Grey's Anatomy writers Tony Phelan and Joan Rater, who penned last night's episode, have posted some thoughts on "Before and After" on the show's official writers' blog.
Here are some excerpts, with a link to the full column below ...
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I thought that the thing we really can do with this crossover is show another side of Derek, I just wasn’t sure what that side was. So we started to talk about it.
We always imagined that Derek and Addison met in med school in gross anatomy class and basically fell in love over a cadaver. I know, romantic, right?
But for them I’m sure it was.
We decided Derek and Addison were probably the first of any of their friends to get married and it was probably an amazing wedding and then someone in the room told a story about this wedding they went to once where the guy sang a song he had written for his wife about how they met and fell in love.
Ten years later, whenever anyone who was at that wedding sees this couple, they demand that the song be sung. Hearing this story I suddenly knew that Derek had to be that guy. Because I love that guy. And because it tells you about the group of friends, who all remember the song.
Addison and Derek: The Seattle Grace days.
They all thought Derek and Addison would be together forever and now here they are, ten years later, divorced. And Naomi is divorced. And Archer is maybe going to die. And so they need the song, they want the song, they want to go back 10 years, when it was all so hopeful and happy and no one was dying.
Now here’s the thing – they don’t really want to go back. Derek and Addison don’t want to go back to being together, that’s not the point. The point is ... It’s like when you look at a picture of yourself from ten years ago and you can’t believe how much you’ve changed.
And you don’t really want to go back there, because you like your life and everything and you certainly don’t want the bad haircut back or the ugly bridesmaid’s dress, but you look at yourself and your old friends in the picture and you realize you haven’t spoken to that friend in years, that person you used to speak to every day, EVERY DAY, and you suddenly, desperately miss that person and have no idea how you got to the point where you don’t even know where they live.
THAT is the feeling we wanted this episode to have.
Follow the link to continue reading the writers' blog.
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3 Comments
February 13th, 2009 10:05 AM
Tony Phelan and Joan Rater--
I really enjoyed your episode!!!
You gave us more than 20 seconds of George. THANK YOU!!!! God, I love George. When he forced Sadie to step up and quit, that was the right thing to do. Now she won't hurt any patients, thank goodness. Unfortunately, I think she's already done some damage with Izzie-- we just don't know it yet.
The window into Der's past was really neat. Addie being back is always great. You guys did well here. There was this combination of feeling really interested in knowing what Der was like before, of knowing what he and Addie started like, but at the same time there was this tugging feeling like it was all just not right anymore. Like you described-- looking at an old photograph of yourself and friends years ago. This sweet, sad nostalgic feeling, but also a feeling like you don't even want to be that person anymore. Beautifully portrayed.
Love Addie. Having her back was bittersweet. I love her, but also look forward to her going back to LA so MerDer can move on with their new life together!
#3 I like the scene with Alex talking to Addie. I liked that Alex could show his true self with Addie. I really do love Alex and understand where he's coming from in assuming Izzie's just going crazy (hello? b/c everyone in his life has gone to the coo-coo's nest!) BUT this shows EXACTLY what I've thought all around-- Alex is genuinely not enough for Izzie. He wasn't when Denny was. He wasn't after Denny was gone (he was a good friend to her at moments, but he is just not consistent) and he still isn't. Instead of worrying about what's wrong w/ her, he's worrying that he's gonna have to deal w/ another crazy chic and how that would affect him. Self-absorbed as ever. And he's a doc-- her motor skill issues should definitely be tipping him off that there could be a physiological issue- maybe not just psychological. At least enough to ask someone for advice about what's going on with her. He's just not taking care of her enough. I can't wait for George to step in and say "enough is enough". And Addie, if Addie hadn't been so distracted by what was going on, she might have thought to ask Alex about what Izzie's doing, but you can't blame her-- her brother was as close to death as you can get!
Nice work! Looking forward to next week!!!
February 15th, 2009 9:28 PM
i think derek and addison were not who first married. in private practice we know that sam and naomi have a 13 years old daughter, named maya. so, they must be had married 14 or 15 years ago before derek and addison.
February 18th, 2009 8:17 AM
the storyline you made for Derek and Addison was so amazing.. I got the concept and it's so nice to see them hug and talk after everything that happened.. Things changed a lot but they still care for each other.. the song was the sweetest thing.. It made me cry especially seeing derek and addie's faces like that ='(