TAKE CARE NOW
Crowen Recap 10 x 17 “Do You Know?”
By Cinderoni
There was a fair amount of trepidation about Episode 10 x 17 among Crowen fans, since it focused on Cristina and Owen for the entire episode. Every scene featured either one or both of them in it – all 43 minutes of it. It is rare that something like this happens. While some people may not have liked parts of it, it cannot be denied that it was a brilliant showcase for the talents of Kevin McKidd and Sandra Oh. This episode was written by Stacy McKee and directed by Chandra Wilson aka Dr Bailey.
As this is the “sliding doors” episode, we will be faced with two different alternate universes, based on how Cristina reacts to the decision of a quadriplegic accident victim to live or die.
The episode starts with flashbacks of Owen and Cristina throughout the years before launching into a scene of Cristina and Shane in the OR, working on a motor vehicle crash victim named Jason. Before long, they find that his inferior vena cava (IVC) needs to be repaired. The IVC is almost impossible to repair but she does it, anyway. Derek, having been paged, enters the OR to take a look at the patient’s spinal scans. It is not good news as Derek notes that the patient’s C3 and C4 are obliterated and there is no way that he can fix that. “He just lost all motor function from the neck down,” he says.
During this scene, we can hear Cristina doing the voice-over. “Do you know who you are? Do you know what’s happened to you? Do you want to live this way? All it takes is one person, one patient, one moment to change your life away. It can change your perspective, color your thinking. One moment which forces you to re-evaluate everything you know.” This is the one patient who starts the ball rolling and gets Cristina thinking.
We next see Cristina with the patient’s wife, Elise. She is explaining the grim prognosis for Jason. He is paralyzed but his brain function is good and his heart has been repaired. Elise wants to know if his diaphragm is working and whether he can breathe on his own. Cristina answers in the negative, as the vent is breathing for him. She starts to explain their options but Elise is more interested in finding out whether Jason will ever be able to breathe on his own, again. He will not, Cristina confirms.
Elise wants to wake up Jason to ask him if he wants to remove the vent. Cristina is surprised because she knows that removing the vent would mean that Jason would die. Elise says she understands what she is asking because she doesn’t want to lose him. But then, she explains, “I know him. I know everything about him. I understand what he thinks. I get his humor. I can predict what he is going to order in a restaurant.” As Elise speaks, Cristina stares at Owen through a glass window. She feels exactly the same way about Owen.
Elise says that Jason would not want to live this way; that he would rather die than live one moment hooked up to a machine. Cristina informs her that it is her husband’s right to decline treatment if he wants. It will take some time to wean Jason off the sedatives, so in the meantime, Cristina heads off to the attendings’ lounge where Alex and Meredith are having a heart-to-heart talk about Jo, Alex’s girlfriend. Cristina sits quietly behind them, so they don’t know that she is there.
It seems that Jo is not the marrying type and Alex wonders if they will ever get married. Meredith tells him that they are together so it shouldn’t matter that Jo is not the marrying kind. Alex replies that they are just going to keep doing what they are doing for the next 20 years. Meredith assures him that they are together, so why does it matter. That’s the current situation for Cristina and Owen, who seem to be in a sort of limbo in their own relationship.
Cristina’s pager goes off and Meredith and Alex turn around to see her there. Meredith says that she didn’t see her there, notices the look on Cristina’s face and asks if she is okay. Cristina says yep and leaves because apparently, Jason has woken up.
She and Elise are now together in Jason’s room. Cristina introduces herself and tells him that she needs to ask him some questions. Since he can’t speak with the tube down his throat, she tells him to nod or shake his head for yes or no. She then asks him the same questions that were said in the voiceover like “do you know who you are?” She explains that he was in a car accident and he was in the hospital right now. She touches Elise’s shoulder and asks Jason if he knows who this is. Jason nods, while Elise smiles at him.
Cristina proceeds to give him the bad news that his spine is crushed and he is paralyzed from the neck down and that he is currently breathing with a ventilator. She tells him that she understands that he may want to remove the ventilator but she needs to make sure that he knows that removing it would mean that he would die. Elise admits her love for Jason and that she would support him, no matter what he decides. Cristina says she needs to ask the question, again if he would like to remove the vent. Jason nods that he does.
Cristina comes out of the room, shaken by what has just happened. When the voiceover starts again, we are being launched into the first Alternate Universe. She sees Owen at the elevator, while in the background, Jackson Avery’s hand is crushed in a doorway, as he attempts to move a machine. Cristina goes to Owen, as he presses the button on the elevator.
“Hey, you,” he says, happily. Cristina says what the hell are we doing. Owen says he’s just waiting for the elevator, not aware that she is making a great life decision here.
“I just spent my day, saving the life of a man, who is choosing to die and all I keep thinking you and I throwing so much away. We should be together. You’re the love of my life. And it’s stupid for us to keep pretending. I love you. I want to be with you. For real. Forever. It’s as simple as that,” she declares. Owen’s face tells her that he feels the same way, as they passionately kiss in front of everyone.
The next scene shows them basking in the afterglow in an empty new house. They have christened every room of the house with their love-making. They are clearly married as they are both sporting platinum wedding rings. Owen says that the house feels big just for the two of them. This, of course leads them to the animal rescue shelter, where Cristina turns down Owen’s picks of two large dogs and instead chooses a small dog of indeterminate breed as their new pet.
Cristina, Shane and Alex are working in the OR. It is a continuation of her clinical trial with the 3D-printed conduit. Owen comes in to tell her that he has a nine-hour surgery and that Mrs. Rodriguez can’t wait. Shane wants to know if Mrs. Rodriguez is a cardio patient but it turns out that Mrs. Rodriguez is the name of the male rescue dog that they had adopted. It is a pretty cute scene because Alex thinks that the dog is going to be dead, pretty soon, since he doubts Cristina can take care of it. Only Cristina could come up with a name like Mrs. Rodriguez for a dog, who, by the way trended on Twitter the night the show aired. Mrs. Rodriguez is undoubtedly a star.
Despite Alex’s doubts, it seems that Cristina is indeed taking care of the dog, quite seriously, as we next see her getting Bailey’s old sweaters from Meredith for Mrs. Rodriguez to wear. We can tell time has passed because we see an older Zola, doing her homework at the table. Meredith says she can’t believe that Cristina is going to dress the dog in her son’s sweater. Cristina counters that Mrs. Rodriguez gets cold and that he doesn’t have the constitution for Seattle’s damp and cold as he gets the shakes. Meredith laughs that Cristina likes the dog. Cristina says the dog relates to people the same way that she does. Meredith says that dog gets Cristina and that she has a dog baby.
Two years have passed since Avery injured his hand. There is now a board meeting and apparently, Avery wants to get back into the OR. Derek tells him that a decision has been made and Avery would keep doing his administrative duties, since his hand is not ready. After Avery leaves in a huff, Derek asks if there were other any other matters. Owen says there is. Cristina’s face says that she knows what it is and does not want him to bring it up.
We then see the two of them in their lavish bedroom. Owen and Cristina are arguing, as she is not pleased that he brought up the issue at the board meeting. The issue, it turns out, is that Owen has been offered a job, to work alongside Teddy Altman – Owen’s friend and Cristina’s former mentor – running the Military Trauma Division. To Owen, it is the job of a lifetime. “It’s what’s next for me, Cristina, I can feel it,” he says.
Cristina counters that it is in Germany and that they have a house and she has her research. She says that they are good here and they are happy. Owen wants her to listen to him. She says that he can’t back her into this. He tells her that no one can back her into anything because he tried. She argues that he wants her to dump her whole trial and he says that is not what he is saying. He tells her to stop because he can’t have another conversation where his career and whatever he wants is treated as some crime against humanity. Cristina argues that they were back where they started, where she never gives him anything and his dreams die. Mrs. Rodriguez chimes with a few well-timed barks.
Cristina tells Owen that he makes stupid decisions and she is not moving to Germany. Owen scoffs, saying why he ever entertained the idea for one second that they would ever do anything that he wanted. Cristina stares at their wedding picture. Maybe, it is at this point, she finally concedes to giving him something that he really wants.
It is clear what she has decided because in the next scene, Cristina is highly pregnant. They have stayed put in Seattle but she is giving him one of his dreams. Shane rushes into the ER and tells her that one of their conduit patients, Jasper O’Neil, was back for his annual check-up and doing so well that he was going out for hockey. She tells Shane to handle it because she’s going home as her shift is over. She and a highly pregnant April Kepner bump bellies. April chirpily says that they are belly buddies. Cristina shakes her head and says, “We’re not.”
Cristina is in the throes of labor with both Owen and Meredith, each holding one of her hands. Meredith is encouraging her to push but Cristina says, “No can do. I have a cozy womb. He’ll be happier. It will be better for everyone.” Owen kisses her hand. She pushes again, even though Owen tells her to wait a second.
She is in so much pain she tells Meredith that it is a mistake. Owen is confused by her statement. Meredith quickly covers and says that everybody says that. The OB/GYN says that they need one more push and baby boy Hunt is born. As Owen goes to check on the baby, Cristina tells Meredith that she screwed up. Meredith tells her to shush, as Owen brings the baby for her to see. Despite her fears, she takes him in her arms and says hello.
They are now home with the baby, who is crying in the middle of the night. Owen wakes up suddenly but Cristina, who is already up. tells him to go back to sleep. As the baby continues to cry, Cristina takes a while before she finally picks him up and pats his back. Her face tells the whole story. She isn’t happy. When she said she screwed up, she wasn’t kidding.
When next we see them, the baby is a little bit older and Jo, who is now an attending, is checking him out. He has taken a fall in the park on some concrete steps. Cristina blames herself but Owen says their son lunges head first into everything that it is a wonder it hasn’t happened sooner. She says she is never going back to the park. She seems to be panicking about it all, while Owen tries to calm her, telling her it is only a superficial cut. Ross comes in and talks about their meetings with the Phase 3 patients but then, he notices that the baby is there being treated. He asks if the baby was fine. Owen says yes while Cristina says no.
Ross asks if they should reschedule the meetings but Cristina tells him to handle them and that she wants him to take over Phase 3 from now on. Owen is surprised, probably because he thinks he would never see the day that Cristina would willingly give up her research and hand it over to someone else.
It is now Bailey’s 7th birthday at the park. Cristina has shorter hair and is surprisingly pregnant again. She says she can’t believe that Bailey is already seven. She and Meredith share stories about their boys. Meredith says that this was not the conversation she ever expected them to have. Owen is seen playing with Theo, who is now a toddler. Owen and Theo look very happy. (By the way, did anyone else think that they named Theo after Teddy, whose full name is Theodora?)
Meredith asks if she feels any kicks yet. Cristina says no. Meredith asks if she is nauseous. Cristina says she is just tired. “Every day I go to work and do my job. Then, I come home and do that job. I’m so tired. It’s like I’m sleepwalking all of the time.”
Meredith reminds her that she is in her second trimester, now so that will start getting better. Cristina says it is not the pregnancy. Meredith can tell that something is wrong but all Cristina says is “look how happy he is,” as she watches Owen with Theo. Little Theo is extremely cute, I must say.
Years have passed as Cristina now has a touch of grey in her hair. She is looking at her evening gown, when Meredith, already dressed comes into the room. “You’re not dressed. We need to get going. The Harper Avery Awards await.” She asks if Cristina is nervous and if she needs a minute. Cristina says she is not nervous. “But just a minute. Then nerves of steel,” Meredith says. They both say okay and Meredith leaves.
At the ceremony, Cristina, now in glasses and evening gown, addresses the gathering. “The surgical mind needs to be constantly inspired, always asking the toughest questions. The Harper Avery is a celebration of that of the kind of mind I saw in today’s recipient, even when he was just an intern.” Then, she introduces Shane Ross as the recipient of the Harper Avery award. Shane comes up to accept the award. He, too, is older with facial hair and glasses.
He accepts the award and thanks Cristina, saying that he wouldn’t be there without her encouragement, guidance and support. All it takes is one person, one patient to change your life forever, he says. He speaks about Jasper O’ Neil, one of their conduit patients, who has joined them for the occasion. As she stands there next to Ross, she realizes what her life has become. After the ceremony, Cristina is in the restroom, breaking down in tears, full of regret at her lost shot at greatness. Meredith stands outside of the restroom stall, calling her name, while Cristina continues to cry.
We then switch back to reality where Cristina is again at Jason’s bedside. She again asks him the question whether he wants to be taken off the vent. This time, he says no. Cristina comes out of the room, feeling really good about everything. The second AU begins. She spots Owen at the elevator and heads towards them. In the background, Avery still gets his hand smashed at the doorway.
Cristina reaches Owen and tells him that she spent the day, saving the life of a man who could have chosen to die but didn’t. She repaired a heart that was impossible to repair. She achieved the impossible, today and it feels good, no, incredible. She asks him what he’s doing right now. He says he is waiting for the elevator. “We’re gonna have to take the stairs because I just finished my shift and I feel like celebrating tonight. Naked with you.” She pulls on his tie. Owen says he could definitely be into that.
The promised love-making takes them back to his trailer, where they are continuing to romp. We see Cristina’s naked back and they are definitely getting it on. As she flops down next to him, she asks if he’s okay with this. He thinks she is talking about sex, which he is definitely okay with. She tells not this but “us…being just us.” He says he knows (that she is referring about them being childless) and he says he’s good, as he reaches for her to kiss her and they make love again.
The scene switches to the X-ray consult room. They are arguing about the same baby issue, as Cristina points out that he said he was okay with it. It turns out that he’s not. Avery steps in to get his films but realizes that Owen and Cristina are in the middle of a heated argument and steps out. Owen says that he just wants to reopen the conversation. She retorts that there is nothing to talk about because she was clear that she can’t give him more than she is already giving. “And now if you need more,” she says. He replies that he thinks he does. She tells him to get it somewhere else. “Okay I will,” he says and walks out.
Apparently, that does not last very long because we see them getting sexy in a supply closet.
Cristina and Meredith are lying in bed where she says that she and Owen are really over. “We can’t keep falling back in the same pattern.” Meredith, who has heard this over and over again, has fallen asleep. She wakes up just to say, “You and Owen are over again. I’m totally listening. Continue.” She falls back asleep, while Cristina says it can’t continue the way it is. “It’s not good, it’s not healthy,” she says.
We then see her with Owen, Callie and Derek with patient Jason and his wife, Elise. Remember in this universe, Jason has chosen to live. Cristina tells Jason that his heart is healthy enough and he would be an excellent candidate for the type of research that Callie and Derek are doing. Derek explains what they would be doing. He says it is a surgery, as he would implant an array of wireless sensors into his skull that would transmit electrical activity. Callie adds that none of their subjects has ever experienced pain. Derek notes that it is a chance to help them revolutionize treatment for people like Jason. Jason seems unsure and wonders if it will help him. Elise tries to encourage him and asks him if it won’t be nice to have somewhere to go instead of sitting around the house all day.
“It’s something we can do,” she says. Jason replies that he doesn’t care and agrees to take part in the research, reluctantly.
Outside of the room, Elise thanks Cristina for thinking of them but Callie corrects her, saying that it was Chief Hunt’s idea and it was he who told them about Jason. Cristina looks back at Owen, who smiles, while Elise thanks him. As Elise and Callie leave, Cristina turns to Owen and tells him that was a very nice thing he did for them. Owen replies with a grin that he is a very nice guy or so he has been told.
Owen being nice was enough for Cristina and Owen to end back in bed at the trailer. Again, they are discussing the baby issue. She tells him that she would never ask him for that. He says that he is telling her, once again. She says that she doesn’t believe him. He tells her that people change and she is not the same person that she was, when they first met. He assures her that he can change, too. She still doesn’t believe him because people who want kids, don’t just stop wanting them, she says. She tells him not to give up things for her. He says he hasn’t and he reaches for her and kisses her.
We’re back in the lab with Jason, using some sort of fancy-schmancy mechanical suit, as he attempts to walk across the room. Callie, Derek and Owen are there, watching his progress, as is his wife, Elise. Callie is helping Jason, as he walks in his suit. Derek tells him to focus on his balance, while Elise asks him how does it feel to walk again. Jason answers that it is pretty good. Derek, looking at the monitors, says that Jason needs to concentrate. Owen says it is amazing and it is only been a few years. It is an indicator of how much time has passed. Elise says unbelievable and mentions that she would like Dr Yang to see this. Owen says he will check. Then, disaster happens. Jason seems to be losing it and finally collapses on the floor. They all rush to tend to him.
Cristina is in her lab, working on her conduit research. Owen rushes in and says that he needs her. Cristina thinks it is for sex and says yes, with a smile. Then, she remembers that she can’t as her abstracts needed to go out an hour ago and suggests a quickie in the on-call room. Owen says that it’s not that but about Jason Castor, who just collapsed in the BCI lab due to renal failure. He says Meredith is putting in a shunt but Elise is asking for her. Cristina is blank so Owen reminds her who Jason is.
Cristina asks if he needs a heart consult. Owen tells her no but Elise is scared and trusts her. She tells him that she has to finish this because she has seven prints going. Owen asks if Ross could take over. Cristina tells him that Ross can’t do this because she is one step away from funding for animal trials. She says that Jason is not her patient and she doesn’t have time to hold someone’s hand right now. Owen is flabbergasted, as he leaves. He bursts back in and says that Elise likes her, trusts her and that she is waiting for you. Cristina tells him that a million heart patients are waiting for her, too. “Right,” he says sarcastically. “You can’t let people down.”
Owen comes in to check on Elise. He hands her a cup of coffee. He is doing what he thinks Cristina should be doing. She asks if it is because of the suit. Owen tells her that his kidneys failed and that caused him to pass out but the surgery is going well and then, they will get him on dialysis. He says this is just a complication of Jason’s condition. Elise seems frustrated and resigned, as she said they are all just complications.
Owen assures her that Jason will be able to continue with the study. Elise says Jason won’t and he would use this as his excuse and he will never forgive her for making him do it. Owen says she didn’t make him do it. She says that once, when she and Jason were fighting, he had revealed that the only reason he said yes to living was because he was looking at her and that if it had been up to him and she wasn’t there, he would have said no. She sits and says that he is miserable because of her and she is no longer his wife, but just a nursemaid, cook and orderly and that is all she is anymore.
She tells him that she wanted to have a child and you can see the immediate reaction on his face because that is his desire, too. “I will never, ever have a child,” she says. Owen knows exactly how she feels. She says she is being selfish and horrible. Owen assures her that she is not and takes her hands into his. He says he totally understands. Elise can see a like soul and she grabs his face and kisses him. He puts up his hand to stop it. Elise says that she is sorry.
Owen is at Joe’s looking at Dr Bailey on her tv show. He is drinking heavily. Cristina comes and joins him, saying that Dr Bailey should include her suggestion that too much calcium can increase your risk of heart disease. She turns to Owen and says she hasn’t seen him in two days. He replies that he took a couple of extra night shifts. She says she went by the trailer but he says he just crashed in the on-call room.
She recognizes his mood and asks him if something is going on. He says that he needs more from her, more from them. She tries to get him out of there. He says nope. She tells him that they should go home, sleep this off and talk about it in the morning. He counters that they don’t have a home; he has a trailer and she has a room in Karev’s house. He orders another drink. She stares at him and then, she leaves.
Cristina has gone to her safe place, next to Meredith in bed. Meredith gets in the bed and says that there are too many. “The kids outnumber the adults, Should’ve thought of that before we adopted again.” Meredith says the obvious that Cristina and Owen broke up, again. Why else would Cristina be there? (Just a thought; where does Derek go during these girl times?)
Cristina admits it is the same thing over and over again. Meredith says what is also the same is that both of them, lying in the bed, discussing her and Owen. Meredith asks why does she keep doing this to herself. Cristina admits that she needs help. Tearfully, she tells Meredith that she needs to help her not go back to him, for his good and hers. Meredith tells her that she will help. With Meredith’s help, Cristina seems to have broken her pattern with Owen. We see the results of that in the next scene.
Avery is in an argument with Owen about returning to work. Owen tells him that his hand still needs to heal and he needs more physical therapy and time in the skills lab. “You are not stepping into that OR, not today, maybe not ever,” Owen yells. They continue to argue, with Owen continuing to shout. Dr Bailey and Cristina come in to see the argument in full flight. Bailey chides Owen before Owen walks away. Clearly, something is wrong with Owen.
In the next scene, Cristina has been paged by Stephanie about Owen. She was in the middle of a surgery and scolds the attending for calling her. (It was funny to see the residents as attendings in these time jump alternate universes). Stephanie tells her that it is Owen and says that he wanted to work a shift but she didn’t feel comfortable. He only agreed to get into a bed, if she paged Cristina. Stephanie takes her to Owen, who is in an ER bed and attached to a banana bag.
Owen says in relief that she came, while Cristina tells Stephanie to give them a minute. Owen tries to get out of bed but Cristina holds him and pushes him back on to the bed. She tells him that he stinks (of alcohol). She tells him that he is insane to try to start a shift because he could hurt someone. He lies back on the bed and says, “I love you.” Cristina tells him it has got to stop but he doesn’t. He continues saying that he loves her three more times.
“I see you every day and I can’t have you. So how I am supposed to keep doing this, keep working here when every time I turn around, I see your face,” he says. He reaches out and touches her face. She tries to remove his hand but he needs to say what he has to say, as he grabs her face with both of his hands. “I love you. Please, please marry me. Just marry me. Why can’t you just marry me? Please, I’m begging you. I’m begging. I am begging you. I mean, we should have never called it quits. We should have never called it quits when we did. Please.”
Cristina shushes him, gently, as she takes him into his arms and he buries his face into her neck. “Just please marry me,” he whispers, as she gently strokes his head. This was completely heartbreaking to see. Owen is completely lost without her.
More years have passed as we can see the grey in Cristina’s hair. Cristina is in a beautiful white evening gown, staring at herself in the mirror. Meredith, also in evening gown, comes in to tell her that there is no sign of “him” as yet, so there is no reason to panic. Cristina says she is not panicked. As Meredith helps Cristina with her dress, she tells her that she looks beautiful. Cristina wonders how “he” could be late to this, so Meredith says she will go look for him again.
Meanwhile, Owen is in the ER, where there are multiple MVC victims. Paramedic Nicole (slightly graying and wearing glasses) comes in with a 10-year-old female victim. Owen calls out to an intern to assess the patient then rush her up to radiology for a CT with contrast. The mother says that she is allergic to iodine dye and wonders if her daughter could be, too. Owen assures her that they would run a test, as he rushes off to look at other victims.
Back to Cristina as she fiddles with the chocolates in the room, while Meredith asks if she could call him again. Cristina says no. Meredith keeps getting paged and Cristina tells her that she can go since it is not like she hasn’t been through this before. Meredith says it is a general page for whoever is on call and she’s not on call, so she’s not going anywhere.
Back at the hospital, the patient that Owen had sent for the CT has suffered severe allergic shock to the iodine dye. April is working on her, when Arizona comes in to find out what had happened. April says the patient was seizing with severe allergic reaction. She says she was walking by when she saw the intern freaking out. Arizona wants to know if she was tested for allergies, when Owen comes in and says he was paged. April says they need to get her in to the OR immediately and they need to get her started on Benadryl and steroids. Owen looks on in disbelief.
Arizona asks Owen why he didn’t treat her for contrast allergies. Owen says he did but Arizona says there is no record of any test. Owen insists that he ordered the damn test. “Didn’t I?” he says, as he starts to doubt himself.
At the other venue, Ross (in tux, glasses and facial hair) finally comes to the room where Meredith and Cristina are. Meredith tells him that he is cutting it a little close. Ross apologizes and says that he was held up in traffic. He tells Cristina that she looks incredible. “Shall we do this?” he says.
Back at the hospital, Owen is under investigation, as a nurse administers a breathalyzer. Derek watches him through the window, when Arizona comes in to say that it is unacceptable and things like this keep happening. “This time, a kid was involved,” she says. “I’m not looking the other way any longer. He is unreliable and a danger to his patients. I mean, did you smell his breath?”
Derek says they should wait for the breathalyzer results. Arizona says they should reconvene an emergency board meeting, right now.
Back at the Avery awards, we see Ross at the podium. “She is a pioneer, an inspiration, a mentor and I am proud to say my friend for over 15 years. Please welcome for an unprecedented fourth consecutive year, tonight’s Harper Award recipient, Dr. Cristina Yang.” As Cristina gets up to receive the award, Meredith gets a 911 page from Derek.
Meredith enters the board meeting, saying that she came as soon as she could. She says that Owen is just sitting there, waiting. April is asked if she trust Owen to treat patients. April is reluctant to say anything bad about him since Owen trained her. Richard Webber (complete with walking cane) asks her to be honest. April admits that she doesn’t. Arizona moves to terminate him, effective immediately.
Back at the Avery awards, Cristina says if there is one thing that she has learned over the years, it only takes one person, one patient, one moment to change your life forever, to change your perspective , to color your thinking, to force you to re-evaluate everything you think you know. Do you know who you are? Do you understand what has happened to you? Do you want to live this way?” As she continues, we see the board arguing about terminating Owen, while he is outside, awaiting his fate, with his head in his hands. At the awards, the crowd stands up and applauds.
Now, we are back to reality where Cristina is asking Jason whether he wants to take the vent off. Jason looks at Elise and finally nods. He wants the vent removed.
Cristina somberly walks out of the room. Again, she sees Owen at the elevator. Avery is again trying to get the machine out of the doorway but she saves him this time from damaging his hand. She has a slight smile on his face, as she goes towards him. Meredith interrupts her and asks if she could use a set of eyes on her patient. She tells Meredith to give her one minute but before she can go to Owen, the elevator comes. Owen looks up, sees her and gives her a brief smile. She says never mind and goes off to consult. The screen fades to black.
I realize that a lot of people were unhappy after this episode because both alternate universes were both a little bleak in their outcomes. In the first AU, Cristina is miserable in the end but she gives Owen the family that he wants. In the second AU, she doesn’t give him what he wants and he sinks to his lowest by becoming a drunkard.
In that heartbreaking scene in the second AU where Owen is begging Cristina to marry him, he says something that I think will ring true for when Sandra/Cristina exits the show. He says how can he keep working there and not be able to have her. For Owen to move forward, Cristina needs to leave the hospital. I don’t know if that is what they wanted us to get from that.
The two options that we were presented with were not what, we as Crowen fans, wanted. In a TV Guide article, Sandra suggested that there was a third option, given that in the end of the episode, we don’t see what Cristina decides to do because Meredith interrupts her.
So what is your idea for the third option?
I have always thought that she would leave and have her brilliant career and comes back for him in the end. In the meantime, he will explore single fatherhood either through adoption or surrogacy. (Yes, I know I am selfish. I want Owen to be with only her.)
Also, what the heck is wrong with a long distance relationship? I think that might be feasible with Sandra making guest appearances. But whatever is planned for her exit, it has already been written and we can’t do anything about it.
The 10 x 18 episode, judging from the promo, seems to be a light episode, where the flu seems to be going around. It may be a welcome relief after the heaviness of this episode.
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