17 Seconds
Encyclopedia
"17 Seconds" is the 25th episode from the medical drama
series, Grey's Anatomy
, from the second season. It is the first part of a three part season finale. The episode was written by Mark Wilding
, and directed by Daniel Minahan. It was originally air date in May, 14, 2006, running for 43:10 min.
and Derek
work together, Denny still doesn't have a heart, and Meredith
gets paired with Callie
. A 12-week pregnant girl dies in the O.R. and her parents try to keep the baby alive. This causes tension between Derek and Addison
. One doctor's overreaction unites two bickering patients. Finn is still treating Doc for medical problems.
is still mad at Christina
, and he lets Alex
go with him to retrieve a heart and not her. Cristina winds up on the case of a couple where the boyfriend used his girlfriend as a shield during the shooting. When Izzie
finds out that the heart is for Denny, she begs Bailey
to be on the case, so she can tell Denny the good news and prep him. Meredith works with Callie on a victim who was shot in the leg. She uses the time with Callie to pick her brain about bone cancer in her dog, but Callie doesn't have time for any dog talk—until George says he has a right to be mad at Meredith, but Callie doesn't. George and Derek attend to a victim left brain dead—and pregnant.
Derek seeks Addison's help in talking to the parents about their decision to use their daughter as an incubator, but Addison—who is seething to find out that Derek and Meredith's strife extends from Meredith dating the vet—explodes on Derek in full view of everyone. When the heart intended for Denny doesn't prove to be viable, Burke fights for a second heart that is supposed to go another patient in another hospital—and it's a battle he's losing until Izzie decides to take matters into her own hands. She convinces Denny to let her cut his LVAD wire, stopping his heart, with George
as a witness. As Burke rushed back to SGH to stop Izzie, he is shot and left in critical condition.
Medical drama
A medical drama is a television program, in which events center upon a hospital, an ambulance staff, or any medical environment.In the United States, most medical episodes are one hour long and, more often than not, are set in a hospital. Most current medical Dramatic programming go beyond the...
series, Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in...
, from the second season. It is the first part of a three part season finale. The episode was written by Mark Wilding
Mark Wilding
Mark Wilding is a two-time Emmy nominated American television producer and screenwriter, most notably for the series Grey's Anatomy and Charmed....
, and directed by Daniel Minahan. It was originally air date in May, 14, 2006, running for 43:10 min.
Main cast
- Ellen PompeoEllen PompeoEllen Kathleen Pompeo is an American actress, known for playing the title role of Meredith Grey on the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy.-Early life:...
as Dr. Meredith Grey. - Sandra OhSandra OhSandra Oh is a Canadian actress. She is best known for the role of Dr. Cristina Yang on ABC's Grey's Anatomy, for which she has won a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild award. She also played notable roles in the feature films Under the Tuscan Sun and Sideways, and had a supporting role on the...
as Dr. Cristina Yang. - Katherine HeiglKatherine HeiglKatherine Marie Heigl is an American actress and producer. She is possibly best known for her role as Dr. Izzie Stevens on ABC's Grey's Anatomy from 2005 to 2010, for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress – Drama Series in 2007...
as Dr. Izzie Stevens. - Justin ChambersJustin ChambersJustin W. Chambers is an American actor and former Calvin Klein male fashion model. As of 2005, he is starring in the ABC drama series Grey's Anatomy as Dr. Alex Karev....
as Dr. Alex Karev. - T.R. Knight as Dr. George O'Malley.
- Chandra WilsonChandra WilsonChandra Danette Wilson is an American actress and director, best known as Dr. Miranda Bailey in the ABC television drama, Grey's Anatomy.-Early life:...
as Dr. Miranda Bailey - Kate WalshKate Walsh (actor)Kathleen Erin "Kate" Walsh is an American film and television actress, currently known for her role as Dr. Addison Montgomery on the ABC dramas Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice.-Early life:...
as Dr. Addison Montgomery-Shepherd. - James Pickens, Jr.James Pickens, Jr.James Pickens, Jr. is an American actor. He is best known for his starring role as Dr. Richard Webber on the ABC drama television series Grey's Anatomy, and for his supporting role as Deputy Director Alvin Kersh on later seasons of the Fox Network science fiction series The X-Files.- Early life...
as Dr. Richard Webber. - Isaiah WashingtonIsaiah WashingtonIsaiah Washington IV is an American actor. A veteran of several Spike Lee films, Washington is best known for his role as Dr. Preston Burke on the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy from 2005 to 2007.-Personal life:...
as Dr. Preston Burke. - Patrick DempseyPatrick DempseyPatrick Galen Dempsey is an American actor, known for his role as neurosurgeon Dr. Derek Shepherd on the medical drama Grey's Anatomy. Prior to Grey's Anatomy he made several television appearances and was nominated for an Emmy Award...
as Dr. Derek Shepherd.
Summary
GeorgeGeorge O'Malley
George O'Malley was a fictional surgeon from the ABC television series Grey's Anatomy, portrayed by actor T. R. Knight. Knight appeared as George from the beginning of the show until its fifth season finale. Knight will not be returning to the show and has been released from his contract...
and Derek
Derek Shepherd
Derek Christopher Shepherd, also referred to as McDreamy, is a fictional surgeon on the ABC television series Grey's Anatomy. The character is portrayed by actor Patrick Dempsey, who was nominated in 2006 and 2007 Golden Globe for the Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series Drama for...
work together, Denny still doesn't have a heart, and Meredith
Meredith Grey
Meredith Grey is a fictional surgeon and the series protagonist on the ABC television series Grey's Anatomy. The character is portrayed by actress Ellen Pompeo. In 2007, Pompeo was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Meredith...
gets paired with Callie
Callie Torres
Calliope Iphegenia "Callie" Torres, M.D., is a fictional character from the ABC television series Grey's Anatomy, portrayed by actress Sara Ramírez...
. A 12-week pregnant girl dies in the O.R. and her parents try to keep the baby alive. This causes tension between Derek and Addison
Addison Montgomery
Addison Adrienne Forbes Montgomery , was a fictional character on the ABC television series Grey's Anatomy, and is currently starring on its spin-off show Private Practice. Addison is a world-class neonatal surgeon with board certifications in both Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Maternal and Fetal...
. One doctor's overreaction unites two bickering patients. Finn is still treating Doc for medical problems.
Expanded Overview
A shooting at a nearby restaurant bombards the hospital with plenty of gunshot victims—and one intended victim that didn't get shot, but is a pain to everyone nonetheless. BurkePreston Burke
Preston Xavier Burke, more commonly known as Burke, is a fictional surgeon on the ABC television series Grey's Anatomy. The character was portrayed by actor Isaiah Washington, up until the third season.-Storylines:...
is still mad at Christina
Cristina Yang
Cristina Yang is a fictional surgeon on the ABC television series Grey's Anatomy. The character is portrayed by actress Sandra Oh, who won a Golden Globe and a SAG Award in 2006 for the role...
, and he lets Alex
Alex Karev
Alexander "Alex" Michael Karev, is a fictional surgeon on the ABC television series Grey's Anatomy, portrayed by actor Justin Chambers. The character was not included in the original pilot script, but was added in after the pilot was shot, meaning initial scenes with him were either reshoots or...
go with him to retrieve a heart and not her. Cristina winds up on the case of a couple where the boyfriend used his girlfriend as a shield during the shooting. When Izzie
Izzie Stevens
Isobel 'Izzie' Katherine Stevens is a fictional character from the medical drama television series Grey's Anatomy, which airs on ABC in the United States. The character was created by series producer Shonda Rhimes, and was portrayed by actress Katherine Heigl from 2005 to 2010...
finds out that the heart is for Denny, she begs Bailey
Miranda Bailey
Dr. Miranda Bailey is a fictional surgeon on the ABC television series Grey's Anatomy. The character is portrayed by actress Chandra Wilson, who won a 2007 Screen Actor's Guild Award for the role...
to be on the case, so she can tell Denny the good news and prep him. Meredith works with Callie on a victim who was shot in the leg. She uses the time with Callie to pick her brain about bone cancer in her dog, but Callie doesn't have time for any dog talk—until George says he has a right to be mad at Meredith, but Callie doesn't. George and Derek attend to a victim left brain dead—and pregnant.
Derek seeks Addison's help in talking to the parents about their decision to use their daughter as an incubator, but Addison—who is seething to find out that Derek and Meredith's strife extends from Meredith dating the vet—explodes on Derek in full view of everyone. When the heart intended for Denny doesn't prove to be viable, Burke fights for a second heart that is supposed to go another patient in another hospital—and it's a battle he's losing until Izzie decides to take matters into her own hands. She convinces Denny to let her cut his LVAD wire, stopping his heart, with George
George O'Malley
George O'Malley was a fictional surgeon from the ABC television series Grey's Anatomy, portrayed by actor T. R. Knight. Knight appeared as George from the beginning of the show until its fifth season finale. Knight will not be returning to the show and has been released from his contract...
as a witness. As Burke rushed back to SGH to stop Izzie, he is shot and left in critical condition.
Allusions
- This episode's title could be a reference to the 1980 album Seventeen SecondsSeventeen SecondsSeventeen Seconds is the second studio album by The Cure, released in April 1980 by Fiction Records. It is the only Cure album to feature keyboardist Matthieu Hartley, and was featured in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. The album reached number 20 on the British album charts...
by The CureThe CureThe Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
. This is in reference to the 17 second difference between Denny Duquette and another patient on the waiting list for a heart transplant.