Grey's Anatomy - Season 1 [DVD]

As I am writing this review, it is half past six in the morning. I am incredibly tired and have to work in 2 hours, but I still can't go to sleep. When I bought this DVD I had heard that the series was pretty good and I thought that I would watch an episode every now and then until I completed the box set. However, I have now completed the entire series in one night and I am so desperate to know what happens next that I have come onto Amazon to order the next DVD.

Just when you thought you had seen enough medical drama on TV to make you practically a qualified doctor, along comes Grey's Anatomy which makes it all seem new and exciting once more and connects you on a deeper level to the main characters than all of those previous shows.

It has the pace and drama of ER, but somehow manages to find time to explore the personalities and lives of the thoughtfully written doctors on such a level that you become transfixed by them and feel you are right there by their sides in the hospital. The move to focus the series on interns was especially inspired, as this brings a whole new dimension to the story. They are all competing against each other for the same goal, yet need each other to survive along the way and the closer they get to their dreams, the harder reality becomes.

Whilst they want to learn, the lessons are not always pleasant and push them out of their comfort zone as both doctors and people. However, in this tough world there is no time to stop and process the information, as there are new patients, new problems and if they even think of standing still for just one moment they could realise how unbelievably confused and frightened they are.

The more they all struggle to shut out their emotions, the more they become consumed by them. Especially when there are senior doctors around who have as much to learn from their interns as they have to teach them. With relationships forming, lines being crossed and careers on the line; the romance becomes even more significant and compelling. Jobs could be in jeopardy, reputations could become tarnished and even worse - hearts may get opened up or even broken.

The drama in the ward is intense and the emotions explosive, but laughter is never far away as the interns stumble though the trials that are thrown their way. The humour is expertly laced though the lines and we are given the opportunity to see these characters not only create laughter but have the ability to be able to laugh at themselves. Pushed to the edge and faced with such extreme situations, the characters are faced with no option but to either laugh or cry. And surgeon's don't cry.

As a viewer however, due to both brilliant writing and superb acting, you may find yourself doing both. You may also find yourself unable to stop watching the next episode and you may be constantly surprised at what happens next. You may even find youself up at six in the morning telling somebody how great this show is and urging them to watch it. However if you do decide to to start on the Grey's Anatomy journey one thing is for sure - you will become addicted and it will definitely be worth it.

I have just read the 28 customer reviews posted before this one and find it remarkable that 27 of these give the DVD five stars and only one drops it down to four.

For me, that says everything you need to know. What can I do but add to the praise that has been given before? For me the best feature is the chemistry between Meredith Grey and Dr McDreamy, but the episodes when those two don't feature are just as good in a different way.

Here in the UK we are just coming towards the end of Series 2 on Five, but I have still pre-ordered the DVD and can't wait for Series 3 to start. This is a show you have to see. Personally I was distraught to hear that Ellen Pompeo became engaged just last November. I was convinced she was waiting for me, but, hey, that's the way life goes!

Just one technical point. From what I can gather Series 1 was originally only nine episodes, which would have been covered by the first two discs, the second of which includes some rather feeble extras, but fortunately for us there are another five episodes on disc 3 and the ending at that point is just as effective, although not one I personally like! It's just as well I have seen Series 2 on TV...

I study, work, go to the gym and to the cinema, and still have some extra time to watch tv. Truth to be told, I don't have that much extra time, so I like to take advantage of it by watching only series that are very good. "Grey's anatomy" is simply excellent :)

The plot is not overly complicated, but what really makes this show different, when comparing it to others, is the superb cast and of course the great storylines. "Grey's anathomy" tells us about the lives of five surgical interns: Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), "Izzie" Stevens (Katherine Heigl), Christina Yang (Sandra Oh), George O'Malley (T.R. Knight ) and Alex Karev (Justin Chambers). Moreover, we also get to know about their teachers, teachers that in the case of Dr. Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey) and Dr. Preston Burke (Isaiah Washington) become much more than that.

In one of the many episodes that this dvd has, Meredith says that "We've all heard the proverbs, heard the philosophers, heard our grandparents warning us about wasted time, heard the damn poets urging us to seize the day. Still sometimes we have to see for ourselves. We have to make our own mistakes. We have to learn our own lessons. We have to sweep today's possibility under tomorrow's rug until we can't anymore. Until we finally understand for ourselves what Benjamin Franklin really meant. That knowing is better than wondering, that waking is better than sleeping, and even the biggest failure, even the worst, beats the hell out of never trying". Please give this dvd a try as soon as it is released. You won t regret it! Of course, highly recommended...

Belen Alcat