In an episode which centered upon a devastating loss for April and Jackson as they dealt with the very frightening diagnosis of their as yet unborn child, we saw everyone wanting to help them while alternately facing their own grief-filled reaction to their friends' situation.
The conflict between faith and science was ever present throughout the episode. Repeated scenes in the chapel showed us people lighting candles for their friends and yet their discussions also reminded us that there was work in front of them because patients also needed their help.
The stress was evident on Owen's face as he stood trying to maintain order in a chaotic Emergency Department. In the absence of a usually very driven April he was short-handed and trying to manage an influx of patients. Also clear was the sadness in his demeanor when he reminded his team that April and Jackson were dealing with their own vivid pain in the same hospital.
While the surgical staff uncomfortably discussed how to help their friends, Amelia cut through the discussion by advising April and Jackson should be given privacy to work their way through their grief. Owen, kind-hearted as he is, noticed Amelia seemed to be struggling and took it as an opportunity to check in about her surgical plan for Dr. Herman. Amelia begged off, while Owen puzzled over her subdued response.
Later in the chapel we saw more of Owen as he encountered Alex struggling feeling comfortable lighting a candle. His discomfort spurred Alex to ask Owen about Meredith's assertion that Cristina used to sit with her children. Owen presented another side of the story, that while Cristina did take on babysitting duties, when diapers needed changing or children's games needed to be played Owen was the one who stepped in. When Alex tried to pawn off babysitter duties on Owen to help Meredith go out of town, Owen declared he'd do it for Cristina but not for Alex.
Owen continued on in harried trauma surgeon mode as the ER continued to fill up with patients. April, who still struggled with letting go of her baby, appeared intent on working rather than facing her potential for loss. Owen kindly tried to assure her that while he was grateful for her appearance because things ran much more smoothly when she's around, he also wanted her to take care of herself. Yet it was April's appearance in the ER that gave her an unexpected opportunity to counsel a patient and, in the process, find a belief in herself that she too can get through her current situation.
Another unexpected emotional reaction from Amelia was what allowed Owen to gain further insight into how to potentially reach out to someone in this new phase of his life. After seeing Amelia upbraiding Stephanie for her hesitant reaction in the operating room, Owen took the opportunity to inquire again about Amelia's emotional state. While she initially disavowed anything being amiss, she later shared a poignant moment with Owen in the chapel in which she mentioned her own loss of a baby.
Elsewhere in the hospital: Arizona and Dr. Herman endeavored to help April and Jackson through the medical phases of their decision-making process; Catherine Avery arrived to help her son and his wife through their loss; Meredith searched to find a sitter for a weekend visit to Derek in D.C.; Miranda and Ben treated a shooting patient together before their own planned for romantic weekend; Amelia and Stephanie treated a neurosurgical patient; Maggie found herself frustrated as Meredith asked everyone but her to babysit; Richard and Catherine saw each other again after a long time apart; Callie unexpectedly helped a patient deliver a baby; Dr. Herman checked in with Amelia about her surgical plan for her tumor, and a mystery intern appeared throughout the episode and turned out to be the fiancee of a patient who'd died the night before.
Writer's note: While my heart does hurt watching Owen's lonely struggle in the absence of Cristina, I do still love his continued tender mentions of her even as he tried to figure out here how to reach out and move forward
The conflict between faith and science was ever present throughout the episode. Repeated scenes in the chapel showed us people lighting candles for their friends and yet their discussions also reminded us that there was work in front of them because patients also needed their help.
The stress was evident on Owen's face as he stood trying to maintain order in a chaotic Emergency Department. In the absence of a usually very driven April he was short-handed and trying to manage an influx of patients. Also clear was the sadness in his demeanor when he reminded his team that April and Jackson were dealing with their own vivid pain in the same hospital.
While the surgical staff uncomfortably discussed how to help their friends, Amelia cut through the discussion by advising April and Jackson should be given privacy to work their way through their grief. Owen, kind-hearted as he is, noticed Amelia seemed to be struggling and took it as an opportunity to check in about her surgical plan for Dr. Herman. Amelia begged off, while Owen puzzled over her subdued response.
Later in the chapel we saw more of Owen as he encountered Alex struggling feeling comfortable lighting a candle. His discomfort spurred Alex to ask Owen about Meredith's assertion that Cristina used to sit with her children. Owen presented another side of the story, that while Cristina did take on babysitting duties, when diapers needed changing or children's games needed to be played Owen was the one who stepped in. When Alex tried to pawn off babysitter duties on Owen to help Meredith go out of town, Owen declared he'd do it for Cristina but not for Alex.
Owen continued on in harried trauma surgeon mode as the ER continued to fill up with patients. April, who still struggled with letting go of her baby, appeared intent on working rather than facing her potential for loss. Owen kindly tried to assure her that while he was grateful for her appearance because things ran much more smoothly when she's around, he also wanted her to take care of herself. Yet it was April's appearance in the ER that gave her an unexpected opportunity to counsel a patient and, in the process, find a belief in herself that she too can get through her current situation.
Another unexpected emotional reaction from Amelia was what allowed Owen to gain further insight into how to potentially reach out to someone in this new phase of his life. After seeing Amelia upbraiding Stephanie for her hesitant reaction in the operating room, Owen took the opportunity to inquire again about Amelia's emotional state. While she initially disavowed anything being amiss, she later shared a poignant moment with Owen in the chapel in which she mentioned her own loss of a baby.
Elsewhere in the hospital: Arizona and Dr. Herman endeavored to help April and Jackson through the medical phases of their decision-making process; Catherine Avery arrived to help her son and his wife through their loss; Meredith searched to find a sitter for a weekend visit to Derek in D.C.; Miranda and Ben treated a shooting patient together before their own planned for romantic weekend; Amelia and Stephanie treated a neurosurgical patient; Maggie found herself frustrated as Meredith asked everyone but her to babysit; Richard and Catherine saw each other again after a long time apart; Callie unexpectedly helped a patient deliver a baby; Dr. Herman checked in with Amelia about her surgical plan for her tumor, and a mystery intern appeared throughout the episode and turned out to be the fiancee of a patient who'd died the night before.
Writer's note: While my heart does hurt watching Owen's lonely struggle in the absence of Cristina, I do still love his continued tender mentions of her even as he tried to figure out here how to reach out and move forward
