The Last Dance

Great, so now I feel like a hypocrite. After unloading on Izzie and Denny in the last Grey's Anatomy recap, I now have to eat some of my words in light of Monday's season finale. (Incidentally, apologies for being so late, but I was home visiting mom_ruv and pop_ruv, and they put me to work in the family coal mines.) Anyway, buckle down, maybe go get some snacks or a two-liter martini, because this one's gonna be long.

We start with a special joint voiceover in which all of the cast members chime in. The hard-hitting thesis this week: though humans need a lot of things to FEEL alive (family, love, sex, MySpace, Devil Dogs), in fact the only thing you need to truly BE alive is a beating heart. I'm sure David Blaine will try to disprove this sometime soon, and by all means he's welcome to try.

The action picks up right where it left off, with Burke lying shot on the sidewalk and Izzie having just cut the cord on Denny's LVAD. Shocked at what Izzie has done, George says they have to call a code—please just let it not be a code black, cause that would mean a guest appearance by Christina Ricci. But Izzie, still in Mommie Dearest mode, screams that if George uses the code button to call somebody she'll hurt him.

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God, he even BLEEDS neatly

Webber doesn't want Cristina to learn that Burke's been shot. So he assigns her to run an entire trauma room by herself, which makes her giddier than Kathie Lee Gifford at a sweatshop-child swap meet. Webber diverts Burke to the other trauma room, where Burke, delirious and not adapting well to the "patient" role, keeps trying to get off his stretcher.

Despite Webber's efforts, Cristina glimpses Burke from afar. She runs over, but the others assure her that things are under control and send her back to her own patient in the other trauma room. This patient of Cristina's turns out to be the gunman, who turned the gun on himself after shooting Burke and the restaurant manager. Cristina resolves to save this guy so he doesn't just to take the easy way out and just die on the spot. I wonder what happened to this guy, cause they dropped this plot thread faster than Emily's Reasons Why Not.

Burke's bullet wound is serious and may have caused nerve damage to his arm. Cristina runs back over to his room, and Burke asks the other doctors to give them a moment in private. As he starts to speak, Cristina interrupts. But rather than say something even remotely appropriate to the moment, she blurts out that she knows he's sorry for not letting her go pick up the transplant heart—but she forgives him. Are you kidding? I mean she says it all nicely, but BITCH THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE WORLD BESIDES YOU. Burke lets her finish—apparently he's just as condescending even after massive blood loss—and says what was going to say was that he needs somebody to check Denny Duquette's lab results. HA.

George pages Cristina and Meredith to Denny's room, and the girls freak out when they find out what Izzie has done. Izzie, still going pretty insane, keeps saying that when Burke gets back everything will be fine because he'll know what to do. Finally Cristina gets a word in edgewise amid all the shrieking and conveys the news that Burke has been shot. At this, Izzie shifts from screaming banshee mode to acute panic mode. Meredith tries to calm everybody down and says she might have a plan if she could just have a minute to think.

Since we needed more tension, Webber's no-nonsense wife shows up at the hospital, direct from chaperoning their niece Camille's high school prom. Turns out the niece picked prom night to sleep with her boyfriend for the first time, but then lost consciousness during the dirty deed. Honey, that's called ROOFIES. Anyway a bunch of the niece's friends are in tow, dressed up like drapery. Mrs. Webber tries to keep Webber from finding out his niece's hymen was breached, but he catches on pretty quickly. We learn that the niece, Camille, had a bout with ovarian cancer a couple years ago and the cancer may have returned.

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"Girl you would not believe the honky dancing I saw tonight"
The Last Dance Sections:  1  |  2  |  3  |  4  |  5  |  6  |  7  |  8 

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Comments (32)

Bauer's Sweetheart Author Profile Page:

Thank you, m_ruv! That was sooooo worth the wait. This was the funniest recap I have read in my year and a half as a loyal TVgasm fan. I will miss your work so much this summer - maybe you could go back and recap the first season off the DVD?

juxtapoeser Author Profile Page:

m_ruv: Cristina was asking Burke if he was going to tell McDreamy about his hand tremor I think.

But I think he is a) gonna wait to see if it goes away or b) doesn't know how to tell him because he knows Derek will feel guilty, since he was afraid to do the surgery in the first place.

I agree that Alex won back a lot of points over the 2 final epis. He obviously really loves Izzie -- and he was very sensitive i.e. un-Alex like in handling her emotional state.

index Author Profile Page:

we will miss your recaps m_ruv! see you in fall!

Tony A. Author Profile Page:

Well, let me tell ya. I waited a long time for the recap because my DVR decided to go bonkers and recorded only the first 17 minutes of this show. You may recall Pres. Bush gave his bullshit address re immigration that night and Oprah must have thrown her weight around to avoid having her "Legends" ball run late, delaying it until tonight. Aaaaaaanyway, I'm awfully glad I missed the prom ball. That scene belongs in "24", where all the impossible stuff happens. I, for one, am glad the dragged-out Denny saga is over and I truly hope Dizzie is gone forever. Alas, they'll probably replicate her season-long stupid "love" next year, a la the familiar sequel mode.

Given that some of the characters are so poorly defined, or so way out they wouldn't be tolerated anywhere, let alone a major hospital, one has to continue to suspend reality. May as well be in Alice in Wonderland. I initially loved no-nonsense Bailey, she of the golden vajayjay, but allowing the farce over the interns' Denny high-jinks ruined her character. The little sourpuss deserved better. Now she falls into the "tough with a heart of gold marshmellow" category. Not good. Her snarkiness factor is way down now.

Still, this show is what saved the last few months for "Desperate Housewives", which has sunk to a tremendous low. I won't be visiting Wisteria Lane anymore. I notice I'm not alone, since you guys quit in disgust several weeks ago. Farewell! Maybe now you can start reviewing something worthwhile, like "CSI Miami". Just kidding!

The countdown to "Big Brother" begins. Hope this season is as good as last year's hatefest for "The Friendship", but I also hope we get someone smarter than Kaysar to play the hero.

Leah3t Author Profile Page:

Worth the wait and I do believe that you took the cake for funniest screencap captions.

I thought I was the last sane person on earth the whole second half of the finale. Dog and prom could have been kept out, I thought the interns were being stupid and selfish, not noble, but that last scene with crazy izzy walking out of the hospital in her dress was pretty good.

booooo mcdreamy!! bring back mcsteamy!

kiami Author Profile Page:

What is your issue with making fun of the way the black women talk? the first time it was slightly amusing, but by the 6th reference, i was offended. stop.

JasonR Author Profile Page:

m_ruv, thanks for the great recaps on this show all season. Your screencap captions on this one were so funny. I'm sure you didn't intend any offense on the jive-talking jokes for the black women characters, but I can certainly see where someone could take offense since you did go to that well quite a few times. Kind of a stark contrast since this show probably has the most positive and non-stereotypical portrayals of black characters in prime time.

Will be interesting to see how the Meredith/He-Shepard thing plays out. I think the writers have tried very hard not to have the whole show revolve around "will they or won't they", since that premise can make for great television (i.e., first two seasons of "Moonlighting"), but it can only take you so far and then you have nothing left (i.e., all subsequent seasons of "Moonlighting").

Bauer's Sweetheart Author Profile Page:

I didn't see it as making fun of the way some black women talk, but acknowledging and praising how they are not afraid to speak their mind and are often right on target about the ridiculousness of a situation, which results in extremely funny comments. The screencap with Bailey and "Oh hell no . . . Journey" was truly something I could imagine her character saying - or something a good friend of mine, who also happens to be a successful and professional black woman in her mid thirties would say if we were at a club. And don't forget, m_ruv is an equal opportunity humorist, we've had lots of jokes en espanol when it comes to Dr. Torres and her chichis grandes.

Laurie Author Profile Page:

I thought Cristina was asking Burke if he was going to tell He-shepherd about the stuff with Denny.

m_ruv Author Profile Page:

Ack! Certainly no offense intended, but apologies in any case. With recaps this long sometimes it's hard to keep track of how many times a joke is used. But between Izzie jokes and Callie jokes and Bailey jokes and Meredith jokes I'm sure I've offended everybody by this point.

BSL Author Profile Page:

m_ruv - GREAT JOB! I think you nail Mrs. Webber and Bailey. They are both super feisty and don't take any shit.

And thank you for finally succumbing to the romantic-ness that is Denny and Izzie. God, between the dog and Denny, I cried for a good 20 minutes of the show.

BTW, what kind of name is Denny? You've got Preston and Addison and Derek and...Denny? But oh well, he's so hot.

Lisa Author Profile Page:

Loved the finale, I don't care if it was melodramatic or Denny's storyline went on too long or the prom thing was improbable. I was laughing and crying and gasping and that's what good TV is supposed to make you do!

However, I had one problem. When Meredith made her entrance down the staircase to the prom, Finn (and McDreamy, I think) was/were awed by her beauty. I didn't get it. She didn't look any different than usual; she was just wearing a black dress instead of scrubs. To me, there was no real transformation there, which made the moment lack believability. I used to defend Meredith when people said she was whiny and unlikeable, but it's getting a little hard to believe that two men would be in love with her. She has every right to be down because her life's not going so great right now, but I think she needs to gain back a few personality points so we have reason to believe that these men would be interested in her.

Abbenormal Author Profile Page:

Excellent recap!
I full on snort laughed in my cube at the "Shit, she heard me say that" pic.

Clair Author Profile Page:

My outloud laughing was caused by the line about Denny - have you NOT BEEN WATCHING THIS SHOW.

Also loved Meredith: The High School Years pic.

Hilarious recap

TVCheese Author Profile Page:

m_ruv- I've really enjoyed your recaps this season and thank you for so many laughs!

One thing: I was surprised that you were not amused (since it wasn't mentioned) by Bailey's pseudo tyrade about her interns being completely MIA when they are normally complete "suck ups," even referring to them repeatedly that way. Then Burke's deadpan response, "I'm just a patient." It was great... It's amazing how this show combines humor and drama so well.

norma rae Author Profile Page:

Loved the recap, loved the show, even though by 10:15 I was SO ready for bed. Yes, the prom was ridiculous, but a necessary evil for all the other ridiculous things that had to happen. Dr. Webber really IS the most interesting character on the show now. I hope they show us more of the backstory of he and Ellis' love affair. I hope Pollywax doesn't choose Finn and also doesn't choose McDreamy either. I don't want her to hurt poor "I have a dead wife" Finn with her "I love McDreamy, but will give you a try" demeanor; and McDreamy is a real little shit for following Pollywax into the exam room and proceeding to do an in depth internal exam when he had such contempt for Addison when she performed her own thorough exam on McSteamy. "For shame" as my Grandma Betty used to say! McDreamy (even though I love Patrick Dempsey) deserves a season alone to sort out his feelings. On another front, Callie is just too big a girl for George. He looks like such a little thing next to Callie of the generous curves. Also, I really can't wait to see the Christina/Burke storyline play out. I'm sure I'll be planted right in front of the TV when season 3 with all of the anticipated twists and turns begins!

JasonR Author Profile Page:

When Meredith came down the stairs in her prom dress, they should have had "If You Leave" from OMD playing in the background. If you don't know what I'm talking about you're definitely under 30.

tvtvtv Author Profile Page:

Thanks for the recap, m-ruv.

The pink hair-in-high-school comment was ludicrous. Ellen Pompeo, sure, but Meredith Grey? No way, you know it was tartan plaid skirts and saddle shoes all the way.

Loved that scene where Callie helps with Meredith's dress.

Wandered around my house aimlessly and dejectedly between 10 and 11pm last night...is it next season yet?

hilcat Author Profile Page:

I just read the other day that even Ellen Pompeo is annoyed at how weak and whiney her character is. She has supposedly been asking the writers to give her character more depth.

tvaholic Author Profile Page:

Oh my God, they killed Denny!! Sorry, couldn't resist with all the rumors about how he was signed for some shows next season.

I liked the finale-loved the Weber interviews. I also loved how Derek made it so obvious when they came back from the rumble in the back room that something had happened-has he not learned his wife is not a total idiot? And what was with the 2 guys calling for Mere like a dog who's forced to choose between 2 masters? Is that supposed to be an extension on the whole dog dying like their relationship metaphor?

Any-who, I thought it was a great show, even the prom thing. But I wish they could've put Torres in a better dress-at the opening of the scene where she came barreling down the hallway she looked like a drag queen. What, now that there is a female character on the show involved in a romantic storyline who weighs more than 86 pounds, they can't make her look nice too? Though to be fair, I agree with what someone said about Mere-she didn't look all that good either.

And I second the motion-bring back McSteamy!

zoobabe Author Profile Page:

Thanks for the great recaps of this show m_ruv, it was worth sitiing through three hours over two nights to get what we got. The whole scene with the dog made me cry so hard. The whole scene with the other dog (McDreamy) just pissed me off. maybe that's why he had his Titanic sugical cap on. He knew whatever semblance of sympathy he could get as a loving husband and gifted surgeon was waning. First- he messed up a little on Dr. Burke, the he messed uo A LOT by diddling Mere in the supply closet. They're both Hooo-ers (thanks whawha)! :)

tvaholic Author Profile Page:

Hey, I thought we were to refrain from using a certain phrase about a certain fish being leapt over? Am I wrong or is it currently being used on the home page??

Vasha Author Profile Page:

That was a hilarious recap. I loved it. The "O-face" and the "Amadeus" links were great, I mean tears running down my eyes great. Must you leave us for the summer m-ruv????
I miss your recaps already.

ldini79 Author Profile Page:

okay, apparently i am the only one who was yelling at the people in my tv to find meredith's underwear. that's not exactly the kind of thing one should leave laying around an exam room, especially with the rampant syphilis attacks and all.

i thought izzie looked absolutely amazing in her dress, both she and alex definitely undid some damage with that scene. however, the writers have succeeded in making me hate all of the other characters all over again. seriously, i don't get why they can't even leave one likeable character in the whole show. even christina sucks now. bleh.

great recap m_ruv, can you guest recap big brother every once in a while this summer?

damn_gina Author Profile Page:

JasonR- OMD would have been PERFECT during Mer's 'grand*cough*entrance'! Oh, I love the 80's.

I half expected McDoogal to break out in that spaz dance he did in Can't Buy Me Love. Talk about REALLY becoming the popular kid then....

Katella Author Profile Page:

hahahahaha I loved the SHIT. She heard me said that. Hilarious recap. But more seriously i loved this finale even if the prom was crazy and made no sense, the ending was awesome, and the scene where alex picked up izzie, oh lord, that was the best. I dont know what Im going to do all summer without this!!!!!!!!

The Svan Author Profile Page:

Just so you know, the wake test is commonly done in that situation.

m_ruv Author Profile Page:

Ha. Damn damn! Well, that's why I'm not a doctor.

D-Hoffs Author Profile Page:

I too thought Katherine Heigle did well in all three hours ... Good episodes and great recap!!

TaxGirl Author Profile Page:

I enoyed the episode although I thought it was too long. Cutting the whole prom thing would have helped since it just seemed to be an excuse for everyone to dress up (Lizzie has three "prom" dresses to choose from? wtf?)

Loved the recap m_ruv, great screen caps and captions. Like someone predicted, Denny's death was sort of anti-climactic since he nearly dies at least once every episode. The tears started to flow when I saw Lizzie with him. Alex always tells the truth even when he's being a dick or rude. He (gently) tried to ease her pain and get her out of the room. He definitely earned some points with the audience. Christina might be able to redeem herself with us if she does something insane like be nice to Burke!

Loo Author Profile Page:

I agree: get Ms. Grey some backbone. She's become as boring as Carrie with Mr. Big.

janette21586 Author Profile Page:

omg. i cannot wait for the new season. is izzie coming back?

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