SueTube – Let’s talk TV with critic Susan Young

What’s been haunting me about “Grey’s Anatomy” is how great it used to be and how, well, disappointed I’ve been in the series thus far.

I’m watching. There are things I’ve liked. But somehow the magic seemed to be slipping away.

Not happy with Gizzie. Not happy with Mer. Not even really happy with Cristina.

But in this latest episode, I’ve fallen in love all over again. Thank you Krista Vernoff, who penned this episode. You absolutely rock.

First, thank God Karev and Ava finally sealed the deal. She coos to Karev that when she thought about what she wanted to be for Halloween, all she could think of was Ava.

Now, that’s the kind of holiday special we can get behind.

JUSTIN CHAMBERS, ELIZABETH REASER (ABC/SCOTT GARFIELD)

What a fantastic kiss. Finally, a little sizzle in the set. Of course, we know nothing’s going to run smoothly for these two, but I’m waiting to see what’s going to happen.

I’ve also been a fan of Callie. Sara Ramirez’ range is amazing, yet we had to watch her be downright pathetic the last few weeks. Way to go Callie when you b-slapped Gizzie with the sleeping with my husband reveal. And moving in with Cristina? Priceless. Finally we get two women worthy of repartee.

So where does that leave Mer? When McDreamy says he’s ready to date, all I could think of was “Game On.”‘ I liked the way Mer and her sis Lexie interacted this week, and the way she flushed her mom’s ashes down the hospital sink. It was so touching to see her and Richard together, putting Ellis to rest in the one place she felt at home.

Time to move on Mer. I actually liked Mer a lot this week.

Mer had me with the story about her mom never getting it together for Halloween and disapproving of “begging door-to-door,” which reminds us again about what an emotional cripple Ellis made her daughter.

But Mer rises above it, and goes trick-or-treating for ears. That’s right, she decides to help a young boy who needs ears, and while Dr. Mark rightfully tells Mer that no one will help him out in doing a pro bono surgery, he’s willing to do it if she can get others to chip in.

And she does. Mer’s chipper and cool as she goes around the hospital to round up the surgical team. She’s pleased when she gets it all together, but nothing is sweeter than when Dr. Mark says that she certainly fell far from the Ellis tree. Amen, buddy.

So Gizzie is together for now, but hopefully we’ve got other, more interesting, fish to fry. Like Burke’s replacement, the prickly Dr. Erica Hahn (Brooke Smith), who looks like she’s ready to bring tensions to a boil, especially when it comes to Cristina.

BROOKE SMITH, SANDRA OH (ABC/SCOTT GARFIELD)

Then there’s my favorite character Bailey, who missed her young son’s first Halloween to help the young boy get ears. Her husband may never forgive her. I can hardly wait to peek into that pot.

So hold on folks. Looks like “Grey’s Anatomy” just took it up several notches.

Next week, – “Kung Fu Fighting” – With his marriage in turmoil, the Chief turns to his fellow male surgeons for a “gentleman’s evening,” Cristina and Izzie heatedly compete for the same surgeries and the favor of the doctor performing them, Meredith treats the survivor of a skydiving accident, and the doctors treat two injured finalists who are competing in a promotional competition.

KATHERINE HEIGL, STEVE SANDVOSS, T.R. KNIGHT (ABC/RON TOM)