Grey’s Anatomy (17×04) You’ll Never Walk Alone Review

For our review of the last episode of Grey’s Anatomy, click here.

Synopsis: Owen faces a medical diagnosis that challenges more than he imagined. Meanwhile, Koracick begins to go stir crazy; and Maggie gets a not-so-subtle glimpse into Winston’s background. (IMDb)

Grey’s Anatomy is in an interesting position. As a medical drama, it is forced to tackle the ongoing pandemic head-on to feel a sense of reality. However, at some point, focusing on the world that is slowly causing everyone’s sanity to be stripped away seems like it would become tedious sooner or later right? Surprisingly that isn’t the case just yet as the show manages to blend melodrama with reality in a smart way while using COVID and its symptoms as a mechanism to bring some much needed happiness to an otherwise drained audience.

At the start of the episode, the various department heads are discussing the current situation and it sounds pretty much like the daily struggle of 2020: high case counts, higher ICU needs and increasing deaths. As Koracick attempts to weasel his way back to the hospital, Jackson flips over his tablet to silence the annoying doctor and his colleagues all clap in approval.

The subplots of the episode are interesting, but lack an originality. Koracick rejects Helm giving him a COVID test, but after noticing him trying to solve the pandemic himself, she asks Teddy to reach out because Koracick needs a friend. Meanwhile Owen and Mabel deal with patient Dave who has returned after complications from appendicitis surgery which leads Mabel and Nico to confront Owen about a racist diagnosis. (They do know he was married to Cristina Yang right?) Then of course there’s Maggie and her awkward virtual date with Winston which is crashed by his estranged, gambling father, Jackson and Jo’s continued awkward hookup endeavours, Nico and Schmidt’s regrettable hookup and whatever is going on with Amelia and Link. All just dramatic for the sake of drama.

However the big story is surrounding the show’s namesake. With Meredith’s health deteriorating, the doctors are debating how to proceed. Teddy and DeLuca suggest putting Meredith into an experimental drug program, but Richard as her acting power of attorney seems hesitant to put her through these untested drugs. This debate goes back and forth throughout the whole episode until Richard agrees to put Meredith into the trial. That isn’t the defining moment of the episode though!

Still in her COVID-induced hallucinations, Meredith is seeing another ghost of Grey Sloan past: George O’Malley! After 11 years, the awkward and bumbling best friend of Meredith Grey has returned and instantly his presence brings comfort to her. They chat on the beach, catching up over what happened the past decade. He’s always been there, even if she couldn’t see him. George watched over her kids, he tried to console his mom, but in the end it was George who changed Meredith’s life by being who he was. A selfless man, a brave man. Her 007. This reunion only becomes more uplifting when Bailey and Richard both join them on the beach and the remaining original cast get to interact. Right in the feels!

The Medical Journal:

• Who else will contract COVID-19?
• Is this a set-up for Meredith’s exit?
• How will Owen and Teddy get through their marital troubles?
• Will Koracick be the first employee death?
• Are Jackson and Jo going to become a thing?
• Who else will Meredith see? Lexi perhaps?

What did you think of “You’ll Never Walk Alone”? Let me know in the comments below!

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Dylan Phillips