Dozens of characters have come and gone on Grey’s Anatomy over the past two decades.
I’ve loved many of these people; I’ve also hated some of them.
But one main character has been criminally underdeveloped, underused, and misunderstood for years, and it’s time we talk about it.
Amelia Frances Shepherd, MD, FACS
The thing about Amelia is that she’s a polarizing character, and I think a lot of that stems from the fact that Grey’s Anatomy didn’t do anything to honor her backstory.
I’ve talked to Grey’s fans who don’t like Amelia, and the consensus is that she’s boring, noncommittal, and immature.
But as anyone who watched “Private Practice,” the first Grey’s Anatomy spinoff, knows, the entire history of “Amelia” is almost overshadowed by the flagship show.
Private Practice introduced Amelia in its third season in 2010, and she joined the main cast the following year.
After “Private Practice” ended, the character moved to Seattle and put down roots, officially becoming a recurring character on “Grey’s Anatomy” in 2013.
I’m not going to tell you her entire backstory because we’d be here for days if I tried, but I do think a few highlights are important enough to mention.
At first glance, Amelia Shepard looks a bit like Baby Nebo.
She is the youngest sister of world-renowned neurosurgeon Derek Shepherd (who also dedicated her career to his specialty).
She has three other siblings, all of whom are doctors.
Her mother was a Navy nurse and her father was a small business owner.
But Amelia’s trauma started early, and for some reason, she’s been traumatized most of her life.
Because, you know, watching her father get murdered in front of her when she was five clearly wasn’t enough.
A life of pain and suffering
“Grey’s Anatomy” briefly showed the details of Amelia’s addiction history, but that dark story is played out on “Private Practice.”
If I cried dozens of times watching Amelia hit rock bottom and then overcome it, that’s my business.
Grey’s fans know that Amelia lost her father at a young age and that her brother’s death was a major plot point on the show, but aside from some subtle mentions, her other losses rarely appear.
Here’s a quick look at the biggest traumas Amelia has faced in the spinoff’s less than three seasons:
- Her close friend receives a terminal diagnosis and tasks Amelia with helping her die on her own terms.
- She relapsed into drug addiction, a period that nearly cost her her friends, her career, and her life.
- As she lay in bed next to Amelia, her fiancé died of an accidental overdose after taking a drug obtained through Amelia’s prescription pad.
- After her fiancé dies, Amelia learns she is pregnant with his child.
- Before she could realize how devastating this was, her baby was diagnosed with anencephaly in the womb – meaning her baby was born without a brain and his condition was incompatible with life.
- After giving birth, Amelia held the baby for 43 minutes, named him Christopher, and sent him to donate his organs.
amelia overcame the odds
Apparently, that list doesn’t even touch on what she’s been through since starring full-time on Grey’s Anatomy .
Although Amelia suffered many bizarre and disturbing serious tragedies, she has grown into a stable, kind, and successful woman.
She has a son, Scout, whom she amicably co-raises with her ex-husband. She is chief of neurosurgery at Gray Sloan Hospital.
Given her backstory, you’d think she’d be one of the most dynamic and interesting characters on the show.
So why do the writers always push her to the background?
The opportunities to develop Amelia’s character are almost endless.
She is quintessentially queer and has had meaningful relationships or crushes with people of all genders.
Romantically, her potential is vast.
Her long and vibrant history on the show and in the broader Grey’s Anatomy/Private Practice universe makes her the perfect choice to replace Meredith as the show’s lead.
So why don’t they do this?
Instead, the writers have completely abandoned the idea of a protagonist, leaving the show feeling disjointed at times.
Amelia sparkled in her time
I won’t deny that Amelia has been given some major storylines over the past few seasons.
Her relationship with Kay Bartlett, the show’s first non-binary main character, was groundbreaking.
Her time mentoring Betty/Brittany, a teen mom struggling with addiction, is a powerful reminder of how far Amelia has come on her own journey.
Of course, her friendship with Richard is also a big part of his story, with someone at the hospital finally understanding his past and offering friendly support when needed.
It’s not just that Amelia hasn’t been the show’s focus in years; even when she existed, her presence seemed to be to further the storylines of other characters on Grey’s Anatomy.
How much of Amelia’s story is there besides her own brain tumor and the one she miraculously removed from Nicole Herman (Geena Davis)?
Amelia’s story revolves around other people
We rarely see her with her son, Scout, who is instead often used to show how Link and Joe are raising children together.
Her eldest son, Christopher, is rarely mentioned.
She never talks about her losses unless it has to do with something that happened to another character, most recently with something that happened to Lucas at a convenience store.
Hopeful fans (myself included) have been following Amelia’s interactions with up-and-coming podiatric surgeon Monica Beltran (Natalie Morales), looking for the slowly growing relationship between the two. Burning romance.
But halfway through Grey’s Anatomy Season 21, we’re nowhere near seeing the two department heads together.
While the rest of the season has undoubtedly been carefully plotted, my sincere hope for Amelia is that by the time the post-credits roll of the season finale rolls around, she’ll be reinvigorated and brought to the forefront.
With a history like Amelia and the incredible talent of Caterina Scorsone, it would really be a waste to hide this character beneath all her potential.
Tell us how you feel!
Grey’s fans, what do you think?
Do you think Amelia deserves more screen time, or is it better to focus on other characters as the show goes on?
Come and chat in the comments!
Grey’s Anatomy returns Thursday, March 6 at 10/9c on ABC.
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