Callie won Sofia’s custody on Grey’s Anatomy, despite popular (mis)understanding: Speculation/Analysis

Most drama series stay on television because of how well they manage to surprise (mostly shock) viewers. They do so by curtailing even the slightest details until when its absolutely necessary to reveal. However Shonda Rhimes is in business because of how beautifully she leaves a trail of bread crumbs for us to follow her home. Only quite often, we lose them to the birds (of hope, faith, and love) and then wait around till Shonda herself takes us in.

Four seasons before, when Mark was going to die, he didn’t simply die on us; he made it to Seattle alive, he woke up, he even got us to smile a bit; all the while, hinting that it might just be an indication of his nearing death, and then finally when we were so glad to have him back, that we almost overlooked the consistent signals and talks about his rally, he died on us. That’s how Shondaland works. I don’t mean it in a all-is-lost way, rather in a always-bound-by-laws-of-nature sort of sense. That is, although the writers play hide-and-seek with the sweetest misleads ever (which is what keeps us going back again and again), things always fit in Shondaland.

Do you remember Arizona’s lawyer telling her that in custody cases, even when you win, you feel like you have lost something big? Did you notice Meredith’s own version of it yesterday, when she spoke of there being no true winner when there are two real moms? Now, those pieces don’t fit in with the cute little scene of Arizona walking away with a happy Sofia, right?

Now, look a little behind the scenes: Ellen Pompeo’s tweet about Jessica Capshaw ripping our hearts in 1222 will only hold true if she loses the case. Otherwise, it would be Calzona or Shonda ripping our hearts! Also, if you have seen the promo for 1223, you would know that Callie is remorseful and Arizona mad. That again, would fit in seamlessly only if Arizona had lost the case.

Then, why did Arizona show up all happy? Because that’s what mothers do. It is her night with Sofia (maybe according to the earlier schedule, or maybe as a chance for her to say goodbye), Sofia doesn’t know a thing about what her mommies are going through, so a good mother will put her daughter’s needs above her own. To rephrase Webber’s words from an earlier episode, though she just wants to lie down, she just can’t.

Why was Callie upset then? That’s the easy part. It’s similar to April filing a restraining order against Jackson. Surely, Jackson did not deserve that coldness, we all hated April a little more for that, but ultimately she was just trying to protect her relationship with her child. And so the moment her inner fears were quietened, she realized the unforgivable inconsideration she had treated Jackson with. Same goes for Callie. Callie is just as wonderful and loving a person as Arizona is. But in the hearing, she was a monster with her insecure “Arizona pulled something so slimy”, smug “you are a good mother too”, and other, more direct, more evil attacks on Arizona. So, she is bound to be completely shaken once she is out of it, even if (especially if) she comes out victorious. Never forget, this is the woman who couldn’t forgive herself for hating Izzie (enough to wish she were dead), when she learnt Izzie had cancer; and Izzie was the woman her husband cheated on her with.

As a final defense of my stand, I ask of you to ponder: If there is nothing elusive, how do we explain the all-so-dramatic Grey’s refraining from the upfront showcase of verdict? While Grey’s has brought back people from innumerable disasters, it is never irrational. When Danny came back from the dead, it was not because ghosts exist; they didn’t even go as far as calling Izzie crazy. So, in this case too, looks to me like Grey’s is not going to defy logic. Given Callie’s well-executed takedown of Arizona, her lineup of witnesses, and the fact that most judges (unfortunately) do side with birth mothers more often, I think Callie won Sofia’s custody. All those who claim that the judge was impressed by Arizona’s commitment to work (which surely, I did, but), did you see her face when Arizona left? That’s not someone being impressed.

I was on Team Jackson then and I am on Team Arizona now. It’s not like she couldn’t attack Callie. Amongst other things, Callie’s instability as a person (moving across the country, ripping her child for a woman she has been with for just a few months) was right there. Arizona carefully tiptoed around it so as not to hurt Callie. She is awesome! She deserves the kid just as much as Callie, if not more given such exalted behavior. But I don’t think that’s what happened. It’s what they want us to think. It’s like how in “Unbreak My Heart”, they had us believing that Jackson was gonna get married again. Only, this time they are taking it too far/long.

Because of how unsettling it was, I read through a handful of reviews and updates, and everyone seems to think otherwise. So here I am writing my own, to ask you guys what you think. Let me know.