Calzona Review 10x16
We Gotta Get Out of This Place
After so much Calzona in the last episode, it was expected
that the next few episodes will have less minutes of them, and this is just fine because after all, it is an ensemble cast and there are many other characters' SL’s to tackle too.
However, the usual short Calzona scenes were gratifying. They were brilliant individual
scenes which shed light on each of their personalities, and of course, their scenes together were hands down, adorable.
In this episode, we discover a different side to Calliope.
Although we know how badass she can be, it was interesting to see another
dimension to her personality. The episode also delves into her friendship with Derek, which of course, made us appreciate her and Derek all the more.
Also, we noticed how the happy , light scenes that we longed
for for Calzona, are slowly inching their way back to our screens, and yes, we enjoyed this
episode immensely because of these hilarious scenes that serve as the perfect
relief after all the drama that we had been through.
Notable were the opening and closing voice-overs, very relevant to many
of the characters’ transition stages,
the moving on stages…after reeling from pain after their own storms, after new
changes, the "getting back up after the fall"…
The transitions-- “in the meantime”
stages which may not be very easy,actually still painful for some of them, but which all have to go through, to get to better
things, to feel better about things, to fulfill better dreams….
“There’s a stage you go through during childbirth. And it’s
the toughest part. It’s called the transition stage. You’ve been pushing so hard and so long,
youre exhausted, spent, and there’s
nothing to show for all of your effort. During this transition stage, it feels
like you cant go on. But only because you're very nearly there.”
The Birthday Surprise denial people
Just as we wished, the happy, "glowy" sparkle-y Arizona is back!
She joins Bailey in the very first scene where they join Julio, I mean Richard, and Owen in the elevator, trying so hard to deny that a surprise birthday party
was being planned.
It was nothing less than a comical scene and it was really
fun to adjust to watching Arizona be
part of a drama-less scene. If you just observe, she had been smiling and funnily reacting the whole time and just had to drop
a “Happy Birthday though” to Richard, still nonchalantly denying the surprise.
And this happy Arizona vibe is to go on for the rest of the
episode. Hallelujah!
The ones in labcoats and the one in a suit
This brewing conflict about the sensors seems to have come to
a head, as highlighted in this catalytic scene with Derek, Callie and Owen
Derek: Hey Callie what happened to my surgery. I was
supposed to remove the sensors..and I found out my surgery is cancelled
Owen : Dr Torres came to me with a concern about an intellectual
property conflict between you two
Derek: What is this about, the sensors?
Callie: Yes Derek, about our
sensors
Owen: Look let's just talk. I'm sure we can find a solution
Callie: Oh that’s Paula. She’s my lawyer
Callie said that so matter-of-factly.
We heard that right. Badass Calliope means business. And it involves legal means.
Those sensors were co-owned
by her and Derek. Hearing of the news that their work will be discontinued just
did not sit well with her. It was unfair, she was not about to take it sitting
down.
Derek was her friend, but this professional turn of events was
not in any angle, fair to all concerned. There was an injustice here and Callie
was at the losing end.
She poured hard work into this research, she was not about
to just let it go that easily just because the government tried to pull in Derek
for special work.
And here we see the Callie that we know, with even more
depth to her badassness. She was not being mean or not being a friend. She was
just staying true to her principles and standing for fairness, justice.
She is kindhearted and all, but you just cant step all over
Calliope Iphigenia. No way.
Happy Arizona
Then comes a scene where Arizona interrupts a Jolex
discussion to remind Alex about a certain procedure, and Arizona is treated as a
key element in making this scene light, to contribute to make the Jolex issue a
not very serious thing, about signing that document for the new rule on
fraternization.
Arizona: Hey Alex we have a transoral application I sent you the
latest labs
Alex: What's that?
Arizona: Oh it’s really really cool first we go in orally and then we
go on through the belly button to fix the kids’ reflux without leaving a scar.....
It sounded really cool for Jo but not enough for her to sign
the paper.
See, if we had a drinking game, and took a shot of tequila for every scene that we saw Arizona smile, sobriety would not be a word by episode's end.
The sensors conflict continues
Next comes Callie and Derek’s continuation talks.
Derek: This is nothing I’m doing to you. I have a side contract
with them
Callie: You had no right to sign. You signed away something that’s
ours
Derek: We spent half the day together yesterday why didn’t you say
something
Callie: We had a playdate we were with the kids
Derek: Oh we have Sofia’s ... Doll, I think Zola thought it was
hers
Oops, Derek, you clumsily left that wide open. It was what Callie just needed for the slam dunk
Callie: Ha, Like father like daughter, I guess
I cannot stop laughing. Callie can give out the most
sarcastic jabs and come out so hilarious. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, that's the genius of Sara Ramirez.
Owen interrupts :
Owen: We’re drifting here
Callie: Yes you're right Im sorry, that was unprofessional, what I
should have said was,
The sensors are materials you co developed with me. In
service of research I started and invited you to participate in. If you attempt
to impair my access to these materials, I will have you prosecuted to the
fullest extent of the law
The Lawyer butts in : "well said"
Derek: This is insane, you don’t have a case
Owen: Listen, before anyone resorts to litigation, let me just
take this before the other board members, maybe we can find a solution, that's
fair to both parties, in the meantime, I want you both to leave this matter
alone, until you hear from me. All right?
Noticeable in all this conflict between Derek and Callie, was the
support of the people around them.
They were noble enough to seek a solution to
peace.
In this instance, Owen, as chief of surgery, had been acting
chiefly, trying to mediate between the parties, and I think that part of this
mediation effort too, is in a personal capacity.
Admirable in these Greys characters, is that they are fine people. They
did not condone conflict. They did not add to the brewing tension. They
wanted to pacify it.
That fun lunch scene!
Then comes a very fun scene. Why fun? Because it’s a fun
lunch scene. So happy to see that fun lunch scenes are back on Grey’s Anatomy,
which I think we missed since season 9.
The gloomy air that pervaded Grey’s Anatomy in Season 9 till early parts of season 10, is slowly fading away and the light scenes we have come
to love in the earlier seasons are back!
Cristina and Mer and Alex were having their own lunch
banter when wife and wife team Callie and Arizona joined their table.
Angry Callie was uncontrollable
Callie: I hate your husband
(addressed to Mer)
Arizona: Owen said not to talk about it
Callie: Im not. Im
talking to myself. I hate Derek Shepherd. Why? Cause he’s an arrogant stealing
bastard. Haaa, I totally agree.
Now this self on self dialogue takes the trophy for funniest
scene of the episode.
Nobody could have done it better than Callie, or Sara for
that matter.
She was angry. There was no stopping her from ranting. Mer was
right there, and she was frank enough to tell Mer that she is displeased with her
husband.
What was admirable was that Mer did not engage when Callie was
ranting.
That was her husband Callie was talking bad things about but she chose
to just listen and keep quiet.
Just like Owen, she did not fan the flames of the out and
out conflict. They knew that Callie and Derek were friends, it would have been
unethical or improper to take sides on an issue like this and make the problem
worse.
Even Arizona was trying to pacify Callie. Reminded her about what she agreed about with Owen.
Arizona did not make matters worse either. She
respected both Callie and Derek enough to let them work this out. Noble and decent people
indeed.
It did not even matter who was right or wrong or who
misunderstood whom. They just stayed in the sidelines, and let Callie pour out
her angered emotions.
Even funnier, was Cristina’s apathy to the situation, when
from out of nowhere, since she was too busy with her internet dating efforts for
Owen, she popped the question to the lesbian couple, cause she badly needed advice
for potential dates for him:
Cristina: Do you ladies think she’s hot?
Then Arizona’s deadpan , honest reflex reply
Arizona: Yeah, very
There it is again, shall we just say, Arizona knows how to appreciate
real beauty.
Callie, whose mood was similar to Mt Vesuvius, could not
believe Arizona’s answer. Oh, was there a hint of jealousy, there? Cute.
Callie: And now I hate you
and then walks away.
Arizona’s still-deadpan reaction shot couldn't be any more hilarious
Some quarters have criticized this scene's throwaway line. Sensitivity was
expressed probably because the issues of Callie and Arizona regarding infidelity
had been too fresh, and this topic was not to be a joking matter at this early stage.
However, in my personal opinion, I believe it is just a plot
device, it just sets the mood for future playful banter about the infidelity
and any other sensitive topic altogether, involving Callie and Arizona.
I would like to think the writer inserted this funny
situation, to make light of what had been a very serious thing for half a
season’s worth of drama.
I just took it to mean that Callie and Arizona can now talk about things like this in a not so serious
manner. That Arizona still has that innate appreciation for beauty and Callie
knows that, and that Callie can be straightforward with Arizona, about how she
objects to it.
It’s part of being open to each other, being candid, even in
front of other people. Nothing wrong with that. I would even be more bothered
if Arizona feigned disinterest in the picture Cristina showed. I would be more
disappointed if Callie just kept her jealous disgusted reaction to herself.
Openness is not wrong. It’s even a positive sign, for a
couple who had a big communication difficulty for a long time.
Arizona got her groove back
Next scene Arizona asks Alex about their surgery, just when Alex and Jo were discussing the document signing once again
Arizona: Hey Alex, our guy’s being prepped
Alex: For what?
Alex saw this opening
to attract Jo’s attention to sign the paper so she could join the peds case
Alex: the cool trans oral thing? Cutting edge? Only being done in a few top level peds surge programs?
Arizona: Yeah, that’s the one
Alex: Okay, let’s do it
Arizona was amused. She sensed there was something going on
and she flashed that puzzled adorable smile, a new smile I never saw before.
So far, she had been consistent. All her scenes had been light or all-smiles.
Applause applause. This is progress, indeed. A welcome
relief, too. So refreshing to see her smiling while doctoring again-- without drama.
Not an asterisk but a butthole
Next scene, we see Derek entering a room to talk to Callie.
Callie’s stance was non-negotiable with her “stealing
bastard” friend
Callie: I’m not talking to you
Derek: Just listen. If you
understood what the brain mapping project can do, you would share your
technology.
Callie: Share? I'm sharing now? You're stealing it. You're stealing it.
Derek was insistent and went to the whiteboard to do a
mini-lecture on the brain and all its ways.
"Callie, the brain has more nerve cells than humans on earth. We
wanna understand how all those neurons interact, so we’re gonna start with a
smaller group like everybody here in the hospital, and we’re gonna determine
how they interact with each other"
Callie: Stop patronizing me. You're just saying your thing is more
important than mine
Derek: Im saying my thing feeds your thing. It will revolutionize
our understanding of what it means to be human
Callie: And yet, you wouldn’t have had the sensors if it weren't for
my thing you selfish …
Derek: Sefish!
Callie: Here, let me show you a diagram
And Callie walked toward the whiteboard to make her own doodle.
Derek: I'm an asterisk
And here we see Callie in all her Badassness Demeanor
Callie: This is you, you think you are the white hot center of the
universe , also , it looks like a butthole. Either way, it works.
And I laughed all the way to the next scene, my brain
actually ached from laughing. Yes, that was Callie Torres talking to Dr Derek Shepherd.
We heard right. She said "butthole."
Callie understood
The next scene shows Callie and Derek still deep into their discussion about the sensors
Callie: It just comes down to this. My research is just as important
as yours. Youre talking about microspcopic neurons, im talking about giving a
person the ability to walk again. This is important and you wouldn’t have come
up with the sensors if it wasn’t for my work . Sensors were an answer to a question I asked you
Derek: It was my answer! Don’t fight this Callie, you don’t want
to.
Callie: Why cause you have government lawyers now, I'm not gonna be bullied
Derek: You don’t have a case. My name is on the material. My name
is on the patents, they're mine. You can hear it from me now, you're gonna hear it
from a judge in court. My suggestion, save your time and money. Listen to
me. As your friend, I'm sorry. I feel
terrible.
Callie: There’s a reason you feel terrible. Cause it’s the wrong thing to do and
you know it. You're not used to answering to people. Now you have the President himself
calling you on the phone and you're afraid to say no. Even though you know this
is a hundred percent wrong. You're a good person. That’s why you feel bad. Cause you
should.
This is a powerful
scene. It’s a look into the inner depths of a personal friendship, conflicted
with professional interests. Callie and
Derek’s friendship.
Theirs was caught in a professional imbroglio. A sensitive
one at that. And both have their own
reasons.
It was wonderful to note that even if they were on opposite
poles on this, even if Callie was blinded by anger, and Derek was offended by
Callie venting her anger on him, even resorting to name calling, they still had
that effort to understand each other.
It is touching to note that this shows that theirs is a real
friendship. A strong one. Apart from the stunted litigation attempt, they kept it private, just between the two of them, they
argued on the merits of the issue. And it helped so much that their families,
their colleagues, were decent enough not to join in to fan the flame.
It was a mature
conflict between two good individuals, caught in a difficult professional
situation.
This could have easily eroded their friendship. But what they
did not forget, was to understand and to listen and to respect what the other
had to say.
Derek did not want to
do this to Callie. We saw that in the previous episode, but his hands were tied
to avoid the circumstance. And he did apologize to Callie, with that sincere “As your friend, I'm sorry I feel terrible."
It was a big thing. A big point. Derek did not let himself
get carried away by Callie’s ranting and name calling. He understood why Callie
was angry. He understood Callie. And he listened and he apologized and told
Callie what he felt about it.
He just really had no choice.
Callie, in the meantime, as we know her to be forgiving and understanding
especially to her wife, was again admirable for those words to Derek.
It just showed that even if she was too hurt by all this, she
still found it in herself to understand Derek. She knew her friend. She knew he
would not betray her. And when Derek said
he felt bad, she knew it was because Derek was a good person who had a
conscience. Who would not be happy about “stealing” the sensors. She could still manage to see that positive trait in Derek, even if she was hurting.
It was that wonderful friendship dynamic of these two that
uplifted both their character images in my eyes.
This kind of attitude, about seeing principle as imperative, about both standing up for what was right, and upholding friendship as more important than professional conflicts. Friendship was more
important than egos, after the anger
shown by Callie.
Derek understood that Callie had become emotional about it, but
he abstained from engaging Callie. He explained his side.
They overthrew the government
As the episode went on, it seemed that Derek had realized the
importance of the rights of Callie as co-developer of the sensors, and the importance of their friendship, when Derek gave the NIH people a call.
Callie was with him during the call and
even introduced her to the famous Lloyd from the NIH.
Lloyd's video call capability was still defective so he
could not see Callie’s beautiful face even as she eagerly said Hi to Lloyd.
Derek took a stand. He was going to fight for sharing of the
sensors because Callie co –developed the sensors with him.
Derek: I'm afraid this whole proprietory thing isn’t gonna work. Dr
Torres' and my work has to continue with our sensors.
Even as Lloyd presented his colleagues, involved with the
brain mapping initiative, as being participative
in the video call, funny how Derek wrote “Bullies” on a post it note , signaling
to Callie that these were the bullies who would pressure him to not share work
with the sensors.
He even placed the post-it on the computer screen which really
brought a light touch to a serious talk with government people regarding brain
mapping projects.
It was a friendship thing.
Derek was not fazed by the “Bullies”
Derek:Our working at the brain is like the brain itself, it's
dependent upon connections.Innovation and inspiration. Of scientists like Dr
Torres and millions of others.
As Derek was saying this, Callie was visibly cheering him on silently. They were a team once again. They’ve
gone back to being the Brain Mapping Dream Team.
Derek: If we have a policy that towards innovation then we're
stopping even before we start. It’s a fundamentally wrong approach. And I cant support
it.
Derek: We are willing to share our sensors with you. But only if
our work continues. If everybody’s research continues.
Lloyd: Your contract is very clear. We have sole right to your
sensors or you are out
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Derek Shepherd took a stand, for truth, he stood up for what was right, he stood up for friendship.
He knew this arrangement was unfair to Callie. Professionally.
And as a friend too, he was defending this.
And Callie was visibly amazed even admiring what Derek was courageously
doing.
Derek: You can tell that to the president. Better yet, get him on
the phone, I will tell him myself. Either the policy goes, or I go.
Lloyd paused and Callie was too tense to hear what was to happen next...
Lloyd: We will have to figure out a way to share
And that was the moment of triumph for the Dream Team. It
was high time for a 33 second dance party.
That dance that Callie danced was the most adorable dance
ever.
They won. The Brain Mapping Dream Team won. They stood for what they felt
was right. Derek took a stand. Most especially, he honored the fact that Callie was
his friend.
Now that’s friendship. He was going to give up the government project for the
sake of principle, he owed that to Callie. He was not a selfish bastard. He did it for what was proper. He did it for friendship and his
commitment to the friendship.
I cant help but gush about this display of loyalty and
commitment.
Now that’s what I call true friendship.
And that’s what I call a cool dance.
You go, Callie!
The Surprise Birthday Party
The last scene brings us to Richard’s surprise- birthday-party-after-all.
It did happen and I couldn’t help but notice Arizona’s happy
countenance, all smiles, and her earrings were lovely too!
I hope everyone noticed her excited reaction too, when she saw
Callie.
They were concerned when Callie and Derek arrived
Mer: Hey Arizona told me that Jacksn put together a committee
to look into this thing, for you and Callie.
Callie: You can tell them to stop
Arizona: Why what happened?
Arizona and Mer were puzzled
And Callie broke out with her victorious:
Callie: We overthrew the government today! Im thirsty!
"Transition
is movement. From one part of life, to a whole new one. And it can feel like one
long scary dark tunnel. But you have to
come out the other side. Because what's been waiting there, might be glorious."
Yes, this is the glorious part. The light at the end of the dark tunnel. Our beloved characters and beloved couple had gone through the difficult and dark times, and had emerged from it victoriously, both in their personal relationships and their careers.
It was a Happy Calzona Episode. Happy all-smiles Arizona is back to her glowy
shiny self.. Badass Callie fought for herself, her principles. Callie strengthened her friendship bond with Derek. All’s well in Calzonaland.
Of course, we're waiting for more sweet funny light tender loving moments in the next episodes!
Just the normal number of minutes this episode for Calzona, but that doesn't matter, because whenever they're happy and funny together, that's good enough for us!
Till then.
Twitter:
@GAFan8
