Incredible. I had high hopes going into this episode and every hope was satisfied. Last week’s episode set the stage for some satisfying stories. Although season three has been great so far, this episode felt like the show has finally been kicked into gear. Cristina and Burke are over and George is on the verge of a mental breakdown. McDreamy has moved back into Mer’s house and the car accident storyline made my day. It’s Grey’s Anatomy on fire.

          The main conflict of the episode is still George’s dad’s presence in the hospital. It’s sending Seattle Grace through hell. Once again, I’m really enjoying the fact that this story is being developed over a few episodes. Harold O’Malley is a character the audience loves and this storyline will without a doubt shape the rest of the season. But once again, the writers have emphasized the importance of characters over plot. This cannot be justified better by the constant close-ups to our characters and the numerous meaningful individual scenes. They are great. Among the best ones: Callie/Mer fighting, Derek wanting sex in the CT room, Burke slamming his bedroom door on Cristina, the opening scene with Cristina’s narration.

          Cristina narrating was a nice change to the show. I love Ellen Pompeo’s narration, but change is good. It was fitting. The episode centered on Cristina. In their podcast, executive producers Betsy Beers and Shonda Rhimes both explained the reason for the absence of music in the episode. In Cristina’s mind, there’s no music that’s playing. She doesn’t live by a song. She makes her own rules. This was important. The music only returned in the end when Cristina psychologically changed. She gave up Burke’s secret and lifted weight off her shoulders. Burke closing the door on Cristina is important. For one, I actually think it’s over. This was a big blow to him. But I also have to agree with Cristina’s decision. We all know she’s tough (and most times inhuman), but the fact of the matter is, she couldn’t do this anymore. Nobody could have done that anymore. What fascinated me the most about Sandra Oh’s performance this week was her character’s intensity. In the hospital bedroom, watching Sandra Oh literally blow me away with her famous facial expressions with Burke was stunning.

          Burke needs a reality check. Seriously. He hasn’t had to do any covering-up for Cristina. She’s been doing everything for him. The least he could do is acknowledge all the sacrifices she has made for him. She has risked her career all for his reputation. Burke keeps forgetting that Cristina is an intern. He has no right to blame this on her. All the interns are like children at Seattle Grace. They still think with their hearts rather than their brains. Burke was the adult in this case. Now, he’s been given the title of Chief. If it isn’t taken away from him. Chief Webber might decide to not retire now. The hospital is still in a mess. Also, Dr. Hahn seems to be content as the head of cardio-thoracic surgery. Burke is going to have some problems.

          I also thought George really crossed the line. Everyone is trying to help him and he’s acting like a selfish ass (sorry, but it’s true). Callie is trying to apologize for the mess she has made, and he completely disregards her. She still loves him and he still loves her. What’s the matter? Also, snapping at Izzie in front of her father was low. I’m surprised he crossed that line with her. I thought it was clear to never bring up Denny’s name. He humiliated her just when she was getting close to surgery again. Adding more to George’s piggish comments, he had no right putting Cristina on the spot in front of Izzie. When Izzie asks why George wants Dr. Hahn on the case, Cristina passes by and George asks Cristina why he’s replacing Dr. Burke. That was indecent to say the least.

Dear Diary

Cristina: I couldn’t keep it inside any longer. I needed to tell the Chief. There was a pounding in my head. I could never live with the fact that Burke might kill someone because of his rotten hand. Now he’s kicked me out of his house. Where am I going to stay? What am I going to do? I’m just happy I don’t have to think before I speak to anyone anymore. What’s going to happen to me? Am I going to get kicked off the program? Burke might not even get the job as Chief. That would kill him, especially now because Dr. Hahn has practically replaced him. I don’t know anymore.

Izzie: I don’t know how George could have said what he said. He’s such a jerk. Anyways, I don’t even want to talk about it. Seriously. But I have to. How could he betray me like that? He humiliated me in front of his parents then tried apologizing when I got back home. It’s the least he could do but it still wasn’t right. I’m not ready to listen to my mistakes again. I ruined a lot of things. I ruined everything and it’s definitely not fair. I want Denny back and I want everything the way it was. That won’t happen, though. Everything is different.

Today’s Baileyisms

The Nazi was not on a warpath today. Bailey was quiet.

Quotable Quotes

-          Cristina (voiceover): “As doctors, we know everybody's secrets. Their medical histories. Sexual histories. Confidential information that is as essential to a surgeon as a ten-blade, and every bit as dangerous. We keep secrets, we have to, but not all secrets can be kept.”

-          Derek: “6 letter word for ‘pinnacle’.”

Meredith: “Zenith.”

Derek: “Ah, this is good. No sex. Crossword puzzles. Current events. When does the knitting start?”

-          Meredith: “Cristina, you don't jog. We don't jog.”

Cristina: “Has George said anything to you?”

Meredith: “About what?”

Cristina: “I jog sometimes. Without you.”

-          Izzie: “Hey. So you and Meredith were having on of your "we're best friends, we're so cool" secret time things. Sorry, I'm cranky. Candy stripin' makes me so cranky.” Relax honey.

-          Janelle: “The doctors...hot men...they're all really hot...they are, aren't they? It's not just cause I'm wearing a plate glass window?”

Addison: “Nope, they're man candy.” How does that happen?

-          Burke: “Why are you acting like the sky is falling?”

Cristina: “The sky isn't falling. It already fell. George knows.”

-          Burke: “Anything you would have done different, Dr. Hahn?”

Dr. Hahn: “Given the size of the wound, I would've given up sooner. So how have you been, Preston? Last time I saw you, you stole my patient's heart. Then you got shot. Karma rocks.” I love Dr. Hahn.

-          Cristina: “We crossed the line. Together. I crossed the line with you.”

Burke: “You dragged me to cross the line. You made us a team. You told Shepherd I was fine. You said nobody has to know. I was out there on my own. You made us a team.”

-          Izzie (about Callie): “Dude, she went all cage fight on you.”

Some Final Notes

-          The opening scene was excellent. Shonda didn’t lie when she said we had to watch the first thirty minutes.

-          Izzie’s cranky morning was vintage Izzie. Nice reference to the first season with Izzie complaining about Meredith and Cristina alienating her.That was fun.

-          The opening ER scene was intense. I thought I was watching ER.

-          Louise, George’s mother, is involved in everything. I like how Izzie revealed every possible detail about George’s life.

-          Janelle was a great patient. I liked when she realized that this baby was meant to live since she was hit by a car and also lived through glass being stuck in her heart. Keep the baby.

-          Terrific casting when referring to Lois Smith. She was excellent as Mrs. Dickerson. I thought the whole story with the car accident to be perfect. Mrs. Dickerson couldn’t betray her husband. She had to give him the keys so he can drive his car.

-          When Sloan starts treating Alex like a five year-old, Addison whispers to Alex: “How’s plastics treating you?” That was perfect.

-          Callie’s fight with Meredith was great. I loved watching Izzie jump in the middle and hold her back. She went all cage fight on little Meredith.

-          The Chief deciding to retire was something I should have picked up on.

-          It was a just perfect having Meredith figure out the truth when she did. Cristina lied to her all this time and she was stunned to find this out.

-          I loved when Burke in the operating room tells Cristina: “I don’t need you for this.” Classic.

-          What was up with Dr. Hahn telling Cristina she’ll never be as good as Burke?

-          Addison and Alex’s awkward scene was awkward. Is something going to happen between them?

-          I’m glad Izzie will find it in her heart to forgive George. The ending scene with her grabbing his spaghetti was great.

-          Derek feels awful about overlooking Burke’s hand problem. That’s a lot to handle. He knows he screwed up.

-          From a “Whisper to a Scream” is a song by SoHo.

Terrific. The best this season and one of the best ever. 6 stars.

-          Next episode

-          Grey’s Anatomy season 3

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