| My Review of 6.11 - "Blink" |
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| Written by Admin |
| Sunday, 17 January 2010 14:51 |
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After coming back from almost a two-month hiatus, Grey's ratings were lower than usual in terms of total viewers, but its competitors also hit new lows. However, Grey's once again came in first among the 18-49 age group. Read on for my full review.
We're finally back with a new episode. What a relief! I don't think any of us expected a huge amount of Callie and Arizona screen time because it was going to be alll about Mark/Lexie/The Baby (err.. I mean Sloan Sloan) and the much hyped Not!Your!Usual!Love!Triangle!. However, what the episode lacked in quantity with regards to Callie and Arizona, it made up for in quality. Sure, the Callie and Arizona interaction lasted a total of 3 seconds, but it's safe to say that those 3 seconds sent Calzona fans into a frenzy that no other scene had before.
So the episode started off with a little Mer/Der, and then we had to endure some Mark/Lexie action, which was thankfully interrupted by Sloan Sloan. The scene where Mark roughly shoved Lexie off him made me feel a little sorry for her, being unceremoniously tossed around like a duffel bag. As it turned out, it was indicative of what happens at the end of the episode.
Which brings us to the highlight of the episode for Callie and Arizona fans:
Lexie's banished from her own bathroom and seeks the refuge of her neighbor's bathroom. Cristina informs her that Owen's using hers. Lexie lets out a frustrated sigh and heads to Callie's bathroom. By the way, it's hilarious that Cristina does not care enough to tell Lexie that Callie and AZ are in there, or she just wanted to see how it would go down. Guess she's evil that way.
Seemingly oblivious to the irony that she was barged in on just 2 minutes ago in her own bedroom, Lexie thoughtlessly opens the bathroom door without knocking and walks in on an extremely naked and wet Callie and Arizona, in the throes of what appears to be some form of Sapphic Tango that involves some heavy necking (among other unmentionable things). As a shell-shocked Lexie lets out a terrified scream, they break apart from their kissing and turn to stare at her while she stammers her way out of there as the door closes.
Let's spend a long moment on this scene and break it down, nanosecond by nanosecond, shall we? (I suspect that this is the main reason you are reading this week's review in the first place). First of all, did my eyes deceive me?? They actually showed some skin?? Given the way things have been going, I almost expected them to be dressed in bathing suits for this scene. And is that actual kissing that I saw? They seem to be really into it as well, what with Callie's hand grabbing the side of Arizona's head to press her face against hers and Arizona in the process of pinning her against the shower stall. The entwined fingers is also a nice touch. Yup, looks like AZ's assertiveness at work overflows into the bedroom as well. Yowza. And while she's pinning Callie with her left hand, one can only take a wild guess as to the kind of maneuvering that her right hand is engaged in, something that has Callie bending over backwards in submission. Mmhmm.
Upon Lexie's frightened scream, Callie and Arizona both tear themselves away from the kiss and look at the intruder. From their expressions, they don't seem that embarrassed. Not at all. AZ just stares at Lexie with this neutral look, like "Huh?" the entire time, as the door closes back on them. Callie's expression, on the other hand, quickly evolves into an amused grin, and frankly, looks a little pleased to show that she's getting some. Even before the door swings shut, we see Callie moving her hand back up AZ's face again, making sure that AZ gets back on track. Yeah, I don't think they were offended or even embarrassed much. These saucy lesbians…
I must say, the drenched look becomes them. If they were to ever do a shampoo or body wash commercial, I bet the shelves would be cleaned out. Seriously, these women should do public service announcements to solve the world's problems while looking like that. Anyway, I digress.
Callie comes out with an obligatory "Knock, much?" but didn't look that all upset saying it. And just to make sure we got what they were doing in the shower, she gloats in a sing-songy voice that "there's no more hot water~~~" (and it's not because they were cleaning the shower stall, either). Meanwhile, the best way I can think of to describe Arizona's expression is that of a bashful smirk. It's hard to tell though, because I am distracted by that giant wrap on her head. I almost feel sorry for Lexie as she sulks into the bathroom in defeat. By the way, was Cristina listening to her iPod to block out their uh...noises?
Yes, it was all but 3 seconds, but it didn't bother me that much given the eyeful we got. If you juxtapose that with the faux kiss on the lips in "Invest in Love", where they tried to trick less discerning viewers into thinking it was on the mouth by filming it from lightyears away and the awkwardly angled peck right before Lexie's bloody finger dismemberment in "Holidaze", you realize that we have come pretty far in the span of a couple of episodes. It also occurred to me that if they had gone along the same vein as in those eps, they could've had Callie and Arizona just stand beside each other under the water, 3 feet separating them, not unlike strangers showering in a swimming pool change room. Instead, they went full-out with the nekkidness and the kissing and the touching and the insinuation with the right hand, which I was pleasantly surprised by. So all in all, I'm very pleased that we got such a scene given that it's primetime network TV. At least they resemble a couple now to other viewers. Hopefully, we'll continue to see a little bit more each time.
I am not embarrassed to admit that my mind was completely distracted by the Naked!Shower!Sex! and blanked out for the next 15 minutes and nothing happening on screen registered. (Yes, I had to re-watch the whole ep before attempting this review).
So anyway… I guess there was a crossover involved. I usually enjoy Addison being on Grey's, but this time around, most of her scenes felt a little flat to me. I would attribute it to the nature of the storyline and not Kate Walsh's performance. The best one scene is probably the one in the exam room with Mark, Sloan, and Arizona, which inevitably descends into awkwardness when Sloan Sloan starts running her mouth off:
Sloan: Well, which one of you did he sleep with? Addison: <speechless in shock> Arizona: Ooh, not me. <shakes head> Addison: You told her? Mark: She's my kid... we were bonding. Addison: That is not how you bond with children. <looking appalled> Mark: I'm still getting the hang of it.
Kate has such good comedic timing. I miss her on Grey's. Love Arizona's response to Sloan asking who slept with Mark. You could tell she was really thinking "Ugh! Never!" but covered it up with an amused smirk instead. JCap has this amazing ability to inject cuteness into any line at will. And you could just see Arizona's pretty little wheels turning in her head as she shifts her eyes from Mark to Addison.
Moving onto that big ol' triangular mess that is Cristina/Owen/Teddy. I enjoyed the Teddy/Cristina interaction this episode, plus the tortured Huntlet scenes were kept to a minimum. Teddy and Cristina complement each other in that they are both intelligent and strong-willed. Plus, Teddy is someone won't be pushed around by Cristina:
Teddy: Well, I didn't teach you it to you so you can crochet.
Teddy: Well, I couldn't give you a total unadulterated dream case. People would talk. Cristina: I just spent hours prepping for the mechanical one. A pig valve is a whole different surgery. Teddy: Two for the price of one. Just think about how much you are learning. You want me to get someone else? Cristina: No.
I really liked Teddy's character in the first episode she showed up, but she's been slowly falling apart since then and has been losing her spine. Huntlet just drags people down and reduces strong and intelligent women into tearful emotional messes. It's not worth it, ladies!!
I know that Teddy has taken quite a beating from fans (especially the crazed Crowen ones), but she's really not a bad person. She was put in this situation because Owen was not honest with her in the first place about why he asked her to come to Seattle. Her feelings for Owen are obviously still raw, and she's just battling between doing the right thing by mentoring Cristina to the best of her ability but at the same time helping out her romantic rival. In the OR scene, it's difficult to tell which part is her pushing Cristina to her limits and which part is her trying to do her in. I don't think Teddy knows, either. I just don't want to see her as a tortured soul forever.
In any case, everything that's been happening culminates in this revelation from Teddy:
Cristina: No one has ever believed in me like this. You believe in me more than I do, and I need that. I…I'm going to die here without that. Teddy: It's complicated. Cristina: Tell me what you want and I'll make it happen! Teddy: I want Owen! Cristina: Then take him!
Yeah, that's right, Cristina, ditch that emotional baggage called Owen! Unfortunately, it's pretty clear that Cristina just blurted it in the heat of the moment, as you can see confusion written all over her face right after she said it. Guess it's the residual rush from putting that pig valve into that windbag of a patient.
As i said before, I really liked her in the first episode, but her character has been slowly going downhill, along with my respect for her. Curious to see what happens going forward since she's there for the long run. Hopefully, after the mess (or "exciting love triangle", as Shonda seems to believe) settles a bit, she'll develop on her own like Addison did back then. Still, I think Kim Raver has done a decent job with the material she's given.
I feel indifferent to Mark and Lexie as a couple, let alone Sloan Sloan. I find myself unable to feel any emotional attachment to their storyline and I really wish that it will wrap up soon. Good for Mark for taking responsibility but he really can't expect Lexie to become a mother and grandmother. I mean, Lexie's life is flashing in front of her eyes. Not sure how they're going to salvage the relationship in this impossible situation. They are probably suited being with other people who are in similar stages in their lives. I did like their last scene when they had an honest conversation about where they stood in each other's life. It's refreshing to see on Grey's that they bypassed the beating around the bush and the deception. The dialogue felt real, too, so kudos for that. A little disheartening that Mark told Lexie that she comes second, but admirable that he told her the truth. Eric Dane did an okay job this ep, though his facial expression really doesn't change much from scene to scene.
Random thoughts:
Good to see vintage Bailey. Chandra Wilson's specialty really is the rant. Her buggering eyes kill me.
Derek trying to set up Bailey was cute. His getting in touch with his feminine side was amusing to watch, though slightly unnerving at the same time.
Reed and Purcey's presence are entirely extraneous, especially since they didn't add to the plot since Alex slept with Lexie anyway. The fact that they got more screen time than Callie & Arizona is a travesty.
I always enjoy Addison being back on Grey's. A shame that the storyline did not call for more interaction with other characters besides Mark. Would've loved to see more Addison with Callie, something along the lines of that Vagina Monologues scene from season 4.
Wonderful to see Callie giving Alex and Reed a piece of her mind in the OR. Love that she cares… another reason why she and Arizona are such a great match.
Cristina had the best lines of the episode: "That's quite a sandwich." "Come back and work in the clinic 'cos you are throwing your career away!!! She got fired from surgery, not all of medicine." "Rosie, if I put my own valve in front of you, it wouldn't speak to you, either." "Pig…or…cow? Pig or cow? Pigorcow? Don't think, just pigorcow? Go! Now! Now!!"
Comments (34)
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on the shower scene. I really appreciate that they put this scene in there when they really didn't have to. It was so well done and it went a long way in repairing my faith in them. Now we know for sure we can trust JCap when she says hot girl-on-girl. 
And you're welcome! It's a pleasure to write these reviews, especially when I get to (over)analyze every Callie & Arizona scene.
, Callie gets the chicken pox. Can't wait to see that! I can just imagine her being such a baby about it, guess it's a good thing AZ works with children lol.
another excellent review Meg. the Callie/Arizona scene made the ep, nekkid, shower, what more could we ask for, apart from more screen time. And bookended by Cristina telling Teddy she could have owen...they were the highlights for me.
The Mercy Westers are still pointless baggage for me, not interested in any of their drama yet...was the interaction between Reed and the other guy something to do with the webisodes I haven't bothered to watch after the first one?