Grey’s Anatomy pushed the envelope in its third season, resulting in the cavalcade of kudos handed down by the lords of the Emmys. As it comes into its fourth season, Grey’s Anatomy sits on the verge of what has become a fad for drama series exiting their sophomore years. It is heading for a reboot. Grey’s Anatomy will now be shifting into a whole new dramatic space, a new chief, a flock of new residents, and, of course, a flock of newly upgraded physicians.
As with all the other shows making major changes to their dramatic architecture this year, Grey’s Anatomy seems poised to either sink or swim. The Burke (Isaiah Washington) and Cristina (Sandra Oh) histrionics that helped form the pathways to the celebrated season 3 finale are over.
Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) and Derek (Patrick Dempsey) have almost fallen apart so many times that their dangling over the precipice of shattered romance seems more held back by rubber bands than the viewers empathic heart strings. Gizzie, the disastrous pairing of Izzie (Katherine Heigl) and George (T.R. Knight) has been thankfully euthanized, but did you detect the gleam in George’s eyes when he spotted Meredith’s sister? Do we really need another adulterous sub plot to tell us that George plays better as the dopey everyman, than the unlikely leading man?
Rumor mongers report that Jane Doe will, thankfully, return to challenge Alex’s aversion to attachment, but beyond that no-one knows what this reboot holds for Grey’s Anatomy. The change in structure and authority suggests an attempt to create a blend of some of the resident drama from the first three seasons mixing with the faculty drama that was confined mostly to the over-40 set for Grey’s Finale.
If one thing is clear, it is that Grey’s Writers have always handled everything, even their failings, with a sensitivity and inventiveness that is uniquely Grey’s. The beauty of the reboot will be not knowing what to expect, but knowing it comes from some of the best writers in the business.
Grey’s Anatomy returns September 27.
– Jon Lachonis, BuddyTV Senior Writer
(Image Courtesy of ABC)
Senior Writer, BuddyTV
