First impression, with the show in progress: There's always been a strain of David E. Kelley in Shonda Rhimes's work. In the Addison story, it's unrestrained. And I don't like it. Too much forced comedy, for one thing; did not believe for a second that Addison would say what she did in the elevator early in the episode.
More after the jump …
OK, we're more than three-fourths done, and I am really struggling to keep up. A large part of this has to do with my longing for the old Addison — the smart, tough, able, sexy woman who came storming into the show to get Derek back. I know that they have softened her as the show has gone along, but the spin-off is the final turning of her into Addy McBeal.
Which may explain why Kate Walsh is so alarmingly thin — so matchstick arms-and-legs thin, so she-talks-about-the-beach-but-we-don't-dare-put-her-in-a-swimsuit thin. In sum, Calista Flockhart thin.
Maybe I should update that reference. Teri Hatcher thin.
Thing is, I still care about the real "Grey's" portions of the episode. Of course, I've been living with those characters a lot longer. Although, even there, I'm sick of Izzie's poisonous attachment to George, and Derek/Meredith melodrama. The death of Meredith's stepmother was way over-telegraphed (especially by the promos with her father smacking her).
Getting back to the spin-off, I don't think I want to move in with this new crowd — although I suspect there will be enough crossover episodes once it's picked up that I will have to check in.
Who among us did not believe there was a rational explanation for the talking elevator? (And how stupid was it that the security watcher didn't just explain herself?)
Also, Piz has a much better role on "Veronica Mars."
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
i'm not sure if I liked the spin off. it was a bit confusing with all those new faces and i think they didn't introduce them very well. also i have to say chris lowell is not that kind of hot surfer guy – that scene felt totally wrong.
I'm usually in tune with what's coming up on my favorite shows. All I recall is hearing about the "two-hour event" and clips referring to Yang's and Burke's wedding. Boy was I surprised to get 20 minutes of Grey's Anatomy and an hour of forced jokes and awkward dialogue. I love the actors in the LA story… Amy Brenneman (being the anti-Judge Gray), Taye Diggs, Tim Daly… but I thought Addison's new personality was bizarre. I think the writers could have eased us a bit more gently into her mommy phase.
ABC clearly did not do well at explaining to people that this was a pilot, since I've heard from other puzzled readers as well, Stacy. As for Addison's "mommy phase," they sure put that idea to rest, didn't they? And I can't speak to whether Chris Lowell is hot or not, Sophia; any chance we were just supposed to think the women THOUGHT of him as hot — because of their own needs?
I completely though David E. Kelly too, more specifically Boston Legal. Too much wackiness with the millions of potential fathers.