Melanie McFarland of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer writes that lately, her conversations about Grey's Anatomy tend to kick off in the same way.

Try asking someone other than the most hard-core fan what they think about a recent episode, or how a former regular feels about the series itself. In response, you're likely to get more of a pause than praise.

"I don't dislike it," a friend said, sighing heavily. "It's just not must-see viewing anymore." That doesn't bode well for a Thursday night stalwart.

In some sense, Greys Anatomy producers should take this as a sign they're doing something right. Viewers haven't left. It's just that Seattle Grace's surgeons, new residents and their romantic entanglements seem to sometimes inspire more of a passive-aggressive stance among viewers than before.

In terms of ratings, Grey's Anatomy is still holding its own, with the premiere and the subsequent two episodes coming in a close second behind CSI and winning the all-important top slot in the 18-to-49 demographic.

But what about fans' feelings? Well ... we don't hate you, Grey's Anatomy, we just don't like you as much as we should. We won't leave you, but we need to let you know in the gentlest way possible that you're harshing our mellow.

With only three new episodes aired, people are still ready to forgive Greys Anatomy for serving up a Season 3 that many felt was so ... so-so.

There's no reason the steamiest hospital in prime time, with its armada of hot residents and internsw, messy romances and a dramatic felony in George and Izzie, can't right itself by sweeps. But that requires a few minor surgeries.

Continue reading this article in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer ...

Steve Marsi is the Managing Editor of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Google+ or email him here.