User Reviews

E.R., House, Nip/Tuck... Seriously, was there any real need of another hospital drama? Probably not. Does that mean Grey's Anatomy is a load of rubbish? Certainly not. It just isn't as good as the aforementioned serials.

The main problem seems to be the fact that when you name a show after the leading character, said person should be a little out of the ordinary. Exhibit A: Buffy (and its spin-off Angel), Huff and, again, House - three programs featuring edgy, scarred protagonists who would like to make a difference but struggle to accept themselves. What does Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) have that makes her so special? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. In fact, the Seattle Grace Hospital intern who got in because of her famous mother (Kate Burton) is the least interesting character of the first episode, and that's something that stuck for the rest of the inaugural season.

Not that the concept itself is bad: having Meredith endure a 48-hour shift on her first day at work and then realize her boss, Dr. Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey), is actually the man she slept with the night before is a fun idea, if used the right way. Unfortunately, the right way is not blasting the viewer's ears with pseudo-philosophical reflections, told in a never-ending voice-over that is more often than not annoying: sure, it worked for Sarah Jessica Parker in Sex and the City or, staying in the medical field, Zach Braff in Scrubs, but those shows are funny and original - Grey's Anatomy, on the other hand, sets out to satirize the clichés of the genre, and succeeds admirably: the gallery of supporting characters is amazing, from the hard-working overachiever (Sandra Oh, the cast's standout) to the anxious momma's boy (T.R. Knight) via the strict supervisors (Isaiah Washington and Chandra Wilson). Shame creator Shonda Rhimes sacrifices their screen-time in favor of Meredith's pointless musings.

And yet I like the show. How come? Well, the writing gets sharper in later seasons, and so does the narrative impact of the surgical procedures (whereas Season One is a soap opera, with less operating tables and more sex); the supporting cast is perfect (Oh and Dempsey especially); and despite the overall uninspired narration the series never gets boring, courtesy of a pace that leaves no room for dead air.

In short: a polished, if rather shallow opening episode. It ain't E.R., but hey, no one ever said it had to be.

I think this pilot is perfect.You get a sense of what every character is like, and you want to know them more. I remember when I saw this for the first time years ago, I really wanted to be them, especially Meredith. Their lives looks so interesting. Also, the music in this episode is fantastic. When they use these song later on in the show, I get chills. Ellen Pompeo is so good at acting without saying or doing much, just her energy.