Grey’s Anatomy Roundtable: Caught Somewhere in Time

On Grey’s Anatomy Season 14 Episode 16, “Caught Somewhere in Time,” Catherine and Richard find out about Jackson and Maggie, April continues to spiral out of control, and Meredith makes a decision about her research.

Tell-Tale TV writers Lauren Busser and Alamin Yohannes are joined by Starry Constellation Magazine writer Jamie Steinberg to discuss this episode below.

• Lauren Busser (@laurenbusser)
• Alamin Yohannes (@alaminyohannes)
• Jamie Steinberg (@NotYerAvgChick)

What did you make of Catherine’s reaction to Jackson and Maggie’s new relationship?

Alamin: I understand it. Richard’s relationship with Maggie started off rocky, but now they are solid. He will back her, support her and side with her. I don’t think Maggie or Jackson would let their relationship problems break Richard and Catherine’s relationship, but I get Catherine being concerned. We did meet Jackson’s father, so she’s has been burned before.

Jamie: Well, first and foremost, I’m so Team Jaggie or is it Mackson? Either way, count me in. Yes, I understand why it would make Catherine uncomfortable, but (and I know this is fandom not approved) Jackson and Maggie have hella chemistry!

They share no common DNA and they have real feelings for each other. Let them navigate their relationship and let Richard and Catherine manage theirs. Let there be no regrets.

Lauren: When I think about Maggie and Jackson’s relationship, my mind immediately goes to The Fosters and the whole Callie and Brandon storyline there. This strikes me as being in a similar vein, but Maggie and Jackson are older and haven’t grown up together.

They are adults, and I think they can navigate a relationship on their terms. Of course, I also understand Catherine’s issues with it. What surprised me about Catherine’s reaction is that she could have come out of the gate saying, “Well she’s your stepsister” but instead it was in regards to her relationship with Richard, and I can understand that.

It didn’t read as a mother trying to police who her son dates, it was out of fear. It’s a valid emotion, and I think that it will depend on how the next several episodes play out, especially where April’s storyline is concerned.

Is Amelia right about Teddy being Owen’s “tumor,” and that their marriage never stood a chance because of her?

Alamin: The whole Teddy is Owen’s “tumor” thing is nonsense as far as I’m consider. Grey’s Anatomy is trying to rewrite history with this development. Owen would have happily grown old with Cristina Yang, but she didn’t want to have kids and he did. Owen was not pining for Teddy the whole time.

Amelia’s tumor could have impacted any choice she made, but Owen pursued her, fell in love with her and asked her to marry him. Those were choices he made and he wanted to start a life with Amelia. Then Amelia said she wasn’t sure about trying to have another child.

I don’t see how Teddy even factors in. He’s starting over again and if he wants to try with Teddy, then this is the ideal time. This whole thing brings Teddy back into the story, which we know because she’s set to appear in more episodes this season, and I’m happy about that. Maybe they are met to be together, but she is not the reason his marriage to Amelia didn’t work.

Jamie: I’m going to say a big fat no on this one. First of all, Teddy existed when Cristina was around. If she didn’t divide their relationship, she certainly didn’t divide his relationship to Amelia.

The issue that pervades every relationship Owen has is kids. He dove in with Christina thinking he’d be okay putting his interest in having kids on the back burner. When that didn’t work, he went for Amelia who said she did want kids. Apparently that was just the tumor talking though.

Whom ever he is with, regardless of who they are, it’s not Teddy that stands in the way of making Owen happy — it’s starting a family.

Lauren: The logic here is so screwy. I never read any romantic interest when it came to Teddy, especially not once her character had settled into Seattle-Grace.

She didn’t disrupt Cristina and Owen’s marriage, and the way Owen is written doesn’t give me the impression that he’s pining away for her. In a way, this whole thing reads like it’s just an attempt to conveniently bring back this character.

April is continuing to spiral out of control. What do you expect to happen with her? Were you surprised by her actions on this episode?

Alamin: It’s sad to see April struggle, but I will admit it’s great to see Sarah Drew crushing this darker material. Over the course of the series she has had some tragic arcs, but they have shown off her talent as an actress. The same goes for this current storyline.

What worries me about her actions is howGrey’s Anatomy will wrap up her story. I’m concerned there could be some sort of tragic end to April’s story, which would be awful. I don’t see April leaving Seattle with her child or Jackson accepting having his child far away.

Jamie: I don’t like how Kepner is spiraling downhill and so fast. I didn’t expect her to go off the rails during the training exercise, certainly.

So far, she’s done a good job of keeping her sanity while on the job, but this just was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Clearly, her drinking and her despair have gotten the best of her and she needs to take a hard look at her life and what she wants to do about her current mental state.

Lauren: I agree with Jamie, April is barreling down a very steep hill and I think that she needs to address the events of “Personal Jesus.” At the same time, I understand where she’s coming from with how sometimes you do all you can, and still, your patient dies. That’s a thing that all doctors have to learn, but this exercise wasn’t the time for it.

There’s never a good time to learn this lesson, it’s a hard lesson, but we know where April’s despair stems from, and we can see that she needs help.

Were you glad to see more of Arizona and her relationship with Sofia?

Alamin: It was great to see the show give Arizona and Sofia time together. It was not only great to see their relationship, but it also set the stage for Arizona’s exit. Life with Sofia in New York, so she can grow up with stability around both of her mothers.

Jamie: I really liked getting to see more of Arizona as a parent this episode. While I don’t think Sofia would in real life actually be allowed in so many of these medical meetings. Regardless, this was the first time we got to see Arizona so hands-on with their daughter and to see the lovely connection that they share.

Lauren: Yes! While I understand why kids aren’t featured on the show more, I really like when we get to see the characters who are parents, be parents. I don’t know how realistic these scenarios were, but it was nice to see Arizona and Sofia connect.

Sofia is about seven or eight now and she can interact with her mom and vocalize her wants and needs. I also feel like this set up for some serious discussions about bi-coastal parenting. Like Alamin said, this could be a good set-up for Jessica Capshaw leaving the series, and I might be okay with that storyline depending on how the contest pans out.

What’s one storyline you wish we would have seen more of from this episode, and why?

Alamin: I would have liked to see the fallout Maggie-Jackson relationship from both family’s perspectives. I loved watching Catherine and Jackson working through Catherine’s concern, but it would have also been nice to see Maggie and Richard’s side of it. Or Richard having conversations with both Catherine and Jackson.

Jamie: Well, we didn’t delve into any Alex and Jo this episode. We did see Jo telling Meredith that she was engaged again (side note: YEAH!). They had a big episode together last week though so it was okay that other people took their time to shine.

Lauren: I think that Alex and Jo was definitely one that I am anxious to delve into now that her history with her ex-husband has been resolved. We did get to see a lot of storylines this episode, and it felt pretty balanced to me.

The other thing I am really anxious to see more of is Richard’s magic cancer-detecting wand! I just thought that was a really cool idea and I want to see what progress he’s able to make with it.

Finally, use a gif to describe your overall reaction to this episode:

Alamin: This goes out to Maggie! She’s getting what seems like a good relationship started and laid down some truth about Ellis to Jo in the OR.

Jamie: 

Lauren:

What did you think of this episode of Grey’s Anatomy? Respond to our roundtable questions with your own answers in the comments below!

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

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