you’ll laugh, you’ll cry. or at least i did.

**warning: Grey’s Anatomy S06 Ep08: “Invest In Love”  Spoilers below**

Grey’s last night was the best episode in recent memory.

There were just so many things that I loved, it is difficult to enumerate them all, but I will try.  Here is my top 10 list in order of level of love.

1. Arizona.  She is just so awesome, I have a huge crush on her.  I love her use of language and her self awareness and her range of emotion and her relationship with Callie.  This episode focused on her (the way last week focused on Derek) and she did wonderfully.
2. Alex in peds.  Yay!  We saw this some when Addison was on the show and Alex was her intern, but when Addison left, we lost it.  I find Alex very hard to take most episodes, but when he’s in peds, it works for me.  I’m really happy that he’s there again.
3. The chief’s redeeming moment.  It was only a moment, but it did kind of make up for much of the assiness he’s been displaying lately.  He still has a long way to go, but it was nice to see the redemptive side of him again.
4. Happy married Meredith.  I think for me this is because Caer and I are watching the series together and we’re maybe a quarter into season 2 right now.  It has reminded me how far she’s come in the series and this makes me very appreciative that the writers have allowed that growth in her so we didn’t end up with 10 seasons of “I love him!” “No I don’t!” “I’m so messed up!” “Oh woe is me!”  I don’t know if anyone else misses the Mer-Der drama, but I for one am very pleased they are in a happy and stable relationship now.  Plus is made for a very amusing moment with Cristina, who is apparently not quite used to the bubbly happy version yet.
5. The Breakfast Club.  Usually I don’t really like if a show gets too couple-oriented, but I must admit I really liked the 3 couples having breakfast together (Callie/Arizona, Cristina/Owen, Mark/Lexie).  It seemed fun and they had a good dynamic.  Cristina and Owen seem to be the potential weak link, but I like all the couples, so I am rooting for them all right now.
6. Mark’s aversion to surprise parties.  I think he’s right, but it was a great moment in contrast to Lexie’s youthful exuberance to throw one.  “Whoa, whoa.  Bad idea.  Surprise parties are hostile. They’re dark.  People jump out and scream at you. They never come to any good.”  In combination with his totally dry expression when they actually do try the surprise party — it’s all just good.  I like Mark
7. New doctors.  I know, I know, there is much concern about the already bloated cast and now we’re adding new doctors?  But I think the new format is making it work.  I think it probably makes it harder to get into the show if you are new, since it is difficult to know who is important, but blah blah.  I like the new doctors.  Especially the hot guy doctor.  He’s sharp and attractive. I’ll even forgive him for the wrench it looks like he is going to throw into Cristina/Owen.
8. Cristina apologizing to Owen.  It isn’t quite what she wants to do since she still thinks she’s right.  It sort of mirrors the Brennen/Angela story line on Bones last night.
9. Arizona again.  I was trying not to put her more than once, but really she should be the top 5 things on this list.  How about how she yelled at the chief and made him leave her OR and successfully made him feel human about it all?  She’s grown a lot from the doctor who couldn’t confront authority figures without crying (see: last season, confrontation over Bailey’s fellowship).
10. The sweet sweet sweet “I love you” end.  Callie tried so hard with the donuts (remember that from a few episodes ago?) and the lingerie and the gifts and the malfunctioning honker thing.  It was just nice.  Awwww.

I think Grey’s is really bringing it this season.  Which is good since HIMYM really is not.

Have any favorite moments I missed?