'Grey's Anatomy' TV Guide on Meredith's Storyline

Question: As a huge fan of Grey's Anatomy, I'm so disappointed with the seventh season. Shonda Rhimes had promised that it would be refocused on Meredith, in contrast with the sixth season, when Ellen Pompeo was pregnant. So I hoped we could see a decent storyline for her. There was so much stuff to explore: the miscarriage, the consequences of the shooting, the building of the house, a baby, the relationship with Lexie and Thatcher, the choice of her medical specialty. But since the first episode, the only storyline for Meredith and also for Derek is about Cristina Yang! There's no storyline for MerDer. I'm aware that it cannot be as strong as the first seasons, but seriously! It seems to me that the seventh season is focused on Cristina Yang and Calzona! We see the main couple of the show two minutes at the beginning of the episode and two minutes at the end. On the other hand, we see Callie and Arizona talking about their careers, the color of their walls, the friendship with Mark. This year I have the feeling I'm watching Cristina's Anatomy and Calzona's Anatomy! I know that Grey's is not only about Meredith and Derek, but they're obviously lacking.

I don't understand the new direction of the show. The main couple became minor. Meredith seems to be only a foil for the other characters. Ten episodes to treat the aftermath of the shooting for Cristina but only one scene of two minutes for Meredith telling Derek about the miscarriage! Patrick Dempsey said Derek would be devastated by this news but I didn't see it! He was almost uninvolved. We learned that the uterus of Meredith was hostile, but since then, nothing. We know since season five that Derek is building a house but they never talk about that. I feel that the storylines that have most viewer interest get little to no development or screen time. I'm not convinced the second half of the season will be better. We'll certainly see the recovery of Cristina, her return at work, her marriage with Owen, and the journey of the reconciliation between Callie and Arizona. I'm OK with that, but I don't agree with the lack of balance in the storylines. I want MerDer too! And MerDer as a couple who build a life, who love each other and have a sex life, not as an old couple who has no more to talk about. Please tell me Shonda will do that! — Jennifer

Matt Roush: Can't speak for Shonda Rhimes, but it seems to me the reason our happy lead couple isn't as prominent lately may have to do with them being a happy couple. I agree with you that the resolution of Meredith's reveal of her miscarriage was anticlimactic, but the real issue here is that there isn't a lot of conflict in their union — occasional flare-ups on the work front, but rarely at home. And without conflict on a romantic melodrama like Grey's, there's not a lot to play. I'm OK with Grey's treating the aftermath of the hospital massacre seriously, including Cristina's psychic trauma, but as I've said in this space before, they played out her angst in particular for too long, and by the time she was flipping out as a barmaid, I was pretty fed up, so am glad it looks like that part of the story arc is over. With Callie and Arizona — I just can't bring myself to lapse into fanspeak and call them Calzona — the recent conflict was built in to give Jessica Capshaw a maternity leave. The challenge for Grey's, as with any very long-running show that burns up a lot of story each season, is to make couples like Mer and Der interesting again without putting petty-obstacle contrivances in their way. The one thing I don't want to live through again is fan fear that Shonda's going to split them up again. I'd rather them stay happy at the risk of them being a bit boring.


Source: TV Guide