Sometimes
no matter how much we love the characters on a TV Show like Grey's
Anatomy; some scenes are difficult to watch.
In What Have I Done to Deserve This? - Season 2, Episode 19 of Grey's Anatomy; Meredith and George had sex. From the very first episode in Season One; George O’Malley was crazy in love with Meredith Grey. George discovered a few weeks later that Meredith was in a relationship with Dr Derek Shepherd, the world renowned neurosurgeon, who was also their boss.
George’s
love for Meredith remained true. He was there for her when Derek’s
estranged and beautiful wife showed up in Seattle, and when Derek
chose his wife and marriage, which broke Meredith’s heart, George
stood by his friend. He never once tried to take advantage of her
vulnerability; he was her friend, which was what Meredith needed at
the time.
Unrequited
Love Is a Horrible Feeling
Everyone
at Seattle Grace knew that George was in love with Meredith, and this
was a storyline that needed to get some kind of resolution. Everyone
also knew that George was in denial about the fact that Meredith did
not feel the same way. In a way George needed to face up to this
denial and resolve his love for Meredith. He needed to face the fact
that Meredith never saw him as anything more than a close friend.
Shonda
Rhimes, creator of Grey’s
Anatomy chose
to use an impulsive, sexual mistake to tell this story, much to the
shock of many fans, but perhaps it was an experience that these two
characters needed to have. Why it could not have happened with a
mature conversation is probably because their maturity was sadly
lacking. We need to remember what Callie said in Season 3, “Its
high school with scalpels.” Grey’s Anatomy has been built on the
premise that because of all the time these doctors spent studying at
med school, that they were never able to develop their social skills
and learn how to have healthy friendships and relationship that
involve good communication.
The
Sex Scene Made Fans Cringe
The
sex between George and Meredith was the saddest, most pathetic sex
scene I have ever seen on TV and that was the creator’s sole
intention. It had to be sad and pathetic, or the story would not have
been as effective. Afterwards, George felt angry and hurt and did not
understand why Meredith had gone to bed with him if she didn’t
really want to. Meredith tried to explain it to him, however his pain
was too raw, and he moves out of Meredith’s house. Burke
invites George to bunk on his sofa, and an unlikely friendship begins
to develop between the two men.
George
is sulking for weeks until the penny drops and he finally realises
that Meredith never felt the same way as he did. Meredith also learnt
that jumping straight into sex may not be a good way to have a
relationship and decides to take up knitting and become celibate.
Apart from the hot lovemaking in the exam room with Derek at the prom
during Losing
My Religion;
the sex with George was Meredith’s last impulsive sexual encounter.
Meredith loved George very much as a friend and was silly and
immature enough to believe that George might be the one for her after
all. Deep down, Meredith was in denial too.
George's
Sensitive Side Wins Out
In
the final episode of Season 2, Losing
My Religion,
George figures out that Meredith did not know any better. In the
weeks that follow George bumps into Thatcher Grey; Meredith’s
father and learns that Meredith had been to see him two weeks ago.
George remembers Meredith’s sadness that night and realises that
she was sad about how her father had abandoned her as a child. We
start to see the beginning of understanding on his part, despite his
hurt and humiliated feelings.
This
tragic sex scene was a real account of what happens to two people who
rush sex and it doesn’t work out; usually one or both people get
hurt. However, in this case it almost ruined a great friendship and
caused a lot of tension within George and Meredith’s circle of
friends. We see situations like these on TV all the time where the
sexual interlude doesn’t work, usually in a sitcom. However, it’s
not often that the viewers are told the real story of how this
situation can affect people.
A
Story That Needed to be Told
As
hard as this scene was to watch, it was brilliantly acted and
written. The awkward sex scene was tragic to watch, but so well
acted. The fall-out between George, Meredith and the other interns
was a story Shonda wanted to tell, because its real life, it happens
all the time. People fall in love with the wrong people and they do
have inappropriate, uncomfortable and humiliating sex. While it was
tragic to watch, it was necessary to see the drama, emotions and
humour of this story being portrayed by these characters. What was
also clearly being said is that life is short, and pining for the
wrong person is not worth your time.
The Tragic End of George O'Malley
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To read more about the author of this site: Janelle Coulton; Freelance Writer
Copyright © 2014 Janelle Coulton
