Critic rating: 4.6 / 5.0
4.6
It’s official. Grey’s Anatomy just wrapped up for its midseason break, but the latest episode left plenty to think about until spring.
The first few minutes are seemingly lackluster, with a confusing November heatwave and a six-week time jump to set the scene.
But after that, the rest of the movie moved at a steady pace, with scenes that ranged from eyebrow-raising to surprising. Let’s get started!
(Disney/Anne Marie Fox)
Callback to Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 Episode 8
As we’ve mentioned before, this season is full of callbacks, hints, and subtle references to old Grey’s Anatomy storylines.
This episode kept the trend going with some nostalgic moments.
The most obvious example puts Lucas at the center of a gunpoint robbery at a convenience store, making him the third generation of men in his family to face a gun-related death (or near-death experience).
In an early season, Christopher Shepherd (father of Derek, Amelia, and three other sisters, one of whom is Lucas’ mother) has his convenience store robbed at gunpoint. You may remember that he passed away.
Derek and Amelia were young children who were both present at the time of their father’s death, which was the first of many major traumas for both of them.
Years later, in the 24th episode of Season 6 of Grey’s Anatomy, Derek is targeted by a gunman in a hospital and comes face to face with his own death.
(ABC/Screenshot)
Suffice it to say, given his family’s history, it was probably inevitable that Lucas would end up in this position.
More (yes, more) callbacks
A convenience store clerk (Gladys) is unable to keep an eye on her while the gunman trains on Joe and Lucas, monitoring the presence of the doctors and thwarting their escape plan.
The moment was horribly reminiscent of the time during the shooting, when Bailey tried to hide from Gary but was captured because Charles wouldn’t stop staring at her under the bed.
Our memories were also jolted a bit by the moment when a grieving Micah reached out to Jules, asking for physical comfort, practically begging as Jules tried to redirect her.
In Grey’s Anatomy season 4, episode 15, Alex said goodbye to Rebecca when she was admitted to the hospital for her mental health and sought comfort from Izzy, much like Micah did in the latest episode.
Additionally, the patient Amelia and Winston operated on underwent a surgery very similar to Joe’s static surgery in Season 2 of Grey’s Anatomy.
(ABC/Screenshot)
I’m sure some Grey’s fans are disappointed by what seems to be a reused storyline, but I find it comforting in a way.
It’s great to know that the show can remember its roots and rely on the history it’s already built to continue developing its characters and their stories.
There are many reasons to be dissatisfied with the direction of the show in recent years, but their commitment to weaving new stories into old ones is part of why this series remains so enjoyable.
When will Amelia be happy?
You see, Amelia Shepherd is my favorite character on this show.
I think she is criminally misunderstood and underutilized. I appreciate that they brought her in after Private Practice ended, but I don’t think Grey’s did a great job of transitioning her history.
This fall finale proved that even when they emphasize Amelia, they do it in a way that torments her.
(Disney/Anne Marie Fox)
Once, she openly mourned the loss of every man she had ever loved. Her father, brother, fiancé, and son were all taken from her in horrific ways.
The latest horrifying cliffhanger put Joe and Lucas in danger, and just before the credits rolled it was hinted that Lucas had sustained a gunshot wound.
That means that when the show returns next year, Amelia will have to face the possibility that another man she loves will die tragically, and there will be nothing she can do about it.
She also almost had a panic attack during the surgery, which was incredibly unusual for Amelia and I couldn’t actually believe what I was seeing.
Amelia — Competent, smart, and confident, Amelia deals with fear and stress by adopting superhero poses and switching into life-saving mode, but she’s not the type to collapse from stress on the operating table.
Sure, it gave us some great moments of camaraderie and camaraderie between Amelia and her former stepbrother-like, but it felt like a moment of unnecessary struggle.
It was annoying that Dr. Bertrand didn’t appear in the episode, so for all our trouble, we didn’t get any stolen glances or kisses or even a moment of making out.
(Disney/Tina Thorpe)
Saying goodbye to another fan favorite
It’s no secret that Midori Francis is leaving her role on Grey’s Anatomy this season, and Mika Yasuda’s chapter finally comes to an end in the fall finale.
Six weeks after her sister’s death, Micah returned to work even though she was still grieving and still reeling from the trauma of losing her sister and facing her own death.
Frances’ performance in this episode was incredible, her portrayal of how draining grief can be in the process of rearranging the molecules of one’s self was raw and beautiful.
Yasuda had several grief-stricken moments and even screamed at Bailey while running the code. It seemed as though he might be forced to leave the program in a straitjacket.
Fortunately, the writers allowed Yasuda to embrace what he needed to do for himself. When Bailey offers extended bereavement leave, Micah chooses to resign instead.
This decision was one that respected what Micah knew about herself, what she could cope with, and what she needed to heal and move forward.
(Disney/Anne Marie Fox)
tell a story of sadness
Throughout the episode, Micah sought advice and comfort from people he trusted.
Bailey connected with the intern by sharing her experience of losing her mother.
Griffith listens tenderly to Mika as she stares into the room where Chloe died, and the advice she gives her friend is a profound truth about grief.
Micah asked Simone if she could ever feel normal again. Simone’s answer was great.
“I think this is normal now. You’ll get used to it a little bit more every day.”
My own experience with loss has shown me this to be true. Things will never really go back to normal and you will never be the person you were before your loss.
(Disney/Tina Thorpe)
But as you keep going, that loss becomes woven into your soul and becomes part of who you are, along with millions of other things, both good and bad.
The worst place to get pregnant is Gray Sloan Memorial Hospital
Not that I’m interested in getting pregnant again, but if I do, I would definitely stay away from Seattle and this hospital.
We’ve seen these characters experience miscarriages, stillbirths, lose children shortly after birth, and deal with just about every pregnancy complication under the sun.
Are births that produce healthy babies allowed on this show? Sure, but even those deliveries were ridiculous.
Meredith gives birth to Bailey during a power outage, Bailey gives birth to Tucker while her husband is undergoing brain surgery, Callie gives birth to Sophia prematurely after a near-fatal car accident, and April gives birth in Meredith’s living room. So I delivered Harriet by DIY C-section…do I have to go on?
Anyway, the point is, I think everyone knew that Joe’s pregnancy was destined to be dramatic in some way.
(Disney/Tina Thorpe)
So no one was surprised when she started bleeding and convulsing while being held hostage at gunpoint.
We won’t know her fate (or the fate of her twins) until next year, but these fears are scary enough without the added stress of pregnancy.
My guess is that this story will somehow involve Joe feeling immense guilt for complaining and worrying about the pregnancy now that the twins are in danger. I don’t think so, but I hate that metaphor.
Pregnancy is difficult. It’s often scary, uncomfortable, and limiting. It can sometimes be excruciatingly painful and debilitating.
Therefore, if a pregnant person is likely to experience it, it is natural for them to complain about it without feeling guilty.
I hope Joe’s situation is reason enough to bring back Dr. Carina DeLuca, who has been on my wish list since Station 19 aired the series finale.
Trivia
(Disney/Tina Thorpe) The tension between Beckman and Altman is clearly still there, as is the heat between Owen and his friend Nora. Maybe the door isn’t completely closed on Altman and Hunt’s open marriage idea? It’s great to have Ben back, but he remains just as short-tempered and arrogant as he was before becoming a firefighter. He always thinks he knows what’s best, and it’s never gotten him into trouble. Did Gladys miss the convenience store employee training where she was thoroughly taught how not to be a hero? There’s nothing in that safe worth your life, Gladys! I’m not excited about Blue and Molly’s storyline and I don’t think it’s fair that she keeps showing up while he’s doing his job. I love Blue and want him to be happy. And he deserves better than this. I’m not going to say anything nice about Teddy, but I have to admit that she’s a very capable and efficient chief. (ABC/Screenshot)
That’s all for now, everyone! Grey’s Anatomy is set to return with new episodes in the spring, but the conversation doesn’t end here.
Stay tuned for the mid-season report card coming soon and chat in the comments about the season so far!
I’d also like to hear your theories on how the rest of the season will play out, so don’t be a stranger.
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Grey’s Anatomy will be rebroadcast on Thursday, March 6th at 10:09pm on ABC.
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