The New Normal

Arizona Review 14x04 
Greys Anatomy “Ain’t That A Kick In the Head”

Although this intense  episode centered on Amelia's  heroic conquest of her brain tumor, the episode had significant Arizona moments that not only provided lightness to this heavily dramatic episode, it also established foundations for future plot lines. 

The episode also gave us a glimpse into how  Arizona's character has evolved. Aside from us seeing how  loyal and caring Arizona is as a friend, we also saw via her advice to her best friend, how she had coped with all the challenges that came her way.

Best of all,  she got a very welcome surprise in between all the sexy time with her oozing-with-sexiness new lover. 

The Diagnostic Truth 

 All the tension and drama was in this powerful first scene in the O.R.  where Amelia was about to undergo surgery, and to boost confidence amongst themselves, all the doctors and nurses did that iconic superhero pose.

The Beach Boys song was reverberating in the O.R. while the talented but arrogant neurosurgeon performed brain surgery on Amelia.

Arizona was in the gallery watching their colleague's surgery and Carina was seated beside her.

It seemed to remind us that this infamous tumor was found during the process of this groundbreaking research by Carina Deluca.

Carina: I still don't believe it.

Arizona: That masturbation diagnosed the brain tumor?

God works in mysterious ways, indeed Carina. Masturbation was the reason that Amelia's tumor was diagnosed.

Carina is a blessing not only to Arizona but also to Grey Sloan.

This is how the two lovers  kid about the heavy moment of Amelia's brain tumor surgery. 

Tumor Talks

The  team huddle, consisting of our beleaguered team of five fine surgeons Mer, Alex, Maggie, Arizona and April, trying to cope with Amelia's post op results,  use the healing power of laughs.

In this chat, they came to terms on how the tumor affected Amelia's random, sometimes irrational decisions  in the past.

April was not amused with the rowdiness,  but  Arizona  defended their cheerful tumor talk huddle to her best friend April,  "You have to laugh in situations like this,"

This led me to remember Arizona's past painful experiences and how she had overcome them and emerged a stronger, happier person.. All challenges that came her way was enough basis  to give wise, sound  advice to April. 

One thing to note too was Arizona's contribution to the tumor talks  where they referred to  persons or decisions equated with "tumor" as in brain tumor which has somehow affected the behavior and had distorted the  decision making process of a person.

In jest, she humorously blurted out "Eliza" as tumor.

Maybe this was her way of saying Eliza was just caused by a "tumor,"  and her leaving was caused by it too? Whatever she meant by that, you be the judge. To me, it seemed that was pounding the final nail in the coffin of the deceased Ariliza story.

Arizona and April Discuss a New Normal

This touching scene in the Trauma room further solidified the Aprizona friendship.

Arizona chanced upon April lying on the e.r. bed. She knew her friend was struggling with something, so she sought to find out what was wrong. Here we see how caring and loyal Arizona is as a friend. As she consoled April, we realize that she was the right person to give April advice for she had a similar painful experience.

April was deeply troubled about going home if she won't have Harriet. With her and Jackson's new arrangement, it meant she wouldn't see Harriet half the time.

Arizona: I remember that. It's really hard at first.

April: At first?

Arizona: Yeah. eventually, you have a new normal. And eventually you miss her on the nights that you don't have her but you know that she's  somewhere safe and loved and the ache is less. And then maybe some new  grown up fun comes into your life and maybe there's some joy in that.

April: I don't want a new normal. Don't you have Italian sex waiting for you?

Arizona: I do (laughs)

It was truly touching to see Arizona's support and opening up about how she adjusted too to her own new normal.

This is the first time we have heard her open up about her own experience and it is making me emotional to realize that even though she willingly gave way to Callie to bring Sofia with her to New York, Arizona had to adjust to the difficult situation of  being separated from her daughter.

Since the separation was unavoidable, she had to make a choice to sacrifice herself so that all can be happy. But we did not really see how this affected her emotionally. Now she let us in on her emotional state during those times and triumphantly found the sensible way to cope with it.  After all, she did come out of it a happier and better person who knows how to appreciate the new joys that come her way.

Also, it was truly admirable to see how sincere she was as a friend to April. Arizona doing the signature Grey's way of true solidarity in friendship, a.k.a. laying in your best friend's bed to comfort her, gave even more extra substance to her character. The Aprizona friendship is stronger than ever.

The Surprise During Hot Italian Sex

Next scene, we see the sexy new duo in bed, presumably in the aftermath of hot Italian sex, having some residual sexy time. The tenderness of this scene deserved multiple rewatches. Don’t tell me you didn’t notice how Carina’s caresses  were just really sweet.

The sweetness was cut though by a joyful interruption. Arizona got a text message with a surprise message for us: Sofia is coming home!

“It’s my daughter Sofia. She wants to move home.”

I couldn't believe my ears. And I cannot help but notice Arizona's  delight at the news. Our baby Sofia is coming back. 

Until now, I do not know how to express how ecstatic  I feel about this. How we have missed Sofia on screen! The last time we saw her was  in Callie's house when Arizona gave Callie her blessing to take  Sofia with her  to New York. Sofia was totally absent in Season 13 and finally, we will see her again.

That scene finished though with me not knowing how to interpret Carina’s reaction. I'm sure she was okay with it. She's cool. 

Questions after Arizona broke the news:

1.Why was Sofia coming home? Did she not like New York?
2. What did Callie say about this?
3. Will Sofia come home alone?
4. Will she stay with Arizona permanently?
5. What will the repercussions be on Callie's stay in New York?

6.How will this affect Carina’s and Arizona’s relationship? Will Sof like Carina?

7. So how hot was the hot italian sex they had that night?

Looking into the future, will Callie miss Sofia? Enough to come back and stay in Seattle too, eventually?

Hold up. No hysterical reactions please :)  Yes, I heard the news about Sara becoming a regular on Madam Secretary. Coupled with Krista Vernoff's statement of Sara not coming back this S14, I have lost hopes of Callie coming back this season. 

My dreams have been adjusted and  are now geared toward series end. As a Calzona fangirl veteran, i have learned the art of suspending hope and making myself happy with the dream of a good series ending for my ship.

I realize I’m thinking too far into the future when there is so much to celebrate right now. Sofia is coming home. And I cannot wait to see her again. Her mama has missed her so much. 

Although Arizona did mention that she has learned to get used to her new normal, here was her daughter sending her a message that  evidently made her happy. We cannot deny  how that expression of delight couldn't be erased from Arizona's face when she read the good news.

Sure, Arizona is living and enjoying the single life right now, dating and sexily mating, but I'm quite sure that she is even more joyful at the return of her beloved daughter. No sexy time can compare with that. 

Arizona is, after all, a mother first and foremost. I'm sure we can expect more exciting times with Sofia and Arizona.

Having seen the sneak peek for next episode, Arizona is on tinder ready to date again as she said she "broke up" with Carina accidentally when she told her of Sofia's return.

Having seen various synopses of future eps where Carina is still a guest star, i have no doubt Carina is here to stay. 

A note on Calzona prospects 

It is great news that Sara has become a regular on Madam Secretary, the inevitable question is: what will happen to Calzona?

Nobody really knows. Nobody ever knew after she posted that tweet about taking a much needed break from Grey's. She deserves the fulfillment and happiness that her new path will give her. She has already mapped out her activity  for this tv season but who knows, maybe she can still appear on Grey's one day in the next seasons to come.

All I’m really hoping for now is that Calzona will still get that happy ending as they were meant to have. Maybe that will still happen when Sara comes back for that one final episode for a  Calzona happy ending.

Meanwhile, maybe it is high time to be 100% all in for Arizona's happiness. She is the remaining half of the ship that's left with us, there is nothing we can want more than pure happiness and peace for her.

As she intimated her new normal to April, we can rest assured with the fact that she has already made peace with her new situation and has already adjusted to it. Let's let her be happy and have fun as she deserves, too.

Excited to see more fun with Arizona and Sofia this season. And more sexy times with Carina.

Till next time.

Twitter:

@GAFan8