'Grey's Anatomy' returns with sadness and determination

Happiness is in the eye of the beholder.

Obviously, no fan of T.R. Knight's George is going to be exactly happy with Thursday's return of Grey's Anatomy(* * * out of four, ABC, 9 ET/PT), not when the two-hour return is built around his death. Still, there's good news to be had in the skillful way the show handles the tragedy in its first hour, the only one made available for preview. There's well-played grief (particularly from Debra Monk, returning as George's mother), dark humor, and a needed reminder that work and life go on in the person of a concerned mother (a strong guest turn by Martha Plimpton).

Aside from forcing the doctors to focus on her son's illness — an understandably single-minded determination that leads to a very nice scene for Jessica Capshaw and Chandra Wilson— Plimpton's character also seems set to provoke a management crisis at Seattle Grace. Things are not looking good for the Chief (James Pickens Jr.), and while that's bad for him, it could keep Derek (Patrick Dempsey) busy with a problem that does not involve Meredith (Ellen Pompeo).

And really, among all the story lines percolating here, from Callie's (Sara Ramirez) torment over George's death to Cristina's (Sandra Oh) complicated relationship with Dr. Hunt (Kevin McKidd), a story for Derek that doesn't hinge on a Meredith crisis is key. The show needs to let them be happy and stable for a season at the minimum.

Oh, and on the needs-and-desires front, it would also be nice — and a healthy change of pace — to see Grey's go an entire season without any on-screen ghosts or off-screen conflicts. Or, if conflict is unavoidable, at least have the sense to shut up about it.

Now that would make viewers happy.