The Writers' Take on "I Will Follow You Into the Dark"
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Grey's Anatomy writer Jenna Bans, who penned last night's episode, have posted some thoughts on "I Will Follow You Into the Dark" on the show's official writers' blog.
Here are some excerpts, with a link to the full column below ...
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Derek Shepherd is not in a good place right now. In fact, the dude’s pretty much at his worst. Remember when our friendly neighborhood serial killer Eric Stoltz told him they had a lot in common? Derek’s started to believe him.
What I love about this storyline, besides that it gives the talented Patrick Dempsey a chance to show us just how big his acting range is, is you’d never think it would happen to Shepherd.
He knows brains like I know ... well, nothing. Maybe chocolate.
But the point is, he’s not just a star in his field, he runs his field. It’s like the Pope having a crisis of faith. And everyone’s feeling it – Mark, literally with his maimed hand, Richard, who can’t possibly run his surgical floor without his star neurosurgeon .... and sad little Shadow Shepherd, who finally gets his shot to impress his colleagues, and not one of them can remember his name.
And it’s not because he’s not a good surgeon, it’s just with Shepherd around, who pays attention to the bald dude in glasses? In the end, Derek’s legendary status ends up hurting Derek the most. Because when people expect greatness out of you 24/7, it’s damn near impossible to live up to. You’re bound to take a big fall.
... Shonda’s had this Patient X thing in her head for a long, long time – and when she first pitched it out, I immediately loved it. And hated it. I still love and hate it.
Because it’s so totally messed up and unfair.
What Izzie’s doing, teaching the interns, is a selfless, meaningful endeavor that no one else, even Alex, will ever give her credit for. Everyone’s been busy clamoring for surgeries while Izzie’s quietly achieved the impossible – she’s turned the gaggle of morons we met in season 4 into doctors. And now she’s DYING. And no one gets her, and no one knows it, and it’s seriously UNFAIR.
Follow the link to continue reading Jenna's blog ...
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