'Grey’s Anatomy': "Got to Be Real" Character Scorecard

Sara Chaffee ’16 / Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer

Grey’s Anatomy was back in full force this week with all of its characters receiving more than 30 seconds of screen time (hooray!) and all of them participating in some serious drama.
The episode featured what the series has been leading up to since last season’s finale. Throughout the hour, Alex (Justin Chambers) took over as Meredith’s (Ellen Pompeo) ‘person,’ Derek (Patrick Dempsey) and Amelia (Caterina Scorsone) fought over the impossible task of being both siblings and colleagues, Maggie (Kelly McCreary) was informed of her parentage, and the coveted board seat was finally assigned. The hour also featured fun words like ‘obtuse,’ an out of place yet totally welcome Geena Davis, and multiple scenes between Callie (Sara Ramirez) and Owen (Kevin McKidd) that definitely seem to be hinting at a future hookup.
Two story aspects were also revealed during the episode. The first being that the season finale only took place a week ago, which means this season’s timeline is going to be a joy to follow. The second is that Derek Shepard is quite easily the biggest jerk in Shondaland. The latter might not be much of a revelation, but when thinking about the high caliber of jerks on Scandal, it is kind of concerning.
With so much drama packed into so little time, this week’s character scorecard is as jam-packed as can be.

Amelia
+5        for putting God-complex Derek in his place by citing that she is now the Chief of Neurosurgery during every one of their arguments
+10      for having to grow up with Derek as a brother
Bailey
+15      for taking a selfie with a man who had a tree sticking out of his stomach. She’s so awesome.
-5         for taking a selfie with a man who had a tree sticking out of his stomach. Albeit cool, it’s also insensitive and just poor patient care.
Callie
+10      for being an amazing wife and telling Arizona repeatedly that she can succeed at whatever she does
April
+10      for being the unfortunate soul who has to mediate for Derek and Amelia
Alex
+15      for listening to Meredith whine for the entire episode
Meredith
+5        for loosely (and drunkenly) quoting the best Cristina-delivered line of the series. Her beautiful interpretation: “I’m the sun and he can go suck it.” Yes, he can.
Jackson
+5        for being a really cute, self-professed ‘hall monitor’
Owen
+10      for missing Cristina even more than the viewers do. That is not an easy feat.
-5         for being a jerk to Callie because of it
Derek
-5         for treating his sister like garbage
-10       for stealing his sister’s surgery
-15       for delivering the extremely egotistical line “I am Dr. Shepard”
Arizona
-5         for not supporting Callie like Callie has supported her
+5        for actually being realistic about the timing of her and Callie’s next baby
Richard
+10      for finding the courage and telling Maggie that he is her father
Maggie
-15       for calling Richard a coward for just now telling her that he’s her father. It’s been a week, Maggie. Calm down.
Overall Episode Grade: A-
Overall Character Drama Grade: A+
Overall Grade for Derek as a Human Being: F