Grey’s Anatomy Review: I Feel the Earth Move (Season 11 Episode 15)

I will never listen to “Stayin’ Alive” the same way again.

This week’s episode of Grey’s Anatomy, “I Feel the Earth Move,” puts Owen front and center for a unique case. Following a small earthquake (where, surprisingly, no one dies — it’s just a minor disruption in the daily routine), Owen answers the phone to hear a scared little girl on the other end. Her mother has taken a fall and is unconscious.

Owen first tells the girl to hang up and call 911, but the girl tells him the line is busy. So he tries to help, but he can barely hear because of all the commotion in the hospital.

Who know a transferring a call from one line to another could be so suspenseful? The look of worry on his face as he hopes he can transfer the call to an open trauma room — guys, I held my breath for that other phone to ring.

When the transfer is successful, Owen runs as fast as he can to get there, then walks through a series of steps with the young girl (Ruby) to figure out what’s wrong with her mother. As he talks to her, Amelia and Richard join him, and they all work together to help Ruby — including walking her through a pretty terrifying procedure with a skewer and a straw.

What’s nice about this scene is that all of the action (and imagery of blood) takes place through dialogue. The shock value comes from descriptions of what the girl needs to do to save her mother — and through the incredible acting taking place. Seriously, kudos to Kevin McKidd, Caterina Scorsone, and James Pickens Jr. for a really well done scene.

The three of them sing “Stayin’ Alive” while the girl presses on her mother’s chest on the other line — I could barely hold it together for this. We hear the little girl’s voice crack as she tries to sing along, while the doctors all keep on their bravest faces and strongest singing voices. It’s actually a beautiful scene.

I can’t help but hope that Owen has the chance to be a father soon. Watching him with Ruby when she and her mother finally make it to the hospital just reminds me how good Owen is with kids — and how much he wants children of his own. It’s something we’ve seen a few times, actually, where Owen stays by a child’s side and seems to fill a parental role.

And THAT idea leads me to a new hope. But before I get into that, let’s talk about that final scene with Owen and Amelia. A happy moment leads to a hesitant hug, which leads to a stronger embrace, which leads to a full on make-out session in an on-call room. You guys know how I feel about this. I LOVE the idea of these two being together. They both need a little happy, and they balance each other really well. They’ve also got a level of chemistry we haven’t seen on this show in a long time.

My hope? Amelia lost her child, and really, Owen lost one of his own too. I think seeing Owen acting in a fatherly role with Ruby on this episode might be a little hint of something to come. Granted, that’s sheer speculation and maybe a little wishful thinking. For now, I’m just hoping #Omelia lasts for a while!

Other Thoughts:

• Alex is acting as the voice of reason for Meredith, wondering how she can possibly be in a happy marriage with an effectively absent husband. I like that he’s pretty much become Meredith’s person, and he actually has some great advice.
• We’re reminded of Alex’s past lovers when he and Meredith are talking — including Izzy, Ava, and even that nurse. I’m glad we get to look back occasionally, especially since this show has lasted such a long time.
• Meredith realizes she’s better without Derek — at the very least, because she’s learning who she is outside of him. But she also realizes she wants to be with him and share her good news. Too bad that when she calls, some woman answers the phone. My guess is that this is actually nothing. I simply won’t buy it if Derek cheats on Meredith.
• I appreciate that Bailey and Ben are having a continued conversation about Ben’s sister — something that was brought up just a few episodes ago and makes for a really powerful storyline.

What did you think of “I Feel the Earth Move”? Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Grey’s Anatomy airs Thursdays at 8/7c on ABC.

Ashley Bissette Sumerel

Ashley Bissette Sumerel is a television and film critic living in Wilmington, North Carolina. She is editor-in-chief of Tell-Tale TV as well as Eulalie Magazine. Ashley has also written for outlets such as Rolling Stone, Paste Magazine, and Insider. Ashley has been a member of the Critics Choice Association since 2017 and is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic. In addition to her work as an editor and critic, Ashley teaches Entertainment Journalism, Composition, and Literature at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.