Retro Grey’s, a throwback to the pilot, a young Derek and Meredith; an even younger surgical love child, Katie Brice and an episode filled with just the right ingredients for wonderful. My Next Life, written by the very capable William Harper, directed by Chandra Wilson, appeared in season twelve like a hot toddy on a cold night; a rich episode which though not the best has easily risen up as one of my favourites of recent times. Strong, funny and heartbreaking dialogue, antagonistic surgical cases, amusing human stories, outstanding music. This was not a mover-shaker episode, there was no high drama but then sometimes even the functional mid seasons can have their own quiet engaging impact.
Meredith came face to face with her first surgical patient as an intern; a precocious teenager turned even more sassy adult suffering a predisposition to aneurisms and chat back. She was on point, a perfect obstruction in Meredith and Amelia’s conflict.
“OH my God. They still let you be a doctor here?”
We have a dichotomy between patients. In crude terms - a patient who you might expect would bleed out doesn’t under Amelia’s care; a patient who really shouldn’t bleed out does under Meredith’s. The unravelling story helps us to understand that while we can try to control a situation we must accept that we cannot control everything. Meredith could not control Amelia or the situation with Katie any more than she could control the bleeding. In a genius piece of retro story telling this was a subtle step in the road to their reconciliation and an even larger step out of Derek’s shadow for Amelia. Despite being dead and therefore dead television Derek is allowed to live within the show more so than any other dearly departed characters…which is a shame (*sighs* missing Mark).
Finally we know something substantial about the rift between Hunt and Riggs. It seems less than we might expect… a lot of fuss over something which though devastating can hardly explain such passionate hate. But then there is a parallel story between Amelia, Penny and Meredith - death and the misattributed blame game. It is important that this is a perceived fault rather than an actual fault for Riggs. There is something we must always remember in this show…there are never bad guys in Grey’s Anatomy. Not ever. There is not the criminality of “How to Get Away with Murder” and Grey’s certainly doesn’t have the moral flexibility of Scandal. Light cheating* aside every character is presented as rather clean. Even Owen’s aggression is illustrated as symptomatic of PTSD rather than part of his innate character. Therefore it doesn’t surprise me that Riggs’ crime is, simply, to be the one that survived. Or at least the one that didn’t go missing. In case you missed it, there is a big story waiting in the wings for Megan to show up, radicalised or tortured or merely living happily across the other side of the country with a husband and two point five kids. Let’s not forget Megan is a doctor and new characters who are doctors are more likely to stick around. Meredith’s questioning of Riggs provided an immense moment for Martin Henderson who more than proved his credentials for this show with an outstanding piece of acting, including a nice piece of fidgety hands (kudos Wilson). He’s a keeper.
“I don’t go asking about your dead husband, do I?”
(Before you all jump on me - no cheating is light cheating. I merely refer to cheating as a device the show uses frequently but not terribly seriously. You can read about it here)
Richard is on the war path to protect his long lost daughter. It’s very sweet actually and provides characteristic light relief in between dying patients. It also provided Shonda with her once a season ‘shirt off’ moment. Richard and Maggie sneaking off to dinner was a nice touch.
“I like that you are looking out for me.”
Arizona has her mojo back. The point, and finally after three episodes we have a point for Arizona, is that she is back to her pre-Callie self. Perhaps I wouldn’t use the word ‘slutty’ myself - maybe that’s a cultural thing - but Arizona can finally have some fun. It has taken a while but that’s allowed a lovely friendships to develop between her and her wing man.
“The thing about being my wingman is you can’t also be my dad.”
I notice too that the writers have reinforced her sexuality with the viewer. Arizona fans were probably in no doubt but the writers clearly wanted to make their point. Capshaw has provided the show with yet another baby bump to hide and I suspect that now we have established her game is back on Arizona’s storyline will remain behind a surgical table or tablet. By developing Arizona independent of Callie the writers are allowing us to see both women stand on their own thus creating clear space for the writers to eventually diverge or converge this couple.
Jo continues to whine and moan and simper through the show. Her presence moving from largely irrelevant to down right annoying. There’s no excuse for letting this character flag and flail. Alex deserves better and Justin Chambers, who has done a superlative job this season most certainly deserves better. Chambers’ grown-up sensitivity, and calm presence in the show continues to add gravitas to his character while Alex’s relationship with Jo is devalued to a point even the fellow residents acknowledge…
“Jo, you already did. If you wanted it you’d be wearing it”.
There…Stephanie nailed it. Jo decided she didn’t want the ring but didn’t want to get rid of the ring. She wants Alex to keep it in the drawer. I struggle to imagine that this is a sign of a healthy relationship. I’m rather bored of saying this and you’re probably bored of reading but the writers really need to give me a reason to believe in this one dimensional character.
My Next Life was full of the bits we love about Grey’s, rich, funny, heartbreaking, weaving the characters together yet allowing them to follow their path. A cracking mid-season episode.
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