8x23: M/L are back to normal.
Not talking and just generally being stupid babies, that is.
Of course, they're also back in the background, and their few scenes are played for comic relief, as usual.
8x23 wasn't good for Mark/Lexie. Where was their easy intimacy? Why oh why are they still not talking? The lobby/bag scene at the ending was so freaking sad, with its vibe of utter hopelessness.
Okay, I get that Lexie is mortified beyond belief. Of course she is, because exactly what Mark is doing - claiming to RUMINATE on whether he should choose her or not, i.e. exerting all the power over their future, based on his own old assumptions about her plans - just, please no. And faced with a rejection and power imbalance as nauseating as that, I fully understand why the mere mention of his name makes her shudder. On the other hand, this little tic is certainly not helping to NOT send the message that she doesn't want to love him. Gah, that damn self-sabotaging speech last week!
Mark. Please. This is ridiculous. Are we supposed to take his behaviour as proof that he has ‟matured“? Bullshit. Remember that he wanted to marry her? And now he declines to actually speak to her as long as he's not finished with his thorough assessment of, oh what, exactly? ‟Thanks for your candor“ and ‟run it up the flagpole“, my ass?
Ah well, I know that he is an even greater self-saboteur than Lexie, messing everything up by not wanting to mess it up, and I'll grant him that Lexie's speech was more than confusing. It's not his fault alone that he's still clinging to the old misconception that they want different things. Plus, I'm secretly cheering him on for a little payback (remember how she never answered him in follow-up to 6x22?)... :-)
The best thing about the episode, actually, was his remark to Derek about still being in love with Lexie - said in a manner as if this was a fact that has been known to everyone all along, hence not even worth mentioning. Gah! This actually was vital news to me, as the show had taken great care to emphatically ignore Mark's possible feelings for Lexie for a really long time now. Makes perfect sense. I also loved his defense of illogical love against the patient anvil of the week.
Ah, Mark and Lexie. The relationship experts. I love them both so much.
They both are clearly not ready for a reunion yet. And how could they be? Without talking as equal partners in order to sort out their issues, instead of just expecting a different outcome again (thanks worm patient)?
Based on just the text, as we leave 8x23 it seems most likely that Mark will choose Julia. And you know the drill: In a Grey's finale, M/L always exhibit spectacular foolishness, and then they'll pine on and on. And we M/L shippers will stick around, occasionally get granted a scene or two, and we'll have some fun worrying and moaning and imagining ways for a worthy reunion along every episode on the way.
And then the plane crashed, and there was the promo for 8x24, and OUT OF NOWHERE, THE WORLD STOPS TURNING.
Source
She's freaking trapped under gigantic plane debris, and there's blood coming out of her mouth. (I try to ignore the glaring manifestation of what trouble her 8x22 speech got her in.) Oh dear god.
It's just become a fact: In the finale, our beloved cutie Lexie will be on the brink of dying. (And oh, Mark could well be, too, by the way.) Now THIS finale is going to be different for Mark/Lexie, right? All of a sudden, after dragging on and on, M/L is running out of time. Let's see if they are able to break their bad communication habits in the face of the ultimate threat. Don't mind me, crying my eyes out all through it.
Alright, whom am I kidding? I should face it: It MIGHT even be the ultimate low note ending for Lexie, as the myriad of spoilers floating around have been suggesting for some time now. Naturally, I'm scared. Mission accomplished, promo.
But then again, story-wise, Lexie's death would not only come out of nowhere, but also lead nowhere. Of course her death would make all the other characters sad, but come on, why exactly would Meredith stay in Seattle if her sister died? To put flowers on her grave? To care for Thatcher, who has not only a girlfriend, but an established support group for the very issue of falling apart over the death of a loved one? And as to Derek possibly forsaking his next career step in order to be there for Mark (not very likely IMO), who would want to watch Mark mourn her, in the first place, when all the M/L shippers are gone? And who else of the characters has ever really cared for her in a way that would make them mourn her for more than just the burial scene? (On the other hand, it seems plausible to me that Meredith would stay in Seattler to care for Adele, if Richard dies. And Richard had a big storyline this season as a fatherly mentor to virtually every last one of them. Please feel free to add your own theories here.)
Also character-wise, having the Lexie Grey character DIE just wouldn't make for a suitable ending. She still has a lot of growing up to do in virtually every aspect of her life, and there's still so much story potential - and not only in a M/L context, or as the youngest of the bunch, but also as the main cast Meredith's sister. Granted, I may be a little over-invested in her :-), but then again, I feel like I've been quite in sync with canon developments as to my perception of this character, and I just don't see her as fated for sudden death by accident (just as she wasn't fated to be hit by a gunman explicitely out to kill her. In contrast to this, I totally bought the AU suicidal junkie. Speaking of which, Lexie better fight like hell for her life in 8x24!).
I especially don't see that Lexie's death could have seemed like the only solution if CL wanted out of the show (and I think that CL wanting out of the show is a highly unlikely scenario - I totally agree with shiparker here). And assuming that this - unlikely - intention would have been known for a while, nothing easier to write than a different M/L storyline: For example an Izzie epiphany that she REALLY doesn't want to love Mark and that their relationship is getting in the way of her professional development, thus deciding to finally break free and leave for Mass Gen, where she was set for residency in the first place. Leaving the door open for a possible return, and of course the perpetual M/L tease, thank you very much.
Last but not least, Lexie's death would come out of nowhere for the Mark/Lexie ship. Even in 8x23 still, all their scenes are accompanied by the standard comic relief music. Mark/Lexie have their share of angst (and I'm loving it!), but most often, their scenes as individuals and as a couple basically add something funny or cute to the episodes. Why should they, of all people, become the first couple (of doctors) ever on this show to suffer a full realisation of a death scare?
And I honestly don't get how it could be considered harmless or even necessary to write this ship out. What is there to gain? Years after M/L's breakup, the M/L fans keep hoping and tuning in every week. They have representatives in the relevant review press. And I bet demographically, we're a key advertising target group. That's a great result for such a tiny investment of screentime, isn't it? Why alienate all these viewers?
So IF LEXIE (or Mark) DIES, I have no idea how SR could possibly sell the finale scenes as in-character or even closure. And if she doesn't succeed in doing so, how could there be ‟some satisfaction... bittersweet and painful“?
But, on the other hand, IF LEXIE AND MARK SURVIVE THIS HORRIFYING ORDEAL, I guess this could turn out as just the necessary setup for these characters to overcome their insecurities and identify some crucial misunderstandings about each other.
I can't wait to find out what SR has chosen to do to Lexie, Mark, and my heart. THIS SHOW!!!
ETA 15/05/2012.
The SR tweet that "she'll let us all know some things" after the finale just has me more convinced that the actor whose character dies WANTED out, and that there was no other way to write the character's departure.
+
In contrast to previous assumptions, the latest SD interview seems to indicate that the character death is NOT motivated story-wise in order to get the originals to stay at Seattle.
Unfortunately, both news contradict my bet that it's Richard Webber...
… and leaves me thinking that Mark is not safe at all.
Story-wise sense / ship sense: None.
Actor's wish to leave: Possible, maybe for health reasons. (Much greater than CL's chances, IMO)
Necessity for character death (rather than mere departure): Highly likely. How else could the Mark Sloan character leave Seattle? He could try and get a chief position somewhere else, of course. But I hate to admit that I don't think he would leave Sofia behind. And Callie. And Derek. And - wait for it - Lexie (duh). Not working.
Also, as a possible death candidate, his journey is far more complete than Lexie's right now (though nowhere as complete as Webber's). I suppose the show has indeed given Mark some growth lately: we've seen him not sleeping around anymore, taking good care of Sofia, being a good mentor/teacher, a surprisingly good chief of surgery, and of course all the women suddenly want to have his babies. And he even FINALLY got Lexie's confession. I'M SCARED NOW!
And it would be totally in character to have him foolishly put his life on the line to save somebody.
Argh! PLEASE TALK ME OUT OF IT!!!
Of course, they're also back in the background, and their few scenes are played for comic relief, as usual.
8x23 wasn't good for Mark/Lexie. Where was their easy intimacy? Why oh why are they still not talking? The lobby/bag scene at the ending was so freaking sad, with its vibe of utter hopelessness.
Okay, I get that Lexie is mortified beyond belief. Of course she is, because exactly what Mark is doing - claiming to RUMINATE on whether he should choose her or not, i.e. exerting all the power over their future, based on his own old assumptions about her plans - just, please no. And faced with a rejection and power imbalance as nauseating as that, I fully understand why the mere mention of his name makes her shudder. On the other hand, this little tic is certainly not helping to NOT send the message that she doesn't want to love him. Gah, that damn self-sabotaging speech last week!
Mark. Please. This is ridiculous. Are we supposed to take his behaviour as proof that he has ‟matured“? Bullshit. Remember that he wanted to marry her? And now he declines to actually speak to her as long as he's not finished with his thorough assessment of, oh what, exactly? ‟Thanks for your candor“ and ‟run it up the flagpole“, my ass?
Ah well, I know that he is an even greater self-saboteur than Lexie, messing everything up by not wanting to mess it up, and I'll grant him that Lexie's speech was more than confusing. It's not his fault alone that he's still clinging to the old misconception that they want different things. Plus, I'm secretly cheering him on for a little payback (remember how she never answered him in follow-up to 6x22?)... :-)
The best thing about the episode, actually, was his remark to Derek about still being in love with Lexie - said in a manner as if this was a fact that has been known to everyone all along, hence not even worth mentioning. Gah! This actually was vital news to me, as the show had taken great care to emphatically ignore Mark's possible feelings for Lexie for a really long time now. Makes perfect sense. I also loved his defense of illogical love against the patient anvil of the week.
Ah, Mark and Lexie. The relationship experts. I love them both so much.
They both are clearly not ready for a reunion yet. And how could they be? Without talking as equal partners in order to sort out their issues, instead of just expecting a different outcome again (thanks worm patient)?
Based on just the text, as we leave 8x23 it seems most likely that Mark will choose Julia. And you know the drill: In a Grey's finale, M/L always exhibit spectacular foolishness, and then they'll pine on and on. And we M/L shippers will stick around, occasionally get granted a scene or two, and we'll have some fun worrying and moaning and imagining ways for a worthy reunion along every episode on the way.
And then the plane crashed, and there was the promo for 8x24, and OUT OF NOWHERE, THE WORLD STOPS TURNING.
Source
She's freaking trapped under gigantic plane debris, and there's blood coming out of her mouth. (I try to ignore the glaring manifestation of what trouble her 8x22 speech got her in.) Oh dear god.
It's just become a fact: In the finale, our beloved cutie Lexie will be on the brink of dying. (And oh, Mark could well be, too, by the way.) Now THIS finale is going to be different for Mark/Lexie, right? All of a sudden, after dragging on and on, M/L is running out of time. Let's see if they are able to break their bad communication habits in the face of the ultimate threat. Don't mind me, crying my eyes out all through it.
Alright, whom am I kidding? I should face it: It MIGHT even be the ultimate low note ending for Lexie, as the myriad of spoilers floating around have been suggesting for some time now. Naturally, I'm scared. Mission accomplished, promo.
But then again, story-wise, Lexie's death would not only come out of nowhere, but also lead nowhere. Of course her death would make all the other characters sad, but come on, why exactly would Meredith stay in Seattle if her sister died? To put flowers on her grave? To care for Thatcher, who has not only a girlfriend, but an established support group for the very issue of falling apart over the death of a loved one? And as to Derek possibly forsaking his next career step in order to be there for Mark (not very likely IMO), who would want to watch Mark mourn her, in the first place, when all the M/L shippers are gone? And who else of the characters has ever really cared for her in a way that would make them mourn her for more than just the burial scene? (On the other hand, it seems plausible to me that Meredith would stay in Seattler to care for Adele, if Richard dies. And Richard had a big storyline this season as a fatherly mentor to virtually every last one of them. Please feel free to add your own theories here.)
Also character-wise, having the Lexie Grey character DIE just wouldn't make for a suitable ending. She still has a lot of growing up to do in virtually every aspect of her life, and there's still so much story potential - and not only in a M/L context, or as the youngest of the bunch, but also as the main cast Meredith's sister. Granted, I may be a little over-invested in her :-), but then again, I feel like I've been quite in sync with canon developments as to my perception of this character, and I just don't see her as fated for sudden death by accident (just as she wasn't fated to be hit by a gunman explicitely out to kill her. In contrast to this, I totally bought the AU suicidal junkie. Speaking of which, Lexie better fight like hell for her life in 8x24!).
I especially don't see that Lexie's death could have seemed like the only solution if CL wanted out of the show (and I think that CL wanting out of the show is a highly unlikely scenario - I totally agree with shiparker here). And assuming that this - unlikely - intention would have been known for a while, nothing easier to write than a different M/L storyline: For example an Izzie epiphany that she REALLY doesn't want to love Mark and that their relationship is getting in the way of her professional development, thus deciding to finally break free and leave for Mass Gen, where she was set for residency in the first place. Leaving the door open for a possible return, and of course the perpetual M/L tease, thank you very much.
Last but not least, Lexie's death would come out of nowhere for the Mark/Lexie ship. Even in 8x23 still, all their scenes are accompanied by the standard comic relief music. Mark/Lexie have their share of angst (and I'm loving it!), but most often, their scenes as individuals and as a couple basically add something funny or cute to the episodes. Why should they, of all people, become the first couple (of doctors) ever on this show to suffer a full realisation of a death scare?
And I honestly don't get how it could be considered harmless or even necessary to write this ship out. What is there to gain? Years after M/L's breakup, the M/L fans keep hoping and tuning in every week. They have representatives in the relevant review press. And I bet demographically, we're a key advertising target group. That's a great result for such a tiny investment of screentime, isn't it? Why alienate all these viewers?
So IF LEXIE (or Mark) DIES, I have no idea how SR could possibly sell the finale scenes as in-character or even closure. And if she doesn't succeed in doing so, how could there be ‟some satisfaction... bittersweet and painful“?
But, on the other hand, IF LEXIE AND MARK SURVIVE THIS HORRIFYING ORDEAL, I guess this could turn out as just the necessary setup for these characters to overcome their insecurities and identify some crucial misunderstandings about each other.
I can't wait to find out what SR has chosen to do to Lexie, Mark, and my heart. THIS SHOW!!!
ETA 15/05/2012.
The SR tweet that "she'll let us all know some things" after the finale just has me more convinced that the actor whose character dies WANTED out, and that there was no other way to write the character's departure.
+
In contrast to previous assumptions, the latest SD interview seems to indicate that the character death is NOT motivated story-wise in order to get the originals to stay at Seattle.
Unfortunately, both news contradict my bet that it's Richard Webber...
… and leaves me thinking that Mark is not safe at all.
Story-wise sense / ship sense: None.
Actor's wish to leave: Possible, maybe for health reasons. (Much greater than CL's chances, IMO)
Necessity for character death (rather than mere departure): Highly likely. How else could the Mark Sloan character leave Seattle? He could try and get a chief position somewhere else, of course. But I hate to admit that I don't think he would leave Sofia behind. And Callie. And Derek. And - wait for it - Lexie (duh). Not working.
Also, as a possible death candidate, his journey is far more complete than Lexie's right now (though nowhere as complete as Webber's). I suppose the show has indeed given Mark some growth lately: we've seen him not sleeping around anymore, taking good care of Sofia, being a good mentor/teacher, a surprisingly good chief of surgery, and of course all the women suddenly want to have his babies. And he even FINALLY got Lexie's confession. I'M SCARED NOW!
And it would be totally in character to have him foolishly put his life on the line to save somebody.
Argh! PLEASE TALK ME OUT OF IT!!!