It’s some kind of miracle that Shonda was able to pull this thing off. Experimenting with the subject of afterlife on a show like Grey’s Anatomy is a tough sell. I’ve already been hearing fans complaining about this episode’s unrealistic qualities. Some even think the show just jumped the shark. You want my opinion? This was one of the best episodes…ever.

          Last week, I was scared they were going to make the death scenes a bit too hokey or that the death scenes would be just plain ridiculous. In any case, I loved them so much. What a unique way to cap off an excellent three-parter. What I loved was the fact that they brought our favourite characters back. Did they ever. I missed these characters so much: Liz Fallon, Dylan Young, Bonnie, and of course, Denny.

          I love how the writers haven’t forgotten the past. Liz Fallon was first introduced in the first season as Ellis Grey’s old scrub nurse. She came to the hospital to die. Boy have we all grown from then. It feels like ages ago. Bonnie was from the second season’s Into You Like a Train, one of the best episodes ever. Of course we can remember Dylan from the Superbowl outing last year (what a great episode that was). And then of course the man we’ll always remember…Denny. All these people held a certain importance for Meredith.

          This was her episode. This was Ellen Pompeo’s episode to shine and she definitely did. There were many “death scenes” as I like to call them, but two struck me as the most important: 1) Denny and Meredith sit in the hospital’s hallway just talking. It was at this moment that she truly does reveal that she gave up. She lost faith. She couldn’t see the point of fighting. 2) Where she pleads to the five dead people to let her go back. At that point she realizes that her intimacy issues meant nothing. They are stupid issues. She finally realizes that.

          This was also a closure episode for Denny. His death was so unexpected that we couldn’t help but feel frustrated. With this episode, we finally know what’s happened to Denny. He spends his days waiting to feel Izzie. When they do, a sense of relaxation is felt. That must be a beautiful feeling. I just loved watching Denny argue with Dylan and I loved the impact he had on Meredith. Of course, that final scene where Denny finally sees Izzie, I’m telling you, I could have died right there a happy man. Shonda is just great at these types of things.

          It also made Izzie not as hateable as she was during this episode. How long is this little feud with Callie going to go on for? Because it’s really pissing me off. It’s not nice and it’s kind of getting old. I’ve always thought of Izzie as the kind and understanding one; she’s not. It’s time she sucks it up and shows some kind of compassion to Callie O’Malley. I still the love the name. I loved the idea of Izzie not giving up faith always whispering, “she’s going to survive this.” So Izzie had her good moments and her bad.

          Kate Burton has left the show and I honestly hate that. But it’s understandable. If they would have kept her, at one point or another, her storyline would have gotten a bit repetitive. Kate Burton bowed out in style as Ellis told her daughter that she is all but ordinary. What a beautiful moment where the mother and daughter hug. There were a lot of these great moments.

          I loved Dr. Webber this week. He’s lost his wife, his ex-mistress, and he almost lost the closest thing he’s ever had to a daughter: Meredith. You can see the intensity in his eyes; he would not give up. That final scene where he speaks to Ellis’ dead body should earn him an Emmy. He’s imagining the life he should have had with this woman. What a scene.

          Cristina’s storyline was just bang on. What a great idea to have her go on a shopping spree at a dollar store—a 99 cents store actually. I love those stores. I loved watching Joe just stare at a drunken Cristina. I absolutely loved watching Cristina get personal especially when she screamed out “try again.” That sent chills down my spine. I couldn’t believe the intensity of that moment. I’m glad that she came back for “her person.” She wouldn’t be Cristina if she didn’t.

          Derek also fell apart. Thanks to Addison (who I will build an eternal shrine for), he stayed leveled. I couldn’t believe that he went as far as accuse to Alzheimer’s Ellis of ruining Meredith. He almost ripped her hair off. He’s not leaving now. He loves Meredith and Addison picked it off. When she saw the couple through the window, she knew there was a certain vibe between the two that she never had. I love her new pact with Mark. He has to stop “man-whoring,” and he might be able to have a chance with her. How long can she keep her hands off Alex though? That’s the question.

Dear Diary:

Izzie: Meredith pulled through. She did. What a day. From the ferry to Meredith’s almost-death, I must have burned off that whole tub of butter. Yeah, I ate a tub of butter. And I got really pissed of today. Callie, who was so rude, thought she was so Meredith’s friend. She can’t be part of us; she’s not one of us. Who is she to tell me that my friend is going to pull through? Seriously. She was the one who was trying to beat her up a few weeks ago. I’ve never liked her. Do you blame me? Now George is pissed at me. I just said what I thought I should say. I needed to tell him. And then the weirdest thing happened: I was going home and I felt something wonderful. It felt like Denny. I swear. I don’t know where it came from, but it just felt like Denny. I’ve never felt that before.

Cristina: She didn’t die. Thank God she didn’t die. I couldn’t have faced it if she died. She’s my person. Earlier today, I went on some sort of a shopping spree buying anything I could for 99 cents. I’m not kidding. I bought furniture for 99 cents. It’s amazing what we’ve got. Yeah, I know. It sounds crazy now, but when you’re drunk and depressed, these things feel natural. I was also playing a lot of Sudoku, like a lot of Sudoku. Like I’ve never played that much Sudoku in my life. I think I actually told Joe that this was some good Sudoku. God!

Today’s Baileyism

-          “You cannot give up.”

Quotable Quotes

-          Meredith (voice-over): “There are medical miracles. Being worshippers of the alter of science, we don't like to believe miracles exist. But they do. Things happen. We can't explain them, we can't control them, but they do happen. Miracles do happen in medicine. They happen everyday, just not always when we need them to happen.” I loved this one.

-          Izzie: “She’s gonna be okay.”

George: “Sometimes you’re wrong.” Uh-oh. Someone’s pissed.

-          Denny (to Dylan): “Oh ok, Mister I’ve-been-dead-longer, knows everything.”

-          Alex: “I dunno.. it's just.. Meredith always makes me think screwed up people have a chance.”

-          Cristina: “Look at this chair! For ninety-nine cents you can buy furniture! Now THAT'S America!”

Joe: “No, that's Taiwan.” Poor Joe. He has to deal with these people.

-          Meredith: “I was swimming. I was fighting. And then I thought, just for a second, I thought ‘What’s the point?’ And then I let go. I stopped fighting. Don’t tell anybody.”

-          Denny: “Do you know what kind of miracle it is that Derek is who he is? Do you know how rare it is that someone like him even exists?”

-          Denny: “That thing in the tub? What was that?”

Meredith: “It wasn’t anything. You see me in the tub?” Loved this one.

-          Meredith: “I-I-I had intimacy issues. Do you know how stupid that seems now?”

-          Ellis: “You are anything but ordinary Meredith.”

-          And finally. Meredith: “My mom’s dead isn’t she?”

Derek: “Yes.”

Meredith: “It’s okay.” Finally, Ellis can be free.

Some Final Notes

-          Doc returned. Meredith said he was the first person she wanted to see.

-          I’m so glad Bonnie returned. I’m sorry to say this but I was laughing every time she started bleeding out. Everyone was so used to it. It was a routine. The idea made me laugh. It wasn’t funny for Meredith. She kept fighting to save her.

-          Jane Doe can’t remember anything. Supposedly, Elizabeth Reaser is signed on to guest-star until the end of the season. Is she our next Denny?

-          Izzie said Callie’s marriage was nothing but a piece of paper.

-          Addison rocked this week when she was scolding Derek telling him not to break down. I wanted her to be more involved though. I wanted her to be the one to save Meredith.

-          It’s okay. The honours went to out favourite resident, Bailey. Can anyone challenge her for Chief resident? I mean seriously. Sydney is going down.

-          We learned that Cristina’s father died in a car accident when she was nine and she watched him die in front of her eyes.

-          The “death scene” where the water starts surrounding Meredith was incredible. What a beautiful scene.

-          The Meredith and Ellis reunion has earned the title as one of the best scenes ever. Hands down.

-          Mark has to go 60 days without having sex. Can he do it? Bigger question: can Addison?

-          Because Addison has become my favourite character, I think she deserves her own show. And guess what: she is. I can’t believe it. I’m so excited.

-          “Some Kind of Miracle” is a song by Kelly Clarkson.

Stunning episode. A beautiful capper to a sensational three-parter. Well worth it. 5 stars.

-          Next episode

-          Grey’s Anatomy season 3

-          Grey’s Anatomy main