Grey’s Anatomy Review: Back Where You Belong (Season 13 Episode 14)

What would Richard Webber do?

Bailey almost makes a convincing case for her recent decisions on Grey’s Anatomy Season 13 Episode 14, “Back Where You Belong,” but she’s still sorely misguided.

Because, yes, Eliza Minnick’s method may be working, and the hospital may actually benefit from it, but there’s still something to be said for loyalty. It’s not like Richard is a bad teacher, and it’s not like he’s bad at his job.

He doesn’t deserve to be pushed aside, as Meredith rightly points out. What he deserved was for Bailey to push back against Minnick when she said she’d only take the job if she was solely in charge.

As for what Richard Webber would do? I’d imagine he’d be open to change, but he’d do so while making sure he was fair to the person who had built the program in the first place.

Eliza’s method does make sense, as April points out, the residents are learning more quickly than they ever have. Eliza is even starting to become a somewhat likeable character, do in part to her budding relationship with Arizona, and even more so in the way she works with the residents.

I appreciate Meredith’s willingness to take a stand for Richard, and it’s something I wonder if she’d done even a few years ago. There’s a spark in Meredith’s eyes these days that feels new, and I think it has to do with the way her character has grown in recent seasons.

That, and there’s no real risk as far as her job is concerned, since she still does OWN the hospital.

Thank goodness, by the way, that fact is finally addressed. It’s almost like Amelia asks that question on behalf of Grey’s Anatomy fans everywhere. Meredith has checked the bylaws, and yep, Bailey can still suspend her. Because: checks and balances. (Seems relevant right now, doesn’t it?)

Richard puts his own issues with this aside in what is probably my favorite scene of the episode. His relationship with Meredith is one that’s so important, and I wish we could see it more.

He hands down words of wisdom, as he’s always so good at doing, and convinces Meredith to go and get her job back.

Alex’s return to the hospital seems like it’s going to be significant, but unfortunately, it’s pretty anti-climactic.

He complains a little about the changes to the hospital, but otherwise, we don’t see him much. It’s a shame, because it could have been so much more interesting to watch him re-adjust — and to consider everyone’s reactions to having him back.

While all of that is going on in the background, the patients manage to take the main stage in powerful ways.

The kidney transplant case gets complicated by the arrival of an abusive husband and father, and then even more so when the mother’s other kidney fails. That’s new territory for Eliza, Richard, and with Bailey out visiting Meredith, April, who is currently in charge.

The case brings up issues for Jo too, and as much as we’ve been hearing about her past, I can’t help but think we’re going to see her husband soon.

Claire’s arrival to the hospital, though — that’s the case that sticks with me this week.

It’s heartbreaking to watch this woman who is so confused, homeless, and alone, and to realize that her parents had assumed she was dead all these years. Apparently, her schizophrenia manifested while she was away at college, and she just disappeared.

Now, years later, she’s reunited with her parents, who at first don’t seem to know how to react to their daughter. Thankfully, they’ll have time to figure that all out now, and for just a moment, Claire recognizes her family.

Claire’s story brings up hard emotions for Nathan, who like Claire’s parents, has gone years wondering what happened to a loved one. For him, it’s his fiancé — another story that I expect, and want, to delve into more soon.

What did you think of this episode of Grey’s Anatomy? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

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

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