While season 4 was known as the season of change, season 6 of “Grey’s Anatomy” has it beat.  By far.  The newest episode follows that trend by focusing on Derek Shepherd.

The Good Doctor

Surprisingly, having Derek in the spotlight is not as bland as one would think.  Yes, he’s better off as the supportive, calm pillar, but the man has some fire to him.  Incidentally, the medical procedure also happens to be one of the few risky surgeries that’s actually successful.  Remember the slew of tumor clinical trials?  Yes, the fact that this episode isn’t a major downer works in its favor.

The Sidekicks

Now that the Mercy Westers have settled into their new playground, having them around is not as jarring as before.  In fact, they work perfectly as foils for characters like Lexie and Alex.  You need some deep internal conflict voiced?  Mercy West is here to make you hate them, then make you speak your mind.  Yes, it’s a lot of new faces, but it also gives other characters a chance to show some new wrinkles.

Medical Versus Personal

The only downside to the episode is its intense focus on the medical side of “Grey’s Anatomy.”  Usually, it’s a natural balance between the medicine and personal drama, but the last two episodes have been entirely focused around one patient, one case.  The change of pace is refreshing, but viewers will quickly itch for more personal development.  Considering it’s not even November sweeps yet, my fear is that November and February will also pull out all stops, medically speaking.

Every episode of “Grey’s Anatomy” this season have been different and intense.  It can be a bumpy ride, but the show has expanded its vision and so far, in a good way.  ‘Give Peace a Chance’ is a continuation of this change.

Rating: 8.8/10

Popularity: 10% [?]