Grey's Anatomy recap: 'This Magic Moment'

Surgery, Meredith Grey educated us at the top of last night’s new Grey’s Anatomy, is oftentimes much like a performance. “There was a time when they called operating rooms,” she said, “an operating theater.” Then she rattled on for a while about the similarities between the two things: doctors arrange sets, put on costumes, wear masks, use props, and that everything has to be rehearsed — all leading to that moment when the curtain goes up. Lights, camera, action! Sort of.

The thing was, though, that the specific surgery she was talking about — the huge, complicated, once-in-a-lifetime, dozens-of-doctors-needed separating of twins that were conjoined at their backs — was never quite as dramatic as the build-up she offered. Sure, it was super interesting to see the scope of what goes into a surgery like that: The planning and prep! The sheer number of doctors! The repeated practices! The what-ifs and contingency plans! The battling between the surgeons over who would do what! But when it came down to it, truly, I was more fascinated by what was going on elsewhere in Seattle Grace, even if those other things weren’t technically the central focus of last night’s episode. Oh, well — I like what I like!

Specifically, I’m talking about the crazy, repetitive storytelling that Dr. Altman was putting poor Christina Yang through over in her much simpler, untheatrical OR. There, Dr. Altman was working on various patients with Kepner, and, all the while, she required Yang — who was not participating in the surgeries — to stand opposite her and repeat exactly what happened when her husband died back in that fateful November episode. Over and over and over. I can still hear the haunting phrase, “time of death: 8:52 p.m.,” ringing in my head. I shall never forget when Henry died, as long as I live.

The scenes — which, I cannot stress enough, went on and on and on — were uncomfortable, but fascinating to watch. I was enamored with it more than the bigger, glitzier “theater” going on in the other OR mostly because I felt invested in what was happening between Altman and Yang. In a weird way, it didn’t feel like the craziest request, for Altman to keep asking her to tell her what happened. Because she wasn’t there — and, yes, wasn’t even told that her husband died for hours — Altman was simply grasping on to every last moment of Henry’s life via Yang. Sure, it’s bizarre, but it was her way to cope with it. Was it healthy? That’s certainly another debate, but something in me just had the utmost respect for Yang, who sat there and dutifully recited every detail. Altman would bark, “From the top, Yang!” — until, finally, Altman could repeat the whole thing back herself.

NEXT: Kepner lashes out at Altman, Christina apologizes, and Ben goes after Bailey.

After endless questioning, it was actually Altman’s co-surgeon Kepner who had the meltdown over the situation. “She said she’s sure!” Kepner yelled at Altman, after all her questioning. “Enough! It’s enough! Enough, you can’t keep doing this! He’s gone. Dr. Altman, I’m sorry, but he’s gone, and this is not going to bring him back, so please just stop. Please.” The precision with which Altman replied was deadly. “Are you alright, Dr. Kepner?” the grieving doctor asked. “Or do you need time to gather yourself?” Point to Altman!

There’s a larger question in this Altman situation: Why was the hospital allowing her to work? Why wasn’t that ever addressed? How were Webber and Chief Hunt — and everyone else, for that matter! — next door allowing this to go on? Some things are just unexplainable at Seattle Grace. At least the resolution — if you can call it that? — felt like, through it all, Altman had finally made some progress into understanding the whole situation.

Near the end of the episode, Christina apologized after Altman repeated the minutes to Henry’s death along with her in the scrub room, and that’s when Altman finally sort of addressed her about what had happened. “You don’t apologize,” she said, with appropriate force. “You hear me: You don’t blame yourself. You did every single thing that I would have done. You were me in that OR. You were good. And you did it right. He just…he just…he just died.” And cue the tears. I was just wondering: Could we maybe get a hug between the robotic Altman and Yang? Maybe next week.

Beyond the conjoined twins — which I promise we’ll get to…eventually! — the other drama of the evening was between Bailey and Ben Warren. After being back with Bailey for just two weeks, Ben was hoping she’d move in with him. Bailey was predictably surly and not open to the idea. “It is a crazy idea that I’m not talking about,” she barked at the hot doctor, “because it’s crazy.” But Ben persisted, prompting Bailey to pull Meredith into the surgery to avoid more conversations about it. “You pulled me out of a once-in-a-lifetime surgery to be a buffer between you and your boyfriend?” Meredith asked. Yes. Bailey sure did. So much for all her so-called ethics and best practices and whatnot. (Although I guess you can’t really go wrong with Meredith Grey in your OR, even despite that little sponge kerfuffle.)

NEXT: “Why can’t we be scared in the same house?”

All the prodding by Ben finally led Bailey to get real about the situation. Shocker! She got vulnerable. “I had it all, and then it all turned bad,” she told him, explaining her hesitation and referencing her divorce and the shooting at Seattle Grace that turned her world upside down. “So now I am finally back on my feet, and I have you again… I just don’t want it to blow up.” Ben: “You’re scared. I am, too. Why can’t we be scared in the same house?” Um, are you stupid, Bailey? That’s the only thing I could think during all this. A guy — correction: a really, really, really hot doctor guy — is begging for your hand. Give it to him!

Ben went on, bringing up her son: “I like Tuck. I like hanging out with Tuck. I like dinosaurs and transformers and you. I want the whole package. I know you don’t come without Tuck. I know that. I know who you are.” Then, Bailey said something that I’m still not sure I get: “My toothbrush is in my locker. One step at a time.” What does that mean? Did she reject him? Or say that she’s halfway there? I feel like she felt like she was giving something with that remark, but what was it? I guess we’ll have to see in upcoming episodes. Of course, I was looking for instant resolution, one way or the other.

We’ve discussed Altman’s separation anxiety from Henry and the separation anxiety (ha!) Ben had for Bailey. But now it’s time for the night’s main separation-anxiety event: the conjoined twins surgery. I think what sort of irked me about this storyline was that I had no real connection to it. Granted, that happens all the time on Grey’s Anatomy, so I’m not sure why I’m complaining now. A patient walks in the ER — or wherever else at Seattle Grace — and they’re either dead or saved by the end of the episode. I often get attached in less than 60 minutes. But these twins — while, yes, the situation was truly dramatic — didn’t have that much hold over me.

Sure, it was moving to see the terrified, and very young, parents fawn over new, separate clothes for their children. And also, the moment when the mother was upset about seeing one of her daughters alone for the first time was touching. But all the drama and theater that Meredith Grey promised at the beginning just wasn’t there for me. Sure, there were a couple scary moments: Was the one baby going to respond to the shock treatment thingy right after they’d been officially separated? Would she also get through the kidney transplant? Oh my! I suppose the “theater” Grey promised was more about all the doctor’s orchestrations around the surgery, rather than its outcome. I sort of expected something worse, in a strange way. Have I come to expect the worst from Grey’s Anatomy?

NEXT: Three things to love, one thing to hate about last night’s episode.

In the end, I’m happy that the twins survived, of course. And I suppose I’m happy that Karev learned the lesson that Webber taught him? Although I’m not really sure what all that was about. It seemed to about — more than Karev’s lack of prowess — the gasps of an aging man (that’d be ex-Chief Webber) who wanted to prove he was still relevant. “You get to a point in your life when you realize,” Webber told Karev afterward, “you’ve got more yesterdays than tomorrows.” Yes, it’s called getting old. My feeling is he’s lived a great, distinguished life. He shouldn’t have been so hard on Karev.

A few of the other things I did love about this episode: First, the hour-ending banter between Arizona and Callie that proved what a crazy control-freak Arizona was during the conjoined twins surgery. Callie made such a great point when she rattled on and on about what, exactly, Arizona should do with their baby. It made me smile, because Arizona quickly realized what was happening and the two happily skipped off together, after Arizona admitted to being “a monster.”

What else did I love? Just the simple fact that all the attendings and residents were all working together in all the ORs. That may sound stupid and simple, but there’s something nice about how the playing field has leveled at Seattle Grace and, while the attendings are still definitely in charge, the residents are given quite a lot to do. Who’s an attending and who’s a resident? The lines are getting blurry! I’m sure they’ll get a little less — and then more — blurry the closer and closer we get to those ominous and oft-referenced boards. Scary! But I can’t wait. Oh, and I also loved the Zola stuff. Meredith and Derek seem happy…finally. Special!

One thing I could have done without and sort of needs to end: Lexie’s wanton pining for Mark. Like, let’s move on please; he has a girlfriend he’s clearly (or somewhat?) into. And was there ever really some epic romance between Lexie and Mark that we’re supposed to want to happen again? Not really. Let’s move on from that and pair her up with someone else. How about a cute, new doctor? It’s been a while since some really new blood has walked into Seattle Grace. I’m more than ready for McSteamy No. 2.

I’ve said my piece. What did you think, Grey’s Anatomy watchers? Were you less-than-thrilled with the promised razzle-dazzle of the surgery on the conjoined twins? How does Altman’s reaction to Henry’s death make you feel? How worried around you for Hunt and Yang’s relationship based on that promo for next week? Sound off below!

Tanner on Twitter: @EWTanStransky