Grey’s Anatomy Recap: Brace for Impact

As a long-time fan of Grey’s Anatomy, I’ve seen my fair share of ups and downs, twists and turns. But this current season has been a rollercoaster ride like no other! From the emotional turmoil of Teddy and Owen to the passionate romance blossoming between Griffith and Adams, there’s never a dull moment at Grey Sloan Memorial.

There are two possible outcomes for a character leaving ‘Grey’s Anatomy’. In the most favorable situation, they might be transferred to a hospital similar to one located upstate (effectively another hospital, like Tacoma). If not, their departure could resemble the tragic ending of Old Yeller, where they might meet an untimely end in front of us. This season, it seems we might witness both scenarios unfold.

It has been clear for some time now that Levi Schmitt and Mika Yasuda are preparing to leave, and the details of their departures are becoming more defined. Let’s first discuss Schmitt, who has been grappling with his choice of specialty despite pediatric surgery being evidently his calling. We last saw him saving a girl’s life from certain death in a helicopter during a severe storm. Now, he is considering relocating to Texas following Dr. Beltran’s suggestion for a research position. There are several factors at play: Will the allure of research be strong enough for him to temporarily give up the thrill of surgery? Is he truly prepared to relocate his life and possibly end his budding romance with Chaplain James, not to mention accepting an uncertain position that might not guarantee a long-term pediatric surgery job? And lastly, will he even appreciate Tex-Mex?

Let me take a brief pause to inquire, Is it true that there are fully grown individuals within this nation who have never tasted Tex-Mex cuisine? I find it hard to believe, given its widespread availability. Granted, not everyone has visited Texas, but still… It’s quite common! Moreover, considering the majority of Tex-Mex dishes contain meat, what could possibly be the reason for not enjoying it?

To sum up, Webber and Bailey are set on retaining Schmitt, so they entice him with an opportunity: a role as a general-surgery attending at Grey Sloan, effective immediately. Not too long after his new employers scrutinize his expression for joy, Schmitt’s first major case arrives. A couple had been hurt during an air-guitar performance (yes, you read that right), where the star performer, Van Vaughn Bishop (you got it, seriously), climbed the scaffolding and fell onto his girlfriend in the crowd. Unsurprisingly, “Please don’t tell my parents” are the next words out of her mouth. Although it might be mortifying for Joni’s parents to see their daughter smitten with an air guitarist named Van Vaughn Bishop (you guessed it again), what truly requires attention is that everyone calls it simply “air,” which only makes things worse. Fortunately for them, she spends most of the episode under the influence of painkillers and love’s power, leaving home with a fractured hip but little else.

Vaughn’s situation is quite severe due to his impalement by scaffolding. Fortunately, his closest friend, who goes by the name Gish (a tribute to a Smashing Pumpkins album), stands by him for moral support. This is Vaughn’s first case under Schmitt as an attending, and Schmitt handles it admirably. Not only does he successfully remove the impaling pole without complications, but he also manages to save Vaughn’s kidney. As Billy Corgan would put it, the impossible has become possible tonight. Overwhelmed by his success, Schmitt shares with James that there might be enough work at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital to keep him from pursuing pediatrics for a while. However, he encounters a little girl who he saved in a helicopter accident earlier. She gives him a charming smile and promises never to forget him. Just like that, the aroma of chili con carne wafts through the air. It’s clear that Schmitt can’t resist the opportunity to work with pediatric patients now.

It’s truly disheartening for Helm, Schmitt’s close friend, who shed tears even as Schmitt promised video calls during their preferred guilty-pleasure TV shows (Quite relatable). However, as my feelings began to swell up, she uttered something so ludicrous it made me almost choke on an Oreo: “Oh well, I’m simple. Consider how tough it’ll be for me to inform James.

Hey there! Let’s talk about this, shall we? So, you know who I’m referring to, right? James, that new guy. Well, here’s the deal, buddy. Despite his charm, he’s just a recent acquaintance in the grand scheme of things. You, on the other hand, Helm, are something more profound – a friend, a confidant, a significant presence in his life!

Moving on to something less serious now: the romantic escapades of Owen and Teddy. Their passion is as intense as you’d imagine. Now, let’s welcome Sophia Bush into the mix, playing the recurring character Dr. Cass Beckman. From her initial interactions, it seems she’ll be a constant thorn in Owen’s side, and for that reason, I can’t help but admire her. Keep her safe from harm – anyone who manages to irritate Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital’s most irritating doctor becomes an ally in my book.

In an unexpected turn of events, Owen and Teddy’s dinner date with Beckman and her husband, David, gets interrupted when Owen and David have to return to work. Typical, right? This leaves Teddy and Cass free to enjoy the night. After some casual conversation and a heartfelt discussion about Teddy and Owen’s strained relationship and Cass and David’s open marriage, things take an unexpected turn as Cass unexpectedly kisses Teddy. Surprisingly, this impromptu kiss carries more passion than we’ve seen between Teddy and Owen in a while. However, Teddy maintains her composure and tells Beckman that while Cass’s marriage might be open, hers with Owen is “completely closed.” To which I say, sure, but one can’t help but wonder if it truly needs to be so.

Just kidding. Of course it does because the only thing Owen loves more than trauma surgery is being a controlling, jealous little gremlin. I don’t care if Teddy once cheated on him. He’s annoying, and I’ll never be on his side in an argument. Case in point: When Teddy tells Owen what happened with Cass, he immediately demands to know how Cass got the wrong idea: “Two minutes ago, I was asleep, and now you’re telling me that some woman kissed you?” Well, yes, Owen, someone had to! But sure, go do rounds and run away from the problem. I’m sure that’ll do wonders for your ailing marriage.

Jo and Link are finding things challenging as they juggle their busy professions with child care. Jo feels immense guilt for not being the ideal mom, preparing adorable sandwiches for her adopted daughter Luna, while Link is puzzled by why she’s taking out her frustrations on him during disagreements about everyday items like phone chargers. Things will likely improve when their twins arrive! Luna, sweetheart, can you say “family harmony”? Unlike Teddy and Owen, I believe these two will navigate through just fine. They have a strong support system in Amelia, who acts as the angelic ex and drops by to reassure Jo that Link has been harboring feelings for her for quite some time, so despite their fears, they’ll weather this storm. For now, though, things are tough, and Link dislikes the fact that Jo fears he may abandon her like others have in her past. This apprehension is comprehensible, but remember, dear Link, that fear isn’t rooted in you!

It’s clear that Griffith, who unexpectedly tells Adams “I love you” amidst their workday, isn’t having trouble maintaining the romance. Kwan will tease her endlessly over it, and indeed, when Adams fails to respond promptly, she gets quite flustered. However, by the end of the day, Griffith and Adams reconcile in the on-call room, with Adams reciprocating the “I love you” as he rushes off for a surgery. My question though, is this: Do doctors actually sleep without shirts in the on-call room? While we’re all medical professionals here, it still seems a bit unprofessional to me! Nevertheless, I’m just happy these two are finding some harmony now.

If only things were the same for Mika and Jules. Unfortunately, the contrast between their peaceful upstate farm and Old Yeller’s tragic tale rears its ugly head once more. Mika, torn between her duties at work and caring for her sister Chloe who is undergoing chemotherapy, finds herself short on sleep. Despite this, she spends countless hours operating a hand crank to supply air to long-term patient Darren Riley, whose electric pump has malfunctioned and a replacement will take hours to arrive.

Could it be that last week’s helicopter incident in the storm, involving Schmitt and the dramatic car crash of Mika, was intentionally misleading to heighten our concern for Schmitt and intensify the shock of Mika’s accident? It seems that way! The upcoming teaser reveals the Grey Sloan team working desperately to save Mika’s life, with Jules in a state of distress, shouting “MIKAAAA!” This doesn’t bode well. It’s been a while since a doctor at Grey Sloan has passed away (farewell, De Luca), and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this isn’t the fate for Mika here. Primarily because I like her character, but also because her current predicament seems rather sudden given her brief tenure on the show. I can only hope that they are merely sending Mika to a remote medical facility where she can pursue her dreams for many years to come!

2024-11-09 00:59

Grey’s Anatomy Recap: Brace for Impact

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