Anyone out there a Grey’s Anatomy fan? I am… or was. That last episode, the season finale, really bummed me out. Not one upbeat moment in the entire 75-minutes! And the behavior of some of the characters was totally uncharacteristic. Contrived, even. McDreamy turning down the offer of Chief of the hospital? Smart George, flunking his exam? Callie, named chief resident? Grey and McDreamy breaking up? Burke, canceling the wedding only seconds before the ceremony? Don’t even get me started on the Chief’s wife being pregnant with his baby when they’ve been separated all season!
Give me a break! I haven’t decided whether to tune in next season or not. And this is (was) my favorite show! (Notice all the exclamation points?! That means I’m rather... peeved about all this.)
The thing is, the writer(s) broke some cardinal rules. One is that viewers don’t like contrived situations, written in simply to add conflict. We feel cheated, and wonder just how dumb do the writers and producers think we are. The second is, we need at least something to hope for. Hopelessness does not sell, people!
The Grey’s Anatomy writers could learn a thing or three from romance novels and authors. Our genre guarantees an upbeat, or at least optimistic, ending. The stories grow out of the characters’ behaviors, not some forced plot contrivance that adds phony conflict.
Next year, when Grey’s Anatomy starts a new season, I just might pick up a romance novel instead.
Ann Roth
Summer Lovin’ Anthology: A Reunion Story, June 2007
Mitch Takes A Wife, August, 2007
www.annroth.net
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11 comments:
Talking about plot contrivances...how much would you want to bet the season opener starts with the old "it was all just a bad dream" from the perspective of one of the characters? ;-)
Barbara
www.barbarawhitedaille.com
That'd be nice, Barbara. Were you as bothered by the season finale as I was?
I'm kind of glad I don't watch. I'm really P.Od that Las Vegas had their season finale in March. I keep hoping it will be back on soon but no such luck(sigh)
Christa- I don't even know what Las Vegas is about!
Ann, I *was* a big Grey's fan--I even have an essay that will be in a book about Grey's out this summer. But I'm with you on the finale...blech. And bleak. The funny thing was, last year's finale ended with Denny dying and I actually CRIED. Yet somehow this year's seemed even more depressing and contrived. Mostly because it also seemed...sort of pointless. I'm having trouble getting excited about season 4 OR the spin off.
Tanya
I HATED the finale! Actually, there were only a couple of shows from the season I liked, and only one of them was post Izzy/George. I cried like crazy last year when Denny died. I was invested, I believed MOST of what the characters did were what the characters would do in that situation. But this year??? Where is Shonda taking the show? Is she even writing it, or is she like JJ Abrams, off excited about another show somewhere?
And the two hour Addison show? BLEH!
Las Vegas is a show about the workings of a Las Vegas casino and the lives of 6 of the workers and owner. It stars James Cann (owner, former CIA or some kind of hush-hush government group), Molly Sims (owners daughter and runs restaurant), Josh Duhamel(hot, dating owners daughter, head of security), James LeSure(second in command in security), Vanessa Marcil (casino host, caters to rich clients), Nikki Cox(mostly greeter, makes sure everyone is having a good time, all around best friend), Cheryl Ladd(wife of owner, mother to Molly's character). It's amazing how security catches cheaters. I think it was usually on NBC on Fridays at 9.
Sorry Ann, I got that wrong. James Cann is not the owner, he is head of operations. He runs the casino. The last owner was played by Dean Cain(that guy looks hot in a tux) but he recently died and someone else inherited the casino(can't tell you but a hint , it was one of the women)
Tanya and Mary F- I also cried when Denny died. And wanted to strangle Izzy. In real life she'd have been fired and maybe sent to prison for what she did. But I was willing to overlook that little blip because I so love(d) the writing, characters and their evolving stories.
Maybe we should all send letters, complaining. And offering our services at making the stories much more... palatable. LOL.
Sounds interesting, Christa. I doubt I'll tune in to the reruns, though. Since it's ended and all. These days, the networks don't give a show much time to grow and develop. Sigh.
I, too, was a little let down with the finale. But I'm not a George/Izzy fan (separte, they're great). McDreamy and Grey's breakup bored me to tears (she's been such a wimp this season).
What do you think about the spin off, Private Practice?
Cathy McDavid
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