Lately, it feels like I’ve been spending an inordinate amount of time within the hallowed, albeit fictional, halls of Grey-Sloan Memorial Hospital. Yes, that’s the very hospital where the drama unfolds in the long-running TV series, “Grey’s Anatomy.” Don’t worry, I’m perfectly healthy; my visits are purely for entertainment, fueled by a deep dive into seasons 1 through 16 on Netflix.
In a television landscape often dominated by reality shows and fleeting sitcoms, there’s something undeniably comforting about sinking into a familiar world, even if that world is filled with medical emergencies and romantic entanglements. The beauty of streaming services like Netflix is their binge-worthiness. Unlike network television that doles out episodes weekly, leaving you in suspense, Netflix drops you straight into the next chapter the moment the credits roll. “Just one more episode,” you tell yourself, and before you know it, hours have vanished, and bedtime is a distant memory.
Living alone with just my dog, there are no complaints about the television volume or my viewing habits. In fact, my canine companion seems quite content with my extended periods of couch-bound viewing.
My journey back into the world of “Grey’s Anatomy” was prompted by a desire to escape. When COVID-19 infiltrated the show’s fictional universe, mirroring our real-world anxieties, I decided to retreat to earlier seasons. I longed for the simpler days of Izzy, George, Cristina, Meredith, and Alex – the original interns, fresh-faced and brimming with potential. Now, navigating season 15, it’s fascinating to see these characters, the survivors, in positions of power, leading departments and shaping the hospital’s future.
But “Grey’s Anatomy” is just the latest in a long line of hospital dramas that have captivated me. My fascination with Doctor Shows On Tv stretches back years. Before Grey-Sloan, there was the daily drama of “General Hospital,” the fast-paced intensity of “ER,” the intellectual puzzles of “House,” the comedic relief of “M*A*S*H,” and the thoughtful narratives of “Chicago Hope,” among others. Considering the amount of time I’ve actually spent in real hospitals, it’s almost ironic that I seek out these fictionalized versions. In reality, hospitals are places I’m always relieved to leave.
The appeal, perhaps, lies in the idealized portrayal of healthcare. Grey-Sloan, and hospitals like it in other doctor shows on TV, are a far cry from reality, both for better and for worse. Real-life doctors, at least those I’ve encountered, are rarely as strikingly attractive or relentlessly dedicated as their television counterparts. They don’t operate around the clock until a patient is cured or mourn deeply over every loss. Hand-holding at the bedside, elaborate games, or impromptu wedding planning within hospital walls? Highly unlikely.
My experience with real surgeons is markedly different. They often appear briefly on their rounds, often while you’re half-asleep, quickly review your chart, deliver a concise assessment, and disappear. You might catch a fleeting glimpse of them in the operating room just before anesthesia takes over and again in recovery, where they briefly explain the procedure before you’re fully alert enough to process the information.
The doctors of “Grey’s Anatomy” are predominantly surgeons, a detail that contributes to the show’s dramatic intensity but diverges from reality. In actual hospitals, surgeons specialize in surgery. They don’t typically handle tasks like pushing gurneys, inserting IVs, or operating MRI, sonogram, and CT scan machines. These crucial hands-on care responsibilities are primarily managed by nurses, aides, and technicians, the unsung heroes of the healthcare system.
Furthermore, the pace of medical care on doctor shows on TV is dramatically accelerated. Real-life emergency rooms often involve hours of waiting – for test results, doctor’s orders, or even just for a doctor to become available. Two-hour waits in the waiting room are not uncommon.
While I might secretly wish for the swift and attentive care depicted on television, there’s a part of me that’s relieved real hospitals aren’t quite so dramatic. In Grey-Sloan, almost every patient seems to present with a rare brain tumor or a critically failing heart. Surgeries are rarely routine; someone’s heart is bound to stop on the operating table. Normal childbirths or straightforward procedures are anomalies. No thank you to that level of constant crisis!
Beyond the medical melodrama, the personal lives of TV doctors are equally exaggerated. They are perpetually sleep-deprived, occasionally hungover, and often consumed by the latest romantic entanglement from the on-call room. While doctors are undoubtedly accustomed to seeing bodies, the immediate leap from a kiss to undressing in these shows borders on comical. And what about basic hygiene? After countless hours of intense work, wouldn’t they be sweaty, perhaps a little smelly? Meals are constantly interrupted by pagers, leaving one to wonder if they ever manage a complete, uninterrupted bite.
The sheer volume of trauma these fictional doctors endure is astounding. April on “Grey’s Anatomy” once survived three hours without a pulse, only to be revived and, in the very next episode, be perfectly healthy and planning a wedding. Meredith Grey herself has faced a plane crash, drowning, a brutal assault, and near-fatal COVID – yet always bounces back, ready for the next crisis. Robbins lost a leg, Bailey suffered a heart attack and a nervous breakdown, Weber and Amelia Shepherd both battled brain tumors. Weber even survived electrocution. DeLuca endured a severe beating and concussion. And yet, they all continue to perform complex surgeries. The resilience of doctors in doctor shows on TV is truly superhuman.
Watching these shows, a barrage of medical jargon – whipple, central line, crike, bovie, 10-blade, pneumothorax, sepsis, UNOS – becomes strangely familiar. There’s even an online glossary dedicated to “Grey’s Anatomy” medical terms. After countless on-screen surgeries, a viewer might almost feel qualified to pick up a scalpel themselves. (Rest assured, I won’t be attempting any procedures at home.)
“Write what you know,” the saying goes. At this point, I certainly know a lot about “Grey’s Anatomy.”
Right now, the escapism offered by watching doctor shows on TV is far more appealing than facing the critique of my own work. My manuscript, the product of months of intense writing, is finally in the hands of an editor. The thought of opening their feedback email fills me with dread. Perhaps a little more screen time with TV doctors is just what I need to numb the anticipation.
Today marks the start of summer. It was back in March when I first wrote about my renewed interest in “Grey’s Anatomy.” With 24 episodes per season, I joke that I should practically have a medical degree by now. But as I glance away from the TV screen, a different kind of urge is emerging – the desire to rearrange, redecorate, and repair my actual surroundings. Look out, world, inspiration is striking beyond the fictional hospital walls.
What are your go-to doctor shows on TV or guilty on-screen pleasures these days? And more importantly, can you truly watch just one episode?
P.S. Breaking news! Season 17 of “Grey’s Anatomy” is coming to Netflix on July 3rd. OMG. Someone, please hide the remote control!
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