Last week’s Grey’s Anatomy “I Wear The Face” primed our doctors for tonight’s two hour event, as decisions are made; that aren’t so easy to undo.
As episode 17 opens; once more, with Meredith’s narration, she analogizes “backaches, jaw pain and nausea” as a spiel on masking the real issues at hand. Following episode 16’s look at the complexity of healing and moving forward, “I Wear The Face” sets out to teach us that what’s normal to some, is problematic to others.
Whilst Maggie’s avoidance of De Luca; following their quasi-break up, struggles to determine what is atypical of her siblings’ relationship, April’s faith serves as a catalyst reaction to Catherine’s threats, and Owen’s relationship with Riggs further deteriorates.
As Amelia acclimates to living with Meredith and Maggie again, Jo and Steph busy themselves with applying to a fellowship grant that would see a resident leave Grey-Sloan for a year. A first-year resident, Penny decides not to apply but is led to change her mind, before the Attending’s nominations take place.
As Stephanie doubts whether she’ll garner Amelia’s nomination, Penny follows her doubt to a journey that has her realise her own power as one of Amelia’s residents. Though she reasons that she won’t apply; to Callie, because of her and Sophia, it is Steph’s competitiveness that has her act otherwise.
Elsewhere, Richard and Catherine continue to argue over her actions against April. Following her befriending and betrayal of April in “When it hurts so bad”; in which she intends to go after April for fraud, the episode follows its power-centric theme, in the battle of Avery vs April.
At Grey-Sloan, April deals with a 14-year-old patient; Jenny, who has an aneurysm and a secret pregnancy. Her mother arrives, having tracked her phone. Perhaps affected from her own betrayal, April promises to keep Jenny’s pregnancy a secret from her overbearing mother. April and Arizona argue, as ironically, April wants Jenny to have surgery; but Arizona wants to respect her wishes that would keep the baby a secret. Arizona compromises that Jenny’s mother can be made aware of the aneurysm but not the pregnancy. Predictably, Jenny mother wants to surgery to happen, claiming her daughter isn’t capable of making her own decisions – and not understanding the risk. In outlining said risks, April reveals her pregnancy.
Revealing that the mother was also a teen mom, the tension between the two is clearly from an assumed lifetime of resentment between mother and daughter. As Jenny is ultimately rushed into surgery, the need for her mother shines through.
Like Jenny’s mother, Catherine’s actions stem from her own protectiveness, and custody battles with Jackson’s father. Though Richard understands, he cannot condone her own threats.
Though a would-be grandmother’s protectiveness shines through, in this case, April plays into her role as a mother; wanting to take control of her child. As she overhears Catherine’s threat to reward Jackson with sole custody; she is perhaps; as naive as Jenny, in not thinking before she acts.
Not wanting to ‘Avery’ the situation, Jackson is actually reluctant to take Catherine’s advice and lawyer up, despite her insistence that he needs to take some power. As he is later served with a restraining order from April, she is shocked to find that he has relented his own power – as has Catherine – gifting her with a crib for the baby.
Seeking his own control; though physical, Amelia, Stephanie and Penny consult on a patient with a hand tremor. Guest starring Wilder Valderrama as Kyle Diaz; a musician, the consult is filled with flirtation as he takes a liking to Stephanie.
His flirtation is interrupted when he learns he’ll be awake during surgery as Penny threatens to one-up Steph, in her recommendations for the approach; earning an assist.
Elsewhere, Riggs, Owen and Meredith, end up stuck together in traffic as they head to another Hospital, to procure organs for transplant. As Meredith tells Owen that Amelia has moved back in, discussion leads to her alcoholism; wherein Owen is angered to learn that Riggs was the catalyst to the break in her sobriety.
As Steph and Jo partake in a friendly battle of wits or..surgical skill, Penny overhears Steph insulting her own skill-set; bitter over her Amelia’s apparent favouritism. Steph later confronts Amelia; who subtly promises her the grant nomination.
Meanwhile, as Callie encourages Penny to have it out with Steph, she unknowingly encourages her to take action and apply for the fellowship.
During Kyle’s surgery, Steph’s flirtation is interrupted by complications. With Steph’s recommendations favoured against Penny’s – Kyle’s tremor is ultimately fixed. Steph, who is apologetic after seeing that Amelia genuinely holds no bias – reconciles with Penny, only to learn from Jo that she applied for (and won) the grant.
Arriving back at Grey Sloan, Owen’s upset over Amelia, drags up his issues with Riggs once more. Learning Riggs’ woeful tale of how he tried to save Megan, Owen sets the story straight about his adulterous ‘brother’; that caused his sister to flee on the chopper.
Having won the scholarship, Callie is forced to internalise her dismay that Penny is now willing to leave her and Sophia; instead choosing to celebrate her success. Elsewhere, Steph expresses her disappointment in Amelia.
With rifts having been ripped wide open, internalised and flared up between many of our characters, tonight’s two-hour event is entitled; “There’s a fine, fine line” and “It’s alright, Ma (I’m only bleeding)” respectively. Will we see repair, or; taking note from episodes prior, will healing take time?
Grey’s Anatomy airs tonight at 8|9c on ABC!
With the Hospital on lockdown, which relationships will survive?
[Courtesy of ABC/Richard Cartwright, Source Content for Gif: ’Grey’s Anatomy’ ABC 2016 ]