Grey's Anatomy: Teenage Wasteland

What is it with Grey's Anatomy and foreign objects shoved into eyes? Because I have to say, it's really, really not okay. Also not okay? Cliquey high schoolers, who make me want to shove a pencil in my eye. Just sayin'.

Our case of the week is a high school bus crash, which features the aforementioned PENCIL IN THE EYE (I'm shuddering all over again just thinking about it). And by "pencil in the eye," I mean, "pencil in the eye and brain." And they waited until seeing the scan results to book an OR? Like there was a chance they could just pull it right back out, no harm, no foul? They actually do end up going with the "just pull it out" strategy in surgery (what else would you do, really?), which doesn't work out well for our patient, who ends up in a coma. Which, in turn, doesn't work out for his best friend, since they were pretty much all each other had at school. Here's a PSA to you loners out there: Make more than one friend, so that if you end up with a pencil in the eye, your friend isn't left all alone in the world while you're in a coma. (Chime) The more you know...

Also in the bus crash? Bailey's high school crush, who's more interested in getting her to do his paperwork than thanking her for saving his life. And she's more interested in giggling at him than in doing her job. You know, it was actually really comforting to see Bailey do something weak, for a change. Nobody should be completely perfect. And I loved George's line after he sees Mr. Uncrushworthy take Bailey for granted: "You know what he deserves? A long speech." Bailey's and George's chemistry is really pretty fantastic (but NOT in a 'shippy way). And she does give the speech, but to Derek, instead. Who, it turns out, wasn't quite so crushworthy in high school. Oh, and can you say Emmy episode for Chandra Wilson? (Finally!)

In our other big plot this week, Meredith's dad winds up in the hospital, drunk, belligerent, and asking for Meredith after putting his hand through a window. He goes on and on (drunkenly, of course) about how proud he is of her, and how sorry he is for how he treated her before, and apologizes for his condition, claiming that it's his dead wife's birthday. Poor Meredith is so starved for parental affection that she buys the whole act, even asking Lexie to keep a better eye on him in the future. Big Mistake. Lexie explodes, unleashing an angry tirade on Meredith about their dad's permanent drunkenness, lying, and changeable moods. For someone who wanted to keep this a secret, she sure yelled that all out in the middle of a crowded area. Bummer. Those three need some family therapy, stat.

George and Izzie, in the meantime, spend the episode avoiding each other. Thank God. The bad sex, it seems, is insurmountable, or so rumor quickly has it (pleasing Callie, and me, to no end). Here's hoping their big conversation leads to a big breakup--the sooner, the better. Those two were much more interesting as friends to me, so I'm just going to view their relationship as a necessary device to break up George's bad marriage. Right.

Speaking of bad relationships, Derek actually has a date at Joe's, right in front of Meredith. What!? Dude, that's just not cool. I can't believe this wasn't a bigger deal! I mean, sure, his date was resident kook Sidney, but still! You can't just go on a date and then go home with your ex-girlfriend. It's...unhealthy. At best. Thankfully, Sidney breaks it off before it gets tooo weird. Unthankfully, he's got a new love interest: Cute OR nurse who rightfully points out the cliqueyness of Seattle Grace. Sigh. He and Meredith either need to get it together or break it off. All this confusing gray area stuff is exhausting!

Oh, and a quick note on Cristina: Her half-walk, half-run to the OR when Dr. Hahn paged her was one of the funniest moments of the season for me. So perfectly Cristina. And can I just repeat that I really, really like Dr. Hahn? Really.