On Scuttlebutt and Butts

Calzona Review 12x08 “Things We Lost In the Fire”

We see Arizona bring up the possibility of Hunt and Riggs being a romantic thing, owing to the gossip that spread about their  controversial scene last ep.

And what was cute,  Callie brought it up too with Jackson as they were scrubbing in.

Jackson: No way
Callie: Haha i didn’t say it Arizona did

(Callie talked to Arizona? Awwww cutiees)

But as Callie said, it wasn’t  not gossip. It was “scuttlebutt”

Jackson quickly segued into asking a relevant interesting question: 

Jackson: Callie you and Arizona,  before you guys split you did the counselor thing right?

I liked that Jackson asked Callie this question. It was a question implying that the Calzona relationship was seen by Jackson, as a relationship just like all others. It did not matter if it was a lesbian relationship. To Jackson and to Greys Anatomy, it was plainly a relationship. It may be 2016 and this should be common but allow me to applaud in unending appreciation.

Callie answered with a reflective "yeah" yeah and in  her sad expression was etched how that didn’t exactly work out for them. There was that sadness that could easily be.read in Callie's eyes. She remembered her own broken marriage.

I like to think that this question was asked to remind Callie about how great her intimacy was with Arizona.

Arizona flirtin'

So parallel to Callie's scuttlebutt, Arizona meanwhile amidst the chaos because  the hospital was treating a large number of burn patients, was protective and took charge of treating a lady firefighter patient's butt with her own brand of flirty doctoring as the patient asked her not to expose the burnt butt.

Arizona: The burn is confined to one cheek. Luckily, I have a good one to compare  it to.

Patient: Thank you

Arizona caught herself too late. She was subconsciously complimenting and in essence, flirting.

As the  firefighter patient opened up about her predicament that in order to make a living, there had to be fires. , Arizona shared  having the same guilt in how she earned her income.
"I make a living out of sick babies."

This was a good insight on how Arizona perceived her job and i am wont to think that she liked having something in common with the female patient.

The lesbian in her took over due to the butt exposure? Arizona had become weak, or vulnerable to say the least, I don’t think I  have ever seen her have any attraction to a patient as Callie had.

Callie's advice

Callie was curious about Jackson's plans and gave unsolicited advice.She asked Jackson if he wanted to get back with Kepner:

Callie: One thing our therapist said that turned out to be true is do not have sex while youre sorting things out. It's messy, it's confusing. No sex. You guys had sex.

The upside to Callie's unsolicited advice is she seems to be reminiscing about how she and Arizona made mistakes and here she was, making sense of what happened to her falling out with Arizona, by giving Jackson the unsolicited advice.

Callie: Yeah we did too. It was messy.

So now we discover after one season,  how her  thoughts were about that sex night.during  the time they were having their counseling sessions. She found it confusing.

In a later scene, Callie wouldn't let the topic go.

Callie: So what kind of sex was it? Break up sex or make up sex? ause 

Cause you know break up sex is (quote)  sad-happy. It's an emotional potpourri. All the feelings, all the history..all of it it's all just right there cause you just know that it's the last time and it's like taking it all in there again before you go underwater.Like "do me or die" break up sex is the best.

Ben : But then you're broken up.

Callie: Yeah you're right. Make up sex is better because make up sex is like coming up for air when you thought there wouldnt be any more air. So uts like ll is forgiven so you throw off ll your troubles and your clothes and you get out out of the daark and into the light full speed ahead, oh God it's the best.

We can always count on Calliope Iphigenia to perfectly articulate the true essence of break up sex and make up sex right. That moving sex speech  there in the O.R. She tells it with such passion,as her nonchalant humor comes to play. No one else does it better than Sara Ramirez.

I loved that she revealed how great their make up sex was. She was referring to Arizona and with that I find great happiness. In the memories, No it's not pathetic to dwell on Calzona memories.

Arizona hits on her crush but

Arizona was so cute about relaying to  her loyal wingman Webber that she found one. An option. Who was funny, cute and contributes to public safety. But Richard wasn't going to wingman  a patient for her. It was childish according to the wingman. So with this good advice, Arizona, instead of giving closure to this childish attraction, had scored herself a future appointment or yeah like a date with the girl.

Arizona:So maybe we could see each other again? 

Patient: Like a follow up appointment?

Arizona: No ...

And then she just lost her bearings. The woman's exposed butt was grossly causing turbulence in Arizona's train of thought.

She had to run to Webber for help.

This didnt sit well with Wingman Webber so Arizona had to do what he said,

"You're a smart confident woman. Stretch your wings Robbins! Stretch em out. Feel the air!"

So when Robbins was discharging the patient who was worried about sitting, as her butt healed, Arizona could not control herself and invited her to coffee as soon as she healed.

Timing tho that another woman stepped into the scene and as luck would have it, she was the patient's girlfriend. Poor Arizona. She did stretch her wings, but then they were clipped by this setback. This is slowly becoming frustrating for her. Finding a suitable partner for herself.

As we can recall, she had always been about her career in the recent seasons. When she got her groove back, she focused on self fullfillmemt. She had focused on improving herself and got a new specialty. Never did we see her date or long for anyone. Not even have a crush.

Fiction wise, Arizona needed to fix herself after her much ballyhooed shortlived romances.

Audience-wise, seeing Arizona date anyone after Leah or crush on anyone was not going to be strategic for her character. Fans wouldnt be able to accept it at the time. Because fresh from the uproar from the Leah fling, it was just no

Wise to have her seek or have a new partner. The show focused on Callie's search for self, for love.

Now, we slowly see Arizona evolving. She has had her share of pain and she has painfully broken up with her wife. They did try to save it through counseling but this was not.to be.

Now that she had seen Callie.move on, and seen her wife hae a new girlfriend, the little bit of hope of getting back together with her wife had very miniscule possibility of coming true.

So gradually, she has decided to be on her own too and search for her happiness. Outside of Callie. If Callie was happy with someone, then the time is ripe for her to have a new person too. But she realized it was not easy.

The marriage has truly ended. And she is lonely, now she is doing something about it.

Noted though that at this stage, Arizona is vulnerable. She had given in to hitting on a patient due to butt exposure. This is not the Arizona  i know. She doesn't hit on patients. Nah uh. I don't think so.

Anyway, the search continues. And I hope she finds someone interesting and caring in the meantime.

Yes I'm okay with her having her own relationship while Callie has hers. Both temporarily of course. If this is the way to grow and mature and find their way back, i'm all for it.

Postscript

I miss Calzona together. There, i said it. I actually always say it on my mind. In every single episode since 11x05.

I actually don't remember when they did break up because it has been too long. I had to do some research how many eps ago it was.

What i have been guarded about is that i don’t fall into the abyss of finally giving up on my ship.

This is why I would like to draft a personal letter to Ms Rhimes to hear me out and agree to my request to expedite the Calzona reconciliation because too many hearts are broken already, and some have already jumped ship.

It is all right to have twists and turns in the story of a beloved tv couple, I just am terribly scared that I might get used to Callie and Arizona being apart.

It has been 27 episodes since they fell apart. And i doubt i will last one more season of them not being together. I might fall apart.

I  need to expedite my letter-writing plan to Queen Shon.

This 12B, I've learned not to guess anything anymore because Shonda has mastered the art of unpredictability.

I still trust the journey. Shonda said to trust it. I never wavered. 

But i am human enough to notice that it has been  taking too long. My patience is being tested painfully.

We have tended to ship new ships. And gloried in the romantic sweet moments of other tv couples. And yes. We do miss Calzona too much already.

I don't want to ship other ships more than Calzona but i need advice on how to deal with my ship that has capsized, and is left midsea, so distant from the shore.

Wait, this sea talk is making me sea sick :)

I just cannot help but be sentimental now and then.

Back in the day when lesbian relationships depicted on TV was  taboo, and some just hinted on it or some shows did have it but not as Greys Anatomy did, i rejoiced in how groundbreaking the Calzona characterization came to be.

It was the show that truly made us watch lesbians on tv without much fanfare. It treated a relationship between two women as such a normal thing. The other characters treated it as any other relationship, and the audience followed suit.

It did this groundbreaking achievement in a subtle, smooth mannner that greatly propelled lesbianism to being a normal thing in society. Well at least in the world of Greys Anatomy, it was just so normal to have two women fall in love, handle a relationship, and this  affected and touched so many lives that have been silently internally  oppressed by societal norms.

Not to mention the ensuing White Wedding which sealed Greys' stature as one of the few shows that recognized and respected gender differences. It pushed a new normal in the psyche of many, which i believe hugely contributed to how media, the public and the courts recognize gender equality.

Calzona is a beloved couple that has undeniably been instrumental in  influencing a new recognition and  regard for women who love women all over the world. It is obvious by the huge, dedicated fandom that has remained loyal to it even if things have  looked bleak for the pair for more than a year now.

To be honest, i noticed so many shows have followed suit. And they have produced so many loved pairings as well, which i have grown to love too. And i am so happy about this because i would like to think Greys Anatomy's Calzona was a major driving force of this, albeit unintentionally.

Eons of years after that Puppy Episode of Ellen DeGeneres' sitcom created havoc in the tv  status quo and created hopelessness in me  (because i sensed networks will always be strict about gay or lesbian content on network tv,  being careful not to disturb the wrath of the guardians of morality and led me to search for underground films and books on lesbian women), i am so proud to live in a time where a relationship between two women on network tv is loved and beloved and respected and even hailed just as a relationship between a man and a woman would.

Calzona is a simple tv couple. With the same challenges and share  tenderness as other couples do. But it is not just a tv relationship. It is an icon of gender equality. Of recognition of equal love among people of the  world.

In respect to this icon of equal and beautiful love, i strongly believe we deserve to see them come together again, no matter how long it takes.

For that is what true love means.

Jessica was announced to be on the way and we had hoped this pregnancy would be written in to the Calzona SL but that doesn't seem so. Maybe this season is too soon for that. Maybe S13 then ;)

No matter how bumpy and long and  winding the road is, i believe that this kind of true love deserves a happy future.

So here's to the future.

i promise to smile.  And  to smell the flowers as I travel on this journey.

Hold tight. Let’s enjoy 12B.

Calzona Deserves Forever.

Twitter:

@GAFan8

Finding New Loves

Calzona Review 12x07 “Something Against You”

This episode gives us a peek into Callie's relationship with Penny and how Arizona is moving on. 

God help me i was too surprised to see Callie in bed with Penny.

I'm not supposed to be surprised but i just was not ready to see them share a very intimate moment.

Why does it affect me? Because i was J E A L O U S.

Not because i want Callie for myself (well...maybe)

But because it was a steamingly steaming hot scene.

Too intimate for my Calzona loving eyes.

This episode  signaled a new era in Callie's dating life. Penny was not a one-shot fling. She showed promise of one whom Callie would take seriously.

And she has been apparently loving to Penny. We saw them in bed, with all the intimacy we had always wanted to see her have with Arizona.

My observations:

1. It was Callie who got things going in bed. Well at least that scene lets me do this sweeping generalization. 

Callie Torres is so very sensual that when you watch her, you feel like you're Penny ...or you wanna be Penny... or.... i wish not to elaborate

First she caresses her back then her side cheek, then the front of her neck, down to above the breast, which I’m sure did reach the breast.

Callie touched her in places we never saw her touch Arizona. Their bedside manner were of the type that Ive never seen done by Calzona (except for that S6 deleted scene which was the hottest Calzona intimate kiss ever) .

Callie and Penny's bed scene was more fluid, more natural. Callie holding her neck with so much tenderness. Touching her chest like it was the most natural thing to do. Now that’s what i call a real lesbian  interaction for network TV. Nothing was unnatural or forced.

2. What makes my gut ache is how i saw Callie with love and lust in her eyes when she tried to get it on with Penny. but alas, Penny drifted off to dreamland leaving a frustrated Callie.

Why did Penny fall asleep when Callie was so eager about kissing her neck and touching her and making love to her? (Okay, poundcaking)

Callie was disappointed that Penny fell asleep. But she did still look lovingly upon her precious sleeping Penny. Who did wake up to Mer's text message. Obvious that Penny is too engrossed in her work. Not that she loves Callie less but maybe work has more weight for now?

3. Callie is disappointed about two main things:

 a. that Penny has less time for her because of work or misdirected tasks
 b. And that Penny is not getting the training and teaching that she deserves

Feeling that Meredith's taxing schedule imposed on her resident intern Penny, which kept her from more Penny-loving, Callie had lost control of herself and had interfered. Outspoken as she is, she did give her two cents  on how Penny should be treated by Mer. Mainly because she was not getting enough bedtime and sweet time with her , girlfriend, and yeah, because she was concerned about Penny's medical education.

I’ve heard some criticism about Callie being all over the place because of Penny's learning issues and voluntarily took matters into her own hands,; and even asked Webber to rethink the resident rotation system

 Richard Webber (a.k.a. Julio P.), who unfortunately advised Callie that the requests should come from Penny herself.

First, i think it could have been Penny's duty to stand up for herself when Mer had not warmed up to her yet.

Although it was effective that Callie interfered in this issue and directly talked to Mer without consulting Penny, it would have been more proper if Penny fought for her right on her own.

Maybe Callie was being the  protective concerned girlfriend or maybe she did of course want more time with her girl.

May I also note that Callie did give a pissed side eye toward Amelia who tried to raise suspicion on  Callie's personal motives.

4. Arizona  meanwhile seems to have  accepted that  she finally has to move on.  We caught her asking April if she could be her wingman as she dips her toes in the dating pool again. But since April was unavailable, we saw her team up with a most unlikely yet most adorable wingman of all: Richard Webber. Who was going with her for trivia night. :)

This is actually good progress for Arizona.

5. Penny had said hurtful words to Callie, and they made me slightly uncomfortable, even if she did have a point.

“You’re embarrasing me. Nobody asked you to say anything so just shut up and stay out of it.”

I did understand Penny's point. The situation called for it.  Callie had been interfering with a professional issue. But maybe she could’ve said it in a more tactful manner cause in my opinion, the emphasis she put in pushing her point forward,  was embarrassing for Callie.

Callie was out of line but the way Penny told Callie was uncalled for too.

Hmm.

.

6. Last point but not the least, after the very long wait, what appalls me even more is how dedicated the diehard fans (me included) of Calzona are. Seeing the ship as non-existent for 27 eps is not for the faint hearted, but the Calzona fandom remains faithful.

Some may have an axe to grind with Penny, but in truth, of course we are happy that someone is making Callie happy nowadays as she is re-discovering herself and learning to love again.

Twitter:

@GAFan8

I'm Here

Calzona Review 12x06 “The Me Nobody Knows”

Callie and Penny were doing the silent treatment tango in the aftermath of  the dinner of the decade.

But obviously, Callie still cared so  she tried  to break the ice at the elevator but was thwarted by Penny.

Callie: First day today
Penny: You don’t have to do that.

The awkward silence was so thick...

Penny has been anxious about her controversial and very public transfer to Grey Sloan  but decides to rise  to the challenge of  being on  Meredith’s service.

Arizona Knows How it Feels

We saw April confiding Arizona that Jackson wants to amputate and not even try to treat a patient she and Riggs brought in. 

Arizona had to be blunt. April knew the boy's scans were so bad and not treatable and that's what upset Jackson.

Arizona: "You lied. About a little boy, April."
April: What are you saying?
Arizona: Nothing. Sorry.

She was about to leave but changed her mind and gave this expression with a hint of empathy:

I’m saying i know what it's like when i feel like everything's falling apart and you need something to pull it together. I just...I know..

Now why won't these sentiments from Arizona not tug at our heartstrings?  All that time at the dinner party, she was drunk and funny, but did we really ask ourselves why she got herself drunk? Why she was constantly looking for more to drink?

Yep. She was fighting her battles with all those bottles of wine.

Seemed as if she wanted to drown those sorrows away with liquor.

She put up a tipsy brave front at the dinner party. Clearly, by her actions at the dinner, SHE HAD NOT MOVED ON COMPLETELY.

From the time she and April peered through the window and saw Penny and Callie arrive, she was fighting her fear. She knew she wasn't ready to face the new couple. No.

She relied on alcohol for the numbness that she needed to shield her from the pain of seeing her ex-wife move on and  fall in love with someone who actually was worth enough to be her girlfriend.

Penny was feeling harassed by Mer, which of course didn’t sit well with her girlfriend Callie. But Penny wanted to handle it n her own.

Callie: Hey i could talk to her
Penny: I will figure this out. Its not your problem.

The Successful Surgery

Badass Callie turned out to be part of the surgical team that handled the boy's surgery.

Initially, at the OR, Callie said  there was nothing to work on. 

Jackson didn’t give up and voila. Soon enough, Callie did find a bone to work on.

Wtnessing Callie work with Jackson on an almost hopeless case, and seeing Jackson not giving up and Callie being there trying with Jackson and found just what they needed to save the patient's hands, it was a dramatic win for the plastics-ortho team, and of course for case sponsors April and Riggs.

Couldn’t help but think of Jackson and Callie in the past episode. When Callie turned to Jackson for advice. I’m loving this new work pairing, and new friendship. Jackson and Callie are geniuses in the OR and comrades in personal matters.

Mer used to be one of Callie's confidantes but after the dinner ep, and because Callie's girlfriend is Penny, looks like that Merlie friendship is on pause.

Callie did call Mer out on being a bully to Penny:

You don't teach by shoving someone's face in the dirt. Thats not teaching. Thats just being mean. And small.

Penny and Callie finally had the chance to talk things over and the lines were just words of people who genuinely care about each other:

Penny: Why are you making this harder
Callie:I just did what i should've done at the party.
Penny: Callie i get it. They're your friends.

Callie: We are surgeons. We make mistakes. We need to be forgiven. I will if you will. And ...im here.. if you are.

Penny : I'm here.

Callie said that almost tearfully. It came from her heart. And Penny's tears were about to fall.

Callie loves Penny. Penny loves Callie. That was what I saw. Callie found someone for sure. Worth her love. And honestly, Penny is a decent human. I can’t think of anything negative about her. And if we do love Callie and  want the best for her, looks like Penny is a good woman for her.

Seeing Callie  lovingly caress Penny's ponytail and rubbing her back in a motherly way, oh my i have to conclude: Callie has truly found someone she has opened her heart to. After Arizona…

As if we weren't traumatized enough by their sweetness in 12x05, their 10-second lip lock in this episode just added the saltiest salt to the wound.  And i had two kinds of feelings  playing tug-o-war within me:

1) It felt painful. Because my heart is only set for seeing Callie and Arizona being sweet to each other, and kissing, and walking arm in arm beneath the moonlit sky. But in this scene, Callie was with a new love.

2) On the other hand, not to be selfish about it, I’m glad  to see Callie find someone with whom.she is happy. The look in those sincere eyes just say nothing but love for her girl. And she did pick a good human. If it isn’t Arizona in this stage in her life, then Penny is a good substitute. Temporary though cause i need not say why i know it is a temporary union.

Wink.

Twitter:


@GAFan8 

Callie's New Girl

Calzona Review 12x05  “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner”



“I think i need more liquor. I'm not ready” – was Arizona’s opening line as she and April, sitting by the window at the famous dinner party,  saw Callie and Penny arrive. 

This is exactly what I felt pre-show. I wanted all the liquor i could get my hands on.

 The episode did live up to its promotional hype and more!  We all knew Penny was coming to dinner, and  I was just clueless on how I could handle it--. Seeing Callie with a new girlfriend, and seeing Arizona there. Much as it hurt,  the episode just kept us glued to the screen. It was that special, that it did not really bother to give us  the usual voice over.

Callie and Penny debut

Callie was on call. Club soda with lime was all she asked for and asked for white wine for Penny.

Penny and Mer obviously recognized each other and Penny wanted to leave but Callie innocently asked her to stay. She wanted Penny to get to know her friends. She had no inkling whatsoever of Mer and Penny's familiarity with each other.

Callie was all bubbly and I sensed a little nervousness about introducing her new friend. Good thing all of them were nice and cordial

While Callie enjoyed introducing her new girlfriend  to everyone, Penny was trading  brief glances with Meredith. She wanted to leave but Callie said everyone would love her.

Penny: Callie can we go?
Callie: What is going on?
Penny: I’m sorry i just need to

Callie: Is it Arizona? Cause it seems like a big deal but it's not . I promise, she's great.
Penny: No it's not
Callie: Come on. Come on let's rip the band aid. I will introduce you

From Callie’s words I surmise she does have high regard for her ex-wife. And she wants Penny and Arizona to get along well.

In fairness to Penny, she wanted to leave and get rid of the already brewing awkwardness with Meredith but  didn’t get a chance.

Callie introduced her to April and then to Amelia who thought the legendary Penny is lovely.

Callie held her hand as she introduced her to Penny. More pleasantries with Mer was making Penny feel more awkward.

Penny meets Arizona

Callie even thought it was Arizona that made Penny feel uncomfortable so yep. The scene we wanted and felt queasy to see, ;

Callie: Is it Arizona? Cause it seems like a big deal but it's not . I promise, she's great.
Penny: No it's not
Callie: Come on
Come on let's rip the band aid. I will introduce you

From Callie’s words, she does have high regard for her ex-wife. And she wants Penny and Arizona to get along well.

The Arizona-Penny convo went this way:

Callie: Penny, this is Arizona Robbins.  Arizona, this is Penny

Arizona: Hi! We've heard so many things about you

Penny: Gosh I’ve  moved all over . I’m three naval bases in the States, Guam, Bahrain

Arizona: Whoa hold on we lived in Bahrain

Penny: Get out

While Callie was busy on the phone, Arizona became chatty with Penny and except for the tipsy element, they seemed to hit it off.

Penny: My mom's a petroleum seismologist. Every two years, new school, new language, new food. I was in college before i even tried mac n cheese

Arizona: My gosh, try telling a class your name is Arizona, "no honey, not where you’re from. Whats your name?"

Penny: Okay all right you had it worse.

Arizona grabbed bestfriend April and told of her  drunken Penny thoughts. As Arizona chatted with April, we saw Arizona try to start to come to terms:

Arizona: I met her. Penny. I don’t hate her. I like her. I like Her a lot.
She’s genuinely great and Callie's so happy and im drinking and…

However, April had her own topic so all we had to do was listen in to gather Arizona's feelings about Penny.

When the argument of whether to order pizza or cook, Arizona butts in

Who are you trying to impress? Penny? Cause Penny will roll with it. She's a delight. She's smart, she's funny. We have a crazy amount in common.       

And then a drunk realization which is downright hilarious, “ Oh God, maybe I should date Penny”.

Alex: No
Amelia :Ill advised

Arizona: Callie... Callie picked a pretty a penny

Alex: How much have you had to drink?

Keep an eye on her

Still holding hands, Callie had to go on call and told Mer

Callie had to go to the hospital to take care but told Penny to stay and have a good time. She kissed Penny goodbye. On the lips. And my heart was on the floor. Lifeless. never to be revived again.

Callie asked Mer a favor as she felt  bad to leave. With her words, it was obvious she really cared about Penny and that she wanted her to have a good time with her friends. Also, she put emphasis on how Arizona positively received her,

Callie: Will you keep an eye on her and make sure she has fun? Thank you.

I dont know what she was worried about. I mean Arizona loves her. They were like talk talk talk  talk

But Mer didnt want to have anything to do with her.

And there we saw Callie talking to Owen at the hospital gushing about her girlfriend.

Callie: Arizona loves her...Everybody loves her..you have to meet her...

Back at Mer's, Arizona was praising April for bringing order to chaos in the kitchen but April had to take the knife away from Arizona who was totally drunk

Arizona: Jackson is an idiot. You cook you’re pretty, youre...youre a Penny. Why dont i have a Penny? Callie has one. Jackson has one but he threw it away.

April: Will you please stop?

At the dinner table, as Callie had not come back yet, Penny was thinking of how she would get a ride home:

Arizona: Well she better come back soon otherwise I'll take you home myself.  Find a Penny, pick it up

Bailey: Dr Robbins you’re drunk. Dont think I've never seen that. I like drunk Dr Robbins

Aww Calliope. I used to call her that..

She was as drunk as could be. And i must say that was the easiest way to handle it. It would've been more difficult if she were sober. I was sober when i learned Penny called Callie Calliope and it hurts. At least Arizona isn’t.

Penny Is Here To Stay 


Further on, we learn from Bailey that Penny is set for an interview with her as a transferring resident

Then there was a painful silence when Meredith blurted out that Penny killed her husband.

It was all too much to take for everyone present, including drunk Arizona.

As everyone was letting it sink in and Arizona verbalized it as "youre coming  to work with us?"

Penny had handled everything gracefully. The dinner table full of Derek's colleagues and even his own sister had that expected animosity and handling a group of people like that required grace and poise and Penny had that.

Then Callie arrived with Owen  unknowing of the tension that had gone on inside the room

Oh whats going on?
Penny's coming to work with us.

And then Amelia let out the bombshell that Penny killed Derek

The confusion and bewilderment etched all over Callie's face was just too much. The tension in that dinner table was too thick it felt suffocating.


We could see the struggle within Callie.

She was there for her girlfriend of course. Telling Penny she didn’t have to engage Amelia's "interrogation".

But she was also torn with why Penny didn’t tell her about this earlier.

Amelia asking Penny about being one of the last people to see Derek prompted Callie to stop Amelia right there. "Amelia, thats enough"

Penny was being sort of harassed.

"Before you killed him, can you tell me what his last words were?"

Amelia was not intentionally bullying Penny. She was just voicing out her deep sentiments for she never saw her brother during his last moments. They never got to say goodbye and It's not apt to judge Amelia's actions either. This is a grieving sister in pain.

But Callie was already feeling the pressure on Penny and as her girlfriend, she felt for her and banged the table and asked Amelia to stop.

Maybe she felt it was unfair to corner Penny in this way in view of everyone. But she had her own stuff to settle with Penny.

Poor Penny. We know she did try to tell Callie but she just was not able to.

She did ask Penny when she confronted her why she didnt even tell about Derek when she was going to transfer as resident to GSMH. For sure, it would spark an uproar that was actually happening then.

Callie: I still dont understand. You were coming to work here. Why didn’t you tell me?

Penny: Callie it’s a big hospital. I didn’t know you knew him

Callie: He was my friend. Meredith, all of them

Arizona being the designated “light moment provider” did her job :

Arizona: Am i supposed to do anything? Cause she’s my ex but on the other hand she’s my ex so i guess that means no?

Callie was still the thoughtful  good friend amidst it all and went to check on Mer who was in her bedroom, but Mer answered she was okay and closed the door on Callie.

Callie looking for Penny, chanced upon Jackson and asked for much needed advice. She needed to let it out. And he gave a direct realistic answer.  Here was a new friendship born:

Callie: I don’t know how to do it. I don’t know how to shrug it off. How i feel about her. I dont even know if i want to

Jackson: Well even if you want to, I’m not so sure that you can.

Notes:

It was painful  to see Callie holding hands with Penny. And it killed me to see them kissing..

By the way they talked with each other, It feels like they have known each other long enough and it was obvious that they got along.  I felt familiarity and it seemed as if Callie has told Penny every detail about everyone.

So amidst Mer's dilemma on welcoming Penny, Amelia's worries on no one cooking for the houseful of hungry surgeons and Maggie's UTI troubles, surprise! Arizona and Penny hit it off as they did customary small talk at the party. They shared things in common.  Both of their families moved around a lot. And both lived in Bahrain!

Arizona and Penny chatting and laughing was both a funny and amusing thing to see. And Callie was i guess happy about that.

When Penny mentioned “Calliope” as she was talking, I could not take it.  They were "Team Penelope and Calliope." They rhyme. 

Calliope--we know how special it is when  Arizona calls her that. It seems only special people her call her by that name. And here was Penny…it goes without saying how special she is to Calliope. However what was supposed to be a painful blow to Arizona and to us, was cushioned by Arizona's amusing drunkenness:

The acting of all those people in that scene was just excellent. I was trying to play critic in that highly charged scene but everyone and i mean EVERYONE displayed IMPECCABLE acting. Especially Samantha Sloyan. She played the beleaguered Penny so well. Every expression was just on point.

No one would have wanted to be on that kind of hot seat! The hottest seat where all these attendings and residents of Grey Sloan Memorial seemed to be collectively analyzing her, even nearly judging her.

Amelia was irrepressible. Her unfinished business about her brother's death being unearthed once again and how…...at the expense of Penny.

It isn’t even an issue anymore if  Penny did kill Derek. She DID NOT.

We all saw how she tried to stand up to the more superior neuro attending but to no avail. If ever we could fault her with anything, it was that the resident assigned  happened to be her. No resident could've convinced those egotistical snotty doctors at Dillard.

Penny did want Derek to have a head CT but didn't stand a chance against that stubborn doctor, although as down to earth as she is, she did tell Meredith that she wasn't a good enough doctor.

Recounting all these, was just too heavy for the whole Grey Sloan dinner group. And it was too, for us watching. It was too painful having to recall what happened in that darned hospital. And with all the doctors present hearing all these for the first time, with bated breath and simply shocked, we just could not take away our eyes from the screen. Wanting to see everyone's reaction, most especially Callie's.

Not that my love for Calzona is lessened but Penny and the actress who plays her are pretty decent and beautiful.  And they did have chemistry to be honest.

Callie was simply hurt and torn. We could see her struggle within.  She was proud to bring her girlfriend to meet her friends. And now this? Her gf was being humiliated and was forced to answer loaded questions about something  even she regretted; but she was torn on why Penny didn’t tell her in advance. She knew Derek was from Grey Sloan. Maybe she could've told Callie about him?

I'm not judging Penny though. It was a delicate topic. It was a ‘damned if you do, damned if u don’t’ kind of topic.

And can we talk about how emotional Callie was? When the confrontation was so heated and Amelia's grilling was too much for Callie's limits, she  pounded on the dinner table. It was badass Callie suppressed, because she wasn’t angry. She was a mixture of confusion, pacifying the turmoil inside her and around her.

Penny is beautiful. She seems like a good person. She seems to be okay for Callie. But of course, this isn’t my ship and this goes against the “Calzona Forever” rulebook. This is a ruiner. So is it bad to say that i was sort of rooting for Mer. She was angry at Penny. So yeah i took sides. I did want her not to treat Penny well. That’s just bluntly the Calzona kind of fan I am. Just being honest but no harm intended. I do like Penny. But not her relationship with Callie.

At the end of this episode, Callie and Penny were not so fine with each other, but Callie was concerned. Confused but she did care. And with Jackson’s words to her in the end, we concluded it was complicated.  She was torn between love and her loyalty to her friends. Take noet that this is just the beginning of their relationship, and we already spot kinks. But yeah, they're solvable. 

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