Plane crash is more than a “Little Grey” on ‘Anatomy’ finale
Saying the finale of Grey’s Anatomy Season 8 started off with a bang would be an understatement. It was more of a crash-smash-scream, with an eerie silence to follow.
The entire opening scene was filled with complete panic and bloody chaos as we witnessed the aftermath of last week’s place crash. Cristina forgot her dislocated shoulder to find her dislocated shoe and Meredith pulled a knife out of her own thigh, all set to the agonizing chorus of Arizona screaming her head off. You can say many things about Shonda Rhimes – and today on Twitter many people are – but one thing’s for sure: the lady knows how to set a dramatic scene.
Although Arizona’s screaming (which eventually became hysterical laughter) grated my nerves, I was panicking for her and her broken femur sticking out of her leg as she coughed up blood. It didn’t help that back at Seattle Grace, where everyone was oblivious to the plane crash and I wanted to fast , Callie was going on and on about loving life and how lucky she is to have Arizona. Though Arizona made it to the end of the episode, things do not bode well for her next season. Not at all.
Also at Seattle Grace (admission: while watching the hospital scenes, my heart was back on the mountain with the crash and I wanted to fast forward), Teddy and Owen had it out for the last time. He fired her after learning that she turned down an army job as Chief Surgeon just so she could stay and take care of him. I guess it’s time to say goodbye to Dr. Altman?
We also might be saying goodbye to Derek’s neurosurgeon career. Poor McDreamy always gets caught in McSticky situations. This time, his hand was stuck in a piece of metal, meaning he had to use a rock to break his own hand and free it. There was no shortage of mangled bones and nerves in that arm. I can’t wait to see how they fix it up next year.
Now, hold your tears for the doozy. Mark and Cristina found Lexie trapped under the back half of the plane and, though they tried, there was no chance of lifting it off of her. As Christina went to find supplies, Mark dropped to the ground and crawled in close to Lexie, holding her as she choked out, “I’m dying.”
The scene between them was the most gutwrenching and emotionally raw moment of the entire hour and, to put it lightly, I was upset. Upset to hear Mark tell Lexie about their amazing future together, where they would have kids: a girl and two boys. Upset to hear Mark say, “You can’t die because we’re meant to end up together.” Upset to hear Lexie’s final words: “Meant to be.” Upset to watch Mark break down in a real Jack and Rose “never let go” moment. And most of all, upset that this all happened less than halfway through the finale.
I love Lexie and I am beyond depressed to say goodbye to her. But even more, I’m angered that she wasn’t given a proper death. Chyler Leigh is a principal actor and Lexie, a principal character, on Grey’s Anatomy – someone deserving of a “final moments” death. Placing it so soon in the episode without the expected, drawn-out drama is unacceptable, especially since the ending wasn’t anything noteworthy at all. Why couldn’t they have given the ending to Lexie? Why, Shonda? Why!?
I should probably cut the series creator some slack since her Twitter is exploding with hate mail. Ms. Rhimes took to Twitter herself, releasing a statement that expressed her grief over losing both Leigh and Kim Raver (Teddy). She says that Raver “was ready to give Teddy Altman a much-needed vacation” and she and Leigh mutually decided “this was the right time for [Lexie’s] journey to end.” She insists that she is heartsick and will miss both women and their characters terribly. Well, so will we!
But back to the finale. Mark, so grief-stricken that he couldn’t let go of dead Lexie’s hand, started turning a terrifying shade of pale. When Christina ripped off his shirt, it was obvious that he’d been suffering from major internal bleeding the entire time, unbeknownst to anyone. Dr. Grey and Dr. Yang came to the rescue, cutting his chest open and draining the excess blood in his chest cavity, buying McSteamy more time and possibly a lifeline for Season 9.
The episode ended with Owen (finally!) figuring out that something went wrong on the plane, while the doctors on the mountain huddled amongst the plane debris, trying to survive the cold night without giving into their profuse bleeding and probably infected wounds. Oh and don’t forget hypothermia!Talk about leaving an episode with unanswered questions!
As for Season 9, we know for a fact that Patrick Dempsey (Derek), Ellen Pompeo (Meredith), Justin Chambers (Karev), Sandra Oh (Christina), and Chandra Wilson (Bailey) have already re-upped their contracts. Anyone else is fair game for premiere episode deaths or exits. So beware!
What did you think of the finale? Comment below.
