Tainted Obligation

Season 6, Episode 4, Aired
EDIT

Episode Summary

When Meredith and Lexie's father, Thatcher, returns to the hospital with a failed liver, it's up to Meredith to save his life. Meanwhile, Izzie empathizes with a patient riddled with tumors, as Mark, annoyed with Cristina's competitive zeal, tricks her into assisting on an unusual surgery.
8.7
out of 10
EPISODE RATING: Great
262 votes
  • Your Rating: 10
    "Perfect"
  • Your Rating: 9.5
    "Superb"
  • Your Rating: 9
    "Superb"
  • Your Rating: 8.5
    "Great"
  • Your Rating: 8
    "Great"
  • Your Rating: 7.5
    "Good"
  • Your Rating: 7
    "Good"
  • Your Rating: 6.5
    "Fair"
  • Your Rating: 6
    "Fair"
  • Your Rating: 5.5
    "Mediocre"
  • Your Rating: 5
    "Mediocre"
  • Your Rating: 4.5
    "Poor"
  • Your Rating: 4
    "Poor"
  • Your Rating: 3.5
    "Bad"
  • Your Rating: 3
    "Bad"
  • Your Rating: 2.5
    "Terrible"
  • Your Rating: 2
    "Terrible"
  • Your Rating: 1.5
    "Abysmal"
  • Your Rating: 1
    "Abysmal"
Rate It

Watch Online

Netflix
Subscription
Amazon
Buy
iTunes
Buy
Hulu Plus
Subscription
Amazon Prime
Free Trial/Subsc...

Cast & Crew

See All EDIT

Fan Episode Reviews (6)

See All

  • This is turning in to a soap opera.

    7.0
    "Good"
    By Miss_barbara, Aug 28, 2010 Report Abuse
    I used to like grey's, i used to love it. But is it just me or are they added more and more drama over the last couple of months?

    This episode for instance. They bring in Meredith and Lexie's dad. Make it a big drama that he is dying. The man has been a alcoholist for the better part of his live, it's no surprise. On top of that Lexie decidedes in a heartbeat that she is willing to give up a part of her liver for her father. A surgery that would keep her out of preforming surgery for weeks, real smart move with the up coming merge with Mercy West. And them Meredith agrees? Because of Lexie, you've to be kidding me! She used to be this hardass but now she is falling for tears. Very dissapointing. Before i forget, What is up with Alex? He screamed like a little girl. Twice!

    The show is going downhill, again. I hope that they do better the next couple of episodes.moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    4 10

  • Decent episode.

    7.5
    "Good"
    By thefanof, Aug 28, 2010 Report Abuse
    Should we give up on Grey's Anatomy ever having a shot at winning the Emmy for best drama? With all the strong competition in recent years and with the show really not having too many blowaway episodes (outside of last season's finale) in a long time I do not think Shonda Rhimes and Ellen Pompeo will ever be closing out an Emmy broadcast in the near future.

    But the show can still be fun at times, although the storylines are all a bit too similar. The idea of the old man getting a penial implant was very similar to the ER finale with a man breaking his penis while having sex. I guess after 35+ years of medical dramas on television they are bound to cross paths eventually.moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    2 2

  • One of those episodes that you wanna say...'hmmm..whatever'..

    7.0
    "Good"
    By sequoa84, Aug 28, 2010 Report Abuse
    Well, for all those 14-million viewers who tuned in to watch Grey's, this must have been a let down. For a show of Grey's quality, this episode is just another average offering. I am still waiting for the writers to put an end to this layoff's story line. I mean, how long will they show doctors working their asses off and jumping in on every surgery they can get, just to be on the rolls. Bringing in Thatcher was a amazingly stupid idea. The guy is such a loser with no depth in character whatsoever. However, I did find a fair amount of comedy in this episode. Sandra Oh did a fine job of running the comedy track. A lackluster episode by any standards, and I hope to see less of these.moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    1 2

  • good, but could have been better

    8.0
    "Great"
    By alexzfan2, Aug 28, 2010 Report Abuse
    It was not perfect, but for me something is different. I feel that this isn't grey's anymore. I really hope it will get better, cause until episode 4 and this ep., it was kinda dissapointing. And also is kinda awful with this merger going on because they are all desperate like not knowing what to do. And the story with Thatcher was sad kinda like a soap opera and that makes me nervous cause grey's should be better and not like this. Plus there was not Owen/Cristina connection in the whole episode and Merder as well, so it was boring.moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    2 1

  • Hmm...good but not great - again!

    6.5
    "Fair"
    By bbk51th, Aug 28, 2010 Report Abuse
    It seems Like Grey's has lost it's way. Maybe the writers are trying to create a feeling of unease/disruption with the Mercy West merger and George's death, but the relationship interplay with the characters and the compelling drama seem to be gone. The episodes appear to have more storylines. Sometimes, more is just more, not necessarily better. The storylines also seem to lack any real depth. I hope that Grey's will get better. At this point I do not feel as drawn to the show as in the past. As always, I think that the actors do a fine job. However, unless they have better material, it could be a long season and probably my last watching Grey's.moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    0 2
 

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

See All

  • Trivia

    ADD TRIVIA
    • Bailey (talking to Meredith while asleep for her surgery): I had five interns. Four of you have been on this table. One of you has cancer, one of you died. You better not pull anything funny on me, Grey. Of Bailey's five original interns, Alex Karev is the only one NOT to have been 'on this table'. Cristina Yang had an ectopic pregnancy and had her fallopian tube removed in 2x03 'Make Me Lose Control'. Meredith Grey had appendicitis in 3x04 'What I Am', and then she drowned in 3x15-17 'Walk On Water', 'Drowning on Dry Land', and 'Some Kind Of Miracle'. Izzie Stevens was battling with cancer during the fifth season and was admitted in 5x18 'Stand By Me', receiving treatments and surgeries. George O'Malley was hit by a bus after he joined the army and the doctors all tried to save him in 5x24 'Now Or Never', unsuccessfully. Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • International Episode Titles: Czech Republic: Pošramocená povinnost (Bruised Obligation) Edit
    • Original International Air Dates: Latin America: November 23, 2009 on Sony Entertainment Television (a.k.a. Canal Sony) Finland: November 25, 2009 on Nelonen The Netherlands: December 14, 2009 on Net5 Australia: February 9, 2010 on Channel 7 Germany: April 14, 2010 on ProSieben Norway: August 24, 2010 on TV2 Czech Republic: July 11, 2011 on Prima LOVE Edit
    • Music Featured In This Episode: 1. Trading Things In by The Voluntary Butler Scheme 2. Come On Be Good by Dragonette 3. Long Time Gone by Bachelorette 4. Wish You Well by Katie Herzig 5. Morning Mist by Sebastien Schuller Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Meredith (closing voiceover): The thing about being a surgeon, everybody wants a piece of you. We take one little oath, and suddenly we're drowning in obligations. To our patients, to our colleagues, to medicine itself. So we do what any sane person would do. We run like hell from our promises, hoping they'll be forgotten. But sooner or later, they always catch up. And sometimes you find the obligation you dread the most isn't worth running from at all. Edit
    • Lexie: Oh, you're awake. How's your pain? Is your mouth dry? There's water if you're thirsty. Meredith: Um, have you been sleeping on me all night? Lexie: Yes. Moving between you and dad, who's doing good. Meredith: Good. Good, that's good. Lexie... Lexie: Yeah? Meredith: You're on my IV. Lexie: Oh, sorry. Edit
    • Callie: Chief. Are you okay? Richard: I have responsibilities. To make this hospital the best medical facility it could be. To repair what I have broken, even if it was 20 years ago. If I am now the bad guy, if I am now the villain here. Well, so be it. Callie: This must be so hard for you. Richard: Thanks, Torres. Callie: I was, I was gonna... I was... But, I'm gonna go. So, you take care okay? Richard: Torres. Callie: Sir? Richard: Go see HR tomorrow. Tell them you're an attending at Seattle Grace Hospital and you want a new badge. And, take some of these danish home. They'll just go to waste. Edit

  • Allusions

Show Forums

See All
Last Activity
Replies

Watch Grey's Anatomy Full Episodes

See All

Related Shows

Season 6 Episodes

See All
Ep 24
Death and All His Friends
Ep 23
Sanctuary (1)
Ep 22
Shiny Happy People
Ep 21
How Insensitive
Ep 20
Hook, Line and Sinner
Ep 19
Sympathy for the Parents
Ep 18
Suicide is Painless
Ep 17
Push
Ep 16
Perfect Little Accident
Ep 15
The Time Warp
Ep 14
Valentine's Day Massacre
Ep 13
State of Love and Trust
Ep 12
I Like You So Much Better ...
Ep 11
Blink
Ep 10
Holidaze
Ep 9
New History
Ep 8
Invest In Love
Ep 7
Give Peace a Chance
Ep 6
I Saw What I Saw
Ep 5
Invasion
Ep 4
Tainted Obligation
Ep 3
I Always Feel Like Somebod...
Ep 2
Goodbye (2)
Ep 1
Good Mourning (1)

Contributors

Become a contributor
More
Less

TV Listings

Full Listings
BROWSE | Shows | Videos | News | Listings | Forums | People | Photos | TV.com Blog

CBS Entertainment | About TV.com | About CBS Interactive | Jobs | Advertise

© 2012 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Ad Choice | Terms of Use