Critic’s Rating: 4.2 / 5.0
4.2
Well, it’s been a while since the writers have given us quite so much in one episode, but Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 Episode 6 proved that they’ve still got it.
For a while, it’s felt as if the show wanted to play it safe, opting for easily resolved storylines with happy endings.
All that went down the drain with this latest installment, and as happy as I am about the drama of it all, it means we need to prepare for some heartbreak.
Tonight marked an exciting cast change as Sophia Bush made her first appearance as Dr. Cass Beckman, a trauma surgeon who works at Seattle Presbyterian.
The episode opens with an awkward date night between Teddy and Owen, who recently decided to make more of an effort to repair their marriage.
But despite scheduling sex and getting dressed up for a nice restaurant, they still seem extremely distant.
After all, watching my partner stare at their cell phone isn’t exactly my idea of a thrilling date night.
Of course, the date heats up eventually.
Unfortunately for Owen, he’s not there for that part. So sad.
After the jaw-dropping admission from Beckman that she and her husband (a cardio surgeon at Grey Sloan, apparently) have an open marriage, things get a little spicy.
By this point, the husband halves of the two relationships have conveniently been called back to work, so it’s just Cass and Teddy left to enjoy their would-be dates.
I know I’ve never been secretive about how much I despise Owen Hunt, but I think we can all admit that sharing a burger with the likes of Sophia Bush beats pom frites and wine with Owen any day.
Teddy, for some reason, acts quite scandalized at Beckman’s admission, which is kind of rich, considering.
Teddy and Owen had an open marriage at one point too — Owen just didn’t get the memo.
Too soon?
To her credit, this time Teddy resists the urge to cheat on her husband.
But when she tells Owen what happened, she shared it like a funny little anecdote, clearly expecting him to laugh about it with her.
Not to be all “Team Owen” here, but if I’d been cheated on by my spouse, I don’t think I’d be in a very silly mood the next time they locked lips with someone else, either.
No word yet on whether Owen and Teddy will end up trying the Beckman Method of Marriage Repair (trademark pending), but suffice it to say that this episode did not bring them closer together.
We’ve known for a while that Jake Borelli and Midori Francis would be joining the long list of Grey’s Anatomy departures at some point this season.
There was an air of mystery around both characters and how they’d be written out, and it looks like we may have some answers now.
Levi (Borelli), who has been waffling back and forth about whether to pursue pediatrics or general surgery, is moving to Texas to take a research position in pediatrics.
It doesn’t come as any real shock, honestly.
It’s been obvious for a while that Levi felt his place was in peds, and this episode only confirmed it.
Still, when Bailey let him run point on a general surgery case, he proved just how confident and capable he is. He’s come a long way since they called him Glasses, hasn’t he?
After an emotional goodbye scene with Helm, Levi just needs to figure out how to tell James that their fling has to end.
Surely we’ll get a sweet Levi/Jo goodbye, too, right? Man, I’m really going to miss him.
I’ve been nervous all season about how the writers would handle this exit, and I have to say that I’m totally satisfied with this ending for Levi.
He’s spent years feeling insecure and questioning his abilities, but in this episode his growth was on full display.
We may have met Levi as a dorky, awkward, and clumsy sub-I, but the Levi we’re sending off is anything but.
Having Levi develop the confidence to make difficult decisions and follow his own heart is ultimately a beautiful way to acknowledge and honor how far this character has come.
Mika, on the other hand, may not get such a clean break.
The worst part about what is about to happen to Mika is that it was so predictable.
As soon as Jules told Mika she wanted to kiss her, but they had to agree on a rain check because Mika was scrubbed in for surgery, I knew that kiss was never going to happen.
The episode ends on a cliffhanger, but it’s not hard to predict where this is going.
Mika and Chloe get in a car accident, Mika doesn’t survive, and then Chloe will suddenly need an organ transplant.
What do you know! A perfect match just came in, and you even have the same last name!
Of course, all of that is speculation, and I could be way off base.
But if Mika does go out like this, it’s going to be a pretty disappointing end to what could have been an incredible LGBTQ+ relationship for the show.
We’ll probably never know what could have been, but we can hope that Mika at least gets to say goodbye before she’s unceremoniously killed off.
(Also, the poor Yasuda parents and siblings just keep taking hits, don’t they?)
The best part of this episode was the stunning display of solidarity that Amelia gifted to Jo as she struggled to parent sick toddlers.
When people talk about how it takes a village to raise a family, this is what they mean.
Jo wasn’t warm, welcoming, or kind when Amelia showed up. She was scared and overwhelmed, so she lashed out.
But Amelia, bless her soul, saw her co-parent struggling, and she met her where she was — in the floor, doing laundry, feeding her toast.
I’m no stranger to the mom guilt Jo described. It’s all-consuming, powerful, and painful.
Amelia’s support was everything in that moment, and I loved every minute of it.
Bits and Bobs Worth Mentioning
- Griffith’s accidental “love you” reminded me so much of the Prince episode of New Girl. The way Lucas doubled back at the end of the episode to return the sentiment made my heart grow three sizes.
- If I had a nickel for every time a patient on Grey’s Anatomy had a pole through their torso, I’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot, but … well, you know how it goes.
- I’ll never understand why interns are just left to run the hospital alone during the night shift. Where are the adults?!
- For a moment, I thought Helm might go with Levi to Texas, but I think we have to admit that those two never had the kind of relationship Vic and Travis from Station 19 had.
That’s all I’ve got, folks!
Next week promises to be a doozy, so I’m certain we’ll have lots to talk about.
Until then, join me in the comments!
What are your thoughts on the episode, and what comes next for our favorite doctors? Let’s chat!
Grey’s Anatomy airs Thursdays at 10/9c on ABC.
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