Everything's NOT Fine on the Grey's Anatomy Season Premiere

If you're a Grey's Anatomy fan since the first episode of season one, then watching last night's premiere may have left you feeling a little...deflated. Don't get me wrong, the episode was beautifully written, the actors did a fantastic delivery, but, this is the first time, for me at least, that the show didn't deliver the magnetism of seasons past. And the reasons are numerous.

First, and let's just get this out of the way now, there's a huge void without Burke. Period. He added a lot to this show, and his relationships with Shepherd,Christina, and the chief, however competitive and dysfunctional were gripping. With him gone, there's a huge hole.

Which is only compounded by Addison's exit. While I hope against hope that her "Private Practice" does well, part of me wishes that she'd return on her broomstick back to Seattle, for as much as I hated her when she arrived to reclaim McDreamy with her Upper East Side swagger and Jackie O sunglasses, she grew on me. A lot. And there was huge potential there for a substantial love triangle with her, McSteamy, and Karev.

So that's two leading stars gone, and who's been added to replace them?

A bunch of interns with all the lasting impact of a handful of extras and Lexie Grey, who, if I cared half as much, I would hate as much as I hated Addison when she came aboard. But, I don't. I'm not even the least bit concerned that she could steal McDreamy from Meredith for two reasons: 1) McDreamy would never cross that line. He's got too much integrity. And 2) Meredith's doing a pretty darn good job of pushing McDreamy away all by herself.

This brings me to my next bone to pick for this premiere. Poor, damaged Meredith. Too hurt to believe in love. Yeah Right. Did she forget that passionate "pick me. choose me. love me" speech she poured out to Derek when he was trying to decide between her and Addison? Well Meredith, he DID. And from next week's preview's you're not interested in Derek's emotional love anymore. Be careful what you ask for. Because I see where this is going and it's irritating the heck out of me. The next time you ask him to pick you, be ready to get laughed at.