First Only Different

I know that I said my next entry would be about a movie. However, I remember also mentioning I would be talking about Shonda Rhimes, often. This is a Shonda week or as I crack a small smirk while saying it in my head, its Rhime(s) Time! I am not yet reviewing her magnificent book “Year of Yes” but will mention some of its context in this review.

First, let me explain FOD. Shonda talks about being an FOD, First Only Different, in her book. It’s about being the First to breakthrough barriers and crush the stigmas. Being different than what you “should” be. Shonda is 100% television’s FOD.

This past episode of Grey’s Anatomy, Shonda’s first TV baby, revolved around DACA, or The Dreamers. And yes, I understand it’s a television show, and there are lots of juicy bits of drama. I am not naïve to think that everything on TV is true to the core, I mean Shonda is old and she likes to lie (She said this, not my words)! But the underlying issue of the show is real. One of the interns is a Dreamer. She has a work visa and is in the country that she grew up in since age 2. She was brought into this country by her parents. She had no control in this and was an innocent child.

This intern went to school and was first in her class, all of them, high school, college and med school. She was not in an alley somewhere shooting up drugs or sitting on a couch sucking up state/federal benefits. Now, the show’s story goes to explain that if Dreamers don’t break the law, then they are here legally under current DACA provisions. In the show, the intern is being questioned because she ran a red light (technically breaking the law). Perhaps that was a bit dramatized, perhaps not. I’ve seen many questionable videos on Facebook with ICE doing things they shouldn’t be, so maybe the red light isn’t as dramatic as you’d think.

Whether you are right wing or left wing, you are going to stay firm in your beliefs. That’s your prerogative. My point of this is not to sway you one way or the other, but that Shonda is truly a fierce FOD. Shonda has proven that NOTHING IS OFF LIMITS in her scripts. Leading Female, Check. Black Leading Female, Check. Gay/Lesbian/Bi Leads, Check. Strong Christian Lead, Check. Strong Atheist Lead, Check. Cover topics that include things such as; Police Brutality, Racism, Transgender, Religion, and yes, Immigration. CHECK CHECK CHECK!

This lady OWNS Thursday nights on ABC! Three shows on a 3 hour block. It's unimaginable for most television creators/writers. Shonda Rhimes is doing something right! She is the epitome of FOD. 

Shonda is not afraid to venture somewhere that may be considered risky or taboo. She keeps current with the world and tells the story that some, either disbelieve or even more unfortunately so, are living.

Shonda talks about how she wanted to be Toni Morrison. Then, one day she realized that she couldn’t be Toni Morrison because Toni Morrison was already being Toni Morrison. So, I thank Shonda for that lesson. I don’t want to be Shonda Rhimes, because there is already a Shonda Rhimes. But I aspire for the same bravery and creativity that she beholds.