Sandra's Oh-so-happy with "Grey's"

We knew this year was going to be tough for the lovely Dr. Cristina Yang.

Her fiancé, Dr. Burke, skipped town at the end of last season's Grey's Anatomy, and we learned this season that he's gone for good. Recently, a new complication in Cristina's career has appeared in the form of Dr. Burke's replacement, Dr. Erica Hahn (Brooke Smith). Not that we object.

Sandra Oh, who plays Cristina, couldn't be happier with the story line, according to a recent interview she did with The Canadian Press when she was in Toronto to accept the Women in Film and Television's CTV International Achievement Award.

"I really think the show is about women and hopefully it will keep exploring what it's like to be a female doctor. I'm hoping their relationship will delve into that. It's interesting, whatever's going on there — it's a good obstacle for Cristina, because she's so driven. What do you do when you're like Cristina and suddenly you have a huge obstacle in your path?"

I know what I'm hoping their relationship will delve into. But I digress.

Oh's comments are an interesting contrast to a New York Times article earlier this year that opined that Grey's is demeaning to women. But Dr. Yang is one of the stronger characters on the show, gender aside. And I'm glad to see that heartbreak hasn't taken away Cristina's determination to succeed as a surgeon. Still, Dr. Yang has shown a bit more heart this year, especially in the last episode when she gave some encouragement to Lexie (Chyler Leigh) after a particularly hard day. I hope we get to see more of the soft side of Cristina, even though warmth obviously makes her uncomfortable.

Oh also has some strong opinions about a different kind of Grey's obstacle — the writers' strike.

"We get the point. We're like: 'Absolutely you have to strike.' This is the most important industry strike ever. It speaks tremendously to how the media is run globally now, and the rights of thousands and thousands of workers. I am really hoping that the producers come to the table and are fair to the writers."

That, unfortunately, has not happened. Oh and the rest of the Grey's cast regularly walk the picket line in support of the writers.

Personally, I think Grey's Anatomy is better this year after some missteps last season. Hopefully, when the strike is settled, we'll see the momentum continue. And in the meantime, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the writers have something planned for Cristina Yang that will make me smile as much as this picture does.