Grey’s Anatomy has a million ways to pull at our heartstrings, but Covid gives them new ways and even more devastating ways.
Patrick Dempsey (Derek Shepherd) may have spoiled Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) having Covid, but it didn’t spoil the episode, and it didn’t prepare me for that I was getting into.
I probably shouldn’t have watched it after watching the series finale of Supernatural. I was already an emotional wreck, but here we are.
At first, it seemed like Meredith was okay. But she quickly deteriorated. She was so bad that Maggie Pierce (Kelly McCreary) asked Teddy Altman (Kim Raver) if she was okay and if she had this because they’ve seen lungs like this before, and they know the patient can turn quickly.
How are we supposed to take this? This is Meredith. Patrick said he and Ellen talked about how they could get people to wear masks. Maybe people’s love for Meredith will get them to wear a mask, but she was wearing full PPE and still got it. That is just how contagious this virus is.
Gery’s Anatomy is good at hitting the current events, and I hope this helps people see the truth.
You can’t hold the hand of your loved one dying. This is real. Grey’s Anatomy is bringing the realities of Covid to us. This will probably be the most brutal season, and I know they have amazing writers, producers, cast, and crew to bring it to us.
But I also know I’m probably going to be wrecked every episode. I know now, watch this and only this as my new episode for the night, and then a rerun of a comedy afterward.
Our one hope with Meredith is she can’t get to Derek because she’s not ready. That’s good news. She’s still fighting. But it is sad watching her desperately try to get to him.
As soul crunching as this episode was, there was some good. Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.) put Tom Koracick (Greg Germann) in charge of the interns. He says because Amelia Shepherd (Caterina Scorsone) said he was her best teacher. But of course, he failed, and we got a wonderful welcome speech from Richard. Mostly, reminding us of where we are. And sadly, we are almost where we were when this show is taking place.
But Richard, through the doom and gloom, always makes us feel better, “we will make it through together.” And we will.
And sadly, now Tom has Covid. Do we have to worry about another person? He’s asymptomatic so far. And Owen (Kevin McKidd) seemed almost happy. Well, not happy per se, but just nonchalant in telling him. I get it. But it’s Teddy’s fault. Tom isn’t the one to blame.
For now, Meredith is definitely the center of everyone’s concerns.
Amelia is a mess. Atticus Lincoln (Chris Carmack) and her can’t even touch because he spent the day at the hospital.
But, we did find out another way Grey’s Anatomy is doing sex this season. A social distance version. The writers really are coming up with creative ways to keep the show feeling sexy.
Maggie broke down. First, because she’s lost over 50 patients so far, and most of them have been black, which scares her. And, of course, her sister.
From the beginning of the episode, Maggie and Amelia asked Meredith to change her power of attorney. It was still Alex (Justin Chambers). And he’s too far away to make this decision. She first resisted. But then chose Richard. Richard was more like a father to her than her birth father ever was. Grey’s likes to find ways to bring tears to your eyes, and this was definitely it. If you hadn’t already cried, that is.
We live in Covid-19 every day. Do we want to live through it in Grey’s too? Maybe we need to. We can see what our doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals go through every day because many people have gone back to their lives because they are tired of this. It’s not over. If you are one of the people living your life as normal and also terrified for Meredith. Think a minute. This is real. Who in your life could this happen to?
As torturous as this season may be, I think maybe people do need to hear this. Let’s keep each other safe.
How is the Covid storyline making you feel? Tweet me @MandyTTCarr or comment below.