in Izzie's health – is used as a set-up for Alex and Reed's storyline, exposition regarding Izzie's IL2 appointment, but there's then no follow-through on her part. So, we are shown that Cristina is concerned about whether or not Izzie will show up for the appointment, but can't tackle Izzie herself about it, since Izzie's vanishing act is the root of the problem, so she goes to Alex and dumps it on him instead. Fair enough. We then follow Alex through the episode, and the storyline is used to progress both his and Reed's arcs, and it works well for both characters. But having established that Cristina is concerned about Izzie too, there's no pay-off on that angle. She moves off into her own storyline and as far as I can recall there's no follow-up at all, she never gets to react to the news that Izzie hasn't come for her treatment. And however small a part it might have played in her overall concerns that day (which mostly revolved around adult diapers!), that's a reaction I'd have been interested to see, given the history the various characters concerned have with one another – both the good and the bad. That's all. Again, just another gap in the overall storyline that isn't terribly important, but might have been potentially interesting to explore.
Loose threads are common on the show. Some times that doesn't matter. Some times it pings me.
Alex and Cristina have an interesting dynamic. They are mostly connected by their mutual friendship with Meredith. Their relationship is more antagonistic than anything else. But they do have odd moments of connection over the course of the show – like that scene at the beginning of S4 where they admit to each other that they are missing Burke and Ava. It's a tiny, throwaway scene, a small moment in each of their days. It doesn't change anything about the relationship that they have, they are never going to be BFFs, but I love that the show allowed them to have that moment, and others like it – small, quiet moments in which they connect and are able to share some kind of mutual understanding, and then move on. Moments like that – not just between those two characters, but in other minor character dynamics – add layers of depth to a relationship that would otherwise be almost completely one-note. The show doesn't throw them in all that often, not for any of the characters, really, being focused mostly on bang-crash romantic drama, but when it does do it, those are the scenes that really shine.
So, what I'm saying…what am I saying? That I fully appreciate the role Reed played in that episode and why. But that I am always hungry for moments in which the core cast connect with one another in some way, however fleeting those moments – and regret any opportunity for such that is passed by. I like the diversity of character interaction that is made possible by an ensemble cast, and like to see it explored fully.
My god, I'm wordy. I'm going to shut up on this subject now, since I no longer know what I'm talking about, and thinking aloud is cluttering up your journal. I liked your new story, btw.
no subject
I think I finally put my finger on what it is about that storyline and that episode that pinged me me. It's the fact that Cristina's part in it gets no pay-off. The fact that she has an established connection with Izzie and Alex – more than that, has an investment in Izzie's health – is used as a set-up for Alex and Reed's storyline, exposition regarding Izzie's IL2 appointment, but there's then no follow-through on her part. So, we are shown that Cristina is concerned about whether or not Izzie will show up for the appointment, but can't tackle Izzie herself about it, since Izzie's vanishing act is the root of the problem, so she goes to Alex and dumps it on him instead. Fair enough. We then follow Alex through the episode, and the storyline is used to progress both his and Reed's arcs, and it works well for both characters. But having established that Cristina is concerned about Izzie too, there's no pay-off on that angle. She moves off into her own storyline and as far as I can recall there's no follow-up at all, she never gets to react to the news that Izzie hasn't come for her treatment. And however small a part it might have played in her overall concerns that day (which mostly revolved around adult diapers!), that's a reaction I'd have been interested to see, given the history the various characters concerned have with one another – both the good and the bad. That's all. Again, just another gap in the overall storyline that isn't terribly important, but might have been potentially interesting to explore.
Loose threads are common on the show. Some times that doesn't matter. Some times it pings me.
Alex and Cristina have an interesting dynamic. They are mostly connected by their mutual friendship with Meredith. Their relationship is more antagonistic than anything else. But they do have odd moments of connection over the course of the show – like that scene at the beginning of S4 where they admit to each other that they are missing Burke and Ava. It's a tiny, throwaway scene, a small moment in each of their days. It doesn't change anything about the relationship that they have, they are never going to be BFFs, but I love that the show allowed them to have that moment, and others like it – small, quiet moments in which they connect and are able to share some kind of mutual understanding, and then move on. Moments like that – not just between those two characters, but in other minor character dynamics – add layers of depth to a relationship that would otherwise be almost completely one-note. The show doesn't throw them in all that often, not for any of the characters, really, being focused mostly on bang-crash romantic drama, but when it does do it, those are the scenes that really shine.
So, what I'm saying…what am I saying? That I fully appreciate the role Reed played in that episode and why. But that I am always hungry for moments in which the core cast connect with one another in some way, however fleeting those moments – and regret any opportunity for such that is passed by. I like the diversity of character interaction that is made possible by an ensemble cast, and like to see it explored fully.
My god, I'm wordy. I'm going to shut up on this subject now, since I no longer know what I'm talking about, and thinking aloud is cluttering up your journal. I liked your new story, btw.