So it seems like the Meredith/Lexie relationship will be a big part of season 4, so I figured there should be a thread about them (mods, delete if you feel there shouldn't be one).

To be sure, I don't like Lexie... but I don't hate her either. I think that TPTB can make a good storyline out of the Meredith/Lexie relationship if a) Lexie never gets involved with Derek; b) Lexie worms her way in Meredith's heart (not right away mind you, but after a while); and c) if Lexie doesn't die mysteriously.

Thus far, I think that the writing for these two have been great and I'm anxious to see more. I hope that Lexie doesn't end up shunning Meredith, because that's the last thing that she needs.

I watched the latest promo and it looks like the chip on Lexie's shoulder is starting to grow. Meredith seemed pretty patient with her while showing her how to intubate the patient. The cut off the scene though so no idea if she flips out on Lexie or not. Knowing Mer she probably won't, which is good.

I hope these two can grow closer and hopefully help Meredith to heal and start to fix herself. It will also be interesting to see the how the Mer/Cristina relationship is effected if Meredith and Lexie become closer.

It would be refreshing if TPTB would/could deveop this relationship in a positive way. The interaction in the sneak peak was a very positive one for the most part. However, now we have the possibility that actually now Lexie will turn against her because of whatever Thatcher has mumbled to her in his drunken stupor.

Of course the high road would be for Lexie to confront Meredith over what Thatcher said about Meredith being the cause of Susan's death. Meredith could present the facts and also get Lexie to talk to Bailey and the Chief who were also involved. Lexie could then be a bridge between Meredith and Thatcher and stand up to Thatcher about Meredith and bring the two of them together for some sort of reconciliation.

Wouldn't that be a breath of fresh air and something morally inspiring and uplifting? Of course, that is exactly why it probably won't happen. Sigh! Instead, Shonda will probably use Lexie to stick yet more pins in the Meredith doll to torture her.

I think what bothers me most about this show is that it used to have uplifting moments about life, love and relationships, that were inspiring without being twee or overly soppy. Now all it does is inspire one to wallow in vomit and all the negativity of life. I find this show incredibly depressing at the moment except for a few light moments (Christina and auctioning off wedding gifts!)

That's pretty much where I am. The character still annoys me but I'm interested in seeing where they're going with this, it could end up being the most compelling relationship of the season, that's if they don't have:






Because you know they love to have Meredith The Victim who is troubled but can't grow because people keep throwing more and more shit at her. Since it seems they are having Lexie start to blame Mer for her Mom's death I hope they put a stop to it quickly. The interaction has quite enough angst without it becoming a big ball of blame, dispair and revenge for the entire season. Especially when it was not her fault at all Susan died.



Just about sums it up.

So last night's episode had some good scenes with these two. But yea, I don't know about Lexie...the fact that she told Bailey that Mere didn't want to work with her was crap. When did she say that? It made Mere look bad to Bailey and I didn't like that at all. The last scene was very nice...but I hope that Mere still keeps her distance a while longer.

I really hate Lexie. I don't like it if things change. I enjoyed Grey's anatomy far more before Lexie emerged.
I think GA doesn't need any new characters.
I hope that Lexie won't harm Christina and Meredith's friendship.

I loved Meredith and Lexie last night. The moment they shared was very sweet. Meredith is warming up to Lexie and the idea of Lexie, while Lexie has learned to be a little less overbearing. It was such an honest conversation and probably went a long way toward showing Meredith that she and Lexie are a lot alike. What phenomenal casting.

I agree, the sister scene in the hallway was terrific. I'm thinking Lexie will experience conflict at some point if Thatcher continues his rejection of/anger towards Meredith. I'm hoping Meredith and Lexie continue to bond and that Mer eventually is allowed to have at least this one loving, supportive family bond.

I wonder if Meredith having a closer relationship with her sister will impact Mer's relationship with Cristina. I'm hoping Cristina grudgingly allows the little sister in, instead of rejecting Mer.

There is a lot of Meredith/Lexie convo going on in their respective threads...these two are a hot topic.

I will say that Meredith has no right to tell Alex he can't see/drink with/sleep with Lexie. That's overstepping bounds. However, Lexie is pushing way too fast. That's the problem. She's not respecting Meredith's space...she's always there! She reminds of Izzie when Izzie first moved into Meredith's house--popping up in her bedroom, unpacking things that Meredith specifically told her not to touch. That's how I view Lexie.

I understand that she may be lonely...but she has to understand that Meredith may want to keep her life the way it is, without Lexie (or rather, keep their relationship stationed to SGH in a strictly teacher/student capacity).

This reminded me so much of the Derek/Meredith line conversation in the elevator back in S1. "You're my teacher. You're my teacher's teacher". *sigh* Good times.

I don't mind Lexie, I feel bad for her. That weakling of a father and dealing with her own issues along with stepsister problems. By no means do I blame Mer for not wanting to know her; Mer has no obligation to her but I think the storyline will be something like Lexie is living in similar situation as Mer. Lex has a dead mom and Thatcher isn't man enough to stick around, he'd much rather get drunk on Scotch, etc and Mer is going to be the one to help her thought it. In doing so, Mer will come to terms that life with Thatcher isn't as good as it seems and that she might resolve some of her problems and better herself.

I have to say, Mer grew up well considering Ellis was cold and Thatcher was weak. Yeah, she's messed up, she's dark and twisty but she still cares enough about the stepsister that has her life and not be bitter about it.

I think she is already getting a glimpse of that. She can see that Lexie is a little socially inept, also the 5 things that Lexie told her about herself were all pretty lame. Mer even acknowledged that when she was with Alex and talked about the trombone then asked Alex to take her home. I think Mer realized at that point that she could have been like Lexie and she's glad she's not.

In the blogs, they talk a lot about how Mer/Lexie are actually a lot alike -- not just in mannerisms (which I hate that they are trying to make them twins in this way) -- but in terms of how they approach relationship/issues. That could be interesting to watch I suppose.

I mentioned this is the Lexie thread, but the thing I don't think they've done a good job of explaining is why Lexie is so desperate for a relationship with Meredith. She has a sister already. Does she look up to Mer? Supposedly Lexie went to Havard Med so I am thinking she would be a little more confident, a little more hardcore, but she just seems like a lost little girl.

My sister is 3 years older than me and I remember when I started high school as a freshman and she was a senior. She was way, way cooler than me, but even as a 14 year old, I had the sense not to hover all over her.

I relate to Lexie. I have an older half-sister who wasn't really around. I was/still am fascinated by her. It's like I had a big sister but didn't have one, you know? Maybe it's hard to explain, but I just felt like I was missing something.

I think they both deal with loss, they both need affection and emotional security, and both of them don't know how to get it...yet in completely different ways. Probably, this is one of the only things GA does right lately. Mere's upbringing leads her to shun people away whereas Lexie's upbringing (Susan) pushes her to ask for closeness. It's consistent, imo. I understand that Lexie is so "pushy", the way Susan was, yet with less experience so it sounds more awkward. Her family falls apart and she tries desperately to connect with what's left of it. I understand that Meredith wants none of it, especially since accepting to be part of "Susan's family" brought her only more heartache and loss. I hope this relationship will be explored in a positive way for both characters.
I don't think Lexie will take Cristina's place. A little sister and a best friend are very different things. It would be nice for Mere to have both.
I was really afraid of what they could make of Lexie and of the Lexie/Mere relationship (the soapy evil sister/nice sister, fighting for the same man) so their current situation is way better than what I would have imagined.

ITA. Based on Meredith's MO of avoidance, Lexie's taking the right approach. We've seen time and time again that Meredith pushes away people or issues she doesn't want to deal with, and usually, it's the pesty persistent people that get through by not listening to her objections and forcing her to confront her problems. Just pretending that her sister doesn't exist when she's standing right next to her every day isn't very realistic, and it would benefit Meredith's mental state to put on the big girl panties and deal with Lexie.



Yep, given all the horrendous alternatives, I'm OK with this realistic, melodrama-free storyline.

A poster made a good point on the Lexie thread:



I think that's key. So yes, Maraschino, I see your point that Lexie may be doing the right thing. But, IMO, why should Meredith even care about Lexie wanting to know her, when Lexie hasn't even shown that she understands why Meredith doesn't care to know her?

I've been in this situation...me and my half siblings get along famously. However, If I was Meredith, I'd be put of by them not respecting my boundaries if I asked them to. That's my main problem with Lexie--she just doesn't respect Meredith's boundaries.

I borrowed this from SlovakPrincess because I think it sums up the situation between Lexie and Meredith very well:

Lexie seems to think if things don’t happen exactly her way and on her timetable, then she has a right to sulk. That type of behavior isn’t going to gain her any traction with Meredith so she needs to back off. Sometimes maturity means having patience with someone coming around to your point of view even when you think you’re right.

Neither did Susan. Susan just plowed her way into Meredith's life despite all Meredith's fight to keep her out. This is what Lexie was taught.

Meredith proved in her fight to Alex that she does care to know her, which was why she was battling against her so hard. She was trying to convince herself she didn't care.



In the family sense I think she is lost which is why she's so desperate for Meredith. She's stuck at home alone with Thatcher drunk all the time, her mother just died, she is dealing with an internship and she's trying to grab onto this bond with Meredith anyway she can. She's looking for that older figure for guidance and to just care.

She had/has Molly, but Molly was a young girl who married instantly, had a family and husband. She didn't go to med school or get an Ivy league education unlike Meredith and Lexie. Lexie possibly doesn't relate to her. May be they never did relate.

They've shown that Lexie is more like Meredith and Molly is just in a category on her own.

Yup, and I didn't like Susan doing that either.

Here are my thoughts from another board, but they are relevant here:

As for Meredith/Lexie, I haven't seen Meredith as mean in this relationship at all. I love Meredith and I've grown fond of Lexie. However, Lexie is not respecting that Mere is coming from a different place. Neither of them is perfect, and neither is handling this situation well. I do see Mere lose her temper/be impatient with Lexie, but that's only when Lex pushes (and pushes and pushes). I think there have been quite a few signs that these two will be ok--the scene where Lex tells Mere about her mom's cat, the whole "it takes some people time to be a family" speech, Lexie sharing 5 things, Mere calling her "Lex," Mere sending Alex to take care of Lexie. I do wish that Lexie WOULD tell Mere about Thatcher--I think it would help. Anyway, Lexie just needs to back off a little--Mere's coming around.

***
I do think this relationship has a TON of potential and I'm looking forward to it developing in the coming months. (God willing--I support the writers, but I'll miss our show!) I much prefer the Mere/Lexie dynamic to the Mere/Derek dynamic right now.

Word krizmic! I am still meh about #3 but I think she has the potential to be good for Meredith. I think that Meredith had every right to tell #3 to stay away from her life and friends. #3 needs to get her own life and stop clinging on to Meredith's life. I get that #3 is lonely and her family has been devastated but Meredith cannot be her life force. Meredith will eventually come around because Mer cannot hate anyone. #3 has to back off and give Meredith time to adjust the idea of having a sister. The idea of family for Meredith is really scary and she is hesitant to step back into it (since susan's death and the daddy slap). Meredith and #3 have potential but I think that the Thatcher thing will make or break these two.

Oh run far away Meredith, so far far away from that two faced little twat that shares half of your DNA. #3 had zero right to say that to Meredith when all along #3 has been keeping Thatcher's drinking habbits a secret. Meredith did not know about Thatcher and for #3 to play the victim in all this is just sickening. #3 has been dealing with a drunken father for what a couple of months...puhlease spare me the melodrama! #3 can even fathum what it must feel like being abandoned as a child and have your father humiliate you in public and blame you for someones death. #3 spends so much time trying to crawl up into meredith's ass then she talks to Meredith like that?!!? Oh no that is not how this works #3. Meredith tries so hard to set boundaries but as soon as she gives an inch she gets trampled on by her father and #3. I cannot stand #3 and the sooner she fucks the hell off the better. Cristina is 10x the sister #3 could ever be.

Yeah I know this is a pissy rant but #3 was just beyond words tonight. Meredith deserves so much better than that genetically related family.

ITA. I think Meredith should have stuck to her orignal plan to not acknowledge Lexie exactly because of the real possibility for drama that could occur from such an association. Meredith needs to work on her problems and stay clear of her bratty sister and her drunken, passive-aggressive asshole of a father.

A lot of people seem to be seeing the Mere/Lexie situation as black and white (both here and on tonight's ep thread). I can truly see both sides of the argument.

I love Meredith, but I CRINGED when she told Lexie she should keep a better eye on Thatcher. She didn't have all the information and also, Thatcher's a grown man--and Lexie's hurting too. I know she was trying to be all "let's bond" in that moment, and she didn't mean to step in a landmine. But, ouch.

Then again, Lexie shouldn't be hiding Thatcher's problems from Meredith. I really think that if she was up front about it, she and Mere could have bonded over Thatcher's problems and maybe even worked together.

These two are *just* missing each other week after week. I have so much affection and love for Meredith, but Lexie has grown on me and I really think these two could be good for each other--or at least come to rely on/depend on each other. I hope it happens.

Pure unspoilered spec, but does anyone else think it's Lexie under that ambulance that Meredith's telling, "You're not going to die"??

krizmic,
regarding your speculation question.

I don't think it is #3 underneath the ambulance because in the CTV promo it shows Meredith talking to one of the Ambulence drivers and telling him that he is not going to die.

I also cringed a little when Meredith said that to #3 but god dammiit is frustrating that every time Meredith gives an inch with her Bio family they just smash her into the ground. I too have affection for Meredith and I really do want her to be happy. As for #3, well I was warming to her but now I just envision beating her with and etcha-scetch ;D

So by the looks of it Lexie 3, Meredith 0 in the smack downs. Meredith so had that coming from Lexie tonight. Meredith overstepped the bounds tonight. Her telling Lexie, who not only lost her mother, but is dealing with a drunk of a father to watch over Thatcher was totally uncalled for. Meredith needs to step up here, be a better person than she is being. She wants nothing to ever do with Lexie, but then felt the need to tell her what she should be doing tonight. Bitch has some nerve...

I hope, and I think that Lexie and Meredith will come to some sort of getting better and I would like to see that, but at this point Meredith should be the one to fix this situation. Lexie has done enough.

So Meredith is supposed to be a mind reader? She hasn't had contact with Thatcher since the funeral. She was treating him, Lexie was a relative, Meredith was in doctor mode. Lexie cannot have it both ways. She can't bitch and whine about secrets, and then get pissed off when someone doesn't know the facts. Meredith was doing her job. The "keep a better eye on him" was doctor speak, probably a reflex. It wasn't snarky at all IMO. Lexie needs to get the fuck over it and realize that Meredith has zero obligation to her except civility.

Lexie has been overstepping bounds since day 1.

I agree with Gideon Brown that Meredith was most likely in doctor mode. Does it make it right? Nope. However, Lexie should realize that had she not been overstepping the boundaries Meredith tried to institute, then Meredith probably wouldn't have even said anything about Thatcher. So either she a) really wants a relationship with Meredith and should thus be honest and all that or b) leave Meredith alone.

Had nothing to do with Meredith reading minds or not, it had to do with Meredith speaking out of place. She should have never told Lexie to watch Thatcher, it wasn’t Meredith being a doctor at that point. If she was trying to be "the doctor" then she should have never brought personal things into the conversation, which she fully did. Being the doctor role, and saying what she said was unprofessional then. It was Meredith being the bitch that she has to Lexie since day one!

How many times have one of the doctors said "Keep a closer eye on them" to a relative of a patient? Or a variation of that. I think it was doctor speak, and not meant to be snarky. Lexie's been nuisance since day one. Blocking ER doors, bugging the shit out of her resident, etc. Meredith was actually trying to help Thatcher, and she knows that he and Lexie were/are close, I don't think it was inappropriate for her to say what she said.

Word. Meredith wants no family relationship with Lexie then she should not be having a family discussion. Everything Lexie said to her was true, its everything she deals with. The hyperventilating or whatever that was against the wall was a bit much.

Meredith not wanting to get personal and maintain a work relationship between herself and Lexie constitutes being a bitch? (and this is in reference to the first few episodes where Meredith was trying to draw a clear boundary between the two of them).



IMO, the hyperventilating had nothing to do with Lexie yelling at her, it had everything to do with Meredith thinking that everything Thatcher told her was a lie and that he still blamed her for Susan's death, etc etc.

Which would have #3 wanted more: a)Meredith to phone the cops on Thatcher for drinking and driving or b)Reminding #3 to keep a better eye on Thatcher. #3 is an idiot to not keep a better eye on Thatcher. She lives with him so grow up and take responsiblility for the fact that each day #3 goes to work Thatcher is driving drunk somewhere and could kill innocent people! That is all on #3 because she insists on keeping Thatcher's alcoholism a secret. If Meredith knew that was going on she would have never said that to #3 but she did because #3 is still stuck in child mode when it comes to her father. Meredith has said slightly bitchy things to #3 but she has redeemed herself soon afterwards. Meredith has never IMO been a bitch to her. #3 tonight was being completely bitchy to Meredith. That is the second time in two weeks #3 has been bitchy to meredith. Meredith could have easily brought up all the childhood shit that Thatcher did to her but she didn't, she let #3 walk away even though what #3 said devastated Meredith to her very core.

ITA that Meredith was in doctor mode because she went to the closest family member and was being fairly considerate of the fact that Thatcher was drinking and driving. I believe Meredith was trying to be considerate of #3's feelings to a certain extent.

Meredith being a bitch to Lexie since day one? Did you forget that she sat down with Lexie to talk about Susan's death? And she telling Alex to take her sister, Lexie, home? Yes, she may not be nice to Lexie all the time. But what did you expect? For Meredith to just accept it and be all happy that she has a sister who works in the same hospital as her? And to forget that Lexie has the family Meredith doesn't have?

ETA: Lexie has only been dealing with Thatcher's alcoholism since Susan's death which was about a month or two ago (at least that was the way it was played out). So Lexie's angst is a bit much for something that she has only been dealing with for 2 months out of her otherwise oh-so-perfect life.

Yep, sure does. Especially when Meredith got involved with who Lexie spends time with last week, but that's a whole other story. Meredith could have handled the situations better, she didn't instead she came across as a bitch most times.



Okay Lexie has tried to talk to Meredith several times. Meredith wants nothing to do with her, I don't see where Lexie is supposed to tell her about Thatcher. I really don't. It's not all on Lexie either, she tried to stop him last week, this is not something one person can control, when said person is out of control. That's everyday life, happens all the time. Lexie not wanting Alex to tell Meredith, could have easily been her not wanting to upset Meredith about it, not letting Meredith know so she didn't have to deal with it. Or the simple fact Meredith makes her feel like crap, seeing as Lexie keeps making an effort over and over. Totally bought why Lexie didn't want Meredith to know!



I didn't forget, never said it was all the time either. I said Meredith has been a bitch since day one for the fact that she's treated Lexie more like shit, than not. IMO!

Shonda's on crack, if she thinks that all of the Meredith/Lexie similarities will force me to care about this pushy, perky, everyone-must-love-me-now character.

Meredith has to deal with her mother's progressing illness, which causes her mother's moods to shift and change, and for her mother's awareness to alter.

Lexie has to deal with her father's increasing alcoholism, which causes her father's moods to shift and change, and for her father's awareness to alter.

Christ, Shonda, if Lexie was supposed to be the anti-Mere, why are you dumping all of Mere's problems on her?

And Lexie: you can't keep something like this secret from your sister, and then get mad when your sister misinterprets the situation. The scene would have been better if the writers had made Lexie's revelation a sad one. Not weepy-sad, like Lexie always seems to be, but morose. Defeated. Then, I may have cared.

ETA:


I respectfully disagree. Meredith still wanted Lexie to stay out of her personal life. If Lexie started dating Alex, then she would once again be in Meredith's personal life.

How? And in my post that you quoted, I specifically referenced the initial episodes where Meredith was trying to draw a line and wanting to keep a boundary between the two of them, so that's what I'm referring to. I wasn't talking about the whole Alex debacle (which Meredith was in the wrong for).

So basically, Meredith should have welcomed a total stranger into her life with open arms, no questions asked, just because they share genes?

I'll have to disagree here, Alex is not Meredith personal life. He's Meredith friend. Personal life is about Meredith and I'll even go as far as Derek. But her dating, hanging out, or having sex with Alex isn't part of Meredith's life. That would be saying Lexie can't talk to George while there at work, because George is friends with Meredith.



Everyone will see it different, IMO I saw Meredith being a bitch in the first episodes to Lexie, that's how she came across, Lexie had never meet Meredith, Lexie probably didn't know what to expect from meeting her. It's not Lexie's fault that Thatcher chose to cut Meredith out of his life, which by that he cut Meredith out of Lexie's life. Meredith never got that in the beginning, this is why I said she has been a bitch to her. It was all about how Meredith felt, never taking into consideration that Lexie didn't ask for this either. Lexie was being the better person here. Trying to talk to her, Meredith in return could have handled it better that's all!


Exactly no questions asked, she went straight to treating her like crap. Not saying she should have invited her over for dinner, but it wasn't Meredith only dealing with the ramifications of what Thatcher had done in the past...it was Lexie too.

ITA that it is not something one person can control but #3 refuses to ask for help so then it falls all on her. #3 is definitely avoiding the daddy drinking issue b/c #3 is still an infant. Meredith had to deal with her alzi mother which was a tremendous burden, Meredith even kept it a secret but carried that burned with dignity. #3 does a public display how their Daddy is an alcoholic (wow so much like Thatcher in that moment). Meredith does not have the power to make anyone feel like crap. It is up to #3 to internalize it or not. IMO Meredith has never made #3 feel like crap. #3 keeps pushing herself in Meredith's life when Mer has repeatedly told her to respect Mer's personal life. #3 has no sense of boundaries because she is still that insipid little prom queen who wants to be liked by everyone.

#3 mentioned to Izzie that #3 could never talk to people who were on the outskirts of popularity, well guess what that proved true because Meredith was one of those people in highschool and #3 still has no idea how to talk to Meredith or understand what Meredith is trying to say.

Meredith isn't sore towards Lexie about that at all. "We don't hate the actual person, just her existence" or whatever the quote was. Lexie's acted like nothing but a stalker since she got here, always two steps away from brandishing a butcher knife. Meredith has said a few bitchy things, but overall, she's been civil to Lexie. Going over Susan's death report, and such. Lexie does not respect personal space or boundaries. She just barrels on through like Meredith owes her something. If she would back off, Meredith would be a lot more receptive. I don't think she's being a bitch at all.

That's fine and I respect that. However, I wonder if Meredith had let Lexie talk to her and then tell her (respectfully) that she had no real connection to her and didn't want to be friends, if people would still think that Meredith was in the wrong.

...but wait. Meredith DID do that...yet Lexie kept pushing.

Blood and genetics should not automatically mean that Meredith should embrace a total stranger. Somethings things must grow in their own time and space.

I have half siblings and we happen to get along well when I see them. BUT, had they kept trying to ingratiate themselves into my life after I've tried to set boundaries, I wouldn't be to keen on that...and then people would think of me as a bitch.

It's just a lot of gray with this stuff.

I didn't really have a problem with Meredith's suggestion to Lexie. IMO, it's what any doctor would suggest to a patient who had a family member they couldn't really care for anymore. The next time something reminds Thatcher of Susan he may drive straight into a tree.

I guess I'm not really understanding Lexie's hatred toward Thatcher, because that's the extent I got from the speech "he's a manipulator and a liar" - by all accounts Thatcher was the model dad to her - she had the great high school life and he used to visit her at Harvard. Granted I can't stand Thatcher, but he didn't fall off the wagon because he was a jerk, he fell off because his wife died suddenly. Lexie doesn't seem interested in doing anything proactive in getting any help for him.

I didn't have a problem with anything either one did. Honestly, I think painful mistaken assumptions and emotionally charged arguments have to be expected until these two work out some sort of relationship. They see each other every day, and both have chips on their shoulders regarding the other. Until they figure out how to peacefully coexist in a way that is acceptable to both, there will be non-stop fireworks from both sides. They've got big issues to deal with, and it won't be pretty, but I think it's what they have to do to get to detente.

Lexie was wanting it from all sides. She's a confused girl who has been saddled with grieving for her mother, a father who is grieving by drinking all day, a new job and wanting to forge a bond with a new sister. She wants Meredith to acknowledge them as family, but gets mad when Meredith talks to her. She gets mad at Meredith for not knowing anything but wants everything a secret.

I thought Lexie was showing that with her weakness this week. Thatcher's comments on how strong Meredith was compared to Lexie was very evident, and true. Despite Lexie's rant at the end, Thatcher's words were accurate on that account by how Meredith proved herself. She's the girl who Thatcher left, slapped, publicly humiliated at work and she still showed up when Alex told her to tend to his wounds and help him. She owed him nothing and her walking away from him, leaving him drunk in the ER telling Alex to get Lexie would have been understandable. However, she didn't do it, while Lexie who had him as the doting father for 24 years of her life ignored him Meredith was stronger and stepped up.

I like this story of the 2 sisters actually trying to forge this bond and learning how to talk to each other and be in each others lives. It's not instant, it's not slapped together that leaves you wondering how they got from A to B. It's actually a story.
They are figuring this out in steps as they go along. Meredith gave a little with Susan's chart, Lexie gave a little with Halloween, then faltered with the Alex thing, they fought like sisters "screw you", Lexie told her the five things and Meredith wanted Alex to take her sister home. They are getting there and figuring it out each show and not having it be them going from strangers one day to painting each others toe nails the next.

Meredith figured out this week that life isn't all roses with Thatcher and Lexie. Lexie doesn't have it easy as Meredith thought. These two are actually one of the good stories they're telling this season that isn't spazzy.

Totally agree with you adfan

Question: Has it really been established that Thatcher was a great father to Lexie prior to Susan's death? I watched very sporadically last season, so I'm not sure. I do remember Molly bragging about him and how proud he was of Lexie, but
does that mean everything was rosy?

I agree on both counts. They do exploit the similarities and differences between the sisters well enough; it creates "bad timings" in the steps they take forward or back to each other in a rather realistic way. With their respective backgrounds and the state of the Grey family, they can't be best friends just like that. I would have rolled my eyes if Lexie had convinced Mere in a snap of her fingers or if Mere had opened up overnight.
I don't think Lexie was supposed to be right (didn't Alex smack her down a bit about her attitude?) and Mere wrong. Lexie does need to grow up and to adjust to her situation. I was a bit afraid she'd turn out to be a complete Mary-Sue (like many sweet/nice characters) but they seem to portray her with more depth. Her motivations to tell Mere about Thatcher's words can be explained in different ways (spare Mere a disappointment? need to tell someone off?) and maybe there is a bit of them all.
Mere also does need to adjust to the fact she might need a relationship with her sister; since Lexie is at SGH she can't deny her presence and since she asked Alex to stop seeing her she can't say she doesn't care.
The thing that worries me is that Lexie/Mere could start to look like Derek/Mere, with both never wanting the same relationship at the same time. But Lexie/Mere not being GA's main romantic couple, I have hope it will evolve in a better way, LOL.


It would be interesting. I really would like the Grey's sisters to bond over their difficulties with Thatcher.
Molly's absence now might not be only because of some sloppiness in the writing. Some people are totally blind to things going on in their family. Some parents tell to everyone they are so proud of their children, but do have issues with them. In all honesty, Molly grated and I thought she was a flake so it wouldn't surprise me she was in her little bubble and didn't realize anything.
On the other hand, Susan didn't mention any problem going on, IIRC. Yet, it could be possible that Lexie didn't tell her about some issue she'd have with her father, to spare her (since she shares this secrecy streak with Mere).

Oh my lord. I really thought I couldn't hate Lexie more than I already do but each week she just gets more and more insufferable. I found Izzie more enjoyable than Lexie, and I haven't liked Izzie since mid-S2. Maybe if Lexie didn't spend her "I NEED Meredith to LIKE me" time talking about freaking apples and etch-a-sketches and actually told Mer that Thatch was a drunk, well then maybe I'd feel for her a little. At this point I just want her to stfu and gtfo.

IMO it was established right from the get go that Susan took a broken Thatcher put him back together and started a whole new life together. Molly mentions how proud Thatcher was when he walked her down the ilse and how proud he was of #3 going in to Med school. Susan also mentioned in season three that Thatcher was visiting #3 and Med school and when he showed up to see his granddaughter he was all gaga and googoo for her. I think there were probably times when things were rough for that family but in general they are supposed to represent what Meredith should of had in her life. I think that since #3 did come from a loving home it makes it really hard for her to grow up and deal with her Father like this. It was hard for her to admit he was a drunk because all her life he has been a loving and caring father. In comparison Meredith found out about her mom's alzi stuff right a couple of years out of highschool and she had to deal with it throughout her Med school and internship. #3 has just started to deal with her drunken daddy recently so there is a difference between how these two actually grew up. In the episode there was the god awful symmetry again where #3 was suppose to be the prom queen and Mer was the awkward geeky type.
WORD adfan! I also believed that when thatcher said that there was some truth to it because we know Meredith is strong and can withstand a lot of shit. #3 has been dealing with this for a few months and she is starting to crack up bigtime. #3's world has fallen apart recently and when she found out about Meredith and that she would be working with her she clung on to Mer as a life raft. #3 had and still has unrealistic expectations when it comes to a relationship with Meredith.

I read the scene differently when Thatcher was saying how much stronger Meredith is than Lexie, maybe because I don't see any truth in the statement at all. I thought it reflected how little Thatcher knew of Meredith because otherwise he would know how fucked up she is. She has panic attacks and can't seem to get past any of her issues. A good deal of this is his doing, and now he's working on destroying his other daughter too.

You can have issues and be a strong person, you can have panic attacks and be a strong person. I would say considering everything the writers put Meredith through in the span of a year Grey’s time, she is doing better than most people would in her situation.

Meredith takes a moment to breathe and she is overreacting, Meredith just pulls herself together and moves on and she is a cold-hearted bitch. She can never win.