Dissecting Grey's Anatomy: Aye Pilgrim Edition

Desperate for his escape, Georgie (apologies) channels his inner Rambo and nails the first gobbler he sees. While they're packing up to go, Dumb & Dumber accidentally shoot Pa O'Malley in the tuckus. Georgie's PO'd. They head to the hospital and engage in that time-old tradition of father-son bonding. Removing a bullet from your pop's ass. When the brothers are out of ear shot, Georgie's daddy explains that the teasing is more of a defense mechanism. That the blue collar brothers aren't the ones treating surgeon Georgie like he's dumb, Georgie treats the rest of the family like they are. Georgie-boy (better?) gets remorseful and then starts telling his proud papa all about his solo heart surgery elevator ride and all is well in O'Malleyville. See? He just wants to be loved.

Meanwhile, back at Meredith's, Cristina and Burke show up to spread some holiday cheer. Though there is some initial awkwardness since it's just the three of them and Izzy's a little upset at the absence of Alex. And since the good doctor is an unexpected guest. And since Izzy has a hard time calling him Preston. And since Cristina can't find any alcohol to self-medicate herself out of the social situation. So, good times all around. They make their way to the kitchen to find some burnt marinade and rapidly drying turkey, and Burke quickly takes the helm. He starts instructing Izzy, O.R.-style, on how to prep and baste and basically perform surgery on the turkey. Cristina still can't find alcohol. But what's this? A knock at the door? It's Joe! And his, uh, life partner? Huh. Who knew? Gotta love that Joe's close enough to the gang to warrant a holiday invite, though, and the fact that Joe's getting him some back story. So to speak.

Cristina can't take the liquor-free, turkey-surgery home and takes off, she claims, in search of some hooch. Burke and Izzy start chatting about Cristina and how she's hard to get to know and how she doesn't really ask—or answer—any personal questions. Izzy asks Burke how he learned how to cook and turns out Mama Burke has a restaurant in sweet home Alabama. Okay. Burke asks Izzy why she cares so much about Thanksgiving and she says it's cause it's the only day of the year the hard-working docs have off to share and when no one can die on their watch. It's the only surgery-free day of the year. What? Well, Father Christmas is gonna be pissed. It dawns on Burke that perhaps this is why Cristina left in a huff. He was performing surgery—sort of—on a surgery-free day of the year. This is what Oprah calls the "aha moment" folks.

Turns out, Cristina's not in search of the good stuff, but made her way back to the hospital to treat patients. She heads into surgery with Nazi, and after asking why she's here for the holiday discovers Nazi's pregnant.

Nazi, meanwhile, has been busy reporting to/avoiding a new temp resident who thinks he's God's gift to surgery. He's on the lookout for some "guy" known as the Nazi, who he's heard great things about. The real Nazi says she doesn't know of this "guy" but she'll keep a lookout. Temp guy spends the rest of his day barking orders at subordinates, treating everyone pretty badly and attempting to hunt down this legendary Nazi. At the end of the day, the knocked-up doc yells at Webber to just go home and he yells back it's that type of treatment that's given her the nickname Nazi. Assy temp overhears this and is shocked. Sweet justice. Nobody treats our Nazi like that. Nobody.

Meredith, meanwhile, is working on a patient who's been in a vegetative state for 16 years. That's right. Sixteen. He was brought in from a nursing home facility after falling out of bed in the morning and hitting his head. He opens his eyes while Meredith is examining him and she swears, despite doctor protests, he was looking right at her. Wow, Meredith, the narcissism has reached impressive new heights. There's some damage, but more importantly, McDreamy thinks he'll wake up. They call the man's wife and kid, and turns out, they've both moved on. Recently. The wife is pregnant. The boy is confused. But they don't want him to know they've moved on, so they take off. Nice. But lo and behold, he wakes up! And he was looking at Meredith! Well, go figure. Ego pays off after all.

He asks Meredith about his family, she gives it to him straight. He thinks he was only out for one year, she again gives it to him straight. But his early morning fall caused brain damage and he needs surgery. It's risky. Before he heads in, his son comes back to tell his dad he's moved on and leaves quickly. Well done, young man. Maximum hurt, minimal exertion. The man is upset and thinks his family is out of his life for good. And he dies on the operating table. After all that! Well, his son was waiting for him after all, but apparently, too little, too late.

Earlier in the day, the missus hijacked McDreamy's ferry boat and made him an indecent proposal for later in the day. That they should just jump right back into it. "It," of course, meaning their bed. He tells her he'll consider it, but then his head case surgery ties him up all day. That and the fact that he doesn't want to go home. He finally does, but not before Meredith asks him if he loves her. His wife, that is. He says he doesn't know, but he has to try and make it work. Meredith knows. He wouldn't be him without trying. And then they say goodbye. To perhaps more than just the night.

When McDreamy does finally make it to his trailer park paradise, Mrs. McDreamy is waiting. She asks is he's done punishing her. He says he's ready to jump back into it. And they kiss.

Back at the hospital, Meredith, Cristina and Georgie (we're not sorry anymore, O'Malley. The name's cute and so are you) cross paths in the locker room and realize that if they're all there, nobody's at Izzy's dinner. Cristina and George hightail it back home, only to find Izzy and Burke the only ones there, sitting, waiting, at an otherwise empty table. Burke, ever the gentleman, said he would not leave until his hostess did. Awww. All these Seattle Grace men and their charming ways.

Georgie apologizes to Izzy, but he's given something of a free pass after telling her he spent his day committing bird murder and touching his dad's ass. Cristina brings booze. Redemption all around.

Alex, after confessing to Meredith at the hospital that he failed his medical boards, goes to Izzy's dinner. He sees Meredith outside, but she's not going in. She tells Alex to go make Izzy happy. Well, doctor's orders. He goes inside and Izzy lights up like a Christmas tree.

Meredith heads off to Joe's, who was forced to leave Izzy's dinner before it began so he could head back to work. She's sitting at the bar when a guy sidles up to her at the bar. Under Joe's watchful eye, she asks this mystery man if he's a surgeon or an intern or if he has anything whatsoever to do with the hospital. He says he doesn't. Joe nods his approval. And Meredith asks him to buy her a drink.

Meredith rounds out the episode with the standard voice-over. That maybe we're not supposed to be happy. Maybe gratitude isn't about joy, maybe it's about recognizing what we have for what it is. And that at the end of the day, that we have strength enough to keep standing is reason enough to be thankful. Cheers to that.