Not every Grey’s season finale has to be a bloodbath, so this light closer to the year was a refreshing change of pace.
Au Revoir Arizona
Last week’s episode was a bonafide tearjerker, so it’s a good choice to have Arizona and April’s exits be so uneventful. After ten years, I’m really going to miss seeing Jessica Capshaw on my screen every week, so maybe it’s for the best that we didn’t get an extended goodbye with Arizona. Instead we got a gut-wrenching hug with April while holding Webber’s hand (yes that got me teary eyed), and a mini goodbye with Alex who wasn’t even allowed to finish (much like Bailey was interrupted last week). As for what happens next to Arizona, we know she’ll be working with Dr. Herman in New York, and this finale plants the seeds for a potential reconciliation with Callie. Both April and Webber recount how they’ve hurt their loved one before but their relationships still survived, and that’s really all that Shonda leaves us with. Remarkably restrained if you ask me because there are no definite answers here.
Adios April
Although I was never really a fan of April, she gets a fitting ending that sees her marrying Matthew as they overcome their past wedding traumas, and dedicating her life to helping less fortunate. It makes sense in the context of her journey, and most importantly, she and Jackson are now in a healthy place (because these two were seriously insufferable for the longest time). Will I miss having April on the show? Not really, but I’m glad her character got a proper sendoff after so many years. Sarah Drew always delivered with her performances no questions asked.
Which leads me too..
Triple Weddings!
We all expected a wedding this week, but THREE? It’s a stroke of genius on Shonda’s part, and it makes for a pretty uplifting ending, free of hospital shooters and plane catastrophes.
We’ve got Ben filming a wedding for a bed-ridden mother (it’s pretty sweet), Arizona walking April down the aisle (in what might be the most perfect moment ever), and Meredith marrying Jo and Alex. There’s just something immensely beautiful about Mer getting ordained and bringing Jo and Alex together. Her speech is so poignant, and the whole scene just oozes love and positivity.
And really that’s my favorite part about the finale: the insight into just how valuable Alex’s friendship is to Meredith. After all the losses she’s endured, it makes so much to sense to see how much Mer relies on “her Alex”, and All Of Me mines that relationship beautifully through comedy (Mer’s various tantrums) and drama (that beautiful ferry moment at the end).
Look Who’s Back!
In other awesome news, Teddy Altman is back and I couldn’t be happier. Kim Raver is one of my favorite actresses to ever grace Grey’s Anatomy, and the prospect of her taking over as Interim Chief (while Bailey finds herself) is very exciting. Even more intriguing is the added bombshell of her being pregnant (after what I’m assuming is that sexy weekend with Owen). Poor Amelia!
Bits & Scalpels
– Jo kissing Alex then Arizona on the lips cracked me up.
– Any guesses on how much much Bailey made from her trailblazer?
– The twist with the gang being at the wrong wedding was shockingly good. I did NOT see it coming in the slightest.
– Meredith trying to give Alex Cristina’s “you are the sun” speech was just legendary.
– Catherine’s “subtle” exit from the wrong wedding: priceless!
– Amelia had her funniest moment ever this week: teasing Meredith that she was in love with Alex… and then Jo.
– The trapped-in-the-barn subplot wasn’t the greatest, but I did enjoy the visual of Jo screaming at the sight of the skeleton.
– The young interns drinking shots to “Meredith’s hair” was amusing in a disposable sort of way.
– Nice closure between Matthew and Jackson. I think we’re all happy you’re poor now Jackson.
– Obviously Jo isn’t leaving Seattle, but will she reject Mer’s offer? I doubt.
– Helm is in love with Meredith? Did we know that?
– Freakin’ adored Bailey’s monologue (although it came out of left-field). Read it in full below!
– The wedding’s planner face when they mentioned rectal injection killed me. #ShrimpAllergy
– Okay I might be in the minority here but I loved Andrew kissing Meredith. Is it so wrong that I’m actually shipping them now?
– Mer’s final voiceover was just perfect. Yup, you can savor it all below (alongside her wedding speech).
Grey Banter
Meredith: A recent study found that marriage has actual health benefits. Married people live longer, have fewer strokes, and fewer heart attacks than people who are single. Scientific or not, I find that study incredibly irritating.
Meredith: You are not supposed to see each other today.
Alex: Ah, you you got married on a Post-it.
Meredith: Well, she’s not the sun. You are the sun.
Alex: What?
Meredith: Well, she’s pretty sunny. Never mind.
Amelia: (to Meredith) You’re in love with Alex. It’s okay. I am not judging. I have suspected it for years, but it’s kind of a bad day for the revelation.
April: Just sit wherever you feel comfortable, okay?
Andrew: Yeah? Where do you sit if you used to be in love with the bride, but then the groom beat you up and put you in the hospital?
April: Uh okay.
Meredith: Alex is my… he’s my Alex. I just got happy in a world without Cristina and without Derek, and I don’t want to be alone.
Carina: Love is precious. Don’t waste it on someone who can’t love you back.
Bailey: I want to take a sabbatical from stress. I want to research and innovate and fall in love with the OR again. And I want to spend time with the people that I love. I want to volunteer to create gardens in urban food deserts. And I want to watch TED Talks. I might even do a TED Talk. I have all this money now more money than I could ever need. I could do all of that, and I still have this voice in my head telling me that you know, because I’m a woman, that I can’t. I can’t pause. I can’t rest. Ironically, I think it’s the voice of the damn patriarchy. So I’m done listening to that voice. I’m listening to my own.
Meredith: For the longest time, ferry boats made me sad. But from now on, I will look at them the way my husband did. I will see the beauty. I will see the wind, the air, the sea, the motion. I will see the possibility because of the two of you. I have never seen two people bring out better in each other. And if the two of you can take this day and turn it into lemonade, then you can do anything.
Meredith: Happily, there are other studies that tell us the real truth about the health benefits of marriage, which is that the benefits have nothing to do with marriage at all. Because those studies have shown that staying in an unhappy marriage is the worst thing you can do for your health and for your children. So, better health is a direct result of healthy relationships. You don’t need a spouse. You just need someone you can trust. You need someone you can talk to. You need someone who will celebrate your wins and grieve your losses. You need someone who can forgive you. You need someone who will show up, no questions asked, and walk with you through every unexpected twist and turn life throws your way.
Must-Download Songs
Such a Simple Thing by Ray LaMontagne
The Story by Sara Ramirez
Conclusion
It’s nothing groundbreaking, but this a low-key and entertaining season finale that caps off a solid season. I miss the show already!