Grey’s Anatomy – The holidays are all about awkward family moments

I don’t know who I felt worse for — Bailey, or the rest of Meredith and Derek’s guests, seated in painful silence around the Christmas dinner table … but we’ve all been there. If there’s one thing last night’s episode brought to mind, it’s the awkward family moments that come inexorably with the holidays.

Where to begin? “Holidaze” had so many stories going on. I’ll skip the patient stories. They were forgettable (although the snow girl and her faithful guy were kind of sweet). Let’s talk about those awkward moments.

Poor Miranda, in the midst of repairing bowels and hernias, receives a visit from her disapproving father for Christmas. Can you believe that Bailey has a father? Since she’s always been a mother-figure on the show, I find it hard to accept that she ever was a little girl. Still, when she finally decides to let loose one of those classic Bailey tirades on her dad, I empathized with her. And him. And everyone else sitting at the table, staring at their plates in nervous silence.

I’ve been at more than a few family gatherings when an argument has broken out between relatives (usually between my dad and one of his in-laws). Sure, it’s embarrassing enough for the people who are arguing, but they never seem to realize how agonizing it is for all the bystanders. Bailey’s dad had it coming, but he was right about one thing — it wasn’t the time or place for it.

Oh, but the awkwardness does not end there! Mark finds out he has an eighteen-year-old daughter named Sloan. She moves in with Mark and Lexie, throwing their age difference into sharp relief. While I cannot imagine Bailey having a father, I also cannot imagine Mark having a kid, especially not a hot chick almost the same age as his girlfriend! At one point Mark looks at her, hoping to start a conversation, and she teasingly asks him, “What are you staring at, you old perv?” Yeah … that’s not awkward. But I got a good laugh when Lexie and Baby Sloan start arguing, and Derek tells Mark that his kids are fighting. Ha.

More awkward moments — how about Owen staring at Teddy and getting caught by Cristina? Or even worse, how about seeing the Chief drunk? Meredith was beyond embarrassed. Hey, if your Uncle Fred likes to get smashed and make scenes at family gatherings, you probably know exactly how she feels.

Clacked by Ruby T.
on Nov 20, 2009 @ 10:00 EST5EDT