I love when this show juggles comedy and drama without ever seeming tonally jarring.
First, it just warms my heart to see Bailey and Richard share so much screen-time together. Whether they’re bickering like an old married couple or coming to a near-compromise at the end of the hour, the work-wife/work-husband dynamic is mighty amusing and entertaining. It’s about time these two got a decent and fun storyline; the fact that we’re getting less and less of Minnick is certainly a plus too.
The rest of the episode was thankfully uplifting after last week’s depressing hour. Maggie freezing in the middle of surgery only to come out victorious was surprising as I certainly had bets on her breaking down and killing a patient. It’s a refreshing new take on grief – an area this show hasn’t explored in a while, and it’s awfully realistic too. Moreover, it pains me to admit this, but her mother’s death only made Maggie much more compelling as a character. Her scenes with Jackson were shockingly riveting this week, especially as they culminate in that heartbreaking ending of the two outside Meredith’s house looking at pictures of Diane. Yes, this could be the start of a new dramatic storyline (can you imagine April’s screeching screams if these two got together?), but for now it’s all perfectly innocent and heartwarming.
Finally, What’s Inside is also an impressive nostalgic fest, jam-packed with callbacks and references to vintage Grey’s. There’s Meredith’s “dark and twisty” line, the miscarriage she had during the hospital shooting, the lighthearted subplot with the intern and his TB, and of course Arizona’s conversation with Riggs about Derek being the love of Meredith’s life, which is already one of my favorite pieces of dialogue this week. There’s even a shot of the ferry boats at the start of the episode, guaranteed to make you smile with a hint of melancholy.
Bits & Scalpels
– First time Grey’s director Nzingha Stewart does an impressive job with a couple of interesting creative choices in this episode, which includes having the cameras hover around the characters a few times.
– Fun fact: that fetal surgery is extremely rare with only about 6 reported cases in the world and only a few done successfully.
– Heavy-handed dialogue as Maggie says the patient just needed a little time to adjust to her “broken heart”, but it was still kind of empowering.
– DeLuca and Edwards have a surprisingly hilarious dynamic, but why does it feel like Edwards is about to quit?
– Bone-chilling music during Maggie and Jackson’s conversation in the hospital hallway.
– I never get tired of seeing Meredith dance awkwardly with a group of girls.
– It took me forever to realize what Jackson meant when he told Maggie “we’re like family”. Let’s not forget his mother Catherine Avery is married to Richard Webber, Maggie’s biological father.
– For the second week in a row, I absolutely loved Meredith’s voiceovers.
– What a beautifully devastating final song. Amazing.
Grey Banter
Meredith: Maybe this is what grief looks like when you’ve lived a whole, healthy life. You know, before anything terrible happens.
Amelia: Like watching your father get murdered when you’re five?
Meredith: Or like watching your mother bleed out on the kitchen floor.
Amelia: We’re more alike than we realize.
Meredith: We could end up hating each other, and then there would be nothing to tell.
Riggs: You don’t hate me.
Meredith: I could hate you. I have before.
Jackson: Maggie, I think people were just surprised, you know, that you were doing so well.
Maggie: I’m not doing well! I’m doing my job. I feel awful. But I am doing my job while everyone is staring and tell me that I am not up for it. I am doing my job because that is what we all do, right? Right?
Jackson: Right.
Maggie: When someone comes to us for help, we find a way, we figure out how to help them. We don’t give up. We don’t tell them there’s nothing left to do. So, why couldn’t you do your job? My mother came to you for help, and you said that you would help her. That is the job. So why the hell couldn’t you do it?
Arizona: It’s just that…Derek. Derek was epic for her. They were the great love story. I mean, that girl’s heart beat for Derek Shepherd. It just never occurred to me that she would ever be with anyone else. He was perfect. He was everything. I mean, that man turned her world.
(She sees the expression on Riggs’ face)
Arizona: I spooked you. Don’t be spooked, don’t be spooked.
Meredith (closing voiceover): Put yourself in Pandora’s shoes. She’s given a gift. A wondrous box filled with things she never knew existed. Of course she opened it. Wouldn’t you?
Must-Download Tunes
Lost by The Wind and the Wave
Rest in Peace by Aron Wright
Conclusion
Another strong episode that’s both upbeat and poignant.
Chris Rating
A-