I didn't want to like Grey's Anatomy, I really and truly didn't. I felt like I'd fought it off successfully, deflected its charms in its abbreviated first season, a handful of episodes (a mere nine) that didn't make too much of an impact – but it came back for a second, longer season, one with a leisurely time frame in which to explore the tangled loves and lives of the quirky, often bitingly sarcastic characters created by Shonda Rhimes (whom I'm just now forgiving for writing Britney Spears' ill-fated cinematic bomb Crossroads). I could hold out – I still won't admit to fully embracing this guilty Sunday (as of Sept. 21, Thursday) night pleasure, but I don't run screaming as soon it comes on either; Grey's Anatomy isn't life-changing television, but you could definitely do worse with an hour of your time. Admittedly, Ellen Pompeo is a slight choice with which to anchor a sudsy drama such as this, but somehow, it works – as the lovelorn Dr. Meredith Grey, Pompeo functions as the quiet eye of the hurricane, calmly narrating her winsomely cynical world views as life twists and turns in often surprising ways, unfolding day by day at Seattle Grace Hospital.

To say that Grey's Anatomy hit big in its second season would a bit of an understatement – the show went from "Who?" to "Wow!" in the span of just a few weeks; fans who had a taste of the snappy banter, palpable chemistry and stuffed-to-bursting storylines (replete with bosom-heaving, will-she-won't she, unrequited love) clamored for more and along with "Desperate Housewives" and "Lost," became part of ABC's breakout trifecta. Boasting a cast brimming with energy and well-suited to their roles, Grey's Anatomy not only served as a comeback vehicle for Eighties heartthrob Patrick Dempsey, but also a showcase for the exceptional acting talents of Sandra Oh and Isaiah Washington, as well as a proving ground for largely untested up-and-comers T.R. Knight, Katherine Heigl, Justin Chambers and Pompeo herself, whose pre-Grey's resume is littered with bit parts and one-off TV roles, who has blossomed into a low-key, unassuming star.

With more than double the episodes allotted to the creative team this season, the world of Grey's Anatomy expanded considerably, opening itself up to story arcs that just wouldn't be possible within the span of nine episodes – the engine driving this second season is the McDreamy love triangle: Dr. Derek Shepherd, sort-of-not-really-estranged from his headstrong wife Addison, pines for the lovely young intern Meredith Grey, who falls head over heels for the good doctor. Emotional rawness and uncertainty lead to a season-long tug-of-war that ebbs and flows, serving as the backbone of the other, equally compelling arcs – the other interns fall in and out of bed, learn hard lessons and work to please the irascible Dr. Miranda Bailey (a winning Chandra Wilson), the physician in charge of these up-and-coming caregivers. With a few moments of "ER"-level gore and kinetic set pieces, the medical aspect of the show is given equal play with affairs of the heart; there are sequences that might leave the more squeamish unsettled, but those scenes are fleeting, lending just enough veracity to ground the show in a tangible realism. The second season concludes with enough forward momentum that those unsure of where they sit with Grey's Anatomy will no doubt find themselves tuning to ABC on Sept. 21 to tag along for the further adventures of Ms. Grey and company.

The second season of Grey's Anatomy is spread across six discs by Buena Vista and is packaged in a cardboard slipcase housing a tri-fold foldout case. Material for the episode synopses is taken from the accompanying booklet and for those who want their Grey's Anatomy experience untainted by advance knowledge, be aware that some spoilers can be found below.

Disc One:

Episode One: Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head
Meredith attempts to work with Mrs. McDreamy, the headstrong Dr. Addison Shepherd (Kate Walsh), while Dr. George O'Malley (T.R. Knight) is pegged as the group's gossip hound – after a long day, Meredith and fellow intern Dr. Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh) share a few drinks, as well as their experiences dating residents at Seattle Grace.

Episode Two: Enough Is Enough
Predictably, tension mounts between Meredith and Addison, which becomes odd when Meredith finds herself warming to the surgeon. While all the interns work to save an injured family, the truth is revealed as to why Addison and Dr. Derek "McDreamy" Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey) divorced.

Episode Three: Make Me Lose Control
Cristina and Meredith wrestle with whether to tell Dr. Preston Burke (Isaiah Washington) that Cristina is carrying his child while Dr. Alex Karev (Justin Chambers) and Dr. Isobel "Izzie" Stevens (Katherine Heigl) start to catch each other's attention. Meredith's mother becomes a patient, with George put in charge of her care.

Episode Four: Deny Deny Deny
Cristina, unhappy with being on the sidelines, re-exhausts herself in an effort to prove she's worthy of being a doctor. To make matters worse, Cristina's mother comes to stay with her to help her recuperate. The arrival of Dr. Ellis Gray (Kate Burton) sends Seattle Grace spinning.

Episode Five: Bring The Rain
Derek and Meredith work to convince a devoutly religious man that his daughter needs a life-saving procedure while Meredith makes a shocking discovery about her mother's past and George and Alex find themselves trapped with a patient who needs emergency surgery.

Disc Two:

Episode Six: Into You Like A Train
A catastrophic train wreck floods Seattle Grace with victims while Izzie is forced to choose between friendship and career advancement. Alex questions his choice of profession as the outcome of Derek and Meredith's relationship is revealed. (Features commentary from director Jeff Melman and writer Krista Vernoff.)

Episode Seven: Something To Talk About
A male patient named "Shane" is pregnant, which confuses Cristina, Meredith and Izzie – while helping a very shy young patient, Alex realizes his lack of intimacy with Izzie.

Episode Eight: Let It Be
George tries to figure out why a fall survivor isn't happy about living after plunging five stories and an elderly man makes a heartbreaking decision. Derek and Addison spar over the visit of longtime friends seeking a radical surgery.

Episode Nine: Thanks For The Memories
Thanksgiving arrives at Seattle Grace, as George endures another year of O'Malley family tradition while Meredith tends to a coma patient awake after 16 years. (Extended episode; features commentary from creator Shonda Rhimes and editor Susan Vaill.)

Episode Ten: Much Too Much
A one-night stand comes back to haunt Meredith when the man shows up needing odd medical help; Izzie is frustrated by Alex's faults and a women bearing quintuplets is confused by the chaos surrounding her high-risk pregnancy.

Disc Three:

Episode Eleven: Owner of a Lonely Heart
Izzie reaches a breaking point with Alex, while Addison teaches her a painful lesson – a female prison inmate risks it all to escape solitary confinement, while premature quintuplets keep the staff busy.

Episode Twelve: Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer
Cristina and Burke squabble over a young boy's heart transplant, as the interns pitch in to help Alex pass his upcoming exam and Meredith reminds Izzie about the spirit of the season. (Features commentary from Sandra Oh and director Peter Horton.)

Episode Thirteen: Begin The Begin
A new patient named Denny Duquette (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) helps Izzie get over Alex, as George finds his hands full treating a teenage hermaphrodite.

Episode Fourteen: Tell Me Sweet Little Lies
George has difficulty discharging an older patient who refuses to leave Seattle Grace and Alex finally learns the results of his exams. Meredith and Cristina vent to each other about the state of their relationships.

Episode Fifteen: Break On Through
The doctors must fend for themselves as the nurses' union goes on strike; while treating a young patient, Meredith makes a mistake that the patient's friends catch and Izzie treats a young pregnant girl.

Disc Four:

Episode Sixteen: It's The End of the World
Meredith wakes up feeling as though it's going to be a bad day – and she's right. Seattle Grace must contend with a highly explosive situation. (Extended episode; features commentary from Rhimes, Horton and editor Edward Ornelas.)

Episode Seventeen: As We Know It
A dangerous situation escalates despite the hospital's "code black" and the local bomb squad's determined efforts. Meredith must team up with the bomb squad while Derek performs an intense surgery under excruciating conditions. (Features commentary from Rhimes, Horton and Ornelas.)

Episode Eighteen: Yesterday
A visitor from the past, Dr. Mark Sloan (Eric Dane), stirs up Derek and Addison's lives, while Meredith explores her family's dirty laundry and Cristina's secret makes its way to Burke.

Episode Nineteen: What Have I Done To Deserve This?
Dr. Sloan's appearance has Derek and Addison experiencing some tension while Meredith and George wrestle with the morning after consequences – Denny also returns, causing a rift in Izzie and Alex's relationship. (Extended episode)

Episode Twenty: Band-Aid Covers The Bullet Hole
Izzie bails on Alex in favor of Denny as Meredith attempts to deal with the fallout from sleeping with George and Bailey attempts to circumvent maternity leave.

Disc Five:

Episode Twenty-one: Superstition
The staff becomes highly superstitious after a string of deaths at the hospital – Dr. Richard Webber (James Perkins, Jr.) treats an old friend while Cristina and Burke fight over a new roommate.

Episode Twenty-two: The Name of the Game
George overstays his welcome at Burke's apartment as Meredith learns a troubling secret about her father. Alex learns about bedside manners from Burke and Bailey worries that the staff won't cower in fear after she becomes a mother.

Episode Twenty-three: Blues For Sister Someone
Izzie interrogates George about his personal life and Addison slams Alex about a sensitive case, while Burke feels pressure as he treats his musical hero.

Episode Twenty-four: Damage Care
Derek lets his emotions get the best of him as the interns deal with a family involved in a car accident and Izzie works to save Denny's life.

Episode Twenty-five: 17 Seconds
Meredith is paired up with Dr. Callie Torres (Sara Ramirez) as George is teamed up with Derek; Burke and Izzie frantically search for a heart for Denny.

Disc Six:

Episode Twenty-six: Deterioration of the Fight or Flight Response
The first episode of the two-part season finale finds Cristina, much to her amazement, in charge of the ER as it becomes clear that Denny doesn't have much time left, a realization that shatters Izzie.

Episode Twenty-seven: Losing My Religion
Dr. Webber grills the staff about a patient's condition while Callie confronts George about his feelings for her and Meredith and Derek have a moment.

The Video:

Each episode of Grey's Anatomy is presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen – as befits a recently filmed TV program, the show looks sleek, sharp and crisp, with colors warmly and accurately represented, no signs of edge enhancement or other visual defects. The show often has a bit of a blue tinge to it, but that's apparently by design.

Boasting a fairly active Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, Grey's Anatomy sounds as good as it looks, with plenty of immersive surround activity, as well as clearly rendered dialogue and those well-chosen pop songs feel smooth, full and free of distortion. Optional English subtitles are also on board.

The supplemental material is equally fluffy and informative, a reflection of the show itself – while only five of the 27 episodes have commentary tracks (a pretty paltry showing) but the tracks are fast moving, imparting plenty of behind the scenes information as well as nifty trivia tidbits. Four episodes, as noted above, also run a few minutes longer than their broadcast versions; having not memorized the shows upon their initial airing, I'd be hard pressed to point out precisely what's been reinstated. The 13 minute, 36 second featurette "The Doctors Are In" features Justin Chambers, Kate Walsh, James Pickens, Jr. and T.R. Knight answering mostly inane questions from fawning fans, while the seven minute, 23 second featurette "The Softer Side of Dr. Bailey" sits down with Chandra Wilson. The five minute, 30 second "Creating 'Pink Mist'" details the special effects that go into one particularly tense sequence and James Pickens, Jr. leads viewers on a seven minute, 45 second set tour of Seattle Grace Hospital. 19 unaired scenes, presented in non-anamorphic widescreen, are playable separately or for an aggregate of 18 minutes, 43 seconds with a 22 minute clip from Heigl, Wilson and Pickens' appearance on the May 15, 2006 episode of "Jimmy Kimmel Live" and trailers for The Golden Girls, Alias, Lost, SoapNet, Grey's Anatomy, Apocalypto, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, Home Improvement, Scrubs, Keeping Up With The Steins and Desperate Housewives completing the set.

Grey's Anatomy isn't life-changing television, but you could definitely do worse with an hour of your time. Creator Shonda Rhimes has wrought a compulsively watchable soap opera that fuses wit and heart to charming effect, making this ABC hit one to watch as its third season begins. Highly recommended.