When Shonda Rhimes’ medical drama Grey’s Anatomy debuted on ABC in 2005, character Dr. Miranda Bailey (portrayed to perfection by actress Chandra Wilson) was entertaining, instantly popular, but somewhat one dimensional.
A general surgery resident at Seattle Grace Hospital, Dr. Bailey served as the stern, by-the-book foil to the sometimes sophomoric antics of interns Meredith Grey (the show’s primary character), Cristina Yang, Izzy Stevens, Alex Karev, and George O’Malley. They’d quip comically as they bubbled and fumbled around their learning curves with Dr. Bailey awaiting them at every turn, aggressively fussing and loudly berating their behavior like a barking security dog.
In a now famous scene from Grey’s season 1, episode 2, Dr. Bailey lashes, “Every intern wants to perform their first surgery. That’s not your job. Do you know what your job is? To make your resident happy. Do I look happy? No! Why? Because my interns are whiny!”
As the show has progressed over its 16-season run, Dr. Bailey loosened the leash on her subordinates and herself. Promoted to Chief of Surgery at Seattle Grace, her barks are now less lecture, more protection. As the show’s audience has learned, what Bailey’s protected most has been herself.
Much needed layers were added to Dr. Bailey, ones making the short physician much taller in stature. Its audience got much-needed glimpses of her family life, which included relationship struggles brought on by her demanding profession. And she didn’t leave her troubles at home. This side was more relatable than Dr. Bailey’s orders and corrective actions, as many of the millions who watched the show also brought the lingering pains and emotional stresses of their own personal lives to work with them every day.
Those realistic human flaws coupled with unrelenting desire to succeed have made Dr. Miranda Bailey an endearing, admired character. She’ll be remembered long after Grey’s Anatomy airs its final episode. Seriously.
[Written by Mr. Joe Walker | Follow THIS on Twitter @THISENT1]
