Grey's Anatomy 'What If' Episode Deserved Way More Credit
Why do we need to remind everyone how good this episode was?
For 19 seasons, ABC's hit medical drama has consistently delivered complex medical cases, personal and professional drama, and a healthy dose of romance, rivalries and enviable friendships.
Grey's Anatomy has no problem keeping us entertained and still manages to come up with compelling new ideas, and that's what they did with the 'What If' episode, a concept that was perfectly executed but ended up being so underrated.
What's the episode about?
The 13th episode of season 8, titled 'If/Then,' is prompted by Meredith wondering what her life would have been like if she had grown up with a good father and if her mother had never gotten Alzheimer's.
The show's creator, Shonda Rhimes, was heavily involved, explaining, 'As things start to unfold, we in the writers' room kept coming up with more and more things if Meredith had been a bright, happy person.'
Ellis Grey is alive and well, running the hospital as chief of staff, Meredith is engaged to Alex, Derek is still with Addison, and they are expecting a baby together. Owen and Callie are married with children, Miranda Bailey is nerdy and lacks confidence, and Lexie is a hardened drug addict.
Why it's so good?
This episode was not only different and entertaining, it was compelling and interesting and full of little details that show how some things are meant to be.
For example, Mark is the one who brings an unresponsive Lexie to the hospital. There is an obvious spark between Callie and Arizona, Cristina is and will always be Meredith's person, even though April is Meredith's 'best friend' this time, and Meredith and Derek end up meeting in a bar, as they are meant to.
We also appreciated the little details, like Alex's glasses and Derek being called 'McDreary'.
Unfortunately, this episode is highly underrated
We were blown away not only by the concept, but by the fact that an episode this good is so underappreciated. Nobody talks about it, and it feels like some fans don't even remember it. This episode should need no introduction, but it feels like it does.
It's not often that Grey's does something different, and we usually don't forget it when they do. We will forever remember the plane crash, Meredith's coma and visits to loved ones on the beach, and the musical episode because they were different.
The 'What If' episode was unique and gave us perspective on the many 'what ifs' of life. Credit should be given where credit is due; this episode was not only different, it was brilliantly executed, cleverly written, and thought provoking.
Perhaps it was forgotten after the devastating plane crash at the end of the season, and it really did change things. It certainly deserves more hype than the musical episode, but that's just what we think.
Source: Hollywood Reporter.