Calzona Review 10x24 "Fear (of the Unknown)"
A masterpiece of a farewell. A masterpiece of a finale. It was Cristina Yang’s final episode. And it was epic. A bittersweet departure. But brilliantly presented, nonetheless.
Aside from the tears that this finale managed to extricate from me, it had led me to repeat to myself ten times in a day this very impactful line from a most memorable scene: "Where does the good go," But that's another story.
It was a story of parting. A story of new beginnings. Of new surprises. Of new conflict. But best of all, it was a story of new hope.
"You know when people say 'who knows, I could get hit by a
bus, tomorrow.' That seems pretty far fetched. Until you have a friend who got
hit by a bus. The point is, you never know what kind of day is coming…"
What made this season finale stand out from recent ones was
that although it was too painful to see Cristina Yang leave, we were not dealt
more pain by a death, nor a heart-wrenching
conflict that would have made the hiatus too difficult to handle.
Instead, the finale
did leave us something to be hopeful for and be positive about.
Because Callie and Arizona, in not so many words, seemed to
be onto something that will make our
Calzona hearts sing.
Little Butthole
The first scene lets us in on how Arizona joins a Jolex
discussion on Alex planning to get a fancier new car.
Arizona: What are you here for?
Alex: My first anoplasty
Arizona: Wow, is Lebackes grooming you? You're gonna be Dr
Junior Butthole?
Jo: Oh no, that’s what they’ll call you
Alex: I wont hear em' cause I'll be squealin' away in this
Arizona : Congratulations little butthole
Alex: Thanks
Alex: Thanks
Ever the supportive and teasing mentor, Arizona is. We can recall that in the last episode, she straightened Alex out.
It is clear that she is happy with how Alex's career in private practice is progressing.
The Surrogate Patient
Callie, Jackson and Stephanie are wheeling in a hysterical patient who is 31 weeks pregnant
Patient : Am I gonna be alright?
Callie: We have to do surgery on your arm but if the baby
goes into any distress, we’ll need to do a C section, okay?
Patient: No it’s too soon she’s too
Stephanie: Your baby’s gonna be just fine
Patient: It’s not my baby
Jackson: Sorry, what?
Patient: It’s someone else’s baby. I’m a surrogate. Can you please try to let them get their turn, It’s their baby
Callie: We will do what we can
Patient: And theyre a super nice couple. They trust me and
it’ll kill them and I really like them
Jackson: Yeah and we’re gonna take care of you now, okay?
Don’t worry
Right when the patient said that she was a surrogate, and the camera focused on Callie, my Calzona baby sensors beeped. I could sense, in my brain of brains, that this was the parallel that was to be granted the Calzona SL for this finale ep.
"Page Doctor Robbins"
Callie: Transradial amputation, below the elbow, at least.
Why would they hit a shopping mall? There’s nothing there
Stephanie: People. Regular people.
Jackson: They wanna scare us . It’s the scariest thing we
can think of.
Callie: Is that rash up on any of our doctors yet?
Jackson: Not yet, which is good, then it means it might have been airborne
Stephanie: And you said they might be targeting hospitals now?
Callie: Oh Edwards, shut your mouth, please
Stephanie: Oh, did her water just break? The baby’s in distress...
Callie: Page Dr. Robbins! Tell her we might be delivering a preemie
in here
I cannot help but say that hearing Callie say "Page Dr. Robbins, " was just plain music to my Calzona ears. It gave me a kind of unexplainable glow in my heart. Tee hee. Trying to rationalize it, it makes me smile seeing Callie have that professional respect for her wife. That is all I can say about that.
A heart that matched: Arizona and Cristina's last scene
Then in the hospital halls, Arizona catches up with Yang, to lead her to her goal of "finishing" her business at the hospital.
Arizona: Hey listen Yang, I just got a call from UNOS. They’ve been trying to
reach you
Cristina: Oh my phone is dead.
Arizona: A heart’s become available that’s a match for Linc Mc Neill
Cristina: Now?
Arizona: We’ll tell them to do it at Seattle pres, right, cause there’s
Cristina: No no no , send it here
I could not help but think that it was their last scene together. Arizona and Cristina had formed a bond, after the crash, and it was only in one episode this season, that we really got to see clearly that there was such a friendship that was formed.
A bond that was deep. That only people who have shared a similar experience can understand. I am happy that at least for one last time, I saw them have a scene together. To help Cristina finish what she has to.
The Delivery
Meanwhile, at the O.R. where Callie, Jackson and Stephanie were attending to the surrogate patient, Arizona arrives to the rescue
Arizona: Im ready, where’s the OB?
Callie: Um, no show, but I prepped her for it
We need to get that baby under now.
Arizona : Where the hell’s the O.B?
Steph: Baby’s down to 60 beats per minute
Steph: Baby’s down to 60 beats per minute
Arizona: Avery you gotta help me
Stephanie: 50 beats and sustained
Arizona: Ten-blade?
Okay, hang on sweetie, let’s get you out
It was a tense moment, you could feel the tension in the
O.R. And even the background music was adding to the already crucial scene.
Arizona: Now reach in here and pull away from me. You gotta pull it.
You gotta pull harder. Hug it, Avery, okay...
And the camera pans to Callie, staring at the baby.
And the camera pans to Callie, staring at the baby.
Centre of focus for the audience were Callie and Jackson. The just delivered baby had relevance to both of them. Callie, having just discovered she cannot carry a baby, and Jackson, whose wife April was on the way.
Jackson cut the umbilical cord, as instructed by take-charge
Arizona.
It was Arizona’s show, in the absence of the OB.
Jackson: Okay
Jackson: Okay
Arizona: Alright you got it
And we see Callie staring at the baby and at Arizona. Observing..thinking..
And Jackson carried the baby, he got the baby..and we
needn’t worry..
Seeing Arizona deliver the baby with Jackson, i could not help but cheer her on. I proudly watched her in her take-charge role, in the absence of an OB. I was in admiration of her surgical proficiency. I had always been so focused on her relationship with Callie, I always tended to gloss over her excellence in her profession.
Callie and Arizona were in one same O.R., with Arizona delivering the baby. It was too relevant. One could not help but be sentimental because the issue of not being able to carry a baby was too fresh, and here they were, seeing firsthand, together, new life being brought into the world, by a surrogate mother.
A mother who bore the child for another couple. It was indeed extra special.
Here they were, helping out a selfless mother, bearing a child whom she will not call her own, but will willingly give it to a couple whom she had worried about disappointing.
The patient's situation was too close to home. Our Calzona instincts keep bugging us : so Callie and Arizona may consider surrogacy!
Seeing Callie staring at the baby, longing, then at Arizona her love, delivering it, was too moving a scene, I could not help but hold my heart.
Callie longs for a little one, and the sadness in her eyes produces a certain heaviness in my heart.
This baby delivery scene will be too hard to forget, especially when my sad emotions are still fresh from knowing that they shelved the idea of having a baby in the last episode.
Amazing Calzona
Next scene Callie is joined by Arizona in their patient Leanne's room. And again, hearing Arizona call Callie "Dr Torres" again made me break into a smile. A smile not only from my lips, but a smile from my soul.
If memory serves me right, this is only the second episode ever where they BOTH called each other by their doctor names.
If memory serves me right, this is only the second episode ever where they BOTH called each other by their doctor names.
Arizona: Dr. Torres, um, the baby’s parents are here and they're wondering if Leanne was
Patient: Yes, yes please
Arizona: Yeah, come on
Patient: Is she okay? You guys love her, is she all right?
Parents: She’s beautiful. She’s perfect
And the surrogate mother’s smile just touched my already mangled heart.
Wife: Thank you
Husband: We’re so glad you're okay
Callie and Arizona watched this scene intently. If only we could
only read what was going on in their minds...
Callie noticed Arizona was affected, emotional about the
just witnessed scene
Callie: You okay?
Arizona: Yeah It’s just, it’s really sweet
Callie: Ha, really amazing.
I wonder why they needed a surrogate.
I wonder if, I wonder if she couldn't really help them.
Arizona: She really likes them
I wonder why they needed a surrogate.
I wonder if, I wonder if she couldn't really help them.
Arizona: She really likes them
Callie: It’s really amazing, right?
And they looked at each other,
that loving sweet look, and almost a knowing look from both,
and they leaned in closer for that sweet kiss…
and I remember it
second for second
And everything else was left to our conclusions and our own guesses on what next step they were to take. But yes, the looks they exchanged were a giveaway, as if saying to each other that they can do this surrogacy setup too.
This finale gives us hope for the possibility of a new Calzona baby. Hope is not lost. Hallelujah.
Both Callie and Arizona's amazement at this surrogacy situation, how willing the surrogate was to give the baby to the couple, and how concerned the couple was for her--it was surreal.
Yes, we hear about surrogacy a lot, but when we actually see it unfolding step by step in front of our eyes, it just is too wonderful to behold.
This was not just your regular charity outreach project. This is a baby, a newly born living being, who was carried by a woman for many months, who will relinquish her rights to being the mother and will accord it to a couple who can give it a worthy life.
Callie and Arizona did wonder about how this kind of situation came about, and they were completely amazed as we were.
After 10x23, I honestly thought they were to forego the idea of having another baby. The way their dialogue went then, it seemed there was a finality to it.
that loving sweet look, and almost a knowing look from both,
and they leaned in closer for that sweet kiss…
and I remember it
second for second
And everything else was left to our conclusions and our own guesses on what next step they were to take. But yes, the looks they exchanged were a giveaway, as if saying to each other that they can do this surrogacy setup too.
This finale gives us hope for the possibility of a new Calzona baby. Hope is not lost. Hallelujah.
Both Callie and Arizona's amazement at this surrogacy situation, how willing the surrogate was to give the baby to the couple, and how concerned the couple was for her--it was surreal.
Yes, we hear about surrogacy a lot, but when we actually see it unfolding step by step in front of our eyes, it just is too wonderful to behold.
This was not just your regular charity outreach project. This is a baby, a newly born living being, who was carried by a woman for many months, who will relinquish her rights to being the mother and will accord it to a couple who can give it a worthy life.
Callie and Arizona did wonder about how this kind of situation came about, and they were completely amazed as we were.
After 10x23, I honestly thought they were to forego the idea of having another baby. The way their dialogue went then, it seemed there was a finality to it.
But the finale suddenly pulls off a surprise and gave us hope!
Reading the ending quote makes one reflect on how life deals us unexpected situations. One minute, we think we have life all figured out. Only to discover that we are mere beings who have no control over what life brings us, but are equipped with strength to overcome the difficulties as much as we can.
The quote even brings us back to what Calzona went through during this whole season.
We thought they were the stable couple. We cherished them being in that happy bubble.
We never saw it coming that our beloved pair, who symbolized everything strong and loving, was to be torn apart and made to go through a devastation that tore through the heart of every Callie and Arizona fan.
And as much as these brought devastation to the couple, so did it devastate the Calzona fandom. That it even spawned hate, and even division that does not even merit discussion.
Through the 24 episodes, the Calzona couple faced numerous unexpected events, managing to survive difficult twists and turns, with the cheating , the miscarriage, the new intern fling, the malpractice suit, the PTSD, the inability to carry a baby.
And hell no, it was not easy for them. It took strength. Forgiveness. Understanding. The courage to stand up again after the many falls. And the patience of one to see the other through to survive her personal struggles.
Most of all, the deep love that they had for each other was the root of why after everything, they are still standing together, with an even stronger and more solid relationship.
Looking back, after all that happened, we could surmise that even if it had showcased the worst of these characters, it also showed how strong they were for it.
Sometimes, there will be necessary obstacles, that we can only look back to later on and conclude that have indeed been reasons enough to make the relationship even better than it was before.
These were unexpected necessary pains that broke down their communication barriers.
We were with them as they slowly but painfully trudged back to being happy again.
No matter what, they survived. They triumphantly sauntered into a new home.
They have started to rebuild.
And even after just having gone through another setback with the inability of Callie to carry a child, we are one with them in their hopes for a new child.
They have started to rebuild.
And even after just having gone through another setback with the inability of Callie to carry a child, we are one with them in their hopes for a new child.
This is what makes me a staunch Calzona supporter through and through.
They did not lose hope. They remained strong.
They got up after each fall.
No matter the pain and struggle.
They did not lose hope. They remained strong.
They got up after each fall.
No matter the pain and struggle.
And you can bet I will stick like glue to them as they bring us new possibilities for bigger things to come.
Should there be bigger struggles, I guess we can say along with them: "Bring it on."
This couple's relationship is sturdier and happier and even sweeter than ever.
Should there be bigger struggles, I guess we can say along with them: "Bring it on."
This couple's relationship is sturdier and happier and even sweeter than ever.
Kudos to the fabulous actors Jessica Capshaw and Sara Ramirez. Their superb acting prowess had made their scenes together engagingly loving. Even more than in past seasons.
Rewatch their Season10 tender moments and you could feel each sweet loving scene piercing through your heart. If that is not thespic talent, then tell me what is.
Rewatch their Season10 tender moments and you could feel each sweet loving scene piercing through your heart. If that is not thespic talent, then tell me what is.
It surely helps that they have been working together for the past six seasons.
The chemistry of these two very fine actors had finely translated to the explosive chemistry of the worldwide phenomenal pairing that we have loved and still love.
The chemistry of these two very fine actors had finely translated to the explosive chemistry of the worldwide phenomenal pairing that we have loved and still love.
As Cristina Yang touchingly narrates, giving me all the goosebumps I ever had in my entire TV viewing experience,
"...Or we step forward into the unknown and assume it will be brilliant."
We all step forward with Callie and Arizona into the next Season and will, in our heart of hearts, hope and assume the best for them, always and all ways.
As a season ender, after 24 gruelling episodes that sent our emotions in the worst roller coaster ride ever, I proudly wear my Calzona badge and boldly say, as I always said since 10x01:
CalzonaStrong
Calzona Always
Calzona Forever
And Ever.
Till then.
Twitter:
@GAFan8
