Grey’s Anatomy Roundtable: Did Meredith Get Played? And What’s Next for April and Arizona?

As Meredith continues trying to make her research project a reality, she finds herself facing someone from her past.

Meanwhile, Jackson and Maggie finally get together, and we’re worried about what’s coming next for April and Arizona following the news that Sarah Drew and Jessica Capshaw are both leaving the series.

Tell-Tale TV writers Lauren Busser, Alamin Yohannes, and Ashley Bissette Sumerel are joined by Starry Constellation Magazine writer Jamie Steinberg to discuss Grey’s Anatomy Season 14 Episode 14, “Games People Play,” below.

• Lauren Busser (@laurenbusser)
• Alamin Yohannes (@alaminyohannes)
• Ashley Bissette Sumerel (@ashleybsumerel)
• Jamie Steinberg (@NotYerAvgChick)

1. What was your initial impression of Marie? Do you really think she played Meredith?

Jamie: I liked her at the beginning. She seemed friendly and it was nice to see Meredith reconnecting with someone so warm from her past. By the episode end, you’re not so sure what to think of her — especially since Richard said that Ellis hated her.

Alamin: Marie had such a great introduction on Grey’s Anatomy! At first, I was happy to see someone else from Meredith’s past, but I was surprised that Ellis had friends. Colleagues who liked working with her I get, but she didn’t seem like the type to have friends.

I absolutely think she played Meredith. Whether it’s about stealing Meredith’s idea or getting back at Ellis, she’s certainly up to something.

Initially I thought the twist was going to be that Marie was sick and needed this breakthrough to survive, but this battle for Meredith’s project is really interesting. I can of like the idea of Grey’s having a villain of sorts. Someone for Meredith to go head-to-head with.

Lauren: Marie had a great introduction, but honestly, there are little hints in her language when you look back that make me suspicious. Was she ever really willing to sell the polymer to Meredith? I am sure that it’s going to come to light that Meredith got played. Her mother wasn’t the type to have friends.

Like Alamin, I am very excited to see where this goes. I kind of miss the cutthroat intern days and I feel like this would bring a bit of that energy back.

Ashley: I didn’t see this coming until the end. I liked her and mainly wanted to see her be proud of Meredith and impressed by her. I do think she played Meredith, and I agree, I think it’s an interesting (albeit nervewracking) element to add to the series.

2. Jackson and Maggie are finally getting together. Discuss.

Jamie: YES! I was so excited for them, especially since the way Jackson asked her out was romantic AS HELL! It does suck that Clive was too good to be true, but Jackson took complete charge of the situation and then came back to sweep Maggie off her feet. Again, I say YES!

Alamin: They sure took their sweet time, huh? I’m happy because I’m always here for Maggie storylines. I’m also happy for them because it’ll let us see more of Jackson.

He’s typically very stoic and it’s through his relationships that we see more of his personality. A good example of that is his relationship with Catherine — their mother-son dynamic has given us great scenes. It happened with his relationships with April and Stephanie as well as his friendships with Mark and Ben.

The only thing that I didn’t love about it was Clive’s lie being used to create the situation that started their relationship. They should have just chosen to get together because they like each other and wanted to. I will admit that the way they did it resulted in a really powerful scene though.

Lauren: I think that Jackson and Maggie are going to be a good couple. They have a good energy, and I did appreciate how he took charge when they found out Clive was married. I’ve always been in the mindset that a friend can be the best romantic partner, and I am very excited to see where this goes as well.

Ashley: Look, when the show started hinted at something between these two, I wasn’t excited in the least. I just didn’t see the chemistry, and for some reason it didn’t work for me.

But the build up has been so slow and so natural that now I’m totally on board. It’s so satisfying to see it come to fruition. And I’m with Jamie — that scene when Jackson asks her on a date was definitely one for the books. Can you say “swoon”?

3. Were you surprised that Alex finally convinced Kimmie’s grandmother to sign off on the medical marijuana?

Jamie: I was slightly confused because Kimmie originally said it was her grandmother’s idea to get the marijuana. Then, Alex is an amazing doctor and we all knew eventually he would use his powers of persuasion (being a good [handsome] doctor) to help Kimmie. Her grandmother would see that he only wanted the best for Kimmie and by the end she was amazed at how much it actually helped her health.

Alamin: I’m not surprised she convinced Kimmie’s grandmother because he is good at his job. I am surprised that he didn’t see through Kimmie’s lie about her grandmother suggesting medical marijuana or checked with her before going to Bailey with the idea.

Lauren: I wasn’t surprised at all. Alex is the kind of doctor who shows up and advocates for his patients. Of course he would advocate for Kimmie, and help her. Plus, the laser surgery can’t happen without the patient!

Ashley: I’m with Alamin that I was more surprised he didn’t check on this with Kimmie’s grandmother beforehand, but otherwise, I think Alex is always so good at advocating for his patients that I wasn’t surprised he was able to do so here.

It was also quite a relief, and I loved seeing him playing checkers with Kimmie while she ate that cheeseburger. It was just a sweet moment.

4. What was your favorite quote or scene from this episode and why?

Jamie: I’m going with Jackson coming back to the house and sweeping Maggie off her feet by saying he was going to take her to her favorite Italian place. Then, that kiss…I mean, I swooned and I wasn’t even the one getting kissed!

Alamin: It’s a tie between Jo trying to convince Marie to sell to Meredith and the final sequence when Meredith pulls Maggie into her search for answers. It’s no secret that Jo and Meredith have not had the easiest journey on the show. Between her beating up Jason Myers, better known as Chest Peckwell, and Alex almost going to prison, it’s been rough at times for them.

One of the best things about this season has been the development of their relationship through Jo’s past struggles and their new partnership. Watching Jo make a case for Meredith to Marie was just fantastic.

As for the final scene, I’m just a sucker for a scene where the troops get mobilized. Meredith had real urgency when she called on Maggie and they got to work.

Lauren: There are so many great moments in this episode! I really liked April’s rant about rules during game night. I don’t like the path that April is on, and she was acting really abrasive in a lot of her scenes, but I felt like her frustration really came through and I appreciated the way Sarah Drew conveyed that emotion.

Ashley: So many great choices! I loved the Jackson and Maggie scene, I loved the opening when Meredith declared all she needed was her “excellent back massager,” and I loved watching Bailey and Webber laughing over the video footage of the ball in the ER. But especially since we haven’t talked about it yet, I’ll just leave this quote right here:

Amelia: Sorry! I don’t want you to feel used.

Owen: Amelia… I want you to use me in every way you can think of.

5. What’s your favorite game to play during a game night? Is there anything you’re particularly good at?

Jamie: When I babysit my neighbors they love playing the game SORRY! with me. When I’m with adults, we play the dominoes game Train. It’s a good game if you have a lengthy table and a number of friends.

Alamin: I love a card game. Particularly UNO, which I always bring to game night and think I’m pretty good at.

Lauren: I feel like Apples to Apples is always a good laugh. Particularly when you know the judge has an ironic sense of humor.

Ashley: I’m a really big fan of Taboo! Gosh, it’s been a long time since I’ve played that.

6. And the big one — what’s your reaction to the news that Jessica Capshaw and Sarah Drew are leaving the series? Do you have any guesses as to how their characters might be written out?

Jamie: I was not happy, to say the least. I understand the show has to evolve and the writers have a gut feeling when they’ve taken a character as far as they can go.

I’m just worried with their current trend for April that her ending is a rehab and I’m also concerned that now that Arizona confronted her coworker about her C-section rates she’ll do something to derail Arizona’s career. Either of those would actually do a disservice to the great characters that we’ve come to love.

Alamin: While I do feel like Grey’s Anatomy could benefit from a smaller cast, I am very sad to see Arizona and April leave the series. From a representation standpoint, it is unfortunate to see Arizona leave shortly after Callie, which means a loss of two LGBTQ characters.

As for April, she is a character that has incredible development over the course of the series. My big worry is how April’s story will be wrapped up.

Arizona has embarked on this huge undertaking to help pregnant women across the United States, which is a project that could take her away from Grey Sloan Memorial. Specifically, to New York where she could be closer to her daughter. But April has a child in Seattle and Jackson isn’t going anywhere, so I’m concerned that her exit from the series will be tragic. Especially with how her she seems to be struggling in recent episodes.

Lauren: Like Alamin mentioned, we are losing two characters that have been on quite a journey and I am very sad to see them go. Stories do end, and I think if the writers can give them both worthy endings I will ultimately be okay.

I can see Arizona leaving, maybe because of her maternal mortality study. She could go to New York, or she could travel abroad. I keep remembering when she got that grant to go to Africa, and if she can spot the trend in maternal mortality I could see her fulfilling a dream and traveling to different clinics.

For April, with the road she’s headed down, I worry about where that’s going. I would rather see her exit the series alive rather than get killed off, but Grey’s Anatomy has a history of pulling the rug out from under you.

Ashley: I was shocked more than anything, especially since both characters seem to be doing some really interesting things right now. I’ve been excited to see April’s journey as she deals with the crisis-of-faith, and Arizona is onto this new study and  enjoying a new relationship. But, kind of like Lauren says, I’m assuming the writers have a plan to make it worth it and to end their stories well, so I’m going to have faith that that’s the case.

As for what I think might happen, I’m also guessing that Arizona will get a happy ending of sorts, though that doesn’t seem likely for April. I’m nervous.

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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 14, “Games People Play,” right here.

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

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