What I’m Learning (NOT As A Writer) From Grey’s Anatomy

I’ve been binge-watching Grey’s Anatomy for the last couple of weeks. Apparently, I’m one of 2.4 million new viewers a year who are tuning into re-runs of this show now streaming on Netflix.

I never saw a single episode of Grey’s Anatomy in the 15 seasons it’s been on air – until now. One of the reasons, as I blogged in my review of Shonda Rhimes’s MasterClass (Shonda is the creator of Grey’s Anatomy,) is because I have a serious aversion to anything medical, particularly the sight of blood and needles. But, now I’m up to season eight (out of 15) of this medical drama which started life in 2005 as a primetime network show on ABC-TV.

What I’m Learning

I can’t stop watching it, even though — as I blogged last week — I have to block my laptop screen with my hands when there are scenes in the operating room. And, I can’t stop watching it even though the series has confirmed some of my worst fears about hospitals and doctors and medical stuff.

Here’s what I’ve learned, and, as will become evident, parts of this blog are written very tongue-in-cheek. It also needs to be read as coming from someone who is — touch wood —  supremely lucky to have never needed a hospital or surgery in my entire life. (Oh, except for a C-section, 31 years ago– though the fact that I have only one child (and never tried for another) might tell you how I still feel about that experience !!!)

So here goes:

Lessons (LOL!) From Grey’s Anatomy

Avoid Contact With All Surgeons

If your doctor ever says, “you might need surgery for this,” or, “let me refer you to a surgeon on that,” run as fast as you can and get the hell out of there. Grey’s Anatomy proves that surgeons live to cut. They will always want to slice you open. It’s what they do. It’s what they trained for. Note: none of the surgeons on the show usually recommend any other option. It’s generally: we have to cut you open, or you’ll die.

Don’t Believe A Word

Meredith Grey, the main female protagonist on the show said in one of her voice-overs: “As doctors, we practice deception.” Then, she gave us some examples: “We don’t talk about post-op pain, we say, you’ll experience some discomfort. If you didn’t die, we’ll tell you the surgery went well.”

Things Are Bound To Go Wrong!

So far as I can see, there are two main reasons for things going wrong. First, once they have you sedated on the operating table, they talk about their love lives and other personal issues which are bothering them. If, you happen to get two of them who are actually personally involved with each other (like having an affair or a fling) they may even argue as they are working on you. There are too many incidents of this on the show to detail here. But just think about it, if the O.R. conversations on the show were just about the surgery (“hand me a scalpel”) the show would surely never have attracted about 20 million viewers weekly.

Second, the surgical resident staffers are ALWAYS tired. They never get any sleep. They are expected to be on- duty for hours and hours. And, even though they can catch the occasional nap in an on-call room, they usually spend that time and room fooling around with other medical personnel. Dr. Cristina Yang did with Preston Burke in the first season; so did Alex Karev with any number of interns and nurses; so did Izzie with her dead/imagined lover Denny. (Yes, he was dead, and she imagined it, but it still cut into her sleep time.)

You Can’t Marry A Surgeon…

… Unless you work in a hospital, too. So, ignore your mother’s advice to marry one. It’s not possible unless you work alongside them. That’s the only hook-ups the surgeons and residents on Grey’s Anatomy have time for. Oh, unless you’re Izzie and fall in love with a patient — a captive audience in a hospital bed. And, even when the marriages don’t work out, there’s a whole merry-go-round going on, so you just move on to another surgeon or resident or intern who’s been ditched by another surgeon, resident or intern.

Never Take Birth Control Advice From A Surgeon

That’s an obvious piece of advice if you remember that Dr. Cristina Yang (my all-time favorite character and the most career-dedicated female on the show) got pregnant TWICE without wanting it, or planning it! Then, there was Callie Torres who was in a lesbian relationship but got pregnant as a result of a one-night stand with her male best friend. (Yes, Dr. Callie, it can happen after just one night.) And, there was Dr. Teddy Altmann, a former Army medic, who admitted, “I wasn’t careful.”

Caution!

None of the above is meant in any way, shape, or form to castigate or criticize real-life surgeons who save lives every day: Surgeons like the fabulous, wonderful surgeon who operated on my husband, Joe, last summer. Or, the late Paul Kalanithi whose book, When Breath Becomes Air, I read and reviewed, and which was an incredible insight into the work of a real-life neurosurgeon. My blog this week is intended as humorous observations about the characters on a show which I’m enjoying immensely.

P.S. Lessons For Writers

But, because I’m a writer — and, despite my headline — there are a couple of episodes I must mention as quintessential viewing for any writer who has hopes of writing for television.

My favorite of all the episodes I’ve seen till now are in season 5. They are episodes 12 & 13 (Sympathy for the Devil and Stairway to Heaven.) They involve a serial killer who has five days before he is executed, but is brought in for life-saving (really!) surgery, and a young boy who needs a new liver. At one point, there is the possibility that the serial killer will refuse treatment so that he can die in the hospital knowing the boy will get his liver.

Violation of Expectation

The episodes are unforgettable lessons in how to empathetically portray a totally dislikable character. But more importantly, they are examples of one of  STORY guru Robert McKee’s cardinal rules: the violation of expectation.

In many medical dramas, there would be a sappy ending where the serial killer redeems himself and the young boy gets the kidney he needs. Not so, in this show. And, yet the ending is so satisfying, it will leave you in tears. You need to watch it.

Obstacles & More Obstacles

 

Most authors/writers know the maxim: put obstacles in the way of your protagonist, and then put more obstacles in his/her way. And, then ratchet it up a little more. And, when you think your protagonist(s) are at the end of the rope, go one step further.

That’s what you’ll see in the final two episodes of season 6 about a shooter terrorizing the hospital and killing off the surgeons whom he blames for letting his wife die.  Shonda Rhimes wrote the episodes.

They are brilliant.

 

If you’re a writer who has seen these episodes, I’d love to know what you think. Otherwise, please click on the Like button below if you enjoyed this blog.