It isn’t actually a new concern on Grey’s Anatomy how Seattle Grace had fallen from, well, grace this season. Previously hailed as one of the best teaching hospitals in the country, Seattle Grace has dropped to number 12. If you’ll remember, the slip in the rankings was a very serious concern for the Chief (James Pickens Jr.) since it meant the hospital became merely an inferior alternative to higher-ranked hospitals when it came to emergencies (and that’s not good for these trauma-thirsty surgeons).
As we go deeper and deeper into this season, however, we start to notice that the fall in the rankings is not completely without basis. Just recently, we got to know Dr. Campbell, played masterfully by the incomparable Faye Dunaway (“No wire hangers!”). Dr. Campbell was one of the first female surgeons in Seattle Grace, a “dinosaur” to use Cristina’s (Sandra Oh) choice words, who refuses to retire. She botched an otherwise routine surgery and it was made crystal clear in the last episode that her prime years are way behind her.
Then there’s Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey). Not so long ago, Derek was on the cover of some medical journal featuring a new way to treat malignant gliomas called “the Shepherd method.” Ex-wife Addison (Kate Walsh) admitted that Derek is still one of the best neurosurgeons in the land. However, beset with insecurity issues and an indefatigable, stubborn sense of pride in the last episode, there he was, refusing to accept defeat on the operating table and nearly jeopardizing the life of an unborn child.
There there’s Sadie Harris (Melissa George) who messed up an otherwise simple task of handing test results to the correct patient. Sure, she has quit, but the question that begs asking: how did she even qualify as an intern in Seattle Grace? The Chief did say something to Sadie right after the self-appendectomy fiasco, something about her father being the only reason she’s still there.
Of course, the most memorable Seattle Grace nightmare remains Izzie Stevens’ (Katherine Heigl) notorious cutting of Denny’s (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) LVAD wire to get him a heart, all to no avail. (In hindsight, if Denny didn’t die, there wouldn’t have been any weird ghost sex happening around Seattle Grace two seasons hence.) Prior to her uneventful walk to her car, Erica Hahn (Brooke Smith) had a good point in stressing to the /chief that no one was punished for the misdeed. Izzie was placed under strict probation upon her return, which, if you think about it, is but a light tap on the wrist considering what she did.
There are, of course, brilliant surgeons in Seattle Grace. Before she left, Addison was the best in neonatal surgery. Mark Sloan (Eric Dane) sometimes feels like he’s a god for creating new skin in plastics. New kid on the block Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw), minus the wacky tendencies and roller shoes, is one of the best in pediatric surgery. Lastly, Preston Burke (Isaiah Washington) is the 2008 recipient of a Harper Avery award for something Cristina helped him but didn’t get any credit for. And I’m willing to bet, Cristina is going to be one of the best surgeons in history.
In the end, I’m still not sure if I’d like to be brought to Seattle Grace if the need arises. But if for once, the surgeons can just do their job and not let their chaotic personal lives get in the way of work, I wouldn’t mind getting operated on with the likes of McSteamy, McDreamy, Stevens, or Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo).
– Glenn Paul Diaz, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
(Image courtesy of ABC)
Staff Writer, BuddyTV
