Deterioration of the Fight or Flight Response (1)

Season 2, Episode 26, Aired
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Episode Summary

Denny needs a heart or else. Izzie and George go crazy trying to get him one. Derek has the life of a friend in his hands as he operates on Burke who has been shot. Burke cannot operate on Denny after Denny's heart stopped and now Denny is in a dire condition. Cristina gets put in charge of the ER and she is worried about Burke.
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''Part 2 of a three-hour season finale. This episode is the first hour of a two-hour episode which is two hours long and will air on a Monday in a different time slot than it would on Sunday. Aired on Monday, May 15, 2006 from 9 PM EST to 10 PM EST.moreless
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Fan Episode Reviews (34)

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  • Burke's hand and Denny's life are at risk.

    8.9
    "Great"
    By attilasd, Dec 29, 2010 Report Abuse
    Izzie has gone absolutely crazy. I could see Cristina acting so irrationally with Burke because they actually have a legitimate relationship, but she has no reason to put everything at risk to save this guy.

    I love how Richard sent Cristina to run Trauma 2 and kept Burke in Trauma 1 to avoid her finding out about him. It's amazing he can keep such a level head in these types of situations.

    People at this hospital fall in love way too fast. Derek with Meredith. Meredith with Derek. George with Meredith. Callie with George. Alex with Izzie. Izzie with Denny. Burke with Cristina. Cristina with Burke. I mean SERIOUSLY!!moreless

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  • Burke is injured and Christina can\'t handle it. Denny\'s life hangs by a thread along with Izzie\'s career. Callie anxiously waits for George to return her love. The entire staff attends a prom for the chief\'s niece. Mer and Der hook up once more.moreless

    9.9
    "Superb"
    By Burktina, Dec 29, 2010 Report Abuse
    Ok, admitedly, the plot is a little far-fetched, but this is television people! It is supposed to be far-fetched. That is why we watch it. What would be the point of sitting down and watching stuff that we see ever day? We love that Meredith can have passionate sex with married McDreamy and it\'s OK. We love that Izzie can go to the extreme of virtually killing Denny in order to save him. We love this show because it let\'s us escape from the real world for an hour. What we have in this episode is an example of brilliant actors acting out a brilliantly written script and if you can\'t let go of your grasp on reality long enough to appreciate it, then don\'t watch it.moreless

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    3 0

  • "Grey's" continues it's tailspin, out of control and headed straight for a mountain... no, a volcano... an ERUPTING VOLCANO of tastless cheese... please put your tray tables in their upright and locked position and keep your barf bag close by!moreless

    4.9
    "Poor"
    By Frennis, Dec 29, 2010 Report Abuse
    I have seen every episode of "Grey's Anatomy" since it premiered, but I will never watch it again. It's never been my 'typical' kind of show. I don't generally like soap operas, but I do like hospital dramas, so it drew me in at first. The soap aspect was there from the beginning, but I liked most of the characters and there was enough legitimate drama and medical jargon to keep me interested. In the last few episodes of the season, however, the writers seem to have lost their way, or perhaps found a way that is a complete turn-off to me. A few months ago, I read in a TV.com contributor's review, that the superior quality of "Grey's Anatomy" has made the very existence of "ER" unnecessary. At this comment, I not only scoffed, but took offense, as "ER" is a totally different type of drama, who's weakest shows are still infinitely better than the best of "Grey's Anatomy". That's not to say that "Grey's" hasn't had some spectacular moments, it has. The episodes 'Into You Like a Train' and the two-part 'It's the End of the World' & '(As We Know It)' were tremendous examples of a well written and acted TV drama, and to think some reviewers actually think the three-part season finale was as good as those is quite disturbing. All in all, I feel as though I have been let down by a show that started off with enormous potential, but has basically become a prime-time soap. In the last three episodes of the season, most of the main characters seem to have become moronic caricatures of themselves, exhibiting nothing but their worst traits. It was one thing for Izzie to fall in love a patient, but to risk his life for her own selfish reasons? And Meredith and Derek just pissed me off with their final decisions. It's not that I'm projecting my displeasure of these three episodes onto the whole season or entire show for that matter, but when almost ALL of the principle characters have pissed you off inside of three hours, why should I care what happens to them next season?! (p.s. I still like George, someone let me know if he gets his own show)moreless

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  • Amazing!!!

    10
    "Perfect"
    By Millie10, Dec 29, 2010 Report Abuse
    What happened in the season finale of Grey's Anatomy tonight is exactly why I watch the show. At some moments, you have a smile in your face, and at some moments, you cry. This episode was simply amazing. I cannot believe that Denny is dead. I also cannot believe that Izzie quits the program. And, for Meredith, I always was a fan of Derek and Meredith, so I was a little bit happy of what happened. But, the thing is, during the season, I started to like Addison...and the Vet is nice too. So, I'm kind of sad for both of them. But, we don't know what is going to happen next season...time will tell us.moreless

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  • DENNY DIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!! in 2 second part of finale it air as 1

    10
    "Perfect"
    By Halo23OTH, Dec 29, 2010 Report Abuse
    merideth sleeps woth McDreamy
    Callie tell George that she loves him
    bruke got shot and almost lost hand movement
    Denny got the heart but died!!!!!
    I’m so sad Jeffery Dean Morgan (denny) is now killed off of 2 sows (weeds, grey’s anatomy) and got shot in the leg and hit by truck in car crash by some evil demon that been after him for over 20 years on Supernatural. 2 down:1 to live

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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  • Notes

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    • The starting narration of this episode saw every main character appearing in the episode contribute snippets of speech. Edit
    • Original International Air Dates: Bulgaria: August 1, 2006 on bTV Venezuela: August 25, 2006 on Warner Channel Spain: October 2, 2006 on Cuatro Australia: October 23, 2006 on Channel Seven Netherlands: December 5, 2006 on Net 5 UK: January 25, 2007 on Living TV. Norway: February 06, 2007 on TV2 Croatia: April 30, 2007 on NOVA TV Finland: May 2, 2007 on Nelonen Italy: May 11, 2007 on Italia 1 Ireland: July 17, 2007 on RTE2 Edit
    • Music Featured In This Episode: 1. Universe And U by KT Tunstall plays when Derek tries to hide in a room but ends up exchanging worries with Richard. 2. Look At Her Face by The Coral Sea plays when Dr. Hahn and Alex arrive at Seattle Grace by helicopter. 3. Through The Backyards by Au Revoir Simone plays when Dr. Hahn performs Denny's heart transplant. 4. How We Operate by Gomez plays when Derek must perform a wake-up test during surgery to check Burke's hand for nerve damage. Edit

  • Quotes

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    • Richard: Derek, is the arm paralyzed? Derek: We have to do a wake up test. Richard: Derek. Derek: There's only one person who can help me figure out if I've damaged the relay or not and that's Burke. Richard: He's been through a lot of trauma today. Derek: I'm trying to prevent the trauma he's going to feel if I have to tell him he's paralyzed. Edit
    • Burke (about to have surgery): Shepherd. Derek: You don't have to thank me. I'm sure you'll return the favor one day. Burke: I was going to say please try not to kill me. (they all chuckle) Derek: I'll do my best. Edit
    • Derek: You could take up fishing. Burke: I don't fish. Derek: Fishing is a lot more fun than surgery. Burke: I have 80 percent hand function now. Derek: Mmm. 80 percent is not enough. Not for you. Burke: Fishing, huh? Derek (smiles): You don't fish. Edit

  • Allusions

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    • Bailey: Do not pass go. "Pass go" is making reference to the board game Monopoly. Players start on the square "Go" and receive $200 every time they pass it. The aim of the game is to buy property, build on them and monopolise the entire board. A player wins once everyone else is bankrupt. When you get sent to jail through Chance or Community Chest the card says "Do not pass go." Edit
    • Episode Title: Deterioration of the Fight or Flight Response This episode's title could be a reference to the 2002 The Flaming Lips song of the same title. Also, the Fight or Flight response is a medicial term first described by Walter Cannon in 1915. His theory states that animals react to threats with a general discharge of the sympathetic nervous system, priming the animal for fighting or fleeing. Edit

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