By Muhammad Faiz
Watching “Greys Anatomy” brings me a whirlwind full of roller coaster emotions. It is full of happiness, vulnerability, passion and rage all combined into one emotion. The duration of 42 minutes is more than enough to cause me to break down and get me back up again. Nonetheless, at the end of the episode I come out refreshed and an improved version of my perspective in life figuratively.
Looking back to the beginning of the television series, I have some sceptical feelings towards television shows as I heard and read some of the review which are prone to the romantic side of the show. However, during the last semester break, I decided to binge-watch the show and it turned out to be the best decision I ever made during the holiday. There are countless aspects of the show that drew me in but one of it that attracts me the most is how real the show is. How the representation in the show has been really prioritised and made as real as it can be.
One of the things in the show that drew me in is how each of the relationship in the show is portrayed as realistic as in real life. Whether it is a love relationship, a friendship or even a colleague. In each dynamic of the show, there are some disagreements even if they love each other unconditionally. Even with acquaintances that we are not close with, we still need to respect them.
Besides that, the show always keep it real when it comes to mental health such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, abandonment issue, and trust issue. These types of mental health problems portrayed by the writers are amazing as they are so deliberating. The scenes literally tore my heart out of my chest but at the same time, it is also empowering. In the show, there is one line in the script which says, “Not everybody has to be happy all the time. That is not mental health. That’s crap. Indeed, it is true and realistic.
Finally yet importantly, the thing that attracts me most is the friendship between the characters. As the same goes to every character development in every show, there will be conflicts in the relationship as it is an uphill battle. I learned that it is impractical to have a relationship where every day is a sunny day and how it is okay not to be too open to each other, thus leading to the loss of the true essence of friendship, which is open communication. There will be happy days, there will be days two friends will be cold to each other, but whether it is a happy day or a bad day, they will always be each other’s person.
This show changed my life for better as I learned that everyone has his or her own demons. People will have their own secrets to keep and not to share with others. Compassionate, loyalty, values of friendship and values of being professional in work setting are some of the values I learned and hope to have in my life at this point and in later part in life. ***