As this week's episode of Grey's Anatomy unfolded we saw parallel arcs as 'deep thoughts' brought up in Meredith's Bailey-mandated return to work therapy coincided neatly with teases of storylines for all the other characters around her. While it's true we didn't gain deep insight into most characters, we did see several of them seemingly on the cusp of epiphanies that had them getting, at least a little bit, out of their own way.
Initially Owen Hunt's arc seemed to be a retread of what we'd already seen - earnest surgeon who would rather fight with recent arrival Nathan Riggs than offer up any details of that conflict. The bickering between the two male surgeons had Owen's fellow trauma surgeon April running for the hills rather than endure more time with either of these men, even as she considered them both valued friends. She even turned to fierce Surgical Chief Bailey to run interference. The only thing that seemed to put a momentary hold on their arguing was concern for their patients after the ambulance they'd just unloaded burst into flame.
Once the initial drama had cleared we saw hints of a more vulnerable side of Owen's story as he, April, and Amelia assessed a patient prior to surgery. After confirming the next day's surgical plan Owen asked whether Amelia was still staying with Richard and their conversation turned into a moment of calm for them both as they arranged to have dinner after work. After further squabbles with Nathan turned Owen's tension level up again, causing him to withdraw his offer of dinner, we saw more calm between him and Amelia as she unexpectedly was able to draw him out. In the process we learned that his sister Megan made up what sounded like a sort of 'Three Musketeers' with Owen and Nathan and, that for an as yet undetermined reason, Owen still held Nathan responsible for his sister's death. He ended his brief speech by saying 'I don't talk about it,' except, as he doesn't seem to realize, he just did.
Even more enticing was the follow up surgery for Owen's patient the next day when we saw a brief glimpse of what his friendship with Nathan once was as Owen again put aside his personal feelings for the sake of his patient. What followed was a surgery that looked synchronized and choreographed and provided an idea of how much trust must have once been there between these two men. As Owen and Nathan's operating room victory immediately turned back into incessant arguing in the scrub room, we saw how much effort it may take to get any type of friendship between them back again.
Elsewhere in the hospital: Meredith learned she can make choices about what her life will be; Arizona and Richard continue to bond over trivia night; April and Nathan pondered what steps forward they should take while playing a competitive game of darts; the residents gossiped together about life and it wasn't annoying; Alex showed both his surgical skill and his heart in supporting an earnest teenage patient facing a life-changing surgery; Callie and Penny struggled and yet found connection in their relationship; Richard was aghast at learning Andrew's new secret girlfriend is Maggie; Jo and Alex seem to be on the same page, maybe, about their relationship; and we got glimpses of Cristina Yang in the video montage meant to mimic Meredith's thought process as she mulled over who and what she wants her life to include.
Initially Owen Hunt's arc seemed to be a retread of what we'd already seen - earnest surgeon who would rather fight with recent arrival Nathan Riggs than offer up any details of that conflict. The bickering between the two male surgeons had Owen's fellow trauma surgeon April running for the hills rather than endure more time with either of these men, even as she considered them both valued friends. She even turned to fierce Surgical Chief Bailey to run interference. The only thing that seemed to put a momentary hold on their arguing was concern for their patients after the ambulance they'd just unloaded burst into flame.
Once the initial drama had cleared we saw hints of a more vulnerable side of Owen's story as he, April, and Amelia assessed a patient prior to surgery. After confirming the next day's surgical plan Owen asked whether Amelia was still staying with Richard and their conversation turned into a moment of calm for them both as they arranged to have dinner after work. After further squabbles with Nathan turned Owen's tension level up again, causing him to withdraw his offer of dinner, we saw more calm between him and Amelia as she unexpectedly was able to draw him out. In the process we learned that his sister Megan made up what sounded like a sort of 'Three Musketeers' with Owen and Nathan and, that for an as yet undetermined reason, Owen still held Nathan responsible for his sister's death. He ended his brief speech by saying 'I don't talk about it,' except, as he doesn't seem to realize, he just did.
Even more enticing was the follow up surgery for Owen's patient the next day when we saw a brief glimpse of what his friendship with Nathan once was as Owen again put aside his personal feelings for the sake of his patient. What followed was a surgery that looked synchronized and choreographed and provided an idea of how much trust must have once been there between these two men. As Owen and Nathan's operating room victory immediately turned back into incessant arguing in the scrub room, we saw how much effort it may take to get any type of friendship between them back again.
Elsewhere in the hospital: Meredith learned she can make choices about what her life will be; Arizona and Richard continue to bond over trivia night; April and Nathan pondered what steps forward they should take while playing a competitive game of darts; the residents gossiped together about life and it wasn't annoying; Alex showed both his surgical skill and his heart in supporting an earnest teenage patient facing a life-changing surgery; Callie and Penny struggled and yet found connection in their relationship; Richard was aghast at learning Andrew's new secret girlfriend is Maggie; Jo and Alex seem to be on the same page, maybe, about their relationship; and we got glimpses of Cristina Yang in the video montage meant to mimic Meredith's thought process as she mulled over who and what she wants her life to include.
