The Good

Your favorite characters from Seattle Grace hospital are back for another good time.

The Bad

I think this show should be jump-starting Patrick Dempsey's career more.

Things are off like gangbusters as the team from Seattle Grace Hospital returns for Grey's Anatomy: The Complete Second Season Uncut. Whether characters are losing their mojo, separating for Thanksgiving or trying to figure out the laws of karma, Grey's Anatomy is one of those shows that is interesting because it keeps things moving. The fact that it takes place in a hospital where the dynamic is always changing, makes this show work even more because we get to see people's split second responses. A lot of times, there is so much pressure coming down on them that when they immediately deal with their problems, they often times have to spend an episode trying to undue something they did.

There are aspects of this show that fall into a formula, for example if you watch enough episodes you pretty much know how characters like Dr. Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey) or Dr. Yang (Sandra Oh) are going to act. The thing is that these people are so good in these roles, we don't mind already knowing what they are going to do before they show us. Packed with 27 episodes, it was nice to see that a show that started as hot as the first season did, managed to keep the spark alive in Grey's Anatomy: The Complete Second Season Uncut.

I look forward to seeing how these characters grow, both in and out of the hospital, as the seasons progress.


Commentary Tracks

Director Jeff Melman and writer Krista Vernoff talk over the episode Into You Like A Train. Thanks For the Memories gets discussed by creator Shonda Rimes and editor Susan Vaill. We also get Sandra Oh and director Peter Horton discussing the episode Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer. Lastly, Shonda Rimes, Peter Horton and editor Edward Ornelas can all be heard on It's the End of the World and As We Know It. If you're into star power then I would suggest watching the Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer episode. Oh and Horton discuss putting the material of the show off on TV, working with the rest of the cast and what it's like creating material that people respond to. Sadly, time constraints made it so I couldn't watch the other commentary tracks.

The Doctors Are In

Sadly, I am not into this show to the point that I have any burning questions I want to ask. However I thought that this was something interesting because rarely do we see stars of a TV show get to address their fans directly. Without giving too much away, it seems like if there is one question that everyone wants to know, they do a good job of answering the questions. The trick is they add a bit of coyness to the equation, because if the actors were to give too much away, that would ruin things for a lot of the fans. Still, I think that those seeking this information out will be satisfied.

The Softer Side of Dr. Bailey

Chandra Wilson sits down to let the world know more about her character. When you're labeled "The Nazi," you really can't get much worse than that. Of course, Wilson isn't really like that but she does play the part well. There is a coolness in her coldness that makes her one of the more enjoyable characters to watch. Part of me wonders if she didn't want this featurette to be made so that when this show ends (or she leaves), there will be something she can show to casting directors that showcases her softer side.

Exclusive Set Tour

Dr. Webber (James Pickens, Jr.) takes us on a tour of the set which is informative but also filled with laughs. We get to see where the actors get to do their thing, how scenes are put together (and worked on), and generally, this piece plays like a thumbnail of what life on the Grey's Anatomy set must be like. They have also edited this thing in such a way so it isn't ponderous and, like the show, keeps moving the whole time.

Creating "Pink Mist"

Special effects, unless there is a lot of money, can be a dicey proposition. On TV they can be even dicier just because they are not known for being that good. Considering that that is the focal point of the two parter It's the End of the World/As We Know It , that doesn't make anybody's job any easier. However, aside from all that they have done a good job making this episode both suspenseful and believable. While I don't know if I'd call this featurette a full-on breakdown of a special effect, it is pretty good.

Grey's Anatomy on Jimmy Kimmel Live

For some reason these two things seem to go together. This is an interesting section of the DVD, because we get to see the Grey's Anatomy cast in action. Everyone from the cast and Kimmel himself all seem to be having a lot of fun here, as there truly seems to be a mutual respect from all the artists. Overall, if you are fan of this show this is one of those portions of the DVD you should definitely see.

Deleted Scenes

They have included a decent amount of deleted scenes that should surely satisfy fans. I skipped around through these and I got the impression that they were mainly cut due to the constraints of network TV. Overall, they didn't seem to cut whole portions of each show, just those sections that seemed superfluous to the episode (or characters) in question.


Aspect Ratio - 1.78:1. This show seems to have a little less color than all the other shows on TV. Perhaps it was the DVD compression (I haven't really seen this show on TV except in clips), but it didn't have the harshness that the one hour shows usually have. At the same time, it didn't have the "bubbly quality" that sitcoms usually employ. With six discs making up this set, I have to give them credit for keeping the look of the show consistent and well composed, considering there are other directors and creative types putting their hands on it.


Dolby Digital. The audio on this show was also solid. I review a lot of TV shows and it's very hard to judge how good it is, simply because TV usually doesn't work with the sound the same way as film. As far as being able to get all that was going on in the show, hearing the actors as it were, I didn't have any problems whatsoever.


The front cover of Grey's Anatomy: The Complete Second Season Uncut looks like a page out of a yearbook. All of the characters are layed out in a bluish, black and white mix which actually makes this show seem much more serious than it is. The back cover features a description of the show, some more pictures, a Special Features listing and technical specs. They have also kept up the "yearbook" motif on this DVD as well. The six DVDs that make up this set are neatly stored inside this packaging which, when opened up, reveals more pictures and imagery from the show, as well as episode listings and descriptions. My only complaint is that the packaging feels a tad bulky.

Final Word

There has been some talk about this show not being realistic enough. In all honesty, I think that that is sort of a loaded question. Lets be really honest, what show is 100% realistic? What program, if we didn't breakdown, isn't held up by the formulas and conventions of drama? Grey's Anatomy works because we like these characters. We have come to expect something from them. In fact, a lot of times it seems like the humor on this show might be better suited for a sitcom. The fact that this show isn't afraid to test the limits of it's audience is something it should be applauded for. That it works in this format is all the more reason to praise the people behind this show, than worry that it isn't falling into some conventional notion of reality.

Fans of this show can rejoice that another season of Grey's Anatomy is on DVD. Oftentimes, when you watch a show that played well on TV, it plays the exact same way on DVD. There is nothing wrong with this (that's probably the reason you bought it in the first place), but I found that this could be the kind of show that viewers might see differently each and every time they screen an episode.

Grey's Anatomy was released .