Reviewer Rating: 3/5.0
3
I hate to say it, but Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 Episode 5 actually didn’t break my heart.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with this episode, and it works well as filler content for a show that just won’t let up.
While the promo hinted at the possibility of a massive shakeup, the moment felt mundane.
Yearning for the old days of “Grey’s Anatomy”
There are many words you could call me, but “Grey’s Anatomy” hater isn’t one of them.
Still, that doesn’t stop me from calling out wasted potential when I see it.
Let me say this: if it were 2010, this episode would have gone very, very differently.
An intern politely asks for permission to bend the rules and treat underinsured patients? forget it.
In the past, interns would just take matters into their own hands, go rogue, and find a way to treat patients.
Need I remind you of the time Meredith pulled off an actual insurance fraud? jailed Because she couldn’t bear to turn patients away?
If this were Grey’s Anatomy Season 8, the Monica/Amelia scene in the front room would end with a passionate kiss and Amelia saying something like, “Okay, I gotta do it. something Make you stop panicking.
To be fair, this goes both ways.
Back in my day, Jo’s ultrasound (which she underwent alone after kicking Link out of the room) could have taken a serious turn, possibly exposed by a glitch in the hospital parking lot.
I’m glad the JoLink twins are okay, really – I can never bring myself to appreciate pregnancy-centric drama.
But overall, there were a lot of set pieces with potentially groundbreaking reveals that just…failed.
Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 Episode 5 Wasted Potential
Take Levi/James’ angst, for example.
Obviously, a lot happened throughout the episode, but at various points at the beginning, middle, and end, Levy was thinking about the scandal of finding James’ wedding album.
If you remember Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 Episode 4, that’s essentially what happened.
James and Levi sleep together, and then Levi discovers a wedding photo book in a drawer featuring Gray Sloan’s new pastor himself.
Obviously, to be honest, he expected the worst and so did I!
After all, this is Grey’s Anatomy. At this point, we can rename Murphy’s Law to Gray’s Law.
But after all the drama and build-up, it turned out that James was just a widower ready to move on.
Boring.
Teddy and Owen, who have spent the last few episodes bickering and struggling with their marital issues, end the hour with a chuckle and a playful remark, “We’re gonna be okay; we’re gonna be okay; we’re gonna be okay” . We always have been.
Boring 2, Electric Boogaloo.
Amelia walks in and sees Winston “returning” a nightgown to Monica (it’s not even hers, which is embarrassing, so Winston must have kept the full calendar).
Remember when Amelia asked Monica out and she said she wasn’t ready to do anything because of the divorce? We could have had jealous, anxious arguments about this, but instead, Amelia was mature about it.
Boring.
There are some tense scenes, including one in which Levi and Lucas return to Seattle in a helicopter to transport an injured pediatric patient.
Severe turbulence and bad weather made the journey bumpy, which wasn’t easy for the two doctors trying to prevent the child from losing blood.
But there was no crash. Just a smooth, safe, emergency landing and uneventful ambulance ride back to the hospital.
Well, I won’t say any more. But you know I’m right.
The blurred line between fiction and reality
decisively no The episode’s boring element comes from a patient named Mr. Johnson, who also happens to be the hospital’s custodial staff.
Unfortunately, his story is not boring because it is too close to reality.
This man works in a hospital but still cannot afford the medical care he needs due to the nightmare of privatized insurance.
While the case did inspire Blue to register to vote, it was also a brutal reminder that America’s health care system is broken and people are being crushed every day.
It’s not boring, but it’s not an interesting idea either.
A moment caught my attention and I sat up, gasping: Teddy and Owen were treating a patient when suddenly his chest exploded and blood spurted everywhere.
He’s fine (no amount of explanation would allow me to understand exactly how well he’s doing, so I feel sorry for the medical advisor on the show).
Dare I say it? Boring.
bit and bob
- Simone and Lucas make my heart sing. They are so cute.
- It’s so sweet of Ben to realize that Winston needs a friend. I loved seeing him jokingly tell Bailey that she wasn’t invited to go with them (after she declined the non-invitation).
- Joe mentioned that DeLuca found nothing wrong during her ultrasound. So…not only is the baby okay, but we know DeLuca is in the hospital! Maybe we’ll see Kareena soon?
- Even though I know they will fire Levi soon, it will break my heart if they send that poor boy to Texas. Stop sending my favorite characters to Texas and ABC. (Looking at you, 9-1-1.)
- We finally figured out where Ben is at his place! He’s back for his fourth year, so he does have some seniority over the interns.
- Amelia may not feel entitled to an explanation, but Monica really wants her to know that her affair with Winston is pointless. I’m very invested in this ship.
All in all, it’s a good filler, but I do hope to see more action as the season progresses.
What were your thoughts on this episode? Come and chat in the comments.
Although there is a brief hiatus, the next episode will air on November 7.
Grey’s Anatomy airs Thursdays at 10/9c on ABC.
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