Bring the Pain (Grey's Anatomy)

"Bring the Pain" is the fifth episode of the second season of the ABC series, Grey's Anatomy. The episode was written by Shonda Rhimes and was directed by Mark Tinker. It originally aired on Sunday October 23, 2005.

Episode recap

Meredith and Dr. Shepherd have to use more than medicine when a young Asian woman’s traditionalist, religious father forbids her to have a life-saving operation unless a shaman is called upon to "retrieve her souls". Meanwhile, George and Alex are forced to perform surgery in a trapped elevator in an attempt to save a patient’s life in which George shows his potential while Alex shuns the challenge, and it is decision time for Derek and the two women in his life.

Premise

In the official writer's blog for the show, Shonda Rhimes noted the following about this episode:

"Bring the Pain" was originally conceived, written and shot to be the finale of Grey's Anatomy's first season. But then we aired after Desperate Housewives and, well…everything changed. Ratings, timeslots, a really great audience following…it was mind blowing and humbling for all of us. The network made a decision — our first season needed to end in conjunction with DH's season. And so suddenly, the arrival of Derek's wife became our perfect season-ending cliffhanger. And this episode became one of a series of big episodes to launch our second season.

But if you watch it with that in mind — the fact that this was the final episode — you can see me trying to bring the characters full circle from the pilot.

Title reference

The episode's title refers to a song by Method Man.

Music

"When I Come Home" - Blue Eyed Son
"Yellow Horse" - Cowboy Racer
"Love in the Making" - Róisín Murphy
"I Hear the Bells" - Mike Doughty
"Don't Forget Me" - Way Out West
"Not Tonight" - Tegan and Sara