Is it too early for a Christmas episode? Despite the fact that Grey’s Anatomy already ran through all of the November/December/January holidays in one hour, the answer is a resounding, “Oh hell yes.” I mean, seriously… I haven’t yet had the experience of turkey, football, and my mother’s outstanding cheesecake (And, yes, that last bit was just a friendly reminder in case someone was thinking of leaving it off the list this year), and we’re already seeing trees and Secret Santa? Too darn early, methinks.
Despite my, and apparently Lightman’s, ‘bah humbug’ attitude, the episode was a fairly intense affair. Cal headed to Afghanistan, leaving his daughter in the dark. The trip revealed a bit about the doctor that we didn’t really know (and has an ironic bit in common with Roth’s character in the Hulk, Emil Blonsky). We’ve always had hints that he had an interesting back story, including some connection to gambling we’re sure to see more of next week, but an action junkie seems like an odd choice.
I never really “got” the Franco character. I mean, I understood the situation that he was in, and really liked how he stepped up at the end. But, his whole forcing a connection with Lightman just never really rang true to me. If he was that good at trying to play Cal, then he was smart enough to stay out of a bar fight, especially one that ends in manslaughter. The only saving grace of the whole thing was his sacrifice, and the lengths Dr. Lightman went through to make sure it was remembered.
Other thoughts: