Grey's Anatomy is on hiatus. This is the bad news.

But the break at least provides fans with the opportunity to stop, sit back and analyze what we've seen so far on season eight. Who has been the best character? The worst? What do we hope to see in 2012? Let's get right to it...

Best Character: Although I want to pick Cristina Yang for the sole purpose that she is my favorite, this season belongs to Meredith Grey. She is the heart and soul of the show and has been outstanding. She has continuously fought with her husband, lost her daughter, lost her clinical trial, got blacklisted by Bailey and her faux father took the blame for something she did. Of course, this is something she brought on herself, but that is what we love about her.

She never sees things in black or white. She knew it was wrong to mess with Derek’s trial, but it was for Richard and Adele. This is a character that used to be so dark and twisty and has now grown into a more mature woman. Ellen Pompeo has been at the top of her game this season.

Worst Character: April Kepner. Although the girl has grown in terms of likeability, her downfalls still outweigh the positives. She doesn’t really bring too much to the table. She wasn’t the best choice for Chief Resident; she doesn’t seem to be on the same level surgical wise and she hasn’t carried a story on her own that makes us care about her. I can’t say I would really miss her if she was gone. If the character were to get involved in a relationship, say with Alex, she might be more important.

Most Underused Character: Mark Sloan. This is a man who used to perform brilliant surgeries (rebuilding Jane Doe’s face, anyone??) and provide some of the most tension-filled scenes. Now he is more like a gorgeous backdrop. We don’t need that. We need more of McSteamy doing what he does best. He needs his own stories and he needs to take his shirt off ASAP. Luckily, Sloan has brought the GA comedy scale up a bit with his bromances and mentoring Jackson.

Favorite Guest Star: Debra Monk. Mama O’Malley was a simple reminder of why we love Grey’s. Plus, she was able to bring back the memory of George in a way that wasn’t corny and didn’t feel forced.

Best Episode: “Dark Was The Night.” The mid-season finale could have easily been a season finale. Henry passed and Teddy doesn’t know, Mer and Alex are stuck in the rain with a newborn and some bodies in the street, Cristina realized who she performed surgery on... and the news came that Zola is not coming back. Shonda pulled with our heartstrings on this one.

Just want to mention that there have been two really fun episodes and they deserve a shout out: “What Is It About Men” and “Put Me In, Coach."

Worst Episode: “Poker Face.” Not that it was a terrible episode, but compared to the others, it falls short.

Best Ongoing Storyline: It took a while to warm up to the Teddy/Henry marriage. It seemed like Henry came on as just an extra for a character we weren’t too emotionally invested in. Then it hit. Having him die in the OR while Teddy performs surgery down the hall was heartbreaking. Her not knowing her husband is dead? That is like a punch in the gut.

I’m not saying that Teddy and Henry were the best couple with the best stories of the season. But I am pretty sure that what we are about to endure with the new widow and her complications with one of her oldest friends who held out the news, as well as her protégé who performed the surgery, will be classic Grey’s.

Runner Up goes to the Zola arc, bringing together Mer, Der and Alex. This has showcased some of the best acting skills of the series.

Grade So Far: B+

Hopes for 2012: Lexie and Sloan back together, Teddy mourns Henry is a heartbreaking way, more stories of Webber and Adele’s alzhiemers, Meredith and Derek getting back on solid ground completing the season with the finished Dream House, Cristina continuing to rock and Alex getting a real shot at love.

WHAT DO YOU THINK, TV FANATICS? WHAT GRADE WOULD YOU GIVE THIS HALF OF THE SEASON?