Grey’s Anatomy Review: Mama Tried (Season 12 Episode 22)
The custody battle for Sophia Robbin Sloan Torres comes to a head as Callie and Arizona fight for sole physical custody on this week’s Grey’s Anatomy. “Mama Tried” is a hour-long battle in a scenario where ultimately no one wins–except maybe Calzona fans.
There is a lot of baby talk in this week’s episode. Not in the “goo-goo, ga-ga” sense but babies and children are at the heart of the episode.
Sophia and the custody arrangement is part of it, but Jenny, the 14-year-old pregnant girl from “I Wear the Face” is back in the ER after a kitchen accident. Of course, this subplot exists for one purpose: Dividing Arizona’s attention.
While Arizona is on the stand she gets a call from a colleague who wants to deliver Jenny’s baby. Since Arizona is awesome and knows there’s a less conventional way to buy the baby more time, she rushes to help after giving a moving speech about how no matter what the judge decides Sophia will survive—but Jenny’s child won’t.
Later, when the judge calls them back and delivers her verdict, custody is granted to Arizona. It’s a decision that is both easy and hard to understand. If you look at the testimony Arizona is the clear choice, but you would expect Callie’s biological connection to win out.
In the voice-over for this episode, Meredith tells the story of King Solomon, in which two mothers both claim a baby is theirs. The true mother would rather see her baby given up than be split in two.
With that logic, you could say that because Arizona left to help another child, she was giving Sophia up and hence Sophia’s “true” mother. While Callie argues genetics, Arizona shows care and concern.
Arizona’s actions aren’t the only factor in the judge’s decision. You have to consider the testimony.
Uprooting Sophia from her home is a large concern. Meredith’s testimony describes the community of moms at Grey-Sloan as being a little village that helps raise each other’s kids. Arizona is the parent who is staying in that environment and who has this reliable support.
While it’s heartbreaking to see Callie lose her daughter, the events leading up to her decision to move to New York are too sudden. She is uprooting her life to chase a resident across the country, and she isn’t thinking it through.
Maybe this decision is what Callie needs to make her stay in Seattle, where she can see Sophia, and maybe Calzona will finally find their way back to each other in the coming weeks.
Although from next week’s trailer, they may be in for a fight first.
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.