Grey's Anatomy: Complete Eighth Season

While Grey's Anatomy began as a look at a group of young doctors, they've since grown up. Now in the fifth year of their residency, the core physicians spend the 2011-12 eighth season gearing up for their boards. As Karev (Justin Chambers) puts it, "George is dead and Izzie is gone, and we're all different.” Now, two of the couples have children, but if Torres (Sara Ramirez) and Arizona (Jessica Capshaw) are going strong, Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) and Derek (Patrick Dempsey) hit a rough patch due to her involvement with his clinical trial, which affects their adoption, even if she was just trying to help Chief Webber (James Pickens, Jr.). Cristina (Sandra Oh) and Owen (Kevin McKidd) also struggle with an abortion and an indiscretion, but she supports his promotion to chief after Webber steps down. Unfortunately, Lexie (Chyler Leigh) and Avery (Jesse Williams) break up, because she isn't over Sloan (Eric Dane), Avery's plastic surgery mentor. And Teddy (Kim Raver) and her husband, Henry (Scott Foley), a former patient, also face a variety of medical and career complications. If Karev remains a gloomy gus, he gains an opportunity for redemption here as he helps with Meredith's adoption—even going behind her back to pull a few strings. Each season features at least one special episode, and this year's finds Meredith imagining what life would be like if Webber had married her mother (Kate Burton), among other alternative scenarios. Other guest stars include Alfre Woodard as a bestselling novelist, and Debbie Allen as Avery's mother, a superstar surgeon. Compiling all 24 episodes, DVD extras include an extended episode, a featurette on McKidd, deleted scenes, and outtakes. Recommended. (K. Fennessy)