GA 02--

Far better than the first, the second season quickly descends into some seat clenchingly great scenes.

I was generally positive to the series until GA 0216 "It's the end of the World" and it's conclusion "(As We Know It)" (GA 0217) where the tension is rammed up to unimaginable levels with every character going through something pivotal. All I can say is after these episodes, I was well and truly hooked. Meredith is perhaps the character which goes through the most in this season and quite honestly the amount of crap she puts up with and remains a nice and caring person who doesn't go insane is somewhat unbelievable. In fact it is very unbelievable. Through the series she goes through a major break-up, meets her father for the first time in many years, finds out why her parents really broke up; gets a dog which dies; has McDreamy looking Dreamy at her every five minutes; manages to create a rift amongst friends leaving her out on a limb; survives a very near death experience in GA 0217; discovers she has even more family. It is just unbelievable. But then again it does make good TV.

All the interns here go on a journey and you really do get the impression that they live and work together every hour of the day as the chemistry between the stars is so great. Knight's portrayal of George is particularly commendable as the loveable George who everyone manages to kick at some point. Heigl as Izzie is captivating as she contemplates whether or not to cross a huge important line as a doctor and the results are amazing television. Oh's portrayal as Christina was equally good although I found the character's commitmentphobe attitude to everything annoying, it is massively endearing and strangely rewarding to see her character become more and more human throughout the entire process.

As for the attendings, they also go on quite a rollercoaster. McDreamy (Dempsey) and Addison (Walsh) try to restart their marriage and of course it is not smooth sailing. I found it strange how at first I despised Addison as the character as she seemed to come in only to mess things up for Meredith however by the end of the season I very much liked her as her storylines became increasingly comic (usually the smaller storylines such as being stung by poison ivy on her lady garden) but also tragic (as she realises how much of a struggle it will be for McDreamy to love her the same way as Meredith). Bailey aka the Nazi (Wilson) is a whole load of fun and I think the actress seems to relish playing the bitch of the attendings. Her nazist tendencies do begin to take a back seat after she gives birth and it is nice watching her character mellow and care more for others around her. Burke as a character portrayed by Isaiah Washington is a knob to say the least although I am not sure why. I can't quite put my finger on why I dislike his character so much - I think its his arrogance.

Studying medicine is a tough job where one is forced to spend a lot of time together and you become very close friends so for me perhaps one of the greatest things about the show is how the interns stand together shoulder to shoulder in the finale despite divisions through the year. Furthermore, the residents show that they genuinely care for their interns after Izzie's momentous decision in the finale. The fact that I can (easily) believe the characters care for each other makes me care for the characters.

10/10
D