October 5, 2006: Sometimes a Fantasy
As the title of the episode indicates, "Sometimes a Fantasy" is an effective way to open an episode of
this show. So funny to see the three of them (supposedly) naked in bed together - smiling Meredith in the middle of Finn and Derek. This dating thing was a nice way for
Ellen Pompeo to finally get a chance to show off that smile of hers, after several seasons of sorrow. I liked seeing Meredith as a giddy girl declaring that "Dating is fun!" and telling Derek and then Finn: "I had a dream about you last night."
Sandra Oh did a hilarious job playing the
Ethel Mertz role reacting in the background to Meredith's conversations with her men and her "She's dating everyone with a pulse" reference was great.
Guest star
Abigail Breslin (awesome in
Little Miss Sunshine) was perfectly cast as the little girl who thought she was a superhero, but actually had a chromosomal condition where she couldn't feel pain. I loved that what Bailey said to Alex during the girl's surgery - "Pain's there for a reason" - reflected on Alex, as it inspired him to perk up Izzie. After Izzie spent the entire day standing outside staring at the hospital, Alex asked her: "Where does it hurt?" Izzie: "Everywhere." Alex: "Maybe it hurts for a reason." Since he can sometimes be a coldhearted snake, it's good to see his softer side. Speaking of which, Alex also took a cue from George, usually his nemesis, and borrowed George's Green Lantern reference to cheer up the little girl.
Unfortunately, things didn't go as well for the man (
Gabriel Casseus) who had to get half his brain removed to stop his multiple seizures. Such a sad scene when he couldn't remember his wife (
Lanai Chapman) or his baby's name. As for the smart-aleck decathlon-runner patient (
Jack Conley) whom Callie encouraged to have ankle-replacement surgery, what a rude awakening when George showed the guy the dead body of the old man whose ankle he was scheduled to get: That "old man" was actually two years
younger than him!
I cracked up at the scene when Alex, Cristina and George watched from a distance the Meredith-Finn lunch and Alex and Cristina placed bets to see if Derek interrupted it. Cristina's narration was the best: "Oh, you funny vet!" Of course, you knew Derek was going to put a stop to it in his own "sneaky snake" way.
Other highlights:
- George asking Meredith to kick Callie out.
- Callie dropping the towel after George said it was his, followed by the facial expressions of George and Meredith.
-
Eric Dane being made a series regular. Seeing his name along with the others in the opening credits made me smile. Cheating in a marriage is bad. Bad! But come on. Can you blame Addison for choosing to cheat with McSteamy? Yes, I know she's not "cheating" now, but we can all see now why she cheated
then.
- Dr. Webber being against Izzie returning, adding more realism to the situation. I agree with all of you who said, "That would never happen - she could never get her old job back in real life." But since I like Izzie, I'll allow it. (Yes, it's only a TV show.)
- Cristina telling Meredith that Burke spends too much time "playing with himself... and not in a good way."
- Burke bonding with Izzie outside: "Coming or going?" Izzie: "I don't know." Burke: "Me neither."
- Cristina reluctantly deciding to support Burke's decision to take a leave of absence. You can tell she was inspired when the wife of the brain-surgery guy was told: "He can't do this without your support."
- George finally telling Callie he's not ready to live with her (but Callie calling George a "toddler" was not cool).
- Meredith walking into the room and finding Addison in tears and Addison telling her to please pick a different floor and that she needs "a moment or two" away from her.
- The ending where Addison, Callie, Webber and McSteamy simultaneously checked in (or checked their messages at or checked back in) to the same hotel.
The one scene I didn't care for was the one towards the end when Derek was walking Meredith to her doorstep and Finn showed up with ice cream as if he was waiting and lurking. I don't like him being that desperate for Meredith and giving off a stalker vibe. But what redeemed it a bit was Meredith's frustrated reaction that included: "Damn it! I want to feel like a freakin' lady!"
Can't wait until next week.
