Grey’s Anatomy Roundtable: (Don’t Fear) the Reaper

Bailey’s life is in danger when she admits herself to Seattle Pres for a heart attack, but she doesn’t get the care she knows she needs.

Tell-Tale TV writers Lauren Busser, Alamin Yohannes, Milka Väinämö, and Ashley Bissette Sumerel discuss Grey’s Anatomy Season 14 Episode 11, “(Don’t Fear) the Reaper,” below.

• Lauren Busser (@laurenbusser)
• Alamin Yohannes (@alaminyohannes)
• Milka Väinämö (@milkamilka)
• Ashley Bissette Sumerel (@ashleybsumerel)

What were your overall impressions of “(Don’t Fear) the Reaper”?

Alamin: It was a very strong episode. Like Jo and April were the focuses of the two previous episodes, it was nice to have a story about Miranda. I am enjoying how Grey’s Anatomy is really leaning into its ensemble lately.

I have read about Ellen Pompeo directing an episode about Alex and Jesse Williams directing a big Arizona episode, both of which I am excited to see.

Then there’s also the fact that it is always great to have Dr. Bailey at the center of a story. Since she was an original character it was nice to see all of the flashbacks to the past. Additionally, I think it was important to tell a story that resolves her issues with Ben before he heads off to the spinoff. Learning more about Miranda’s past was a wonderful piece to the episode as well.

Milka: Overall, it was a very strong, impressive episode that focused on a character that, in my opinion, doesn’t often get the screentime she deserves. Like Alamin, I am loving the fact that Grey’s Anatomy is taking its strong cast into full use by episodes like this.

Lauren: This is a very strong episode. I’ve really been enjoying the more character-focused episodes this season. I’ve watched a lot of shows in the past where, although they have a large ensemble, they don’t realize that they don’t have to service every storyline in every episode, and as a result, the episodes have been cluttered.

These episodes of Grey’s Anatomy are tight, focused, and enjoyable to watch. I really liked seeing Bailey’s flashback’s particularly because I realized, we don’t know much about her history aside from what’s happened on the show or her professional history.

Ashley: I also agree on the character-focused episodes. I don’t think it’s always a good idea to do that, but Grey’s Anatomy does it well, and it does it particularly well with “(Don’t Fear) the Reaper.” Bailey is such an incredible character, so I really appreciated the chance to focus on her and to learn more about her — which I think is an impressive feat for a show that’s in its fourteenth season.

The other thing I appreciated is that she goes to the hospital for a heart attack — something that, unfortunately, a lot of people experience. It’s not a freak accident or something like that, but instead, something that affects families often.

Early in the episode, did you think Bailey was actually having a heart attack? Why or why not?

Alamin: Yes, because she a brilliant and successful doctor who knows what she’s talking about. The flashbacks, particularly the more recent ones, felt like evidence in a case the episode was making, but I believed her from the second she walked in. I don’t see Miranda Bailey walking into anyone’s hospital to make a scene about a heart attack unless she’s sure.

Milka: Yes, definitely. She is an accomplished surgeon and an expert in her field, so I knew that there would be a very small chance that she would actually misdiagnose the situation.

Lauren: I believed her. She walked into a different hospital and was absolutely certain about what was happening. She’s a successful doctor who knows her stuff, and that was enough reason for me to believe her.

On a personal note: I am aware that there is a degree of medical sexism that exists in cases like these. As the doctors evaluated her case, I was starting to get that feeling, but I also think it was a smart decision to have this storyline take place at another hospital. If Miranda had walked into Grey-Sloan the same way, she would have been instantly believed.

Ashley: Yes and no. I’m with the group in that I knew Bailey would know what she was talking about, but for a bit I couldn’t help but wonder if she really did have anxiety and if that’s what the episode was going to focus on. The fact that the doctors wouldn’t run that last test that Bailey knew she needed solidified the heart attack, for me, though — and that’s about the moment my heart sunk.

Like Lauren says, I’m also aware that this is a problem that exists. It’s something I’ve experienced myself (on a much less drastic level) where I knew something was happening with my body but I wasn’t taken seriously by medical professionals for a while. It is a shocking feeling to be treated that way. There’s something to be said for trusting your own body.

We got to see a lot of flashbacks to previous episodes and important moments for Bailey. Is there a Miranda Bailey moment that stands out for you from any point in the series?

Alamin: It was great to get a glimpse of George in the flashbacks, but the best moment was the one where Dr. Webber is pretending to read Bailey the riot act when she shows up her superior. That was a great episode because we got to learn more about Dr. Bailey.

Milka: Oh man, there are so many great Miranda Bailey moments out there. I love her first scene on the show because it was then that I knew this is a character I am going to love. I also love the Season 2 episode on which Bailey stays with Cristina while she has an emergency surgery because that shows a completely new side to Bailey.

Finally, I am a massive McSteamy fan (RIP) and have always found the scene in which she shares her thoughts of him to the nursing staff hilarious — “This man is a whore. Has always been a whore, will probably always be a whore.”

Lauren: This was a great episode for Bailey moments, but I have to say one of my favorite ones is when she’s talking to the kid who fell into the wet concrete. He’s upset and she decides to make him feel better by talking Star Wars.

When she gets done with her analogy the entire room is staring at her and she says: “What, so I like science fiction. Has anyone got a problem with that?” I already loved Miranda Bailey, but that scene made me love her even more. We got a good glimpse of her love of sci-fi again this episode.

Ashley: Yeah, this is a really tough question. But one that stands out for me is when Webber doesn’t understand why Bailey isn’t quick to take a fellowship, and she finally says: “I’m pregnant, you blind moron.”

What was either your favorite quote or your favorite moment from this episode?

Alamin: Definitely Maggie going off on Seattle Pres’ chief in the OR. For several reasons that was my favorite. First, he absolutely deserved it because he didn’t do the one test Miranda asked him to do.

Second, I absolutely love Maggie Pierce. She’s brought such as different energy since she joined the show and “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” put that on display. The way she tears someone a new one without being disrespectful. It makes it humorous and, more importantly, more poignant.

Milka: The scene in which Miranda calls her mother broke my heart but also told so much about the relationship they share. They are both scared but know that Miranda can do it — she can get over this, she can get better, and things will be fine again. I loved how this scene kind of brought together all of the flashbacks seen previously and showed how the relationship between Miranda and her mother has changed.

Lauren: It’s so hard to pick out one scene from this episode. I definitely love all the scenes that Alamin and Milka mentioned, but I think my favorite scenes were between Ben and Miranda after the surgery.

I liked the link to her earlier memory of reading in a tree and needing a treehouse to escape from the world once in a while. I thought that was really touching.

Ashley: I loved when Ben tells Bailey he’s not going to be a firefighter after all, and Bailey tells him to call the fire chief back. It’s such a sweet moment and it’s nice to see what they are both willing to do for each other.

Is there anything you wished would have been different about “(Don’t Fear) the Reaper”?

Alamin: Not a thing. Well, maybe Jackson showing up at the hospital because what added something special to this episode for me was how it centered many of the black characters on the show. It wasn’t the happiest story, but it gave many of the shows great actors of color these standout moments. It was when Catherine Avery showed up that I realized it. It was just wonderful to see.

Milka: Not really, like with last week’s episode I feel like this was a really solid episode that didn’t leave me wanting for anything. It also left me hoping that we will see more of Miranda on the future episodes as well.

Lauren: It’s such a tight storyline, and everything that happened felt earned. I appreciated how focused it was and I wouldn’t change anything.

Ashley: Agree with the group that this is a really solid episode, but I think if I had to change one thing it would have been just to see a bit more interaction between Bailey and Richard near the end just because I love their relationship, and I loved that Richard knew to go looking for her when he did.

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What did you think of this episode of Grey’s Anatomy? Respond to our roundtable questions with your own answers in the comments below! You can also check out our review of Grey’s Anatomy Season 14 Episode 11, “(Don’t Fear) the Reaper,” right here.

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

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