"These Ties That Bind" From the Writer's Point of View
Grey's Anatomy writer Stacy McKee, who authored last night's episode, has posted her thoughts on "These Ties That Bind" on the show's official writers' blog for fans.
Below is an excerpt, with a link to the full column at the bottom ...
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Hahn isn’t dead. But she IS gone. And Callie Torres is feeling it - sort of. Callie’s diving into work. She wants bones to break, skeletons to build, SOMETHING to keep her from thinking about Erica. Erica played an unbelievably important role in Callie’s life; Erica’s relationship with Callie has completely redefined how Callie sees herself. That’s something you can’t undo.
Erica’s departure has left Callie with this big gaping hole that she has no idea how to fill. Callie had just started to figure out her own feelings, her own identity and now - Hahn’s gone. Without a goodbye. Whether or not Callie and Erica were ever soul mates, you can’t deny that they played irreplaceable roles in each other’s lives. The heartbreak that Callie is feeling is very very real.
And very very private until – she starts to cry, and cry and cry and cry, in the OR, over the bones that she built from scratch. She’s crying for all the loss and heartbreak and sadness she hasn’t allowed herself to feel yet. Which is why it’s lovely that Callie’s friends - Yang, Sloan, and even Owen Hunt - recognize the moment for what it is and try to give her the privacy she needs.
Callie isn’t the only one feeling a lack of connection.
It’s clear that Owen is having difficulty adjusting to life at SGH. He calls in Derek and Mark for help, then disregards their concerns about his patient. I love watching Owen’s face when he’s listening to his patient’s story, about how somewhere along the way the patient just lost the ability to connect.
It’s clear that it resonates with Owen, and it’s only after that moment that he really becomes receptive to Derek. And I think that it’s because of that moment that Owen goes in for that kiss with Cristina… Owen doesn’t want to lose his ability to connect with other people. But, obviously, he’s having some difficulty connecting gracefully – that kiss isn’t soft or romantic.
It’s a little desperate - at least at first.
Follow the link for the full writers' blog entry ...
November 14th, 2008 7:55 AM
this episode was good .... but i dont understand how izzie is actually with denny... he's dead but he is there, and izzie can touch him but alex cant see him... and i am so confused.
the new intern is psycho...
i feel bad for alex, izzie is going crazy,
and mer/der= my fave.
overall really good episode, but i think next week will be better
November 14th, 2008 8:16 AM
Its the Izzie tumor isnt it. I hoped that was a load of BS but after this ep Im not so sure
November 14th, 2008 4:10 PM
I hope it's the Izzie tumor. I'm hoping she has the tumor that Shepard can operate on, but I'd rather not have her die. Denny was one of my favorites. I turned into a human puddle when he died. I was sobbing, but this is too much. I felt like it was overpowering everything else on the show and I'm losing interest.
Now on to something that I feel needs to be address:
They are making cutting yourself seem like something hardcore with the interns. Then Sadie (who is irritating and apparently needs to talk every two seconds) goes and turns it into something sexy.
It is not hardcore, it is not sexy. It is something that takes people years to move past and they usually have to find some other equally, but more socially acceptable way, of dealing with it and now they are using it in a totally inappropriate way. I'm really upset about that particular aspect of this episode. Sadie ripping off her shirt and cutting herself while the men all drool ... not cool in any way shape or form.
More positive moments: I love McMajor. He's great. I like the chemistry he has with Cristina. I adore Cristina which is probably a big reason why I don't like Sadie. Sloan was fantastic in this episode. He was humorous, while still showing us that gentler side of him that Callie seems to be able to bring out. Meredith looking out for Lexie, it's about time. Lexie was annoying to me until that episode where she confronted Meredith in the bathroom. She kind of grows on a person.
November 14th, 2008 4:57 PM
I feel so sorry for Callie, when she was crying I wanted to reach right that t.v. and hold her..I know it is just a show but it was heartbreaking..She had me crying..
November 14th, 2008 5:18 PM
The Denny-Izzie story-line is great! Well it was at first, it still is pretty good but, it is WAY WAY too overpowering over all of the other story lines which could are also great. I hope they find some way to pull off the story w/o iz dying or going crazy! I really love izzy! I keep going over it in my head but i can't think of any probable explanations other than her dying. anyone have any other thoughts?
November 14th, 2008 8:33 PM
I felt so sorry for Callie too...however, it was good to see how much Erica and the relationship meant to her. I'm hoping that this won't be the only episode where Callie mentions Erica ever again cos that would suck!!! It was nice to see Cristina being caring and Sloane always there...
Even though I'm still pissed off that Brooke Smith is gone it's still a great show and I'll watch it to see how everything else works out and what happens with Callie and Erica and when Callie leaves :-(
November 14th, 2008 11:07 PM
I agree with Concerned, because I really will like to see what can happen between Erica and Callie though She's not in the serie...
Anyway I really sorry about Callie, She had me cry and I liked the way that Cristina took the news that Callie and Erica had a relationship. I want to see what will happen with Callie.
I hate Sadie the "Sadist Girl".
November 15th, 2008 11:36 AM
Ok so, this weeks episode was great... I saw in it all that I wanted to see, christina again with hunt..even though I would have foretold..a hug:D, meredith and derek they are so cute together.. but I feel like they are getting a bit usual.. I mean.. they are not doing anything special.. anyway, the new doctor.. was adorable..she's so sweet, sadie sucks .. she's too notty, oh by the way I think christina should do something with her interns.. she's not teaching them anything.. she's a bit selfish.. Izzie, poor Izzie.. she's having halucinations with Denny.... oh c'mon people.. and she can touch him? oh please give me a break.. what is this.. paranormal Grey's? I look forward to see more of Callie and Sloan.. as Sloan is reaching his sensitive side.. they should be together.. but that's unfortunately not for me to decide.. Grey's rocksssssssssssssssssssssssss but please don't fire anyone anymore..
November 29th, 2008 12:22 PM
I've heard some comments on other boards that Callie crying over Erica leaving was unrealistic, because she had more of a relationship with George, and didn't seem that upset when they split. The thing is, Callie knew something was wrong with George and her's relationship. She knew it was on the rocks, and I don't think it came as much of a surprise when it finally ended. In Erica's case, their relationship had barely begun, they were just in the first steps. And then they have one major fight, and Erica just disappears on her. No make-up, no goodbyes, nothing, she just leaves. No wonder it broke Callie up so much. It's one thing to lose a relationship you know isn't working and hasn't been for a while (e.g. her and George), it's another for someone to just abandon you when you've only begun getting to know one another. Also Callie and Erica weren't just lovers, they were friends first, something she never had with George. So she lost out in two ways. Just my opinion, but I thought it should be mentioned, since so many people seem to think the Grey's writers just put it in there for stupidity or something.
December 28th, 2008 12:26 AM
Damn just reading about that episode made me cry again. It broke my heart cause I knew why Callie was crying. The man dying was just a small part of what she was feeling. When Erica left she didn't cry. But the guys passing triggered her emotions. I'm glad that Yang was kind to Callie through that. I know she could have chose not to be nice, since Callie and Erica wasn't very nice to her in the past. This whole thing is so messed up. I can't believe that Callie took Izzy's side over Erica. After all Izzy was the one that screwed up her marriage to George. I guess when you have to have some kind of closure in a short period of time. You come up with shit, like the last ep Erica was in. Callie and Erica where both to good and actor for that scene. IT WAS JUST WRONG!!!!