Grey’s Anatomy Review: Break Down the House / Get Off on the Pain (Season 14 Episodes 1 and 2)

This is it. This is the Grey’s Anatomy we fell in love with so many years ago. And it’s fantastic.

Grey’s Anatomy Season 14 Episodes 1 and 2, “Break Down the House” and “Get Off on the Pain,” feel brighter and more balanced, just as we were promised.

That’s not to say there isn’t drama, and even a tragic twist at the end of the two-hour season premiere — it has those elements too. But along with them comes more humor, more focus on friendships, and more call backs to the early seasons.

Even better, at the center is Meredith, who amidst a complicated emotional situation continues to prove what a badass surgeon she truly is.

And of course, this is difficult for her to deal with. Not only did she finally does Megan’s arrival put an abrupt end to any relationship with Nathan, which it was already difficult to allow herself to be in in the first place, but it also rips open her wound from losing Derek.

The dream that she and Nathan both had, that they bonded over, was of their loved ones to return to them. It must feel so unfair that Nathan’s dream actually came true.

How Meredith deals with it, though, is to throw herself into her work. She buries the emotional piece of it and focuses on helping, because wouldn’t you know it, Megan as a severe injury that she needs an amazing general surgeon to handle.

It’s Meredith’s pattern to put everyone else over herself and to focus on the task at hand, and this is no different. Quite frankly, it’s also wonderful to watch. She’s a strong, tough woman and an incredible surgeon who isn’t afraid to take risks.

Megan Hunt, played by Abigail Spencer, recognizes that right away. This all could have gone down much differently, but upon finally learning of Meredith’s relationship with Nathan, the person she bonds with and respects the most is Meredith.

Let’s also take a moment to appreciate Abigail Spencer in this role, because she’s perfect. What she’s delivering from that hospital bed is complex — she’s been through hell, but along the way, she’s gained a son.

She’s still funny, which you wouldn’t necessarily expect, and she’s determined a strong, but it doesn’t mean she has become just a bit broken. We see all of those layers in Spencer’s performance, and it really makes me hope she’s going to stick around for a while.

Teddy’s presence is also complicating matters. First of all, it feels wonderful to have her back, though it’s almost jarring how many of the doctors have actually never met her. Maggie doesn’t even know who she is. That’s how long this character has been missing from the story.

Meredith describes Teddy as Owen’s person, and she’s not far off. Teddy even inserts herself, perhaps more than she should, when she feels it’s inappropriate for Meredith to be Megan’s surgeon.

Teddy’s also worried about Owen’s relationship with Amelia. How could she not be? Ever since Owen and Amelia got married, things have been out of control. It’s a bit much, honestly.

After losing Cristina, it would have been nice to see his relationship with Amelia work out, even just for a little while. The same goes for Amelia too, for that matter.

Everyone notices Amelia’s actions are off, and by the end of the premiere, we have an explanation.

Hello, shocking Grey’s Anatomy premiere!

Turns out, Amelia has brain tumor, which we learn when she takes part in Carina’s study (DeLuca’s sister!) on what happens to the female brain during an orgasm.

It’s a pretty incredible way to find a brain tumor, and I love that Amelia was willing to be a part of that study. The twist itself, though… this isn’t the first doctor to have a brain tumor, and it feels a bit like history repeating itself. (Okay, she’s not having hallucinations of a dead loved one, but still).

Amelia has been through so much that her actions could be explained that way. The loss of her fiancé, a baby, her brother — it’s almost insulting that now she’s contending with a brain tumor.

We’ll see it where it goes, though, because what’s interesting about it is that this time, there’s no Derek Shepherd to save the day. Amelia is the best neurosurgeon around now.

Other thoughts:

• I’m not sure I buy that Nathan would be able to just abandon Meredith and propose so quickly to Megan. Clearly, Megan doesn’t much buy it either.
• I love Meredith and Alex moments, including a reference to the time Meredith slept with George.
• We hear about Cristina, and we even see her face!
• We’ve heard this line that Meredith says to Jo once before: “You wanna be a shark, be a shark. Don’t apologize for it.”
• Jo trying to make Ben her new Stephanie is actually endearing. Even better is that Ben handles this differently than Stephanie would have — and the outcome is that Alex and Jo get the chance to reconcile.
• I’m so sad for Arizona. It’s horrible that Eliza just left without saying goodbye. (Note that we’ve seen this happen before, too.)
• Jackson and Maggie: I’m undecided. I love the idea of seeing each of them in the early stages of a romance, and I want a concrete resolution to Jackson and April’s relationship possibly more than she does.
• Bailey and her shoes! One of my favorite moments from this episode is Bailey finally ditching those heels. Good for her.

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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