Grey’s Anatomy Review: When It Hurts So Bad (Season 12 Episode 16)
After last week, we were hopeful that maybe Grey’s Anatomy would start getting back to its old self. And while some of the elements of “When It Hurts So Bad” are reminiscent of the early days of this show, we’re not exactly happy about that.
This episode of Grey’s Anatomy should have been called “Things Fall Apart.” By the end of the hour, it feels like every relationship is about to end and no amount of CPR can resuscitate them. If anything “When It Hurts so Bad” is a manual on how not to deal with uncomfortable situations.
The primary plot concerns Meredith Grey’s budding relationship with Thorpe. After he spends the night, Meredith flips out and kicks him out of the house. This confounds the twisted sisterhood: Maggie, who looks downtrodden after DeLuca leaves for a marathon surgery and Amelia, who spent the night on the couch after finding Owen drunk in his trailer.
When they finally get Meredith out of her room she feels the need to clean everything. This urge is so strong that she doesn’t even care that Amelia is there. Amelia tries to explain what happened, and why she spent the last two nights on Meredith’s couch, but Meredith just asks if she can use bleach to clean the oven.
You don’t need a degree is psychiatry to know where this cleaning spree is going. While obsessively cleaning the house, Meredith finds Derek’s blanket. She wraps it around her shoulders, makes a fire, and sits by it.
In a heart-to-heart with Alex, Meredith reveals that she’s not really ready to start dating. She thought she was because everyone told her she should be, but she isn’t. There’s even a flashback sequence where she remembers the time that Derek made a bed for them in the living room. It’s a touching moment that finally shows Meredith dealing with some of her grief.
Derek’s death was a sad moment for viewers, but we never really saw Meredith deal with it. She just left. Maybe she never really did process her grief in that year.
Alongside Meredith, other couples are having relationship issues too.
Sophia and Penny have to confront the question of: “When does my daughter get to meet my girlfriend?” while Deluca finds that he has a problem dating his attending now that their relationship is out in the open.
Then there is the ongoing story of April and Jackson. April hasn’t forgiven Arizona for going around the entire hospital telling everyone about her pregnancy. April’s life is made even more complicated by the arrival of Catherine Avery, who April knows is going to try to corner her. So she schedules surgeries all day. Good plan, but Catherine Avery still has privileges at the hospital. She’ll find you sooner or later.
Then things come to a head when Jackson confronts his mother about talking to April about the baby. Catherine says she has everything she needs to go after April. This isn’t even surprising, but we found it despicable all the same. This is the same woman who insisted that April sign a prenup! While we could see her concern there, we found this moment to be absolutely loathsome. Has anyone seen the news lately?
Stray Thoughts:
- The case of the week was interesting, if only for the absurdity in its presentation. It also fit the theme of the episode nicely.
- Karev’s “You’re not pizza.” quote was the best of the night.
- The title of Chief of Surgery seems to come with the subtitle: sage to all. Bailey’s words to Callie were very wise.
What did you think of this episode of Grey’s Anatomy? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Grey’s Anatomy airs Thursdays at 8/7c on ABC.
Lauren Busser
Lauren Busser is an Associate Editor at Tell-Tale TV. She is a writer of fiction and nonfiction whose work has appeared in Bitch Media, Popshot Quarterly, Brain Mill Press Voices, and The Hartford Courant.