Release Date: August 30, 2016
Rating: TV14 DLSV
Running Time: 1,030 minutes (24 episodes/6 discs) (excludes bonus)
Sometimes the life you need to save is your own – especially after a shattering loss, when the bonds of friendship and love at Grey Sloan Memorial are tested like never before.
Television’s favorite doctors now find themselves simmering in a world of sexual politics. Bailey struggles with what it means to be a woman in charge of the hospital…and her own husband, while Maggie faces the challenges of dating a younger man and Amelia battles her own demons. Meanwhile, in the wake of a brutal attack, Meredith finds comfort and love in the most unexpected place, Callie and Arizona find themselves in a fight for their lives, and tensions run high when, Amelia and Meredith come face to face with the doctor responsible for Derek’s death.
Immerse yourself in the emotion and pulse-pounding romance ofGrey’s Anatomy’s exhilarating twelfth season with this 24-episode collection, and dive even deeper into the thrillingly addictive series – with never-before-seen bonus features available only on DVD!
***
This season of Grey’s Anatomy was so strong. It’s hard to believe a show can still be phenomenal in its twelfth season but Shonda Land knows how to make compelling television. So what did I love? Bailey dealing with her new position of power as Chief and how that affects her relationship with Warren. Warren completely disregarding this new power play, not giving any thought to the privileged situation that he is in, and doing whatever he wants in the hospital. Eek. I loved how much tension this brought to their marriage and how emotionally raw both actors got diving into this.
Callie and Arizona doing as fine as they possibly can separated until Arizona considers moving away with her girlfriend – and with Arizona and Callie’s daughter. Oh. My. Cue the punching bags. What a fight. So relatable to anyone who has been in a similar situation. Loved the way this was executed.
There was no shortage of relationship drama and every single separate couple had such a distinct path of conflict, it was great. Jackson and April, I’ve been rooting for them since shortly after they got together so it pained me to see their relationship go down the deep end. So imagine my delight when the two slowly opened themselves up to the idea of coming back together – after much, much conflict involving another scary pregnancy, secrecy of the pregnancy, and Jackson’s mom meddling in said pregnancy. Woo. Bring out the kleenex for this storyline because your nose will be raw by the time you get to the end of this one.
Then there’s Alex and Jo trying to figure out where they are in their relationship, Alex wanting to get married, Jo unwilling to take that step. Alex willing to wait a bit if there’s a chance of this happening, Jo not giving any signs that there’s a chance of it happening. Alex’s walls are high, understandably so, but girl, let it be.
I don’t think that Alex’s indecision here is annoying, nor do I think that she is annoying but I can understand how some people may think that. Who I did find annoying though was Amelia. Oh. My. Goodness. She was such a pill all season long. There were moments that I was rooting for her but for the most part, her melodramatic self was just too much for me. God help Owen.
I love how in all of this, Maggie and Stephanie are the voice of reason in a sense and kind of the calm amongst the storm, even though they have their own things going on, most notably Stephanie’s relationship with Kyle (Wilmer Valderrama) which is great until he, understandably so, shuts her out. Not many people, in love or not, whether you’re a doctor, close to it, or not, want you to see them at their absolute worst in a hospital.
And of course, there’s Meredith. Meredith. Meredith. Can we take a moment to acknowledge how absolutely fantastic Ellen Pompeo was in the episode “The Sound of Silence” in which Meredith is attacked by a patient and the majority of the episode is from Meredith’s POV which, in this instance, is pure silence since she can’t hear. I loved this episode so much, it ranks in my top 25, maybe even top 10 episodes of the entire series. Yep, that’s how good it was.
Other standout episodes? “Old Time Rock and Roll” in which the interns learn how to break bad news to families, “My Next Life” in which Meredith is met with a patient from her first surgery, “All Eyes On Me” in which a group of the doctors head to another hospital for a really big surgery and back at the hospital a bunch of stuck up cheerleaders get checked, “There’s a Fine, Fine Line” in which Ben defies orders to save two lives the only way he thinks he can, and “Trigger Happy” following a kid who was accidentally shot.
If anyone has any doubts about Grey’s Anatomy being just as great as it was in its early years, there’s clearly no reason to worry. The writers know what they’re doing (and the music department, amazing music featured, as always) and they are killing it. A wonderful season, so be sure to add it to your collection today.
* In Stitches: Bloopers (Approx. 3:45 minutes) – This blooper reel was not as funny as past reels but is still entertaining.
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