Grey's Anatomy Finale grips you from start to finish

Warning: This review contains spoilers. So if you haven't yet watched last night's episode of "Grey's Anatomy," I suggest you stop reading here. Believe me, you're going to want to watch this for yourself first--it's that intense.

Meredith Grey is distraught after the plane crash

Last week's episode ended with the image of a mangled plane that had just crash-landed in a remote area. Fans of this medical-drama series were left questioning the fate of Doctors Meredith Grey, Lexie Grey, Cristina Yang, Derek Shepherd, Arizona Robbins, and Mark Sloan.

"Flight," is the title of last night's episode and when I say it kept viewers at the edge of their seats, it did just that. We initially see the scene from the very first episode of Season 1, when everyone was just an Intern, ready to learn and understand what it takes to become a doctor/surgeon at Seattle Grace Hospital. Clips of the chaos occurring in "Flight" is flashed on the screen as well.

We see Meredith lying on the ground, face bruised, Arizona screaming for dear life in the distance, and Cristina and Mark struggling to find a sense of balance as they walk around the mangled mess of plane debris. Disoriented, Meredith stands up and almost immediately begins looking around for her husband, who, according to Cristina, was sucked out of the plane.

Arizona has a broken leg and seeing the bone devastatingly humors her as she thinks about her orthopedic wife, Callie... the plane's pilot appears to be paralyzed and so must remain in his seat... Derek is missing... Meredith is frantic... and Lexie is in the worst condition, as she is pinned underneath an unmovable piece of the plane.

Despite all that has happened, Cristina appears to be the only character keeping it together, for the most part. I suppose it's something we would expect from a gifted and sought-after doctor who two seasons ago had a gun held to her head while she tried to save the husband of her best friend. She kept it together for Meredith so long ago and she tries to do the same again.

Mark is by Lexie's side and at this point viewers are probably calling Mark an idiot for not seizing the moment before, when Lexie finally confessed the love that she still feels for him. Short of breath, she requests that he hold her hand, but he refuses, stating that she is not dying. He attempts to lift the plane part but to no avail; so therefore, lays back down on the ground, holds her hand and tells Lexie he loves her and has always been in love with her.

Mark by Lexie's side || Courtesy of wetpaint.com

Unfortunately (well, in my opinion) Lexie dies. Fans knew that a beloved doctor would die, but why Lexie?! Moreover, it had only been the first 15 minutes of the finale! I surely was not expecting a death so soon. Meredith's anguish over her sister's death reminded me of her pained cries from season 6 when she thought Derek was dead. A tear falls from Cristina's eye as she shakes her head and Mark, still holding Lexie's hand, remains expressionless and stares off into the distance.

Cristina and Meredith eventually venture out to search for Derek. He meets up with them, holding the hand that he smashed in order to escape the mangles of the plane, and passes out in front of them.

While all of this is happening, viewers are hoping the doctors at Seattle Grace get a clue and figure out something is wrong. April forces herself to be happy for the upcoming dinner Dr. Webber has planned, Jackson is apologetic and feels partially responsible for April's miserable state, Alex is pissed with Arizona for taking him off all the pediatric cases (since he was accepted into john Hopkins), Teddy refuses to leave Seattle Grace (even though she'd rather leave the memory of her deceased husband) despite the offer elsewhere because of Owen's battle with Cristina and his lasting kindness in the midst of her hostility, Dr. Bailey is still uneasy about a long distance relationship with Ben once he leaves, and Callie just can't wait for a "fun" night with Arizona when she returns home.

Cristina || Courtesy of haveyouheard.net

Back in the middle of nowhere, while Meredith and Cristina try to save Conscious Derek's hand, Cristina demands that Mark assist. He is still sitting on the ground, holding Lexie's hand, yet looking pale as ever. Cristina marches over to him and to her dismay realizes that his chest is bruised severely and he has suffered a cardiac tamponade (meaning that blood is filling his chest cavity). Using mere toiletries, they are able to drain his chest, miraculously. It appears as though he is next to die, but Arizona demands that he hang on for her, Callie and little Sofia.

At the end, after April says what she has to say and walks out arm linked with Jackson's... after Alex leaves a message on Arizona's voicemail--pretty much thanking her for making him the doctor he is today, in his own way... after Owen fires blatantly fires Teddy, watches her slam the door in his face and then return with a warm hug of gratitude and encouragement to fight for Cristina... and after Dr. Bailey and Ben are seemingly optimistic about their future together.... AFTER ALL THIS, with just a few minutes of the finale remaining, Owen has the expression of concern as he gets calls regarding the missing doctors. Dr. Webber delays the start of dinner while he waits on the rest of the crew, and Callie is at home wearing her finest lingerie as she awaits her wife, but we all know what's going on.

When Meredith's last match, to restart the fire, goes out, she shares a stick of gum with Cristina who was complaining of hunger. They are bundles up and huddle closer together and sleepily stare out into the night, probably wondering what will become of all of them.

Overall, I give Shonda Rimes a whole lot of credit. She had guts killing off a favored member of the Seattle Grace clan, not only that, every minute was gripping and had me at the edge of my seat. This finale was INTENSE, to say the least, and had me holding my breath a majority of the time.

One hour just wasn't enough!!