Crash Talk

During the first two episodes, I slammed Off the Map and Shonda Rhimes for using Grey’s Anatomy‘s successful characters, re-writing them, placing them in a Third World country and calling it a different show. After watching tonight’s episode, however, I take back what I said. IN FACT, I may be inclined to opine that Shonda Rhimes purposely made her characters seem like Grey’s characters in order to trick and maybe even make fun of herself and us. Perhaps I’m reading too much into it and this idea never even came across her mind. But let’s analyze, shall we?

Mina Minard vs. Cristina Yang –  Hmm… after this week’s episode, I’ve noticed a huge difference between the two. While Cristina Yang works and wants surgeries because she is hellbent on being the best surgeon in her field (and maybe ever) Mina Minard wants to work and perform surgeries in an attempt to redeem herself for failing to save a patient in her past. It’s an interesting contrast because Yang works for her future whereas Minard is still focused on her past. Ben Keeton vs. Derek Shepherd – This week, we learned a pretty important fact about Keeton’s past. Like Shepherd, he suffered from a past event. Unlike Shepherd, however, Keeton lost his wife and child whereas Shepherd’s wife cheated on him with his best friend. It makes me see Keeton a little bit differently and it also makes me see why Keeton picked Brenner to be on the team. He sees a bit of himself in Brenner and his loss is mirrored in hers as well. This will, of course, bring them closer, but all in all, if they do begin a relationship, it will be built on a completely different base than Shepherd and Grey’s. Tommy Fuller vs. Mark Sloane – While Mark Sloane is obviously more fun to watch, I have to give credit to Fuller for realizing what a douchebag he is early on and taking Roberto’s words to heart. His change in character is happening at a much faster pace which is the biggest difference between him and Sloane.

Late addition: Mamie Grummer is actually Meryl Streep’s daughter. Kinda makes me see her differently even though it shouldn’t. Definitely ambitious to be following in Streep’s footsteps!

While other critics see a stark contrast between Meredith Grey and Lily Brenner, I just don’t see it at all. I they’re very similar characters with the only difference being in their pasts and in the fact that Brenner seems to communicate with patients a lot better than Grey initially did and is a bit more open than Grey. I don’t know where the writers are going to take the Ryan/Ben/Lily triangle seeing as how Ben is clearly not over his wife, but I hope that Ryan’s character development isn’t sacrificed when she inevitably becomes involved with someone. She, for the moment, has the most balls out of the lot of characters so she better continue to be written well.

Shonda, you either purposely or inadvertently fooled me into thinking this was going to be another Grey’sand that these characters were going to take the same paths. “A Doctor Time Out” was a great episode and if more episodes like this follow, I’ll keep watching.

My only gripe: Pretty sure I’ve seen this “Lover dies and surviving husband/wife/boyfriend/girlfriend and child” need his/her blood or else they’ll die storyline on Grey’s before. I’ll forgive, though, because the character development was so rich this episode (even from Charlie, the Spanish Doogie Howser).

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