grey's: these arms of mine...

[waltzmatildah]

So... apparently there was a new Grey's episode recently?

Alex did some cute things in it? Yes? (OH, HELL YES HE DID!)

My internet cut out at 20 minutes and I wasn't even disappointed. I've since seen the rest (well, fast forwarded through most...).

I have thoughts here that I posted in response to javiera's episode discussion if you're interested.

What did everyone else think?

Comments

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

I actually liked the episode. Not the format, or the implausible medicine, but the fact that all the characters actually came across as professionals for the first time in a long time, there were no overblown speeches, no melodrama (well, beyond that manufactured by the docu, obvs), no anvils, no stuttering (other than a bit from Lexie) and no smackdowns. It was character-focused all the way through, and I loved that about it - plus, it remained focused on just a few characters who had interesting stories to tell and kept everyone else as supporting cast only, which they should do more often. I liked the external POV as a one-off and that it showed a bit of forward movement for a number of characters, that we got to hear a bit about the thought processes of characters who aren't normally given to expressing themselves in that way (Alex, I am looking at you!). In terms of reaction to the shooting, this episode belatedly gave us more than we've had all season for a lot of characters, and that emotion came across subtly in most cases, rather than hammering us over the head - long overdue, imo.

Most of all, I liked that Alex was allowed to be awesome for the entire episode, both as a doctor and as a person; he wasn't insulted by anyone, wasn't undermined to prop up someone else's story, wasn't overlooked or pushed aside. He had a story that reflected well on him without feeling forced or contrived, and it worked fabulously.

Also, I actually liked all the patients and their families in this episode, which helped.

So, yeah - I liked it. I wouldn't want the show to use this format again, but I do think it would be a better show if their storytelling was character-led in this way on a regular basis, instead of going back to their usual format of overblown speechifying as a shortcut to get them from one plot point to the next without ever truly exploring what they mean.

[lizzy29.livejournal.com]

Loved it. Lexie was awesome. Alex was awesome.

[waltzmatildah.livejournal.com]

Lexie was awesome??? WHEN? She killed a guy because she was too stupid to go get her pass fixed...

Alex was most definitely awesome!!!

[lizzy29.livejournal.com]

She didn't know that was going to happen she was just frustrated with the security measures.

[waltzmatildah.livejournal.com]

HAHAHAAHAHAHAHA!!!!

She can tell that excuse to her lawyer when the hospital is sued because of her selfish immaturity!!!

"Sorry but I didn't know Jackson was gonna end up trapped between two doors and his patient was gonna die and he was gonna flip out all because I jumped security and set off all the alarms six months after a dude with a gun blew 11 people away... some of them while I watched... Oh, and yeah... all I wanted to do was deliver coffee, and I knew my pass wasn't working, it hadn't been all day but I was too stupid and selfish to bother getting it fixed..."

Good speech. I'm sure the dude's family will love it... not to mention Jackson!!

[javiera.livejournal.com]

You managed to sum up ALL the reasons why I was OK with this format and why I mostly liked the episode, thank you!!

we got to hear a bit about the thought processes of characters who aren't normally given to expressing themselves in that way (Alex, I am looking at you!). SPECIALLY THIS!!!

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

And all that was just a really long-winded way of saying that I like it when the show shows instead of tells, because that's how good storytelling should always be! It was a long way from perfect, not to mention full of plot holes, but it was a hell of a lot more subtle than it has been in a very long time, because the format forced them to show nuance rather than hammer us over the head trying to tell us about it, which meant that the character dynamics/development flowed a lot more naturally than it often does. Plus it was a refreshing break from the worst of the overblown relationship guff they tend to get bogged down in.

The weaker actors do stand out more in this kind of episode, though.

Alex is never sweeter than when he is trying hard not to admit that he is being sweet. ♥ And I loved the faces he was pulling in the background when the Chief was bigging him up while he was trying to get on with his work. Plus we finally found out that he is actually looking into doing a Peds fellowship, which is a step forward, as well as hearing his justifications for doing so, etc. I remember over the summer reading a lot of speculation that Alex would be backsliding on all fronts this season, and am so glad that he isn't, that instead he is focusing more intently than ever on his career, with no relationships to distract him. It's sad that he is so alone - the fact that he basically lived at the hospital for a month suggests that he doesn't exactly feel at home in Meredith's doss house these days - but at least his career is forging ahead full steam!

[javiera.livejournal.com]

I love how long winded you get. I usually use a lot of words to say something, but that's because I don't know how to say it with less words (mostly because I just *don't know* the right words!), you on the other hand, manage to say A LOT. Do you write? because if not, you totally should.

And I agree, once again. One of the reasons I like Alex so much is because you get how he is by what he DOES, not just what he says. Most characters, even when they give nice speeches, are all talk and not much *action*. The format worked for him because of that. Good documentaries make a contrast between what people say and what they do to make a point, and the contrast between what Alex says and do has the nicest results, always.

I was so happy to hear he's looking up info on the paeds fellowship!! Even if he tried SO HARD to make people think he's not that enthusiastic about it and that he's *not* doing it for the children lol even the documentary crew didn't took his word for it!

I think every time Alex has issues popping out, he tries to focus more on his work. I love that the writers so far have managed to keep his professionalism consistent. And it is a little sad that he's not comfortable in Meredith's home, but not surprising. It was one thing to live with a bunch of people he *knew* and be all roommates, it's another to live with a married couple that's planning on having children and a couple of people you barely know and find annoying and your ex with whom you still have issues with, it's not very homey.

Gods, I really, really want Cristina to get over herself soon enough to have fun interaction between the fab 3 once again. Alex interacting with patients is nice, but his job is to make *them* feel better, not the other way around...

[rorylie.livejournal.com]

Told you I was going to be the only one who liked it.

[beautifulflawed.livejournal.com]

Aw, you're not!

[waltzmatildah.livejournal.com]

Nah, I think there appears to be more than did than didn't...

My viewing wasn't helped by the really sucky internet connection, either...

[abvj.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed this episode, to a point. The Alex storyline rocked my socks because hello, awesomeness personified, and I felt like they really touched on the friendship aspect of the show, which is still my favorite part despite the crapfest it has been recently.

That said, as much as I liked it, it was a rip-off of ER's live episode "Ambush". They did it the documentary style infinitely better. I've been saying it since day one, and this is exhibit A - Shonda rips off ER ALL THE FUCKIN' TIME and mostly does it ineffectively. The later years of ER aren't as good, but goddman, the originals? Perfection. GA will never, ever, EVER compare and that was made perfectly clear to me this week.

/rant

[waltzmatildah.livejournal.com]

I agree with you... I also used to watch ER and yep, I also think Shonda produces consistently poor rip-offs of the earlier ER episodes...

The Alex storyline rocked my socks because hello, awesomeness personified... HELL YES!

[miss-blanche.livejournal.com]

I wasn't a fan. I spent most of it going; "LOLOL when will the lame end?" I kind of got used to it towards the end and there were a couple of humorous moments but... Yeah, not a fan. I agree with your thoughts on Derek/Mark/Owen and Callie. Bloody annoying. Lexie too. The chief annoyed me to no end. And the way the Mary storyline played out was horrible.

But Alex was good. And Callie and Arizona got shipped off to Africa, so that's got to be considered a redeeming factor too, right? :)

[waltzmatildah.livejournal.com]

Oh, YES TO ALL OF THIS!!!

(And, in case I haven't made it clear... I AM SO GLAD YOU ARE BAAAAAACK!).

I also kind of got used to it by the end, which in itself is very sad... that we had to 'get used to it' to enjoy it! Haha!

But yes, Arizona in Africa is a big win!!!

[alittlembrace-x.livejournal.com]

Back from Seattle & week(end) of hell.
Too tired to speak in full sentences.
Finally got to re-watch today.
Fast forwarded through everything non-Alex.
Loved everything Alex.

This guy. Seriously.
Don't need another reason to watch this show.

[waltzmatildah.livejournal.com]

Oh NO! How come it was a weekend from hell???
Full sentences are not necessary for this episode. It is not deserving of them anyway!
Re-watch? Geez. You're keen.
Oh, only the Alex stuff? I could definitely re-watch that!
Me toooooooo!

This guy. Seriously!!!
Me either. Which is lucky. Because there are no other reasons at the moment! Haha!