The fight for Meredith’s Alzheimer’s research didn’t stop once Meredith helped Catherine after she collapsed, as they both claimed it as theirs without budging. However, once Catherine’s situation became more serious, she had no choice but to relent and do the liver biopsy as Meredith suggested. The biopsy turning into a more invasive procedure eventually led to Richard being informed about his wife’s situation, leading to his yet unsolved fight with Meredith. Grey’s Anatomy season 21, episode 9’s promo showing Meredith’s return and their fight persisting nonetheless hints at Richard having always been wrong for what he asked of Meredith.
Richard Wanted For Meredith To Break Confidentiality For Him In Grey’s Anatomy Season 21
Richard Expected Meredith To Do His Bidding Instead Of Following The Patient’s Wishes
Ever since Grey’s Anatomy season 21’s premiere, Meredith tried her best to convince Catherine to explore why her symptoms were getting worse and to tell her loved ones, especially Richard and Jackson. Catherine refused so many times that eventually Meredith considered it a win when she said yes to a biopsy, accepting Richard would have only known after the results. Richard’s reaction to Meredith telling him only after things had already deteriorated during Catherine’s biopsy was to tell her she should be ashamed in Grey’s Anatomy season 21, episode 3.
Despite being Meredith’s mentor and having had to deal with difficult patients himself countless times, Richard blamed Meredith for not telling him sooner about Catherine, expecting her to break HIPAA earlier only because Meredith realized Catherine was afraid and would have benefited from his support. Richard didn’t listen to reason in the episode, and Grey’s Anatomy season 21, episode 9’s promo shows that seemingly not changing, as Richard continues to accuse Meredith of being selfish instead of seeing her perspective. Their perpetuating conflict thus leads to an uncomfortable truth about Richard and Meredith’s bond.
Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 Highlights The Continued Power Imbalance Between Meredith & Richard
Richard & Meredith’s Bond Through The Years Hid The Painful Reality Of Their Dynamic
For Richard to be mad about that highlights the unfortunate realization he wanted to continue benefiting from his and Meredith’s complicated relationship, as he didn’t think about what was right but only what he wanted.
Meredith putting her Richard relationship ahead of Derek’s study in Grey’s Anatomy invalidated Derek’s Alzheimer’s research, not having their patients’ wellbeing at heart and even not impacting Adele, who still died a short while later. Meredith and Richard’s complicated relationship pushed her to that decision, but Grey’s Anatomy season 21 proved Meredith grew enough not to do something similar with Catherine, instead respecting her wishes. For Richard to be mad about that highlights the unfortunate realization he wanted to continue benefiting from his and Meredith’s complicated relationship, as he didn’t think about what was right but only what he wanted.
Meredith & Richard’s Trend Of Doing Something Illegal & Covering For Each Other Needs To Stop
It’s Unfair To Meredith & Richard As Doctors & To Their Relationship
Meredith and Richard’s long history of covering for each other included often doing something illegal for one another, making it extremely problematic as Richard was supposed to be Meredith’s mentor in Grey’s Anatomy.
Meredith and Richard’s tribulations strengthened their relationship through the years, making it one of Meredith’s closest bonds in the series, as Meredith saw Richard as a father figure. Richard blaming Meredith for not telling him sooner about Catherine’s health is unfair, not only because Meredith still broke confidentiality, but because it points to him somewhat faulting Meredith for wanting to do the right thing. With Catherine’s health being Grey’s Anatomy season 21’s major crisis, it’s unlikely for this story to end anytime soon in Grey’s Anatomy, but Richard would make a better impression if he stopped treating Meredith so unfairly.
| Episode # | Title | Release Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | If Walls Could Talk | September 26, 2024 |
| 2 | Take Me to Church | October 3, 2024 |
| 3 | I Can See Clearly Now | October 10, 2024 |
| 4 | This One’s for the Girls | October 17, 2024 |
| 5 | You Make My Heart Explode | October 24, 2024 |
| 6 | Night Moves | November 7, 2024 |
| 7 | If You Leave | November 14, 2024 |
| 8 | Drop It Like It’s Hot | November 21, 2024 |
| 9 | Hit the Floor | March 6, 2025 |
