Despite Denzel Washington He is arguably the greatest living actor, but very few people know about his directorial prowess. In addition to directing four feature films over two decades, including Antoine Fisher, The Great Debaters, The Walls, and Jordan Magazine, until Few people know that Washington directed one episode of the long-running medical drama. Gray's AnatomyNot just an episode, “The Sound of Silence” is often considered among the most compelling chapters in Gray's Anatomy date.
While Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) saw a poignant farewell in the season 20 finale, Pompeo will reportedly return for at least seven of the 18 episodes scheduled for season 24. With season 21 of Grey’s Anatomy quickly approaching its September 26, 2024 release date on ABC, reliving one of Pompeo’s greatest hours on television under the unappreciated direction of Washington is the perfect primer to see how the main character has fared.
What is Grey's Anatomy?
One of the longest-running television shows in history, Gray's Anatomy It is a popular medical drama created by Shonda Rhimes and Michelle Lertzman. It was launched on ABC in 2005, The series follows the personal and professional adventures of Meredith Grey and her colleagues at Seattle Grace Hospital.While many team members come and go, the core of the drama revolves around Meredith navigating her daily routine in a high-pressure medical environment while seeking happiness outside the hospital.
With 432 episodes over 20 seasons and counting, Gray's Anatomy The series won four Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards, cementing its legacy as one of the most popular television shows of the 21st century. Many talented directors worked on the series throughout its run, including famous film and television actors such as Eric Stoltz, Adam Arkin, Peter Horton, Tony Goldwyn, and others.
but, No one can top the great Denzel Washington, who has appeared in many films. Gray's Anatomy Fans are unlikely to know any of the mentors.Popular medical dramaMost popular episodesWhat is most interesting is how there was no understanding between Washington and Pompeo during the filming of “The Sound of Silence.”
What happens in the sound of silence?
It is considered one of Gray's Anatomy“The Sound of Silence” is the highest-quality episode of the television series, and is the ninth episode of the twelfth season that aired on ABC on February 11, 2016. Following the dramatic season finale, “The Sound of Silence” served as the opening episode of the second half of the season and immediately amplified the conflict and raised the dramatic stakes. The story revolves around Meredith being viciously attacked by Lou (Don Norwood), a violent patient at the hospital who requires a neurological examination..
This attack is caused by a post-ictal spasm that causes Lou to lash out violently, severely injuring Meredith and rendering her unconscious. Dr. Penny Blake (Samantha Sloyan) finds Meredith half-dead on the floor and calls for help.Meredith's colleagues rush to her side to treat her wounds immediately. When she regains consciousness and sees the entire unit caring for her, Meredith is horrified to learn that she cannot speak or hear because of the beating she received.
The film's title, “The Sound of Silence,” refers to Meredith's withdrawal into the depths of her mind where she can hear nothing but her own thoughts.The episode is told from her point of view as she rests and recovers in bed. Her jaw is wired shut, and she relies on her staff to help her communicate. As she begins to recover, Meredith regains her hearing and begins to heal. However, she is unwilling to accept an apology from Lou, just as she is unwilling to forgive Amelia (Caterina Scorsone) for her past behavior. However, after a heart-to-heart with Dr. Webber (James Pickens Jr.), Meredith sees the folly of her ways and finds the strength to implicitly forgive Lou in front of his family.
Additional storylines include Dr. Karev (Justin Chambers) proposing to Dr. Wilson (Camilla Luddington), while Dr. Avery (Jesse Williams) serves divorce papers to his wife, April (Sarah Drew). However, nothing can top the horrific drama of Meredith’s assault and the trauma she faces afterward. Beyond the performances, the writing by Stacey Mackey and the direction by Denzel Washington elevate the episode to a new level.
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Praise for the voice of silence
It has a rating of 9.2 on IMDb, “The Sound of Silence” is the highest rated episode ofPopular medical dramaSeason 12The episode was widely praised for Pompeo's emotional performance, the excellent script by Stacey McKee, and the creative artistic touches Washington brought to his television debut. According to TV Line's review:
“We’ve long since stopped predicting what the Emmys will do. But we’ll still say that if there’s any justice to be done, Pompeo’s transcendent work should earn the lead actress at least the long-overdue nomination.”
According to The A.V. Club, Washington's casting “hit it out of the park” and “told solely from her perspective, it's a strong episode for her.” [Pompeo]Pompeo agreed with the critics, Entertainment Weekly News:
”
It sure is [best] The thing I've ever done on the show.
We have never had anyone of his caliber direct our show. His charm changes the energy in the room. Everyone is on top of their game. [He’s] “Amazing. Let me just say I'm a huge fan. It's a dream come true.”
Pompeo and Washington's dispute on set
Despite her high praise for Washington in 2016, Pompeo detailed an on-set disagreement with the director during a 2021 episode of her podcast. Tell me with Ellen PompeoSpeaking to Patrick Dempsey, Pompeo said Washington had a problem with improvising dialogue during the scene.When Washington approached her on the issue, Pompeo launched a blistering attack on the region, shouting:
“Listen you motherfucker, this is my offer. This is my offer. Who do you tell? You barely know where the bathroom is.”
Although things were resolved and the episode was completed, Pompeo later claimed that Washington “knows nothing about directing TV.” Washington claimed he had no recollection of the incident when asked, saying, “But everything is fine” between him and Pompeo (speaking to Variety). While Washington could easily have pointed to his Oscars as evidence of his renowned talent, he let his resume speak for itself.
While Washington may not know anything about TV direction in Pompeo's estimation, “The Sound of Silence” remains one of Gray's AnatomyBest episodes ever producedMeredith's ten minutes of complete silence are among the most inspired directorial moments in Washington history, allowing Pompeo to deliver one of her best performances in the long-running medical drama.
Gray's Anatomy Available to stream on Hulu and Netflix.
