Now that Mercy West's doctors have invaded and turned Grey's Anatomy upside down, they're staking their territory, which may include some new, intriguing relationships.
Dr. Charles Denman (Robert Baker) is at the center of the drama.
The new guest star opened up to TV Guide this week about what it's like to become the new worst enemy of the fans of one of TV's most popular shows in just one week.
He also discusses which Seattle Gracers will cross over to the dark side, how Thursday's episode unfolds and what Izzie (Katherine Heigl) will pursue when she returns ...
Q: Everyone hates the Mercy Westers. How does that feel?
Robert Baker: I've never been so hated in my life, but I think that it's the way [fans] should feel. We came on to the show and started wreaking havoc. I'm not like Charles in my everyday life. If I step on an ant, I go into mourning over it.
I don't want to ruffle any feathers in real life, so to go up there and do it is actually a blast. The show needs a bad guy. You can't have good drama without [one].
Q: Do any of them have any redeemable qualities? Will fans grow to like them?
Robert Baker: Yeah, people are going to start seeing that when it comes to doing our jobs, we definitely come through for them. I think it's going to take a while for people to be won over by any one of the Mercy Westers in particular.
It's going to be difficult in future episodes for them.
Q: Charles pretty much got Izzie fired. Will everyone in the hospital be upset with him?
Robert Baker: Certain people, definitely. I'm sure you can guess which people will be angrier than others about Izzie departing - not everyone though. They're not happy because she's gone; they're just not mad at [Charles] for what happened to her.
Q: Are Alex (Justin Chambers) and Charles going to come to blows?
Robert Baker: It's funny, this Thursday, Alex and I do have some stuff together. You will see his dislike for me. We don't quite come to blows because that wouldn't be a very fair fight, first of all. Clearly I'm the biggest person to ever set foot on that set.
Basically, it's a little more passive-aggressive what goes on between he and I. He has me under his thumb a little bit and takes advantage of it.
Q: Charles has admitted he's in love with Reed (Nora Zehetner). What's coming up between them?
Robert Baker: It hasn't really come up that much since, but it seems like something might - since Reed and Karev kind of mix it up, and the two of them have that competitive attraction sort of thing, I don't know if there's going to be some sort of weird triangle thing or what.
Q: Are there any other love interests in the hospital? There is a new gaggle of doctors; I'm sure people are giving them a second look.
Robert Baker: I know that Cristina [Sandra Oh] and Jackson [Jesse Williams] are pitted in an adversarial relationship that always, on Grey's, seems like it leads elsewhere. The fighting leads to something else. [Laughs] I think maybe them. I'm the odd man out; nobody likes me. The bad guy is always the lonely guy.
Q: The Mercy Westers seem to have the upper hand. We've seen them succeed a lot; will we see them fail?
Robert Baker: You're definitely going to see us fail and pretty darn hard. There is comeuppance, so people who are waiting for Mercy Westers to feel the ax, they're going to be happy.
Q: What can you tell us about Thursday's big episode?
Robert Baker: There's been a massive apartment-building fire. It's just total chaos. It's a he-said-she-said. There's too many doctors and too much commotion. It's all centered around one patient who we lose. It's trying to find out who was actually responsible for the death of this young lady. I can neither confirm nor deny the hospital of origin of the killing party.
Q: What's coming up when Ellen Pompeo and Katherine Heigl return?
Robert Baker: Now that Ellen is back around and Katie is coming back, it's going to be more about reconciling these worlds. I can't say when or how she comes back, but I can definitely say that Izzie is going to give as good as she got when she gets back around to me. People can definitely to look forward to seeing her score some points on [Charles] in the near future.
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28 Comments
October 22nd, 2009 1:52 PM
This character will be the one we all dislike, especially cos he got Iz fired. I hope Iz gets her revenge and this character leaves asap
October 22nd, 2009 2:10 PM
Yep. I agree!! Ellen is around again yayy.. now that makes me sooo happy!! And wow waiting for Katie to get back too and get revange of Charles for getting her fired!! I want to see that:D
October 22nd, 2009 2:19 PM
Oh man. Good interview - can't say i'm happy about the whole nora and alex comment but i guess thats just the way its gonna be. Looking forward to seeing izzie lay down the hurt on charles when she gets back, would also be nice to see alex give him a whooping too though :D can't wait to see which of the mercy westers gets the boot tonight. I thought it was gonna be nora until i read this, but now i'm thinkin its gonna be april, as she was the only one who seemed to be quite nice!
October 22nd, 2009 2:28 PM
I'm glad Izzy got fired...I'm sorry, but I am. She shouldn't be working anyways...she is sick and should be resting. Yes, I understand that she hates being stuck in the house with cancer and George on her mind, but if she isnt physically ready to come back to work, she also isn't emotionally. Hense why she screwed up on her patient. Yes, what Charles did was horrible and mean, and I am not happy with Mercy joing Seattle Grace, but it is what it is. He has to find his footing, even if that means being an a$$. Plus, Katherine wanted a break from the show, so yes...Izzy should be fired. If Katherine has more important things going on, then who wants her. She just been annoying lately anyways. Look at Ellen...just had a baby, but she manages to make it to set. Katherine could learn from Ellen. But yeah...thats my opinion. I hope Alex moves on and meets someone who he is actually compatable with. I dont like him with Izzy, even though his wedding speech was AMAZING!
October 22nd, 2009 2:56 PM
who is Izzy? it's Izzie!
October 22nd, 2009 3:27 PM
Izzy - or - Izzie...She still deserves to be fired.
October 22nd, 2009 3:41 PM
@jessica: somehow I see what you mean. There has been a lot of Izzy the last episodes to make it up for this. It was a nice idea to let her being cut in order to give Katherine Heigle time for movies. But Alex just loves her and perhaps she shouldn't leave him. I am not a fan of her, but Alex needs her.
About Charles. Damn it, the proof that some Mercy Westers will stay. And I already hoped for episodes without them.
Okay, so that's it, I can only hope the writers are gonna make it up for the less worth watching episodes.
One thing to this interview at last. I disagree with what he said about the need of a villian in a drama. Come on, the older Grey's Anatomy was that great without a bad guy as far as I remember.
October 22nd, 2009 3:50 PM
Thank you Nathalie!! I do understand where you are coming from with Alex needing IZZIE (there, I spelled it right danielle, you happy?), but Alex is strong and I believe that he can get through this with help from Mer, and Christina. I loved the end of last week when they were all in the room and Mer tells Christina to give him a hug. I thought that was amazing. I just dont get how Izzie could up and leave him when she knows how many people have left him in the past. For her to do this to him, it makes me sad. Who cares if Alex cares enough about her and her health to make sure she is healthy...thats what husbands do for their loved ones. I think she was being selfish for just up and leaving him like that...on a note no less. Have some respect for yourself and your husband to at least talk it through. She is taking the easy way out and not having to explain herself. Ugh...it makes me so mad that she did that!!
October 22nd, 2009 4:45 PM
@ Jessica - Totally agree with you. I do hope they can get past it though, because as selfish as Izzie was, expecting to die from cancer and then surviving, losing your best friend and then getting fired in a two month period really has to mess a person up.
Also - Alex and Izzie are (or should I say were) so good together.
October 22nd, 2009 4:48 PM
ok,i basically hate them all of them,i love alex and izzie as shown in my name,:D and i so hate that alex is going to bond with this reed girl ,i am so sad i mean alex and izzie are so hot together but with out each other both of them are just a total disaster ,is there anyone who agrees with me?