Grey’s Anatomy Review: Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger (Season 14 Episode 12)

Grey’s Anatomy delivers a fun, light-hearted episode at just the right time.

After several emotional episodes, Grey’s Anatomy Season 14 Episode 12, “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger,” allows us to breathe a little as the doctors focus on the much-anticipated surgical contest, but it also manages to do a LOT when it comes to character development.

April is still dealing with the tragic day she had on Grey’s Anatomy Season 14 Episode 10, “Personal Jesus.” There’s hardly any sign of the bubbly, positive April that we’re used to seeing. Instead, she’s got a negative outlook, she’s sleeping with an intern, and she even has a lesser regard for being punctual.

April: God is asleep at the wheel, and humanity is locked in the trunk. They can wait for their damn rules.

There’s a lot of depth to be seen here, and April being in charge of the surgical contest is perfect as it is, but I like that we’re seeing this particular side of April as she runs it.

Meredith gets the chance to shine as a doctor as well. I mean, how amazing is this woman? And think of how far she’s come over the years. She’s the legend now, and we see why.

She not only has a brilliant mind, but she’s good at solving problems, showing compassion, and being a team player — which shows when she brings Jo on board as a partner and also realizes that perhaps Jo might like to use a different name. (Too bad there’s going to be a problem with their idea, which Meredith only realizes at the end of the episode.)

I’m seriously loving the friendship that’s developing between these two. It’s gone from this intense dislike to a mentorship, to now a real friendship. It might even be becoming one of my favorite relationships on the show.

There’s actually a lot of hope throughout this episode, too, which is nice. The ideas everyone has for the surgical contest are unique and exciting, and it feels like they’re all going to make a difference.

Jackson decides to go with his mother’s idea as opposed to the spray on skin. There’s also a lot of humor to be offered working on such a project with his mother.

Catherine: Look, my birthday is coming up. You could think of this vagina as your gift to me.

Jackson: Now I’m gonna go smash my head in with a hammer and see if I can forget that you said that.

Along with the humor, though, is the seriousness of how important — and how life-changing for so many — a procedure like this would be.

The tragic piece of this episode is Alex and Amelia’s patient — a young girl, Kimmie, with a brain tumor who only wants to be able to sing. Her positivity is inspiring, and her voice is beautiful.

The problem is that removing the tumor that could interfere with her ability to speak, and worse, sadly, of all the doctors and their projects, it’s Alex and Amelia’s project, which could find a way around that problem, that doesn’t make the cut in the surgical contest.

What I like about this, as well as having brought back Meredith’s spleen patient, is that we’re getting back in the habit of having patients with multi-episode arcs. Those are some of the best stories Grey’s Anatomy has to offer. We’ll be getting that too with Candice Cayne as Dr. Michele Velez, so there’s definitely a lot to look forward to when the show returns in March.

Other thoughts:

• The interaction with Bailey and Levi is so incredibly awkward and funny, especially considering Bailey’s project.
• I still have no interest in the relationship between DeLuca and Sam. Maybe that will change?
• Richard and Maggie bonding makes me so happy, and I love that it happens while Richard is taking dance lessons for Catherine. It’s so endearing.
• I really appreciate seeing the shot of Arizona’s prosthetic leg early in the episode. Let’s not forget what she’s been through.

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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