In Boston, Amelia and Meredith work to secure funding for their Alzheimer’s research, going up against Tom Koracick (the returning Greg Germann) for the same grant. Back in Seattle, new interns come in for interviews, prompting Jules, Blue, Simone, and Lucas to reckon with their progress. Meanwhile, Jo and Linc discuss their wedding plans, and Teddy and Owen make a big decision about their marriage.
Grey’s Anatomy Gives A Much-Needed Look At Meredith’s Life In Boston
It’s Great To See Meredith & Her Family Thriving There
With all of that, it’s not hugely surprising that episode 12 is among the busiest of the season yet, partly due to splitting its time between Seattle and Boston. However, the split is pretty effective, as Grey’s Anatomy was overdue to provide an update on Mer and Nick’s life on the East Coast. For me, a viewer since the show’s start, it’s reassuring that Meredith has built a genuinely happy life out there with her family, even buying a new house with Nick. It’s also fun to see her kids again and have reassurance they’re doing well in Boston, too.
While it would have been great to see Mer’s deservedly fiery speech pay off by earning the grant, it’s far more realistic that she and Amelia, with Nick’s support, will have to make it happen themselves.
Grey’s Anatomy’s Mentors Take Center Stage
The Interns Get Some Refreshing Guidance
Back at Grey-Sloan, the new intern class coming in for interviews is an effective device – we don’t meet any of them in this episode, but they fuel the current interns to take stock of their progress so far. This intern class has made many mistakes, and while that’s often led to great drama, it also means they’ve been yelled at a lot by the show’s other characters. In this episode, it’s nice to see that take a backseat, with Bailey, Monica, Winston, and Richard favoring gentle guidance towards Simone, Jules, and Lucas.
While Richard’s advice doesn’t pan out in this episode, as Lucas faces repeating his intern year head-on, Bailey does well with Simone, offering her first solo surgery in a really lovely and triumphant moment. Monica and Winston similarly mentor Jules to great effect and it’s nice to see her finding her way again after Mika’s departure.
Two Of The Show’s Couples Consider Their Futures
Jo & Linc and Teddy & Owen Debate Where They Want To Go From Here
This Grey’s Anatomy episode also finds time to check in with two of its biggest couples: Jo and Linc and Teddy and Owen. The Jo and Linc storyline ends up being pretty sweet, as the two disagree but eventually come to a decision on the sort of wedding they want. It’s perhaps not the best call for them to talk to Teddy and Owen about this, something the show has a little fun with, as Owen acknowledges that Teddy is his third wife.
It’s this reminder that helped me understand Teddy and Owen’s big decision at the end of the episode. While it feels destined to backfire pretty quickly, Teddy and Owen have a long history compared to many characters on the show, and their relationship has always been pretty unconventional.
At this point, it’s refreshing to see them make a decision rooted in their care for each other and to make their marriage stronger in the long run. Even if it will likely lead to further issues, it’s nice to see them, and Grey’s Anatomy as a whole, embracing a different, less traditional take on marriage and relationships.
Episode 12 Is One Of The Busiest Of Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 So Far
It Both Helps & Hurts The Episode
If there’s one knock against the episode, it’s that the patients don’t get quite enough screen time to connect. This episode is different from most of the others this season in that it features every series regular character aside from Ben, in addition to many recurring folks. While that fullness gives the episode a bit more of a vintage Grey’s Anatomy feel and helps move storylines along nicely, it does come at the expense of getting to know the patients better. Still, it’s a largely successful episode that has me excited about the remainder of the season.
