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Below is Shonda Rhimes' blog about "What a Difference a Day Makes," Thursday night's terrific episode of Grey's Anatomy. Here's what the show's creator and executive producer had to say about the events of that night and the 100th episode milestone ...

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Okay. So... 100. 100 episodes. Which means I was so tired last night that I forgot to blog. But I’m blogging now. I’m here now.

First, a warning: this is our last blog of the season. It’s also our last podcast and today will be my last tweets of the season.

We’re going dark, people.

Why? Because next week’s episodes (two in one night) are so explosive and cliff-hanger-y that we, the writers, have all agreed that we can’t even talk about them. For fear of giving anything away. We honestly can’t say a word. But know that we are proud.

Of the episodes. And of you.

For sticking with us. For 100 plus episodes. For going through the good and the bad. For having faith in us. And in our characters. We thank you and we appreciate it. There are not words to express how much we appreciate it.

So this is the last you will hear from us until next season.

What can I say about the 100th? Well, there was a wedding. Which made some of you cry and made some you mad. There was Denny. Which made some of you cry and some of you mad.

But mostly, there was a point. I had a point!

That happy woman you saw? Doing her solo surgery and smiling at the Chief?  The one giving her wedding away with warmth and joy? THAT WAS THE SAME WOMAN WHO TRIED TO DROWN HERSELF. That was our dark and twisty girl. All grown up. Whole. Healed. FOR REAL.

It was a day I never thought we’d see (well, I did think it but... hell, you know what I mean). For once, Mer is the calm one. The happy one. The one who is fine.

For once, Mer is whole and healed and happy.

She doesn’t have a problem ... well, other than the Chief peeking over her shoulder during her solo surgery. She is excited about her marriage. She is calm. She doesn’t need her eyebrows shaved off to be numbed into the submission of marriage. She is fine.

Continue Reading...

Episode #99 is in the books. What did you think?

Grey's Anatomy continued building toward its life-changing Season 5 finale last night with a powerful new episode, "No Good at Saying Sorry." How did it rate in your mind?

We put together a survey to gauge reactions, as we've been doing each Friday after new episodes on the Insider, to see how recent Grey's Anatomy episodes are received.

Tell us in the poll below how good you thought last night's was ...

I thought "No Good at Saying Sorry" was ...

The award-winning Grey's Anatomy writer and producer who authored last night's episode, Krista Vernoff, has posted some of her impressions on the terrific "No Good at Saying Sorry (One More Chance)" on the show's official writers' blog.

Here's an excerpt about the relationship between Meredith and Richard, with reactions from the writer herself, and a link to the full column at the bottom ...

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I LOVE what Richard says to Meredith. I wrote it, so, y’know, I should love it – but I don’t always love everything I write – and man, do I LOVE that scene.

I sat on set while the brilliant Tom Verica shot that scene and while the luminous Ellen Pompeo and the wonderful Jim Pickens acted it. And I cried.

Every take. I just sat there crying take after take after take. 

I cried for Meredith Grey, mostly, because finally, FINALLY one of the adults in her life is taking responsibility for what happened to her.

Finally, she’s hearing the words that she needed and didn’t even know she needed. People have tried to apologize before.

Thatcher has tried. Richard has even tried. And it’s not that Meredith is hard-hearted. It’s not that she can’t forgive. It’s just that no one ever got it right before. She was a baby.

She was a little kid. She couldn’t stand up for herself.

And here were all these adults running around acting like children and failing, every day, to fight for her. She was neglected and she was abused.

Her mother, for those who may have forgotten, attempted suicide IN FRONT OF HER. This was an emotionally unstable woman, Ellis Grey. 

Richard saw that – and he did nothing. And Thatcher, her freaking FATHER, who not only saw it, he lived it WITH HER, did less than nothing. 

To make an amends is not  just to apologize. It’s to make a thing right. And Thatcher’s little scripted apology can’t do that for Meredith. It can’t make it right. Her pain runs too deep. Her abandonment was too complete.

And so when Richard finally truly takes responsibility?

It breaks down a wall in Meredith’s heart that I truly believe she didn’t even know was there. I think she’s as shocked by her tears as anyone.

And I think there is real and profound healing in that moment.

Continue reading Krista's blog here ...

Well?

Grey's Anatomy returned last night with a new episode, "Sweet Surrender," which continued some of the stories that have been building for some time, while setting into motion some additional plots that the show will carry through its May 14 season finale.

We put together a survey to gauge your reactions, as we've been doing each Friday after new episodes on the Insider, to see how recent Grey's Anatomy episodes are received.

How good was this one? Tell us in the poll below ...

I thought "Sweet Surrender" was ...

The Grey's Anatomy writer who authored last night's episode, Sonay Washington, posted some thoughts on "Sweet Surrender" on the show's official writers' blog.

Below are some excerpts describing how things together, with the reactions from the writer who penned them, and a link to the full column at the bottom ...

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Okay, too much is going on in this episode. TOO MUCH! People are throwing themselves out of windows, planning weddings, eating food by the barrels ... And friendships are mended, a child dies and a daughter disowns her father. Okay, there’s a lot to discuss here, so let’s go.

Izzie is dying. That really hit home for me after seeing her collapse. I remember discussing this story in the writers’ room and Shonda saying “Izzie collapses. This is the turning point. She gets really, really sick.” And I said “WHAT????? Izzie collapses? MY Izzie collapses???”

Seriously, it’s heartbreaking to see Izzie this way. When Izzie fake codes and makes Meredith try on ugly wedding dresses, we get the sense that Izzie’s going to be okay - that the chemo won’t affect her. And Izzie believes that too.  

She fights to maintain who she is throughout the day until her body betrays her.

When Izzie vomits, this disease becomes real to her. But what we also see is the beginning of a true friendship between Cristina and Izzie. It took a lot for Izzie to admit that she’s sick to Cristina.

That the cancer is winning. And Cristina is there for her. She’s there to wipe her brow and to help Mer with her stupid wedding dresses. And it’s for Izzie. Cristina is there for Izzie.

And if anything comes out of this tragedy, it’s their friendship.

Continue Reading...

The Grey's Anatomy writer who authored last night's episode, Stacy McKee, has posted some of her thoughts on "Elevator Love Letter" on the show's official writers' blog.

Below are some excerpts describing how the events came together, with the reactions from the woman who penned them, and a link to the full column at the bottom ...

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Just so you know, I am a sap when it comes to marriage proposal stories. I love them. I love hearing them, I love telling them. I fully enjoy all the cheesy romantic oooey gooey-ness.

I LOVE that Derek proposed! I LOVE that Meredith said yes!

I can’t help it. I’m just cheesy that way.

But first things first. Entirely too much happened in this episode. TOO MUCH. Owen went all PTSD and choked Cristina in his sleep then she forgave him and they had ridiculously beautiful sex until she realized she had to dump him after all.

Alex snooched (yes, you heard me right. Snooched.) into a cup for Izzie so her eggs could be extracted, fertilized, and frozen before her body gets all sick with radiation and chemo.

Derek finally came back from the woods looking all Grisly Adams-ish to operate on Izzie’s brain and – and then, there’s that elevator.

Where Derek Shepherd proposed to Meredith, and she said YES.

Yup. Too much happened in this episode. I’m overwhelmed. I don’t know what to talk about first.

Let’s start with the unpleasant part. Owen. And the choking. This was a tricky one. Let’s be clear. This is not a guy attacking a woman because he’s a guy who attacks women.

We did not set out to tell a story about domestic abuse. This is a story about PTSD.

Owen is completely asleep when he attacks Cristina. Asleep, in a nightmare. Remember the story we did earlier this season about the guy with night terrors? Same thing.

Follow the link to continue reading Stacy's blog ...

Zoanne Clack, the Grey's Anatomy writer who authored last night's episode, have posted some of her thoughts on "Stand By Me" on the show's official writers' blog. Below are some excerpts, with a link to the full column at the bottom ...

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Yes! Meredith Grey takes back the night!

I mean this literally (she’s getting back her man) and figuratively (using the reference of women empowering themselves because as I’m sure you know, March is Women’s History Month – catch the nearest parade in your city). Derek says, “I love you” and Mer answers, “I know” ... anybody remember that from somewhere else? Come on, let your geek flow.

The writers here at Grey’s Anatomy have no problems letting our geek flow. We like to think of it as being “geek chic” and we welcome you to join us.  But it’s not just the writers actually, everybody embraces their inner geek here. The editor of this episode, Susan Vaill, emailed me all excited that we’d put it in and taken this exchange back for the ladies.

Okay, some of you may already know what I’m talking about whilst others of you are completely lost. Anybody see a little movie called The Empire Strikes Back? Princess Leia says, “I love you” to Han Solo right before he’s about to be frozen in carbonite (another reference we’ve used before… episode 416 ... season 4 finale ... cement boy ... ring any bells?) and Han Solo says, “I know.”

He kind of says it in an “of course you do, look at me” kind of way. So now, we’ve taken back that exchange and handed it over to the women. And we’ve made it both feminist and feminine at the same time I’d like to think.  Feminist because Mer’s all “I’m woman, hear me roar” because she’s all that and of course he still loves her always.

Feminine at the same time because he’s vulnerable, and she’s not taking advantage of that moment, and she loves him, too.

She’s not giving up on him. She’s not giving up on their love and she’s not giving up on him as a surgeon. She’s standing by her principles and standing by her man.

Speaking of not giving up, is Cristina a freakin’ sledgehammer or what? She just keeps pounding Izzie and pounding her until Izzie finally has to lash out and speak the unspeakable. Not having treatment? Why would she ever even go there?

Follow the link to continue reading Zoanne's blog ...

Grey's Anatomy writer Jenna Bans, who penned last night's episode, have posted some thoughts on "I Will Follow You Into the Dark" on the show's official writers' blog.

Here are some excerpts, with a link to the full column below ...

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Derek Shepherd is not in a good place right now. In fact, the dude’s pretty much at his worst. Remember when our friendly neighborhood serial killer Eric Stoltz told him they had a lot in common? Derek’s started to believe him.

What I love about this storyline, besides that it gives the talented Patrick Dempsey a chance to show us just how big his acting range is, is you’d never think it would happen to Shepherd.

He knows brains like I know ... well, nothing. Maybe chocolate.

But the point is, he’s not just a star in his field, he runs his field. It’s like the Pope having a crisis of faith. And everyone’s feeling it – Mark, literally with his maimed hand, Richard, who can’t possibly run his surgical floor without his star neurosurgeon .... and sad little Shadow Shepherd, who finally gets his shot to impress his colleagues, and not one of them can remember his name.

And it’s not because he’s not a good surgeon, it’s just with Shepherd around, who pays attention to the bald dude in glasses? In the end, Derek’s legendary status ends up hurting Derek the most. Because when people expect greatness out of you 24/7, it’s damn near impossible to live up to. You’re bound to take a big fall.

... Shonda’s had this Patient X thing in her head for a long, long time – and when she first pitched it out, I immediately loved it. And hated it. I still love and hate it.

Because it’s so totally messed up and unfair.

What Izzie’s doing, teaching the interns, is a selfless, meaningful endeavor that no one else, even Alex, will ever give her credit for. Everyone’s been busy clamoring for surgeries while Izzie’s quietly achieved the impossible – she’s turned the gaggle of morons we met in season 4 into doctors. And now she’s DYING. And no one gets her, and no one knows it, and it’s seriously UNFAIR.

Follow the link to continue reading Jenna's blog ...

Grey's Anatomy writer Pete Nowalk, who penned last night's episode, have posted some thoughts on "An Honest Mistake" on the show's official writers' blog.

Here are some excerpts, with a link to the full column below ...

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When you’re writing an episode about God-like doctors it helps to have God-like actors playing them. Which is pretty much what happens every week on Grey’s Anatomy.

Sometimes though you get an extra dose of God, or as was the case in this episode, many extra doses. Kate Walsh visiting from Private Practice? Check.

Jennifer Westfeldt and Ben Shenkman playing a husband and wife suffering through round after round of nailbiting surgery? Double check. A certain Oscar-winning actress who is as close to God as one can get in Hollywood? Yup, I’m talking about Faye Dunaway.

Faye Dunaway who was in some movies called Bonnie & Clyde, Chinatown, and Network. Faye Dunaway who was nominated for three Academy Awards. Faye Dunaway who was kind enough to lend her genius to Grey’s Anatomy and, by doing so, make me one giddy writer.

I guess you could say my adoration of Faye is not so different from the way patients come to feel about their doctors. When you allow someone to cut into you and poke around in your very delicate, very fine-tuned insides you have to trust they’re an extra special breed of human.

It’s like what Addison told Derek Shepherd in last week’s episode - that she needed him to be a God in order to trust him to save her brother’s life. And Derek, as usual, was up to the task. Even better, as Mark Sloan told him this week, he looks good doing it.

The dude’s a God, no doubt about it.

Now at this point I imagine some of you are about to yell at your computer. Or me. Something in the vein of “THEN WHY THE HELL DID YOU LET HIM CUT OUT THAT WOMAN’S FRONTAL LOBE AND MURDER HER?!! YOU’RE THE MURDERER. A DEREK SHEPHERD MURDERER!!”

Or maybe that’s just what I yelled at myself when we were breaking this story in the Grey's Anatomy writers’ room. A lot of the writers felt the same way. We were nervous to have Derek make a mistake that could possibly be attributed to a patient’s death.

But after much discussion - and real life research with real life surgeons - we agreed that this was a story we had to tell. Doctors, like the rest of us, mess up.

Follow the link to continue reading Pete's blog ...

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.