Will Sidelining Meredith Damage Grey's Anatomy?
Pregnant Ellen Pompeo Moved to the Background
Oct 22, 2009 Becky Sheetz-Runkle
Because of the size of the cast and the volume of ongoing storylines, it’s common for even some of the biggest stars on Grey's Anatomcy to take a backseat. But it’s not common for the main character, the show’s namesake, to be moved from the foreground. But that's exactly what the writers are contending with now, as Ellen Pompeo is on pregnancy duty.
Dealing with Pompeo's Pregnancy
The writers have creatively worked around Ellen Pompeo’s pregnancy in their complex web of storytelling. Meredith reluctantly gave a portion of her liver to her father, not that he deserved it. He needed a transplant. Too much booze will do that to a guy. Now, she faces a lengthy recovery. But she’ll be doing it from a hospital bed at Seattle Grace, with her pregnant belly masked.
Stars Come and Go
Grey’s recently lost T.R. Knight, who played George O’Malley. One of the original five interns who starred in the show, Knight lasted through the end of season five before moving on. While a lot of stories revolved around O’Malley, particularly in the first three seasons, the show goes on without him, with that void quickly being filled. Other characters have fallen by the wayside as well, as others have come in for short- and long-term stints. The show goes on, and the bumps settle.
It will remain to be seen how much viewers miss having the Meredith Grey character front and center for every episode, until she is able to return to the camera, sans fetus. But already having her laid up in the hospital bed appears to be working for the drama. When Christina Yang, played by the brilliant Sandra Oh, needed a place to escape from her dark and twisty depression as her career stagnated, she found Meredith, her person, recovering from surgery in her hospital bed.
The Evolving Meredith Grey
And that last scene where Alex--distraught over Izzie leaving him--comes to Meredith’s room, is a stand-out scene. With Meredith confined to a bed after major surgery, she prompts Christina to go comfort Alex. The awkward reaction from Yang, who needs direction to hug someone, and the irreconcilable response from Alex is priceless.
It appears that Meredith Grey, that sad and damaged girl from season one, has grown up. She’s the person her peers come to when they’re in the dark place. That’s what makes following that character’s anatomy so much fun, even if we have to watch her on the sidelines.
Ellen Pompeo plays Meredith Grey.
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