Before: I was pumped for this crossover. I’ve always felt that the worlds of Oceanside Wellness and Seattle Grace would blend well. I was just so excited to see what was going to take place.
After: Total and utter disappointment.

I don’t even know where to begin.

It’s not that I completely hated tonight’s crossover event. I really didn’t. It’s more that I think it occured for all of the wrong reasons. I was hoping for two light, fun hours. I was hoping that – even though I knew differently – some of the Grey’s cast would wind up in LA. But it just didn’t happen. Overall, it was just too serious and it felt, well…weird. The dynamic played between Derek and Addison in “Before and After” made it seem like there was something still lingering between Derek and Addison – a feeling that I did not enjoy getting. It is just so strange because I feel like so much stuff was pushed to the background while at the same time it wasn’t. Honestly, the best part of the whole crossover was the part that took place in Joe’s bar.
Although I’m sure many fans will find Izzie’s storyline silly, I actually liked it and thought it made sense. It got rid of Sadie once and for all (thank you!) and in a matter that I felt was quite believeable and gave the interns something to do while also progressing Izzie’s storyline. I really REALLY liked Owen and Cristina’s storyline tonight because there is just so much to Owen that we don’t know yet, nor do we realize that we don’t know it. That storyline was very intriguing for that very reason.
But, honestly, I was disatisfied with the Grey’s hour of the crossover. I just had an empty pit in my stomach by the end of it; I didn’t feel like it was enough.
And then we jumped right into “Ex-Life.” I liked the Private hour MUCH better than the Grey’s hour. The storylines were sharp and I think that the intercutting to LA actually helped the crossover aspect since everything wasn’t contained just to Seattle Grace. But here’s my main problem with “Ex-Life”: all of the Grey’s characters basically were made out to look like total assholes. All Derek did was yell. I get why he did it – he feels like he is messing up too much and he can’t stand it – but it just wasn’t Derek. It wasn’t McDreamy and it seemed too out of character. All Bailey did was snap at Naomi and Sam. Which I guess is Bailey for you, but something about it seemed off to me, and I’m not sure why. And then you’ve got the Chief who wants to whore out Archer’s surgery and then there’s Alex who says he wants to run away from Izzie (seriously?!) and never gets his question answered by Addison (which I found to be profoundly annoying). So while “Ex-Life” wasn’t at all perfect, I did feel that it was an improvement upon Hour #1 and I felt that it was much more enjoyable.
But I still felt so disappointed. This crossover had been so hyped and the last month of Grey’s had been just so good and so well-recieved that this was just a let-down. I do honestly believe it is because the reason for the crossover was Archer’s medical condition. Obviously these are doctor shows so medicine does need to be involved, but can’t doctors ever just take a vacation? Have fun? THERE’S your crossover premise right there. No serious. Just fun. And that’s the issue here.

So I’m up in arms about next week. I won’t lie: I’m actually glad the crossover is ending. That isn’t to say that I don’t want there to be another one, because I do. Next season. For different, better reasons. But I’m still concerned because the promo showed more Derek yelling and fights and just…oh my. It’s compelling, that’s for damn sure. But is it Grey’s Anatomy? Is it Private Practice? I’m not so sure.

- Adam

216 Ex-Life, 515 Before and After