How Long will Meredith Grey be an Intern?

[bicker]

On another forum we're discussing this. A couple of us have actually looked into it, and while a surgical residency could go on for seven years, an internship is almost always just one year. While some of the interns have reasons for their internships being longer (Izzy was suspended; Alex failed his boards the first time; etc.) up until just recently, there was no reason why Meredith and Cristina, at least, wouldn't have completed their internships already.

I know, I know, suspension of disbelief... but why? What value is it, to the stories, to distort reality that much, and preclude these characters progressing through this aspect in a reasonably normal manner. Doesn't such progress actually open up possibilities for more storylines?

 

[Lisa_M]

I read an article with the writer who said that although the viewers see the show weekly, the episodes are day after day and some episodes cover a couple of days....So I don't know if they have actually spanned 365 days yet or not....

 

[Beth76]

Well, as of now, I think they've been interns for less than a year. The way I figure that was because a few episodes back Addison mentioned it was her baby's due date. Her abortion would have been at about 2 months maybe, putting her arrival at Seattle Grace no more than 7 months prior. And she arrived on the show at the end of the first mini-season, so that first season could have been only a couple of months in duration. Maybe the interns will start to move up in the next season.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I was reading the book "Overheard at Emerald City Bar / Notes From the Nurses Station," which is basically two books in one from Joe's and Debbie's point of view, and from that I got that season one and two combined was about six months long. Though the fact that they had a Christmas and Thanksgiving episode in season two could make that point arguable.

 

[MosMom]

Well, as of now, I think they've been interns for less than a year. The way I figure that was because a few episodes back Addison mentioned it was her baby's due date. Her abortion would have been at about 2 months maybe, putting her arrival at Seattle Grace no more than 7 months prior. And she arrived on the show at the end of the first mini-season, so that first season could have been only a couple of months in duration. Maybe the interns will start to move up in the next season.

Yep!

 

[bicker]

One of the big problems with time moving so slow is that, FWIW, Ellen Pompeo is substantially older than Meredith Grey, and even now, it is becoming harder and harder to believe she's only as old as they imply she is.

 

[MosMom]

I don't have a problem with that at all. She really doesn't look that old and if 30 year olds could play teenagers on Beverly Hills 90210 I don't think this is a problem. You went from the show going for over a year to Ellen Pompeo being too old for the show to go so slow.

I had a bigger problem with her waking up and almost immediately carrying on a conversation after being "dead" for hours.

It is a TV show.

 

[bicker]

You went from the show going for over a year to Ellen Pompeo being too old for the show to go so slow.

Yes, both. As I said, I don't buy the "three years is really one year" thing, and the actress' apparent advancing age is one reason why I don't buy it.

It is a TV show.

As I said originally, "I know, I know, suspension of disbelief... but why?"

 

[MosMom]

Yes, both. As I said, I don't buy the "three years is really one year" thing, and the actress' apparent advancing age is one reason why I don't buy it.

Must not be a 24 fan.

 

[bicker]

Well, no, I am. But I view '24' as a cartoon. I suppose I could perhaps also consider Grey's Anatomy as a cartoon, but if I did then I'd find it a lot less interesting.