A random observation.
Jun. 17th, 2009 06:39 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
deird_ljYou know, there are some things Grey's Anatomy does very well.
Like the way they introduced Addison Shepherd.
It's rather brilliant, really.
In one stroke, they manage to destroy Meredith and Derek's blossoming relationship, and thus make the show that much more interesting.
But that's really not the bit I'm talking about.
The specific scene I'm thinking of is in Addison's first episode, right near the end.
We've spent the entire episode going "Huh. Derek is clearly cheating on his wife with Meredith. What a bastard."
And then, all of a sudden, the show turns everything upside down.
Here's a transcript of the bit I mean:
("Dr Grey", by the way, is Meredith. And "Julie" is a patient who overheard Addison talking about Meredith "sleeping with my husband".)
It's kind of awesome.
In less than a minute, the writers establish that Addison, not Derek, is the cheater in this relationship, and therefore vile and deplorable.
And at exactly the same time, they manage to establish that Addison is really cool, and really classy, and willing to take full responsibility for what happened in front of someone who doesn't need to know, purely so that her patient will stop disliking the woman who's sleeping with Addison's husband.
That's... quite impressive.
I love it when TV is suddenly good at stuff.
Like the way they introduced Addison Shepherd.
It's rather brilliant, really.
In one stroke, they manage to destroy Meredith and Derek's blossoming relationship, and thus make the show that much more interesting.
But that's really not the bit I'm talking about.
The specific scene I'm thinking of is in Addison's first episode, right near the end.
We've spent the entire episode going "Huh. Derek is clearly cheating on his wife with Meredith. What a bastard."
And then, all of a sudden, the show turns everything upside down.
Here's a transcript of the bit I mean:
("Dr Grey", by the way, is Meredith. And "Julie" is a patient who overheard Addison talking about Meredith "sleeping with my husband".)
Addison: Your babies are doing very well. And Dr. Grey will be back to check on you a little bit later.
Julie: Actually, I'd prefer it if Dr. Grey were taken off the case.
Addison: Why, is there a problem?
Julie: Just reminds me of someone I don't like very much. Someone my husband likes a lot. Particularly in lingerie. You understand.
Addison: No, no, I don't understand.
Julie: Well, she's sleeping with your husband, right?
(there's a short pause - and then...)
Addison: Ms. Philips, I lack Dr. Grey's class and patience so, let me set the record straight. My husband didn't cheat on me, I cheated on him. So the wronged woman here, Dr. Grey. So, I think you owe her one hell of an apology.
It's kind of awesome.
In less than a minute, the writers establish that Addison, not Derek, is the cheater in this relationship, and therefore vile and deplorable.
And at exactly the same time, they manage to establish that Addison is really cool, and really classy, and willing to take full responsibility for what happened in front of someone who doesn't need to know, purely so that her patient will stop disliking the woman who's sleeping with Addison's husband.
That's... quite impressive.
I love it when TV is suddenly good at stuff.
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no subject
Date: 2009-06-17 04:03 pm (UTC)I'm trying to see the cool, and I vaguely am, really, but I'm rather confused about what's actually happening here.
So...who is Addison sleeping with? Is Derek sleeping with Meredith? *wibbles*
no subject
Date: 2009-06-17 09:25 pm (UTC)Addison and Derek are married.
Meredith, who had only met Derek, assumed that he wasn't married, and has been dating him.
And in this episode, Addison shows up.
Naturally, Meredith (and the audience) think that Derek must have been cheating on his wife, and being an absolute bastard by concealing this from Meredith.
Meredith spends most of the episode hating Derek's guts.
And then, we suddenly find out that the reason Derek moved to a different city and left his wife in New York is because she cheated on him.
Which... changes things, slightly.
The fact that they managed to have Addison cheat on her husband and then come in and break up Derek and Meredith in the middle of a fun and fluffy romance, and also manage to get us thinking that she's incredibly awesome and classy... is kinda cool, really.
no subject
Date: 2009-06-18 03:30 pm (UTC)This all makes sense now. And is very much of the cool, actually...although it kind of ruins my hopes and dreams circling your muddled description that Addison was cheating on Derek with Meredith. XD
no subject
Date: 2009-06-17 06:12 pm (UTC)It's also so cleverly set up, so that you could plausibly have played that scene and had exactly the reverse outcome (ie Addison as the wronged party but also weak, unprofessional, bitchy, call it what you will - saying instead, "Sure. Get out Grey, you're not wanted." And she'd have been in the right, but we would have loathed it).
But they don't. And for once, being unfaithful is treated as a bad choice made by real people; rather than the evil!bitch!queen! with a three ep story arc. Praise be for a touch of realism and acceptance - as well as good writing.