• ABC.com Recap
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  Izzie couldn’t be more thrilled when George promises he’s going to tell Callie that the marriage is over. But after a day of working under Callie, she orders George not to say anything since Callie is her boss and it’s going to be a nightmare when she finds out. Izzie hopes that maybe they’ll just “drift apart.” George reluctantly agrees to wait.

  Derek stays the night with Meredith, which is okay if it’s just sex, but not if it’s a “sleepover.” She turns him down for lunch, insisting they agreed only to “sex and mockery,” and asks him to meet her after work for more of the same.

  Instead of returning her wedding presents, Cristina is handing them out in exchange for professional favors at the hospital, like scrubbing in on a high-profile surgery with Mark. Mama Burke arrives unexpectedly, looking for her and Cristina sends Meredith to get her to leave. Mama reprimands Meredith for the way she announced that the marriage was off, so Meredith tells Cristina she tried but Mama’s too scary.
  Callie refuses to allow residents to go work at the clinic because the hospital is busy, so Miranda gets saddled with two inept interns, including Lexie. She doesn’t have the authority to give Meredith orders anymore, but Miranda says Meredith owes her for saving her life. Meredith regrets helping out when Lexie immediately pounces on her for more sisterly bonding and Callie is furious when she learns that Miranda undermined her over the clinic assignment.

  The victims of an apartment explosion flood Seattle Grace, including a baby that won’t stop crying and his very distraught father. A tox scan of the baby’s blood, ordered by a suspicious Alex, reveals the presence of crystal meth. The parents were cooking the drug in their kitchen when it blew up. Callie has Alex call the police and social services. Before they can arrive and deal with the dad, Alex tells the father, who’s freaking out over his son’s crying, that he’s going to jail for endangering his son. The father knocks Alex out and takes the baby.

  Richard is trying to delegate work to make more time to be with his wife, but he regrets delegating the meth lab situation to Callie. He interrupts a surgery to tell her how badly she’s messed up. When Izzie tells her she thinks she’s doing a good job as chief resident , Callie not only doesn’t believe her, she orders her out of her O.R.

  While Mama waits to see Cristina, George tells her maybe Burke dodged a bullet by not getting married, because once you’re in, you’re in. She advises him not to stay in a marriage just out of obligation. Derek stops by next and Mama asks if Cristina really loved Burke. He says he thinks she loved him the best she knew how, but confesses it wouldn’t have been enough for him either. She tells him he’s an “honorable man” if he knows when to walk away from less than he deserves.

  Callie desperately searches for the baby and when Mark asks if she’s okay, confides that she thinks that George is having an affair. He says if it’s true, George is an idiot. He advises her to talk to George, instead of destroying her career.

  Meredith, who’s been fending off an obsessed Lexie all day, finally tells her to leave her alone, because she doesn’t want to know her. When Lexie points out they have the same father Meredith says, no, they don’t. Her father abandoned her when she was five and that’s why she kicked the world’s most perfect man out of her bed, because their father chose Lexie over her. “You’re not a girl I ever wanted to have to know,” she says.

  Derek overhears the meth-dealing father, who’s hiding in a bathroom, begging his baby to wake up. Derek takes the baby, who’s had a stroke, and runs with it. While Alex and Miranda watch Derek operate, Alex invites Miranda to yell at him for letting this happen. She says it’s not her job but then she unleashes an angry rant on him. He thanks her for the lecture and she thanks him for letting her give it.

  Cristina finally goes to find out what Mama wants. She asks for the key to the apartment to get some of Burke’s things. And she says she’s sorry, not just that Cristina lost the man she loves, but that she lost her teacher, since Cristina loves being a surgeon more than she loved her son. She says she admires Cristina and that if she’d been born at a different time, she might have been more like her. As she’s preparing to leave, Cristina asks if she’ll take the wedding gifts. Cristina asks, “He’s never coming back, is he? Not even to say goodbye,” and Mama reminds her, “You’re a strong woman.”

  Callie offers to help the Chief fill out the paperwork on the kidnapped baby, but he tells she’s already done enough for one day. George finds her and is about to tell her about him and Izzie, but she tearfully begs him, “Not tonight.”

  Derek asks Mark to meet Meredith in his place and tell her he’s stuck with a patient, but then he decides to join her after all. They walk out together, smiling.

• Adam’s Review
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  So, this episode was pretty freakin’ amazing. I dunno what you fans are whining over, because this is what you’ve been asking for. So, cut the crap. Shonda’s re-building the home she burnt down last season, and it’s going to take more than 90 minutes. Just, for God’s sake, hang in there and stop the complaining, because it’s not justified.
  Debora Cahn, the writer of Love/Addiction, did an amazing job. She also wrote Sometimes a Fantasy and Scars & Souvenirs last season (one of my favorites of season three). Cristina was…hilarious. It’s so great to get to see Cristina as Cristina again. I mean, seriously, trading gifts for surgeries? Brilliant!
  
  I loved Bailey in this episode. I love seeing her have to live with the fact that, no, she’s not Chief Resident. Bailey’s never had any angst on the show, and it’s thrilling to see her finally have angst. When she yelled at Alex, it was captivating. I was actually shocked many times during tonight’s episode…like really, truly shocked. I think the storyline was really good (I liked the idea of ‘addiction’), and it fit really well. Derek is addicted to Meredith, and she to him. It’s so obvious that he still loves her. She must know that. And she must know that she still loves him. Honestly, though, I think this break-up is going to be really good and productive, and I bet next time we see them together, they’re actually going to be able to have a real relationship, where Meredith is committed and everything.

  I hate Mama Burke. I really do. But I loved seeing her with everybody tonight. You forget that she never met some of these people…like George. It was really nice to see them all interact with her. Although her confronting, or yelling or whatever, at Meredith was annoying. Entertaining, yes, but annoying and unjustified (I think) all the same. And when she finally talked to Cristina, it was actually a let-down for me. There wasn’t much to it. I was expecting a big, like, war between the two women, but, alas, no.

  Lexie. Oh, Lexie. Poor Lexie. I like her. I may actually love her. But she’s such a ditz. She’s such a…I dunno what the term is…but she seems like a dumb blonde, and I’m hoping they do something to fix that, because she obviously isn’t. And I felt so bad for her when Meredith said those things to her. I’ve never seen Meredith be so mean; so rude. She was right – she’s not a mean person. But that was cruel. I think it true, for the most part, but definitley cruel. It’s going to be really interesting to see how their relationship evolves over the season.

  I want the Derek and Mark friendship to start. Right now. Because there’s such great chemistry there and I can’t wait to see them in full swing together, because, we never have. And I really cannot wait to finally see that Derek/Mark friendship we heard so much about.

  OK, George, Izzie, and Callie. I’m back to not liking Callie. Yah, it’s probably unjustified. I love Sara Ramirez. To death. But, Callie, I just can’t do it. I could last season, but not this season. Yah, she’s on everybody’s shit list, her husband is cheating on her, and she can’t get pregnant. Life sucks for her and I’m supposed to feel sorry and I just don’t. And I don’t know why. It might be because she just swooped in, married George, and became Chief Resident. And partially because I love Gizzie. So much. I’m sure they’re going to die, and soon, but I’m going to cherish these few moments we get of them (and I’m desperately hoping for more elevator kisses and more sex). I’m really interested to see what the reactions are to their affair, because, remember, nobody knows yet…

  So, tonight was brilliant. And hilarious. And smart. Meredith was so…Meredith. Sure, she could stand to be stronger. We have yet to see a really, deeply strong Meredith, and I hope we see one soon. Honestly, I think we will. But I don’t know what all of you people think the problem is. Because this show is better than it’s ever been; better than I’ve ever seen it. I’m more captivated than I’ve ever been. I’m on the edge of my seat waiting for next week (Gizzie finally comes out! YAY! …I think); waiting to re-join my other family once again. My addiction to this show keeps growing…it’s my brand of meth. Just without all of the strokes and death and stuff. Grey’s Anatomy is better than ever and I couldn’t be more excited for next Thursday.

• Music Guide
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  “From My Heart to Yours,” Laura Izibor
  The song plays in the beginning of the episode with a view of the Seattle Skyline. George comes to a realization as he talks with Izzie, Meredith makes new rules for her relationship with Derek, and Cristina deals with her pile of wedding gifts.

  “The Yard,” Trolle Siebenhaar
  The song plays as Izzie talks George out of having a conversation with Callie.

  “Castle Time,” Chris Garneau
  The song plays as George introduces himself to Mrs. Burke. The two have a heart to heart conversation about marriage.

  “Little Bit of You in Everything,” The Rentals
  This song plays as Meredith stitches up Alex in the clinic. Cristina tries to figure out why Mrs. Burke has stopped by for a visit.

  “Carousel,” Amy Obenski
  This song plays as Mrs. Burke finally talks with Cristina in the waiting room.

  “Moon and Sun,” Gomez
  This song plays as Cristina explains the day to her patient, Marla. George tries to have a conversation with Callie. Cristina returns to her apartment.

• Writer’s Blog, by Debora Cahn on 10.07.07
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  Addiction.  Who doesn’t love a good addiction?  I know I do.  You try something.  You like it.  You try it again.  You build a little ritual around it, make it a special part of your day.  You tell time by it.  “Must be noon, cause I’m jonesing for another cup of my special English tea!”  or  “I know it’s morning cause I’m awake and ready for a hit of crystal meth!”

  DON’T DO METH, KIDS.

  See, here’s the thing:  anything can be addictive.  And it’s not always easy to spot when something slips down that slippery slope from experiment to habit to addiction.  Derek and Meredith thought they’d ended it.  Cold turkey.  White knuckle.  Over.  So over.  Well, it wasn’t totally over.  There was a bit of a hang-over.  A little no-strings-attached sex.  Just for old times sake.  No harm, no foul.  But the thing is, there is harm.  Derek doesn’t like it.  He wants to talk.  He wants to sleep over.  He wants lunch, with the woman he loved, or loves, or has some impossible to define love related interaction with.  He’s settling for just the sex, cause that’s all she’s willing to indulge.  But that’s only hurting him.  It’s just enough of the drug to keep him hooked.  Never enough to satisfy him, only enough to make him want more.  And he knows.  He knows he’s got a problem, but he can’t walk away.

  Love.  It’s like crystal meth.

  DON’T DO METH.

  Even Callie’s strung out.  Callie, who always seemed stronger than the rest of them.  More together.  Less at the mercy of her emotions.  Sure, George’s on-again, off-again interest, his loosey goosey commitment made her kind of nuts, but she always seemed like she was handling it.  Now she’s walking around the hospital like a crazy person.  Falling down on the job, which she NEVER does.  Unable to concentrate on anything other than the sneaking suspicion that her husband’s having an affair.  She knows it, in her heart she can’t deny it.  But she can’t face it either.  She’s in a marriage that’s destroying her, and her husband’s about to come clean and maybe put them both out of their misery, but she can’t let him do it.  She can’t let him say it.  She’d rather be a strung out junkie than deal with the pain of withdrawal.

  That’s a pretty serious drug.

  BUT NOT AS SERIOUS AS CRYSTAL METH, WHICH YOU REALLY SHOULDN’T DO.

  I watched this documentary on crystal meth.  The fabulous Stacy McKee saw this documentary called “Montana Meth” right when we were starting to put together this story, and she told me to watch it, and EEEEW.  Meth is a nasty drug, and it makes you do nasty, gnarly things, like trade sex with people who don’t shower for a hit that doesn’t even make you feel good, and all sorts of other things that I don’t even want to get into.  I watched it with my 15 year-old niece, figured I’d do a little, “I’m your cool aunt and I’ll show you this documentary on meth and scare you away from drugs” and I’m a little worried that I traumatized her for life.  Meth is foul.  Don’t do meth.

  And don’t get into relationships with people who can’t handle them.  Don’t you just want to shake Derek and Callie?  Don’t you want to shake them and say, “These people keep telling you they can’t give you what you want – believe them!”  But shaking them wouldn’t help.  Because they’re addicted.  They can’t walk away even when they want to.

  Maybe it’s okay.  Maybe you can’t avoid addiction, all you can do is pick your poison.  Special English tea is better than meth, and love’s better than special English tea.  It may put you through the ringer sometimes, but when it’s good, it’s really really good.  Worth coming back to, time and time again.  Worth getting hooked on.

402 Love/Addiction