‘Grey’s Anatomy’: Heaven and hell

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Thanks to last night’s episode of “Grey’s Anatomy,” we finally know why Denny has refused to hit the road and why, for one week at least, he felt the need to hijack Meredith’s voiceover duties: Izzie’s sick -- and possibly dying!

What’s that, you say? It’s not exactly a shock? And Izzie had every right to be furious that it took her dead ex half a season to help her realize what he really meant by all those “I’m here for yous?” And that maybe, possibly, this twist would’ve been a little easier to get behind had it occurred months ago — say, before we were forced to endure the pair having hot, sweaty sex?

You took the words right out of my mouth.

At the same time, mad props must be given to Katherine Heigl and Jeffrey Dean Morgan, two fine actors who admirably continue to bring their A game, even though the effort must be exhausting by now. All this Izzie-Denny business has proven wildly unpopular, but clearly, that’s not their fault.

Apart from the “he’s dead/she’s alive — for now” love story, there were moments in this episode that were prime “Grey’s.” I’ve loved nearly every beat of the serial-killer storyline, partly because of Eric Stoltz’s finely tuned performance and partly for the way it’s shaken up the relationships at Seattle Grace. In an effort to both let the death row inmate avoid execution and provide Bailey’s dying young patient with life-saving organs, Meredith kept William’s deteriorating condition from Derek. McDreamy’s relief and obvious joy in the fact that his mom had liked his girlfriend enough to encourage him to propose quickly turned to anger when he learned the truth. But in a sign of how much Mer-Der’s relationship has grown, the pair didn’t immediately break up, like they might have in the old days. Instead, after the Chief nimbly convinced the wife of a brain-dead patient to sign over his organs to Bailey’s patient, Meredith attended William’s execution and found a supportive Derek waiting for her outside.

But that wasn’t Derek’s only gift to his future fiancee: He also facilitated her reunion with Cristina in two memorably funny scenes. First, he asked for her opinion on the ring: “I know you’re still fighting, but isn’t it about time you wrapped it up? I ask because, when I propose to her, she’s gonna need somebody to freak out to.” Later, upon hearing that Meredith couldn’t stop crying, it was Cristina who got in the last quip: “Did you propose?” Pure. Gold.

Elsewhere in the hospital halls, Lexie broke the most valued bone in Mark’s body—you know the one -- during some particularly raucous sex in the on-call room. A little over the top? Sure. But ultimately, it illustrated how these two are evolving from hook-up to full-fledged relationship when Lexie refused to leave Mark alone with his humiliation and instead climbed into the hospital bed beside him and he didn’t object.

Is the new couple winning you over? What did you make of Callie’s TMI conversation with Owen — the one that included her “I’m a lesbian now. Maybe. Sort of. I don’t know” confession? And does the fact that Izzie is, in fact, ailing make you any less sick of Denny’s lengthy Seattle stay?

-– Shawna Malcom