Grey's Anatomy: Season Two

Grey's Anatomy is not only part of a long line of wildly successful medically oriented television series; it is part of TV’s return to scripted shows after an overload of so called reality series. While so many networks where making contestants perform ridiculous challenges and risk getting voted off, Grey's Anatomy gave back something most of us missed, a good old fashion well written series. Sure they play more than a little fast and loose with the accuracy of the medical procedures but to paraphrase Mystery Science Theater 3000, just keep reminding yourself it is just a television series. The writing is witty, the acting is top notch and the story lines strangely compelling and that in itself places this series on most people’s must watch list.

The story follows the lives of a group of surgical interns. While they have graduated medical school they still have to pass the arduous specialized training to become fully qualified surgeons. The hours are long and the competition extreme taking its toll on them physically as well as emotionally. Title character Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) is increasing her surgical skills but cannot get out from under the shadow of her mother, Ellis Grey (Kate Burton). Ellis was once a ground breaking surgeon but now is in the grip of Alzheimer's disease. To complicate matters even more she once had an affair with the current Chief of Surgery, Dr. Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.). This naturally makes it difficult for Webber to be objective when it comes to Meredith. She is torn in a love triangle with her immediate superior, Dr. Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey), better know to Meredith and her cabal as Doctor McDreamy. In season two he has broken up with Meredith and returned to his cheating wife, pediatric surgeon extraordinaire Addison Shepherd (Kate Walsh). McDreamy tries to balance a professional relationship and friendship with his former amour but for some reason this bothers his wife. Living with Meredith in her mother’s old house are Dr. Isobel "Izzie" Stevens (Katherine Heigl) who worked her way through medical school modeling bras and panties, and the ultimate nice guy Dr. George O'Malley (T.R. Knight). Izzie is in an on again off again relationship with another intern Alex Karev (Justin Chambers) while George longs for Meredith. As if this was not complicated enough throw in another intern Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh) who is living with a senior surgeon, Preston Burke (Isaiah Washington). Directly overseeing this bunch of overly libido driven young surgeons is Dr. Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) who may be short in stature but large in attitude.

The second season is longer than average coming in at 27 episodes, if you omitted the two recap shows as does the DVD. The first season was set for a more normal 13 episodes but was cut back to only 9 for scheduling reasons. The last four episodes where added as the first part of season two bring us to 26. Just before the season end a 27^th episode was added. Sure this is a night time soap opera but we watch for two reason, it is extremely well done and it is a lot better than watching the reality shows. Each of the episodes, almost all named for a song title or lyric, further the numerous personal story arcs while taking a break every so often to put in a dramatic medical emergency. The best combination of this comes in the middle of the season as a two part episode. Part one, ‘It’s the End of the World’, a man tries to commit suicide by shooting himself with an armed mortar shell. If the EMT, Hannah Davies (Christina Ricci) who stopped the bleeding by inserting her hands into the man’s chest lets go the shell will detonate and blow up the hospital floor. Just as Hannah begins to lose it Meredith steps in and replaces her. In part two, "As we Know It", Bailey is in labor with George as filling in as her birthing coach. It is little twists like this that pulls you in and keeps you watching. There are a few things that are overdone. It seems that the interns have a lot of time to sit around and complain about their love lives or more often the lack of one. There is growth in the characters that is nicely worked into the stories. George moves on from the overly feminized roommate to being seen as a man by Izzie, Meredith and Christine. In the first season Izzie and Meredith would walk into the bathroom while George was taking a shower, just as with any other girlfriend. In season two George seeks to change his image by dating a doctor outside the intern’s circle. The initial competition is there but somewhat softened by the friendship of the primarily female young surgeons. When the series started out they were all ready to do whatever it took to get the best surgeries but in this season the ladies do work better with each other. One disconcerting thing is how much they all drink in the local bar after their shifts. I would order liver enzyme studies done on the lot of them.

This is an excellent cast and there is little doubt one of the main reasons for the series’ success. Ellen Pompeo is talented and gives emotional depth to Meredith. She can be soft and vulnerable or cut throat and professionally driven. She wants to be a surgeon but she also needs to be loved. Her relationship with her mother has always been strained, mom was demanding and distant. Now Meredith has to care for Ellis and see to all the family decisions. Patrick Dempsey has had some arc in his career. In1987 he was the geek in Can't Buy Me Love who had to rent a girlfriend. Now he is the sex symbol of the hospital. Dempsey portrays Shepard with empathy and intelligence. He is a top surgeon who just happens to have to balance the affections of a beautiful and talented wife and a girlfriend, all working in the same hospital. Katherine Heigl plays a former model now a surgeon in training. Instead of ignoring the fact that she is one of the most beautiful actresses headed for the A-list the writers just made it part of the story. Her presentation of Izzie is as a young woman that was always accepted for her looks. She made a living out of them but decided there was more to life than the catwalk. Her talent as a surgeon is inhibited by her sympathetic and caring heart. She even falls in love with a man who is waiting for a heart transplant. I have been a fan of Sandra Oh for years now. From her role in the HBO sit-com Arliss to the improvisational dramatic film ‘Dancing at the Blue Iguana’. She is one of the most versatile actresses out there today and she makes her role as Christina one that is always enjoyable to watch, she takes her character on an emotional roller coaster as this independent young doctor has to learn to deal with friends and with a man in a committed relationship.

Since this is one of ABC’s shining jewels in their night time line up it is only natural to give the DVD release the best treatment possible. The video is in a bright, well balanced 1.78:1 anamorphic transfer. The Dolby 5.1 audio is excellent not only in creating a realistic ambience and clear dialogue but also the sound track. There are hours of extras to keep the fans out there happy. Four of the episodes are extended with previously unseen footage. While not as ‘steamy’ as advertised they do add to the enjoyment. Most of the main cast gives on screen interviews explaining some of their decisions in how to present their on screen personas. Overall this is one of the gems of the television season. Even though I watched every episode during their initial run I found this DVD one of the better season sets out there today.

Posted 9/03/06