Episode Report Card Lauren S: B | 2 USERS: A+ YOU GRADE IT I [Heart] Addison
By Lauren S | Season 4 | Episode 13 | Aired on 05.01.2008
In a hurry? Read the recaplet for a nutshell description! Finished? Click here to close.Addison is back for one glorious week so that she can be sassy and facilitate some communication between different folks. Oh, and to help out on a complicated surgery that involves her, Bailey, Mark, Hahn, and Alex delivering a baby whose heart is outside its body and then to put the heart back inside the tiny chest. She has somewhat awkward but also ultimately pretty cheerful reunions with everyone there, including Alex. But that particular reunion is cut short by Ava showing up to tell Alex that she's pregnant. Alex can't deal with it at all and continues to brush her off throughout the day, telling her it's her own problem. After the surgery, when the baby looks like its going to be okay, it seems to soften Alex towards Ava's situation. Too bad it looks like she's a psycho who is trying to trap him, since Izzie finds out when she runs some routine tests that Ava isn't actually pregnant. Izzie also had a day that culminated in a change of heart. She's totally jealous that George has actually made friends with the other interns and tries to hone in on their plans. But when George reminds her that she's their boss, she grows a bit of a spine and actually starts acting like a doctor again. She winds up helping a pregnant HIV-positive woman decide against an abortion with the knowledge that she has a 98% chance of delivering a perfectly healthy baby.
Meredith's clinical trial is starting, and her first test subject is Bear Attack Philip. His tumor has grown so that his emotions are running wild and even more inappropriate, including trying to set up his wife, Jennifer, with anything that walks. He loses his sight and they decide to move up the surgery to that day. Both he and Meredith have had a hard time watching Jennifer go through the abuse and despite reminding each other to not get their hopes up, they're actually kind of attached. Derek gets Philip to admit that he can't stand the idea of leaving Jennifer alone, and he's able to get Philip to tell her this before he goes into surgery. It's a good thing, because sadly he does end up dying on the table, but the good that comes of it is that Meredith is able to admit to Derek that it was nice to work with him. She actually opens up to Dr. Amy a bit too, even if only for literally five minutes, so it looks like this whole idea of character growth might actually take off.
Cristina is still freaking out about Hahn not liking her and so she goes to Callie about it. Callie's advice is to tell Hahn how she feels, which doesn't suit Cristina at all. But at Joe's after work she finally confronts Hahn about it, and Hahn tells her to stop seeking her approval about everything. Once Cristina walks away, Hahn admits to Addison that Cristina reminds her of herself. Ah, TV clichés, how we love them. Callie's feeling a little weird around Hahn herself, since Addison assumed they were a couple. She decides to deal with it by shooting tequila and going home with Mark, while Hahn gazes after her mournfully to prove that at least one of them would like to be in a relationship with the other. The last thing Addison does before she leaves is to tell Meredith she wants to kick her ass for letting Derek get away, and practically orders her to fight for him. And with that, having opened everyone's eyes to various relationship possibilities, she decides to go back to LA and her aromatherapy candles for good.
Want more? The full recap starts right below!Addison! It's a good episode when it starts out with a shot of her looking somewhat smug. She's darkened her hair up and I like it best when it's redder, but beggars can't be choosers. Besides, she's totally still hot. Meredith starts out this week's VO: "Great surgeons aren't made, they're born. It takes gestation, incubation, sacrifice. A lot of sacrifice. But, after all the blood and guts and gooey stuff has washed away, that surgeon you've become? Totally worth it." Addie seems to have spent a long time standing there based on the special effects of people whizzing around her like ghosts when Bailey comes up and greets her. Addie reminds Bailey and the viewing audience that she's only there for a surgery, which clearly bums out Bailey (and me.) Bailey gets her set up with keys, etc. when Richard comes up and excitedly announces, "You're back!" and she reminds him she isn't back. Oh boy, a funny little theme. I'm done recapping it as of now. He assures her that once she's back in surgery she'll decide to be back, and Addie says that things never change around there. Well, yes and no, Addison.
Hahn and Callie arrive at work making cute-talk about sunrise yoga and I must say that they really are amping up the flirting in between the two. Cristina runs up and, like a desperate puppy, hands over the films and pertinent info for a surgery that day and asks who is going to be assigned the surgery. She reminds Hahn that she diagnosed it, but still in a pathetic, shrinking, non-Cristina way. Hahn just takes the films and leaves. Callie gives her a shrug and takes off.
Meredith is geared up and excited for the first day of her clinical trial and while she chatters, Izzie tries to rain on her parade. Meredith (very correctly) points out that she's jealous, which Izzie actually concedes. Cristina comes over and bitches some more about Hahn not talking to her while Izzie winds her up by saying that they talked all the time when they worked together. Cristina points out that she isn't living in the clinic like Izzie, but Iz defends herself by saying that the clinic is her "happy place." If only it was a place we never had to visit -- Then it would be my happy place too. Cristina wants Mere to use the Sparkle Pager to get her on Hahn's surgery and even tries to steal it (while Izzie screams like a child in the background) but Mere won't do it, grabs the pager, and happily trots off to find her "path to medical history. "
Meredith and Derek are on the way to see their first patient. His enzyme levels or something like that are all better than they expected, but Derek warns Mere that this still isn't actually good and that she shouldn't get her hopes up. She assures him that they aren't and they shake hands before starting. Addie comes up just in time to see them together and after an awkward moment gives them both big hellos and actually hugs Meredith, pointing out that she just hugged Meredith. "You stole my husband from me and I hugged you... I've grown!" She assures them that she's thrilled for the "happy couple" and then goes on to say that she's at one with herself now that she's in L.A. As someone writing this recap just blocks from the beach and the supposed location of her clinic, let me assure all of you that not all of us -- nay, NONE of us -- Angelenos are going around talking about how we're at one with ourselves. I'm also not eating granola, nor do I have either a yoga mat or a surfboard propped up in my closet. Feeling weird after being called a couple, Mere and Derek split up to do rounds.