I was thinking last night about why this show --- although still one of my favorites -- has been frustrating me so much, and here are some of my reasons:

1) Not everyone in the ensemble can be damaged. I can't think of ONE character who is the comedic relief or the anchor for the other misfits. They are all damaged. So, there is never any relief from the problems each one is having. Alex comes about the closest to having any stability at all and that's a stretch. Shonda has managed to peel back too many layers on these characters methinks. You?

2) There is no happiness anymore. Is anyone happy on this show? Callie seems to be the only one who manages a smile anymore, but we know she also has issues.....mountains of issues.

3) Everyone is making speeches. The speeches are all incredibly written...but nobody talks like that do they? When is the last time you had a friend make an incredible "speech" to you when you were having a tough time. They are too well-written. Does that make sense? Izzie was the first, she rubbed off on George, now Callie makes them too. ENOUGH! Just have some dang conversations. My speech to George about wanting to have a baby would have gone something like this:

Callie: George, I'm 30, I'm married and my hormones are suddenly telling me to have a baby. I feel like I am running out of time. What do you think?

George: Are you kidding? We just got married and we live in a hotel and you were just made Chief Resident. Don't you think that might be enough to handle right now? Can we talk about this later at home alone?

But, no we get a modified rambling speech. I want to hear some dialogue, not monologues!!!!

Other thoughts:
Great: 1) Derek is going to fall in love with Meredith's sister (?) next season-- is that
her half sister?

2) Is Burke really gone? Is George really gone? Kind of bizarre that the two feuding off-screen are the two that we can't be sure are coming back. Considering that pink hair we saw on T.R. Knight yesterday, I am wondering if he is out completely? Or maybe just a hiatus, so he is expressing himself? I haven't even read the gossip blogs yets, so I may be missing something. Note: I don't think either are leaving...nothing on the gossip pages, and even Shonda mentions George below. Isaiah may be the only one with a chance of leaving.....please say it isn't so though..I love that character.
3) Richard will be chief again?

4) Will we have new cast members based on the new interns? What will the original cast be now? Regular doctors right?

Shonda Rimes explains a little bit of what has happened and where they are going on http://www.greyswriters.com/ This excerpt makes it make more sense and makes me look forward to fall:

So that’s it. That was our season. I did my level best to burn it all down this season, to burn it to the ground so that we can have a place to build from next season. Burning it down was hard. But next season…oh, next season is all about the fun and the pain and the new beginnings. Because our interns are going to become residents. Because everyone is single again -- well, there is the little matter of Izzie and George and Callie…but still…

…the future is wide open, people.

And finally..Sandra Oh is by far the best character and actress on this show. I LOVE her speeches! She is incredible. Love her!!