'Grey's Anatomy' and 'Private Practice' mix things up by killing off Tim Daly, Chyler Leigh and Eric Dane - but is it enough?
The shows kill off favorite characters and now comes the aftermath
"Grey's Anatomy"
Credit: ABC
As promised, both "Grey's Anatomy" (Thurs. 9:00 p.m.) and "Private Practice" (Tues. 10:00 p.m.) kicked off the 2012 season with some big -time deaths. On "Grey's," we said good-bye, post plane-crash, to Mark "McSteamy" Sloan (Eric Dane, 2006-2012) and Lexie Grey (Chyler Leigh, 2007-2012). On that show's spin-off "Practice," it was Dr. Pete Wilder (Tim Daly, 2007-2012) who bit the big one, felled by a heart attack while jogging.
Of course, whenever a key player makes an untimely (and irreversible) exit, it may close doors for the actor but open them for the series itself. The question is, are they the right doors? At least with "Grey's," we might be getting that answer, or at least part of it, tonight.
Seattle Grace ("Grey's" home turf) has long been a hospital I would never, ever want to go to with an appendicitis, as the doctors seem too busy having sex in supply rooms to pay much attention to the silly little problems of patients. There's also the fact that the doctors have insanely bad luck -- cancer, bus accidents, a plane crash; let's just say I wouldn't want to be standing next to any of these people during a lightning storm.
The aforementioned plane crash that took out two characters, left others rattled and resulted in yet another doctor, Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw), losing leg felt a little deus ex machina (okay, a lot), especially given the epic shoot out in the hospital that capped season 6. Though dark and emotionally wrenching, it was hard not to see that two-part finale as an easy way to purge the show of an influx of sketchy residents who arrived following the merger of Seattle Grace with Mercy West. Intended to give the series fresh blood, only so many of the new cast members stuck -- and thus the rest were unceremoniously offed. Though the survivors struggled with post-traumatic stress, and the whole ugly mess created a rich vein of drama for Christina Yang (Sandra Oh) to mine, life went on, as most of the victims who expired post-shooting were people we didn't care much about anyway.
Obliterating two well-loved characters who seemed to have plenty of stories left to tell, though, is something else altogether. As much as the survivors mourn, so do we -- and last week's season finale didn't pull a punch, using "video" footage of Sloan's more charming, heartfelt moments (toasting newlyweds, holding his baby) to remind us that under the playa exterior beat the heart of a wounded romantic. The structor of the premiere was also, though initially jarring, interesting. Instead of starting where the finale left off, we dive in well past that point, unsure of who has lived or died -- and Arizona's status in the "alive" column (though kinda leaked in the promos -- way to go, ABC) is a surprise saved for the ending of the show.
The fact that tonight's episode and, possibly, further episodes will explore what really happened after the crash, when the hapless doctors find themselves stranded in the wood for a whole damn week, actually pushes the show back into must-see territory. We know what happened -- Meredith and Christina emerge alive but emotionally broken, Mark and Lexie died, Arizona lost a leg -- but now we get the "how," which is somehow more compelling given the experiment with structure.
Granted, some characters and themes are being flogged again (after this many years on the air, it's to be expected). Christina freaks out again, a doctor has a numb hand again (before it was Derek Shepherd, it was Preston Burke), blah blah blah. But by shaking up the playing pieces, show creator Shonda Rhimes has found some new games to play.
The exit of Daly on "Private Practice" isn't quite as compelling. The idea that Pete would keel over from a heart attack makes sense, I guess (though seemingly healthy as a horse after a season five heart attack, the man was ANGRY), but it seems that his widow Violet (Amy Brenneman) continues to have a giant "kick me" sign pasted to her back. She gets pregnant, a crazy woman cuts the baby OUT OF HER STOMACH and leaves her to die, she gets sued, Pete leaves her, Pete comes back… kind of a lot for one character with season six just starting).
Granted, budget cuts for an on-the-bubble show are to be expected. But what seems more promising is that the show is reportedly gearing up for a throw-spaghetti-at-the-wall, let's-go-for-it bonanza. With star Kate Walsh (Addison) only committed to thirteen episodes, it doesn't seem likely that "Private Practice" will get a seventh season, so why not? Rhimes has said the writers are taking this as an opportunity to try every plot line they've initially passed on and every story that might not have made the cut before. This could be a disaster, but given that the show seems to have run out of ways to move around the deck chairs on the Titanic (Addison with Sam, Addison with Pete, Addison with Jake, etc. etc.), I forecast some fun. Heck, the twist of Charlotte being pregnant with triplets? That's going to yield all kinds of bitter snarkiness for an actress (KaDee Strickland) who does it better than almost anyone. And who knows? It just may be enough to save this little spin-off that could, sans Addison, after all.
Liane Bonin Starr is an author, screenwriter and former writer for EW.com. Her byline has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Variety and a lot of other places. Her last book was called "a scandalously catty, guilty pleasure" by Jane magazine. Expect the same from Starr Raving.
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October 4, 2012 at 6:23PM EST Reply to CommentI totally agree that parts of Grey's Anatomy are a bit redundant of past story lines but the show has also gained a lot of creative intrigue from last year's plane crash and its aftereffects.
Also, it really does fell like Private Practice is on its last legs and should wrap up when Kate Walsh leaves.
- BH (http://www.tv-recaps-reviews.com/)
October 4, 2012 at 6:39PM ESTjo
October 4, 2012 at 10:08PM EST Reply to CommentWhat actually killed Mark? What were the injuries that couldn't be fixed?
unclevanya
October 5, 2012 at 1:52AM EST Reply to CommentFor some reason GREY'S A still has many good episodes. SCANDAL, can't invest my time in this show.
The quality of most of all these shows, new and old are just bearable .
THE only show that are ones never to miss re THE GOOG WIFE PERSON OF INTEREST. With BREAKING BAD and HOMELAND the shows are too immature for anyone over 40. Revolution is so
Lame, maybe they should put it on at 8 pm.
amanda did the new episode not air tonight??? I'm so confused I can't find it on my dvr anywhere
October 5, 2012 at 2:51AM ESTtcbogu
October 10, 2012 at 10:22AM EST Reply to CommentHere's the deal - Steve Carroll left "The Office" and last season was one of the worst TV seasons ever for a former hit. Kate Walsh is the Steve Carroll of "Private Practice" so when she leaves, you need to shut the show down. Critics have never been too crazy about it in the first place and you have "Grey's Anatomy" which will totally survive without Mark and Lexie and you have "Scandal" which has that beautiful Kerry Washington and some of the best writing on TV - trust me, I'm a TIVO junkie - I watch it all - as far as network TV goes, "Scandal and "The Good Wife" are just as good as "Homeland" and "the Sopranos". True "Grey's may be showing it's age but NCIS started showing it's age four years ago and now it's the #1 show on TV - you can turn this around - Jackson is one of the most beautiful men on TV - use him!!!!!