A New Love

Calzona Review 12x02 "Walking Tall"

There is a new love in Callie's life.

And it isn't  Arizona.


And 12x02 is the episode that let that sink in.

There had been much media hype before this episode aired,  that both will date other people and i believe much  prep time had already been provided to us. If you are still not ready for this, well high five. Neither am I.

Callie met someone

Callie was busy and all agog over the new apple of her eye.

She had been excitedly telling her pals about it and on this occasion of prepping for New Chief Bailey's surprise breakfast, Callie had been chatting with Maggie and Amelia about her new love interest.

Callie was gushing and it seemed like after the several women and men that she had dated, she had finally found a worthy person who gets her.

Much as it hurts me personally to say it, Callie appeared to be really smitten, and the girl (im pretending I dont know who the girl will be) seems to be smitten by her too. And Callie is nothing short of amazed:

"She asked to see me again . Its crazy. You know when you meet someone and you get that flutter rush and it feels like you know them and they know you and you say to yourself "i could stare at this person's face forever." Do you know what i mean? Or maybe not"

She didn't know though that Arizona was within earshot.

I was relieved to see a somehow apologetic Callie glancing at Arizona in surprise.

Arizona dissolved the awkward atmosphere by changing the subject and seemed to be unaffected by it, but later on we discover she was not unaffected at all. Which i secretly liked. I like a little jealousy between the members of my ship .

Arizona the rash whisperer

Arizona was changing in the locker room with April and as she asked April if she had talked with Jackson yet, she discovered April's hideous rash, suspected to come from her stint overseas.

This was coupled with April's struggle with staying awake that it felt like morphine.

So, as Arizona worried that April might be contagious citing that she worked with babies, April was sentenced by Chief Bailey to the isolation bubble. Cant not be quarantined with that kind of rash.

Arizona, being the dutiful bestie that she was, told April not to worry for she promised to visit her best friend in her bubble "prison."

Arizona reminded me so much of Yang when she said tongue in cheek, "i will visit you, i promise."

Paper Panties and Aprizona

Arizona had been the best friend that she was. She made good on her promise and on her visit, she was consoling the distraught April.

April: I have on paper panties. You know how paper panties feel?

Arizona: I imagine that there's some chafing

Okay, Listen, its a chance to relax. So you should take a nap and get rid of your jet lag. Or read, it's like a spa

April: I am in a bubble. I am trapped in a bubble. Jackson, he came in once. Took a look at me and then walked away. And i couldn't go after him because the bubble doesn't travel

Arizona : No it does not.

April: I am alone in here. I am trapped like a bug. Like some kind of a nasty bug and I'm covered in disease. You would think that he would want to talk to me. I'm gonna die of a mysterious disease with a chafed buggy ass and I'm all alone!

Arizona: Oh oh don't freak out. You've been in here for like an hour.

April: Its not that. It's Jackson

Arizona: How can i help?

April: Um just talk.  talk about something else. Anything.

And here, Arizona found the perfect time to open up and release her pent up feelings. And she said it in so many body movements that made it obvious that she was anxious or bothered about it.

Arizona: Okay um okay oh here's the thing. Callie, met someone

She was trying to act like it was the most normal thing, but her gestures were a tad bit extraneous.

April: Oh uhm so are u okay with that?

Arizona: Yeah super. Awesome.

April: That's great then

Arizona: I mean we should be happy for her. She SOUNDS happy. You know happier than she's ever been. She says.  i mean apparently like FOREVER happy.

April: Do we have to talk about this?

Arizona: Well if she does. Cause she started talking to everybody about it.

Funny how the confiding /consoling session originally supposed to be April's time for a sob story, had slowly become Arizona's time to air her problems. And April was not going to let that happen right then.

Aprizona scenes, i noticed, are always funny especially when they are both facing trying times. This friendship is one of the golden ones that's always enjoyable  to watch. In a word, they're usually HILARIOUS.

 On Friends with benefits

Callie, meanwhile had been part of the group of docs who had been disappointed with Bailey's overly hands-on approach as chief that she had to blurt out to Owen to come back as Chief. "i loved you as Chief"

After the united front against Bailey's dictatorial ways, Callie's dialogue with Amelia (who was quiet when Owen asked for suggestions,) was another funny moment :

Callie quizzed Amelia on her silence to Owen about Bailey. Which led Amelia to confide:

Amelia: Have you ever had a friend who's like a really good friend but u just wanna make out with them all the time?

Callie: Oh yeah i used to do that for years.

Amelia: And what happened?

Callie: Sofia.
Amelia got the answer she did not expect .


This was all too familiar territory for Callie. This was her, years ago, and it was heartwarming that this scene reminded us about Mark. Her best friend. The friend with whom she could do all things with, yes including sexy stuff, with no emotions attached, and still remaining to be best friends.

Also, it is really nice to see Callie being adviser of both halves of Omelia. Cause thats how good a friend she is.

All she's saying is..."like her"

This last scene with Calzona together, made me want to forget that i wanted to see a Calzona scene but okay, okay. It's all part of the journey.

This may be a stopover i dread but i guess i need to grin and bear it.

Callie: oh! Arizona! Here, Sofia forgot this. We're on uh... We made it to page 12. She is exhausted so you can probably get away with an early bedtime

Arizona: thanks. Hey, um, big date?

Callie: you heard?

Arizona: yeah! I mean, everybody heard. You know, you can tell me, Callie. You can always tell me.

Callie : Yeah?

Arizona: Yeah

Callie: You'd like her. She's funny and sharp and um we dont just find the same things funny...we say the same thing at the same time

Arizona : Okay no yeah you can dial back the enthusiasm.

Callie: No really. It's like we share the same brain.

All I'm saying is, like her.


Since we saw the sneak peek, one thought was in my mind.  Callie is happy. She is gushing. First time in a long time we have ever seen her like this.

Can't help but have mixed feelings.

Of course I'm happy that Callie is happy. And having met someone whom she feels shares her brain, has the same thoughts, (just like Arizona then, remember when they said they had the same thoughts? yeah)  that is really cool.

Not saying that this girl is the new Arizona in her life. But people do say the qualities that this girl possesses may be similar to what attracted her to Arizona in the first place. She sees shades of Arizona's personality on this woman and this is what makes her drawn to the person? Maybe.

She is funny and sharp and shares same thoughts. They click in that way and it really is wonderful to see Callie finally happy and speaking about another human being with such adoration.

Callie had gone through a lot with their marriage troubles and all. She had always been very loving and giving, forgiving even if there was infidelity.

now that they are apart, its time to focus on herself and what makes her happy. How long has it been since we saw that twinkle in Callie's eye ?

Gushing wildly about an individual who seems to be really compatible with her?

Out of all her dates which led to nowhere: steak knives, cop guy et.al, this was the one date for whom she had heaping praises. 



It hurt to see Arizona's reaction. She felt the need to open up to April. Maybe because she could not hold it in.

It hurt her that it was like Callie was overjoyed at her new love that she was not exactly shy to tell everyone about her.

Maybe if they had moved on, as we have assumed , i question why Arizona is still bothered . Maybe it means one thing, which is maybe, she still has not moved on completely. Since the break up, Arizona had never really dated other people. Not even once. Nor did we see her ever consider that. Well at least not on screen.

Callie, meanwhile, has apparently moved on. It kinda hurts because it means one thing. She has reached closure. And has truly opened up her heart to another person. 

She has been having dates here and there and Arizona seemed to be okay with it. But this one person about whom Callie was excited to tell everyone about, has made Arizona feel a little jealous, maybe. Or maybe it hurts her. But of course she isn't  admitting that. She was even bravely telling Callie to tell her all about her new love interests. But when Callie did let out how thrilled she was about this new girl, Arizona realized she couldn't take it. Not yet.

Maybe when she does see how serious Callie is with this girl, that's when her total acceptance of the situation will set in.

I'm rooting for Callie's happiness and Arizona's happiness. They both deserve it.

Callie has gone on ahead with moving on and we have to give that to her. She is making the most out of a long period of love setbacks and this time, maybe she feels she is finally blessed with having a human being who is truly right for her.

She is concerned about Arizona of course. And that is the reason she wasnt openly telling Arizona about it. That's how much she respects Arizona.

They are friends. Co-parents to Sofia. And it isnt bad at all for each to seek out their own happiness.

Who knows, one day soon, Arizona will also find someone who can be special to her too.

Talks of filming at a lesbian bar had spurred speculation that maybe this is where Arizona will find her new romantic interest.

For now we have no choice but to be happy for Callie.

Even if I'm sad about it and that I became even sadder when I saw Arizona  sad about it too.

Bottom line is, i want both of them happy and none of the rest of it matters.

Time to buck up and be open to these changes. It's a long, winding road.

Remember the preshus journey.

And Trust it. Cause Shonda said so. *insert wink emoji*

Calzona for Always.

Twitter:

@GAFan8

They are Legend

Calzona Review 12 x 01   “Sledgehammer”

Did you cry and chuckle and cheer in the season 12 premiere of Grey's Anatomy? Well i did. Very much so.

Stacy McKee did not fail me.

Her lines moved me...shook...me, brought me home...relieved me and best of all, made me laugh out loud.

Whatever antidote she used to bring out all the important emotions from our hearts in a single hour, well it was most effective. And that my dear, is what you call: genius.

Very smooth execution of story flow and seamless direction by Mr McKidd deserves a looped round of applause.

As a Calzona loyalist, i must admit that Shonda did not disappoint  in giving my babies ample screen time in this episode.

Of course i know that with an ensemble cast, they all get their turn in the spotlight, but surely it is a good sign to see Calliope and Arizona in almost 75% of the scenes. My Calzona soul is well pleased.

Why? Because it is the first episode of the season.

So what? Because it just means that the Calzona characters are respected enough to be a huge part of the premiere. Probably an implication of the producer's and network's respect for their drawing power and formidable fanbase? Maybe.

Yes, ABC, you're on the right track. Start the season with more Callie and Arizona and you can never go wrong. Pardon the bias. It's normal.

The tone of Meredith’s voice-over signified change. In everyone’s lives, including Calzona’s...

"So you might be thinking, Ive been here before. This is familiar. This is old hat . Maybe youre wondering, 'why are we here?' But i promise, you’re about to find out that everything has changed."

State of Calzona in 12x01

Callie and Arizona at the season premiere, are leading lives separately and as friends.

In case you did not notice, (which i highly doubt), Callie and Arizona got ample amount of focus on this episode. They both amazed and enthralled us individually. Each had their own touching (Callie's) and amusing (Arizona's) stories.

This time, in their individual situations, i chose just to look at their personalities at face value. Nothing yet of how this all will lead them back to each other.

Nope.

None of that yet.

I would rather enjoy them become their real selves. Now as ex-wives, they are going through life normally. They are good to each other and are facing what life deals them, on their own.  And they are fine.

Tackling the topic of bullying by reason of homophobia is very very close to home for this blog. And it is commendable that Shonda chooses to tackle bullying this season because it is a reality that needs concerned attention.

Moreso, it is related to the Calzona story.

I could not get my goosebumps to stand down when Callie, in all her sensitivity and curiousness about the injuries sustained by two teens Jessica and Aliyah, and their matching tattoos to boot, sought to get to the bottom of the story.

And surprise, it was an issue so close to home that it unleashed the venom of the Callie Torres Badassness.

Callie’s Cause

This episode gave us snippets of the Callie Torres character in full bloom. She is a friend (to Owen). She is badass. She is principled. And she will defend you.

Callie was badass since the beginning of the ep, after Avery seemed to avoid conversation with them about April: “Should we clear Trauma one to remove the giant bug from Avery's ass?”

She was a dependable friend as she gave advice to Owen who was like a high school lad nervous about asking Amelia out.

She gave wise words to Owen who seemed to be just  “overthinking”.

Callie’s patients were two pedestrians hit by a train on their way to school.

From the time Ben informed them of this, Callie was affected. Mainly because the victims were just kids, and injuries included a broken pelvis, and insides split apart.

Callie had said  they had to treat her internal injuries first before she could stabilize the  pelvis and extremities

The patients made  Callie curious . She knew there was something amiss. And both patients were concerned with each other. And both had hearts drawn on their arms. These conversations between Callie and Jess were so moving that they split the insides of my heart:

Callie:Honey, tell me what happened out there
Jess: We just wanted to be together , dead or alive

Callie:Youre only 15. You want to die?
Jess: It's more complicated than that. We weren’t suicidal

Callie: Jess, Im gonna tell you something personal about myself okay?
I like men...romantically sometimes. And i like women too. Its a big big part of my life. Can I ask you something personal about yourself?

Do you like ...girls? Do you like Aliyah?
Jess: I love her
Callie:What were u two doing out there ?
Jess: It's not that we wanted to die. This was just the only way we could stay together forever.

Callie: No. No Jess there are so many other ways. Killing yourself solves nothing
Jess: My parents, they’re sending me away…. They take you in the middle of the night and they change you.
They’re gonna make me change my mind about Aliyah.

Maggie: Your parents are doing this?

Sincere  understanding was etched in Callie's face. She willingly opened up about herself because she knew well enough that this young girl needed that sense of belonging. Jess needed to feel that somebody understood and accepted her and that she is okay as she is. She was feeling all this. It was familiar.

She had informally taken it upon herself to be counsel for this girl. She was her defender and was full of compassion for Jess who was undergoing such turmoil for  a reason that was familiar for her.

When Jess’ parents came, Callie was protective, asking that the parents be advised that they can see Aliyah after surgery.

Overheard from  the parents of both teens  was a demeaning little sentence: “They think they are in love with each other. They wanna grow up and get married”

As Callie and company  left after  informing Jess’ parents of their daughter’s multiple fractures, and Callie overheard Jess’ mom blaming her husband for giving Jess  a heads up about what I assume to be a conversion camp for gay teens, it was all Callie needed to hear.

Callie: I’m sorry but I’m not sure you understand what those places are like. I know you’re trying to help your daughter but that kind of camp is horrible. It will not give her the kind of support that she needs and I realize that you care about Jess but..

Mom: Care about her? We love her. She's our child. Our child. Please this doesn’t concern you

Callie: Jess' fear of that place is why she stepped in front of a train to begin with. She doesn't feel safe

Mom: We are not doing this now.. ..You have no right to talk to me other than about my child's medical care

Callie: She’s right to feel afraid. Those places are harmful. They will damage her mentally, emotionally. They are tantamount to child abuse.

Mom: You are here for one thing. One thing only and that is to attend to my child's  injuries ,  to help my daughter. That’s it.
So you can either shut up and do the job that you are here to do or I will get rid of you. Where do you think you’re going?

Callie: Like you said. To help your daughter.

Uh oh, Callie’s maad.

As they were in the OR, Callie spat out her thoughts to her colleagues:

Callie : That woman was bullying her own child. And you know, don’t  even get me started on her husband, he is useless. Useless.

Karev: Poor kids got no one in her corner

Maggie: What would make someone do that? Why would people act like that?

Callie: Karev?
Karev: Why you asking me?
Callie: Cause you’re a bully.

Just when we were about to fall into an emotional stupor, count on Callie Torres to add a touch of humor.  But here comes important information about Callie’s history, (the girl who sat in back of the class and ate her hair),  that is revealed in these lines:

Alex: Don’t go projecting all your stuff on me just cause you got picked on as a kid.

Callie: Oh no, nobody picked on Callie Torres
Maggie: Really?
Callie: Yeah, I was an easy target. I didn’t look like other girls. I didn’t act like them. I had to learn how to stand up to people like Karev.
So, I learned to fight. Tell you something though, once you start to punch your first bully, the rest start to fall in line pretty quickly

That’s tough Callie for ya.

Callie was human enough to react and fight for the kid who did not have a voice. And in effect, she represented the silent sector who could not love as they want, because they are discriminated against, by the very people whom they thought would support them-- basically FAMILY.

Being different from the norm is difficult enough as it is, and having to deal with it by yourself is a challenge in itself. But the very people you expect to be your primary support system, may not always support nor understand

Callie getting to the root cause of the injuries, defending Jess and fighting for her, was just admirable. And though we do know how active Sara the actor is in her advocacies, it is wonderful to see her character Callie Torres taking action on the small screen, to defend this kid from her mom who, in the guise of  thinking of the child's best interests, is actually already bordering on bullying, because of not respecting their child’s wishes and feelings.

Callie called Child Protective Services against the parents who were to bring Jess  to that camp designed to "transform" her from her current orientation, despite her dissent. How Callie stood up to the Jess' mom was pure badass Torres in action.

Not that we condone disrespect to parents of patients. This was a different case because  Callie stood up to Jess’ parents mainly because 1) the child opened up to her, which Jess could not do  to her close-minded parents 2) Callie understood how Jess was feeling because liking girls was right up her alley.

Callie understood her and felt for her. And she could see the glaring injustice dealt upon the helpless child by the very parents who were supposed to understand and support the child.

She wasn't the type to overstep the doctor-patient relationship but this case called for special attention and action. And badass as she is, she had taken on this case seemingly as a personal mission, beyond being Jessica's doctor.

Again, this added another dimension to Callie Torres that is well worth our admiration. She keeps impressing us, I could not help but cheer her on. Cute though that Maggie, after the mom thought it was her that told on them spewed these biting words, “Stop filling her head with your faithless inappropriate nonsense. You repulse me. You’re disgusting.

 As fate would have it, Maggie accidentally finished off the issue in true Maggot Pierth fashion.

Mer was trying to knock some sense into them. That there was a proper way to conduct themselves and not this way.

Callie, though,  was determined about her stand. For her , that woman deserved it. For her , it was personal

“You know what? Grey has a point. Next time leave the thumb away from the fist when you clench. That way you avoid bone damage. See?”

Is that badass or is that badass? ‘Nuff said.

Arizona the Legend

Arizona's roommate-search situation provided the comic relief in the episode and yes, it was hilarious.

Funny due to multiple reasons but much as we learned more about Callie,  we also learned new things about Arizona:

1) that even if she was an accomplished surgeon with two specialties, her patients had not paid her much. Maybe she had taken in a lot of pro bono cases because tiny humans aren’t the kind of patients a peds surgeon with Arizona’s heart can refuse. Tthus, she needs to share rent.

2) The Calzona house of my dreams had already been sold.  So Arizona, right after housemate Alex  decided to move to a new home with Jo, had to look for a place to live.

3) that nobody wanted to live with her, not even her bff April (a new surprise fact from Stacy)

4) that she is concerned about her best friend April that even Jackson found it somehow intruding

5) that people didn’t believe that she is an honest to goodness amputee.

6) Best of all,  that she is a legend and might be immortal.

On Arizona’s Renting Capability

I wish not to overthink about Arizona’s income capability and her net worth. I would just go with the flow that she does need to share rent with someone.  Neither do I want to think this is more about not wanting to be alone.

I will submit  to the script that Arizona is  an established esteemed surgeon who is part owner of a hospital, who could not afford rent. I’m fine with that. Maybe it is a story writing license in keeping with the Grey’s tradition to have the doctors as roomies. It gives them a more down to earth image, and makes them more relateable to people. That even high net worth single doctors need  roomies. They share apartments too.

Her dialogue with Stephanie was comedy all the way when she was puzzled at the lack of interest of hospital people to be her roommate:

Arizona: My flier's  perfectly placed. It's clear. Aesthetically pleasing.

Stephanie: Why do you need a roommate? You have a house.

Arizona: Had a house. Callie and I sold it. Now it turns out i need a little help in the rent department. You'd be surprised how many patients can’t afford my fees. I mean what am i gonna do? Gonna look the parents in the eye and tell them i can’t treat their teeny tiny little sickly babies?
Hey! Do u need a place to live?

Stephanie: I already have a place

Arizona is a Legend and Maybe Immortal

We were surprised with the new revelation that Arizona was not a very likeable roomie.

And that she is in fact, a legend. This has got to be the most hilarious thing ever. I think this will be one of the funniest if not the funniest scene in S12.

In Stephanie's words:

Is it because i have a kid? Or is it because im a boss like people dont want to live with their boss?

Stephanie: Did you hear DR Torres stabbed a white supremacist in the face?

Arizona: What aren’t u telling me

Have you ever been assigned back to back NICU shifts Edwards? And I'm not talking for like a weekend. Im talking for months of long terrible quiet nights all alone in the NICU watching over 27 incubators full of fragile dying little lies. You know how hard that is. Do you have any idea?

Stephanie: You are kind of a legend with the interns and residents.

Arizona was flattered maybe? But scoffing.

Arizona: Go on
Stephanie: You’re one of the Seattle Grace five
Arizona: I survived a plane crash uh big deal and a car crash and a shooting
Stephanie: You might be immortal.
You've mastered one of the most exclusive specialties basically overnight and then you took Herman's job and her eyesight .

Arizona: Okay that’s just…

Stephanie: You have screwed dozens of interns and you got them all fired. You speak really fast. Like superhuman fast.
You  have a weird name

Arizona: It's not true. I only slept with one intern and i have an awesome name
What? What else?

Do people have a problem that i only have one leg? I mean do people actually go there and talk crap about a one-legged person. Because that’s just discrimination against amputees.

Stephanie: They say you have two legs and you are only pretending that one is amputated. For the parking space.

We were one with the baffled Arizona.

But we were certainly floored by the hilarity of Steph's words.

Later on though, someone did take a tab from Arizona's flier and I couldn’t be happier.

So Arizona, has gotten a roommate in  hot new intern Andrew De Luca. She was skeptical at first on what DeLuca’s intentions were, but we discovered he wasn’t exactly popular with his fellow interns, so that makes a cool roommate pairing-- A Legend and an Outcast. 

Perfect.

In the Grey’s universe, being roomies is where the significant friendships are molded. Not to mention the countless funny roomie moments that are sure to happen.

So I’m expecting a lot and really excited to see the roomie adventures of  A and A.

Truth be told though, Arizona is truly a legend. Amputee or not. Affairs or not. She is the good man in the storm. And yes, she is A LEGEND.

I don’t need to make a list to substantiate this. You should know why.

And in the best three seconds of the ep, the good man in a storm high fives with her badass “friend” Callie Torres. A true legend and a hero, herself.

Arizona: Is it true? Callie punched a. Homophobe?

Pierce punched a homophobe.

Arizona: Ooh unexpected! Yes!

Team Badass scored. And it was high fives all around. And that Calzona High Five was the scene that made me happiest inthe season premiere. 

One line that stood out in this ep came from the dad who turned on his wife, for his troubled child’s sake. Thank goodness he saw the light,

“I don’t care if she's gay. I care if she's loved. I care if she's happy. And that is what u should care about. What is wrong with you, that you dont!”

And that sums up what Callie Torres has sought to achieve. And all is well.

So let’s not care if they’re separated. Let’s care I they’re loved and if they’re happy.

Things look good for the season. Let’s see where this roomie story goes.

Let’s see where the dating story goes.

Let’s see where this story of “friendship” takes us. *Wink*.

I am Mer when she says in the closing VO:

“My answer is you.  The thing that has changed is you.”

So many changes. ‘Tis the time for new beginnings.

Let’s go with them and dive in… see where the waves take us.

High five.

#Calzona5ever.

Twitter:

@GAFan8

The Sun Will Rise Again

Calzona Review 11x24 “You’re My Home”

“I remember in school someone  telling me I came from a broken home. That’s what they used to call it when your parents got divorced. Even though getting divorced was the least broken thing they ever did. When I heard that as a kid, I wondered if broken homes were where the broken people lived.

It was silly. I mean I was just a little kid. But to this day, I still wonder.”

Calzona In sync

As Meredith voiced these words about broken homes, as if as a fitting parallel,  we saw Callie and Arizona on screen, together with Steph, together attending to Joan and her baby, pushing the bed from the elevator on the way to the O.R.

Callie: Still feeling those toes, Joan? Good.

Arizona: You guys, let’s stop. Let’s stop for a sec

Joan (patient): What’s happening?.

Arizona:  There’s just a little bleeding which is normal after a delivery, but we’re gonna get you checked before you get your spinal surgery. Gonna take her

Joan:No, no what are you doing?

Arizona: Just for a while

Joan: No please, we were crushed in a car.  My fiance’s dead. You’re not taking my baby.

Callie: Joan your baby’s doing fine, we just need to check you out

Arizona: Okay you need to take him to the NICU and page Karev

Yes, Arizona was handing the baby over to Stephanie, which means she will be left with just Callie and the patient. Goody 

Joan: No (crying)

Arizona:It looks like uterine atony. We need to move fast.

Callie : We move fast,  we paralyze her

Arizona: We move too slow, and she bleeds to death

And the two slowly push the bed together, ever so carefully, but not too slow. They were in sync. They were a team. At last they looked at each other and talked to each other and it was such a big moment!!!---them talking to each other…about a patient…

Here I go again with my shallowness because even seeing them  just talking to each other about a patient  makes my heart pound … yes this is what it all has come to… happiness in the smallest things Calzona.

The camera work in this scene was superb. Like they were showing how Callie and Arizona were doing this together, and how they were pushing the bed. And most important of all, the camera focused on their stride, their shoes—Callie taking steps backward, while Arizona moving forward…seeing those lovely  pumas and Arizona’s prosthetic shoes … and  they had  a shared mission. They were going to save this woman’s life  as a team.

In the O.R., my hopes of only Callie and Arizona there with the nurses were dashed because Amelia was there. But I love Amelia so that’s okay.

Before they put Joan under anesthesia, Jo caught up with them in the O.R and after she announced that Keith was there at the hospital and was alive, Joan was elated although it made her pressure drop and they had to perform surgery

When at last the catheter was working, and  they successfully stopped her bleeding.

Workplace dating policy

This conversation happened in the O.R. And i did notice that Arizona and Callie were at the right place and time when Amelia made her unforgettable speech on workplace romance:

Amelia: So an intern opened her collar?

Callie: Stu--

Arizona: Wait, was that the intern we thought was an attending?

Amelia: You mistook an intern for an attending?

Arizona: Yeah he was pretty much running the trauma

Callie :Like a boss. Like a hot, hot boss. Somebody should get into that

Arizona: (Chuckling) Maybe you should get into that

Callie: You know what? You should get into that

Amelia: I don’t think so.  Have started a strict no workplace dating policy

Arizona: I hear you

Amelia: It’s all too…you know..They see you , all of you , then you come to work and they see you here too and you try to keep it professional and get things done but suddenly you’re thinking “I was naked on you before,” or “I wish you were naked now” “hey, remember when you were at my very rock bottom and I went down the rabbit hole and dragged you in with me and bared the darkest part of my soul in the midnight hours, so now let’s have a budget meeting.” It’s a solid policy. Trust me.

The wisdom from Maggie

This line from Maggie, who was dealing with her parents’ breakup, was a very important line as she spoke with Jackson and Meredith in the O.R., and I just had to take a moment to write it on here:

“You don’t just shrug your shoulders and call it quits. You find a way to work through it. You don’t just give up and throw it all away like it was nothing”

Cough cough, pay attention to this, Callie and Arizona.

Then with Joan being rushed to the O.R, Callie was there first and Arizona arrived to learn it was a Leaking carotid pseudoaneurysm

Arizona: And what about her right side, did she get her motor function back?

Callie: I’m worried about brain death at this point. She can easily throw a clot and have a massive hemispheric stroke

Arizona: Well it’s a good thing that you caught it

Callie: No Edwards. Edwards did

Mer’s good advice

I  could not help but single out this scene with Mer calling Catherine and Richard out on their petty arguments, where the words were strikingly relateable to Callie and Arizona…

Mer:

“…But the both of you are very very much alive, and breathing and driving each other crazy. And you yell and you argue and fight, and you both should be thrilled to be able to do those things.I would give anything to be able to do those things.  And none of those things are reason enough to not be with the person that you love, especially when there just isn’t enough, there will never be enough time. And you both know that  and whatever it is that’s coming between you two, will you just please figure it out?

Touching as it was, how I wish Calzona heard all this.

And as if to stress the point further, the scene between Keith and Joan could have opened the characters’ eyes to being thankful for what they had at present and making the most of what was existing. Learning not to take things for granted just because of the shallow unimportant matters. The new perspective was inspiring.

My baby, is my baby okay?

He’s doing just fine

Joan: And Keith, is he…

Keith: Im here

Joan: You’re here

Keith: I’m right here

Im looking right at you

Notes:

After watching the finale four times, i noticed some things.

I noticed the way Callie and Arizona worked with each other was just the same as they cooperated during the Gary Clarke epi. There was tension in the situation and they had to work well together.

It was teamwork-- especially when the camera focused on their stride and shoes, moving in sync, with each careful step.

And all was well. They finally talked to each other after working together on the patient giving birth on the elevator, in the previous episode.

I was slightly uncomfortable when they talked about the hot new male intern and Arizona ribbed Callie that she should get into that. And Callie in turn ribbed Amelia to get into that.

First, as a person who roots for the Calzona reconciliation, it hurts that Arizona was egging Callie on to have a date with another person and that was just a damper on my Calzona spirit.

However, in a different view, it was a good thing to hear Arizona fully accepting of Callie's bisexuality.

When before, she had her qualms about Callie also being into men, this time, we saw her supportive of that fact and that is a good sign of progress.

This talk then paved the way for Amelia's hilariously serious "speech" about romance in the workplace and i would like to think that there was a reason that it happened with Arizona and Callie in that same room.

This did not happen randomly, i would think. It was awkward but it was meaningfully funny.

It allowed us a tiny bit of an eavesdrop into the minds of these docs who work together, in this case Callie and Arizona, and that they try to keep it professional, yet they know each other as intimately as possible, and just brush that aside when work beckons.

At the wedding reception, seeing Callie dance to her heart's desire swinging her arms high up in the air, it was refreshing, it was invigorating. Like it was an antidote to all the tragedy, it was a way of coping, which was inspiring, and setting up for a fresh start.







Seeing Arizona being the dutiful best friend to April at a difficult time, as they shared a similar tragedy that April had been trying to handle, which was losing an unborn child—Arizona consoling her was heartwarming.

She was able to weather her own storms and was now capable of being strong enough to help her friend April to get through her challenges.

And as season 11 closed, we saw a great big progression in the characters and relationship of Callie and Arizona from the pilot to the finale

In Catherine and Richard's wedding reception, i was hoping Callie and Arizona would at least sit close to each other, or at least talk, but we did not see any of that.

Much talk had been made about the missing vase scene that didn’t make the final cut, and it does lead one to think that whatever the plans for Calzona for this season may have to be seen next season.

This ending voice over was as relevant to Calzona as it was to the other main characters…

“You can build a house out of anything. Make it as strong as you want. But a home..a home is more fragile than that. A home is made of the people you fill it with. And people can be broken, sure. But any surgeon knows, what’s broken can be mended…what’s hurt can be healed. That no matter how hard it gets, the sun’s gonna rise again.” This season, we saw Callie and Arizona break up, and it came to a close with them still broken up.

I never expected they would not get back with each other this same season, but we saw the season end with them as just friends.

Even if their marriage was broken, they were not broken as individuals.

In fact, we have seen them on their journey of self-rediscovery, of strength in the face of challenge, of facing the new possibilities of career advancement and new love.

This season we saw Arizona take on the baton from the best fetal surgeon in the country, therefore we saw her with a new specialty and she had been badass at it.

Callie had finally seen much success from the brain mapping project she started with Derek.

And she saw it work in Dan, her new friend.

It was an episode that symbolized new hope, new strength. That after a long journey of pain, strength was to be found.

Whatever their fate will be, I am still hoping fervently that they continue their growth as individuals to finally be right for each other. And happy together.

The journey may have twists and turns. But no matter how dim hopes may be, I have confidence that the sun will shine on the Calzona love story once again.

Shonda expressly says new romances are in store for both.

That makes my heart break but if this is necessary in this road to growth and wholeness, then I accept that with a broken but open heart.

It is comforting to know that Shonda is a giant fan of Calzona and she roots for them, so I take confidence in that. It pays to have the creator of the show on your side, shipping along with you.

I'm so stoked to see the drama and the funny moments unfold in Season 12.

Good and ready for a brand new season. Just six weeks to go.

Ready for new lives, new loves, and ready for Calzona to finally be ready for each other, and reach their happy ever after.

Calzona Forever in Season 12 and beyond..



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