Don't Ask, Don't Kiss: "Grey's Anatomy" goes gay with military smooch

Grey's Anatomy has long been a favorite of the gays thanks to out superstar T.R. Knight, but for this writer Grey's fell from Seattle Grace a long time ago. I'm fickle though, say "G.I. Joe's kissing another man" and my queer eyes are there!

I jumped at the chance to write about the military man-on-man action long teased, especially when I found out that Santiago from Friday Night Lights was going to be one of the hotties smooching one of my favorite Road Rulers.

Watching "The Becoming" was bittersweet for me; I had hoped to watch just this one episode and get out without being sucked back into the melodrama but knew it was risky. I was burnt to a crisp by Gizzie and Isaiah Washington so Grey's flatlined for me last season but I think I can move on unscathed ... which is more than I can say for our gay military boys at the center of the drama last night.

As the show opened I wondered how much of Meredith's selfish banter I'd have to endure before the reason for me tuning in popped up on screen. Thankfully it was within the first few minutes of the show that we were introduced to Darren Covington (FNL's Benny Ciaramello), the newest patient in McDreamy and Meredith's clinical trial of doom (the poor boy has a brain tumor).

Cue the stud in uniform named Todd Vernon (Road Ruler David Giuntoli) who was called in because he's Darren's "closest friend" and while things are looking bleak in the room, things are looking damn fine on my flatscreen! Two strapping young lads with a secret for some sexual healing; it's kinda hot...

Obviously Darren's upset that Todd showed up, seeing how he's being deployed in five days and all, but with only Meredith in the room Todd lets Darren know that he's not going anywhere and he makes his way to the bed and reassures his secret lover with a crazy intense stare that leads to one of the most sensual, emotional and damn near heart-breaking gay kisses I've ever seen on network television.

Sadly, the passion and relief vanish the minute Darren's ex-Solider of a Father walks in, catching the boys making out. Seriously? Seriously! Daddy Covington flips his lid, throws Todd out and Darren spends much of the rest of the episode not wanting to disturb his Father while denying his one true love. If I'm being honest, I think Daddy Covington's got a secret bear-ish lifestyle he's hiding ... did you catch that goatee? Who's he foolin'?

Darren's surgery had me on pins and needles because the universe revolves around them Mer and Der didn't make it all about their relationship instead of hot ass brain tumor on the table. Thankfully, they were able to focus on the patient for a split-second and all seemed well until 9:45pm when he flippin' dies on us!

I knew it was coming. I could tell by the sad Lilith Fair-lite music that Darren and Todd weren't going to have their dream house with a white picket fence and a two combat-tank garage. What I couldn't predict was how emotional I was going to get. It was gut wrenching to watch Meredith try her hardest to get these boys to have a moment together before surgery only to have fear and dissappointment get in the way, thanks to Daddy Bear's proximity at all times.

I'm not going to lie, I cried big bucket o' tears when Todd finally got the courage to stand up to Darren's Dad and demand he accept their love and acknowledge his concern, only to be met by tear-stained faces signifying only one thing. Todd was crushed, Meredith was crushed, and as pathetic as it sounds, I was crushed. Just when I think the tears are done, there is an unspoken common ground that Daddy Bear and Todd found when Todd goes in for his final goodbye's. Softly, sweetly, he leans in and kisses his dead lover (and strokes his ear - an added intimate touch probably unnoticed by many) and I burst into tears again!

I'm an optimist when it comes to love. I wanted to believe that these two could work through the fear and denial (not to mention the military) to be happy and gay together. While a part of me resented the fact that I was crying at Grey's Anatomy, the other part of me knew it was because they'd done a really nice job with handling the complications of forbidden love in a world where Don't Ask, Don't Tell is still enforced.

The storyline wasn't really political nor was it preachy. It felt like an honest portrayal of unconditional love; well, that is until Meredith tried to turn it all around and make it about her in the final moments of the episode. Thank heavens her therapist (the amazing Amy Madigan) verbally bitch-slapped her back into reality; that a man dying having never said goodbye to his true love that's waiting in the room next door is not a happy ending no matter how you try to spin it.

I think that it was a very successful storyline and I'm impressed at how good both of the actors were in their respective roles. Ciaramello and Giuntoli were not only believable but passionate, intimate, and powerful in their doomed portrayals. Kudos to both for the kiss too - that thing was beautiful.

So what did you guys think? Did Grey's do a good job at telling a taboo storyline without sensationalizing or trivializing the love these two soliders had for one another? Did you cry? Come on, be honest ... I can't be the only sap out there - fess up!

*Oh and don't forget to comment on Callie and Dr. Hahn heading toward a lesbian tryst. I don't mind that at all either.