Grey’s Anatomy Review: The Distance (Season 11 Episode 14)

Freakin’. Superheroes.

Grey’s Anatomy pulled off one of their best episodes in a long time with “The Distance.”

I complained last week that Herman was the one narrating as opposed to one of the main cast members. On this episode, the narrator is Amelia, and that’s something I’m definitely on board with. Amelia is becoming more central to the cast, and that’s a good thing. She’s passionate, and she has an important role in both Derek and Meredith’s lives.

This particular story line has allowed the audience to become even more invested in Amelia’s character as well as in Dr. Herman, who in the beginning, wasn’t likeable at all. The build up of a major surgery like this is the kind of thing Grey’s Anatomy does really well, especially when that surgery is “impossible.”

Just before they begin, Stephanie walks into the see Amelia standing in a strange pose. Her hands are on her hips, her back straight, her shoulders pulled back. It’s the “superhero” pose. Amelia tells Stephanie there are studies that show that people are more confident and perform better in whatever they are about to do if they stand in that pose first.

Hey, whatever works, right?

Stephanie buys it, and stands in the pose alongside Amelia. Stephanie is willing to do whatever it takes, and I’ve enjoyed seeing their teacher/student relationship develop over the past few episodes. Stephanie has become a character I really want to root for.

One of my favorite things about this episode is how everyone piles into the gallery to see the surgery. It seems like that’s something that hasn’t happened in a while, and it’s a nice way to bring the cast together. Meredith even explains the tradition to Maggie, which is a nice touch.

Amelia stands there with the clock ticking, trying to figure out where to begin. We’ve seen Derek in this exact situation before. Okay, so usually I rail against repeated story lines on Grey’s Anatomy, but this is an instance where it’s done with intention and purpose, and in an artistic way. I really appreciate the nod to an older season, putting Amelia in Derek’s shoes.

When Webber sees her struggling from the gallery, he heads down to be a sounding board. Amelia tells him she thinks she’s in over her head.

Amelia: I took on an impossible task, and my hubris is going to kill her.

This is when Richard becomes the chief again! Not literally, of course, but come on. His encouraging words to Amelia — that’s the chief we know of love. And he says precisely what I was thinking.

Richard: I’ve seen him [Derek] standing exactly where you are now.

He encourages Amelia not to second guess herself, even going so far as to say Derek would kill her if he even got there in time to do the surgery.

The surgery is intense, and we get the opportunity to see a lot of the details. I used to be squeamish about these sorts of things, but after watching eleven seasons of Grey’s (and many episodes more than a few times) it’s safe to say I’m mostly desensitized to it.

As the surgery progresses, Edwards passes right out on to the floor. What I like about this is it’s a reminder of how strenuous this job actually is. They talk about hours and hours of surgery all the time, but it’s easy to forget what a toll that can take on the doctors.

By the end of it, Meredith is down there helping, which I also really appreciate. And it makes sense that she would since she spent so much time working with Derek in the early seasons. It may not be her specialty, but she’s no stranger to brain surgery.

Amelia takes a big risk when she gets to the end of the surgery by removing her glove and exposing herself to massive amounts of radiation. It’s a bold move, but it’s a risk she’s willing to make. By the way, I realize Owen is concerned as a person and as the chief of surgery, but I think those concerns are doubled by feelings for Amelia. (I’m dying, by the way, to see their relationship progress.)

The surgery is successful, but it takes some time for Dr. Herman to wake up. When she does, she seems to be in pretty good shape, except that she’s totally blind. Arizona is devastated, but Dr. Herman is grateful to be able to live.

Dr. Herman: The point is, I’m going to get to figure it out. Something is going to happen next. The point is, I’m alive. And I wouldn’t be if you hadn’t been such a pain in my ass.

It’s incredibly gratifying to see the surgery be a success after so much build up. Even better is the fact that it’s not a perfect, happy ending. Herman is blind, and that’s devastating, but I don’t know if I would have bought a completely perfect recovery from such a risky surgery.

Sure, Amelia is upset that Herman is blind, but she too, sees the bigger picture. She tells Stephanie to stop crying and be proud, because they did something incredible in saving her life.

Amelia: You defeated death. Mere mortals cannot do that. Only we can.
Stephanie: Only superheroes.
Amelia: Only freakin’ superheroes.

What did you think of “The Distance”? Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Related: We chose Caterina Scorsone as Amelia Shepherd for this week’s MVP over at Just About Write.

Grey’s Anatomy airs Thursdays at 9/8c on ABC.