Grey’s Anatomy Review: Fight for Your Mind (Season 14 Episode 22)

 

It’s the beginning of the end, at least for one character, on Grey’s Anatomy Season 14 Episode 22, “Fight for Your Mind.”

My hope ever since learning that Jessica Capshaw’s character, Arizona Robbins, would be leaving the show after this season, was that she would find her way back to Callie. That her exit would be moving to New York so that in the very least, her daughter could live near both of her mothers.

And as of the end of this episode, that’s Arizona’s plan.

Arizona spends the full hour convincing a terrified mother to do the thing that is best for her child, no matter how difficult it might be. Working with that patient brings Arizona to her own realization about her life.

The thing that’s best for her daughter is to let her be back in New York, but for her to go too.

The decision packs an emotional punch, especially with Arizona talking to her patient about how she moved around as a kid, and always had skating as a comfort — as a way to feel safe. That immediately brings up the image of the very first time we met Arizona Robbins, as she whizzed around the floors of the hospital on her rollerskates.

Part of her story includes losing her leg, and how Callie had to make that decision to save Arizona’s life, no matter how much Arizona had pleaded beforehand for her to save her leg at all costs.

In telling that story, we re-live key moments and realize we’re going to say goodbye to this character soon.

Assuming this is the ending (I mean, we once thought George was going off to the army, but then he got hit by a bus, so anything can happen…) then it will be one that is satisfying for her character.

What would make it even more satisfying would be to see a clue that she at Callie might get back together — just throwing that out there.

The key emotional storyline on this episode is focused on Alex, and I’m over the moon about it.

Alex’s character has such a complex storyline and so many layers, and I’m so glad to see us dig into that a bit more. We’ve heard about Alex’s mom for years, and to finally meet her and see her doing well is fascinating, especially considering how many emotions this brings up in Alex.

Justin Chambers is such an incredible actor, and it’s so powerful to see him play all of those emotions so close together.

It doesn’t sound like his mother is going to make it to the wedding, but still, there seems to be some closure here.

Meanwhile, Meredith prepares to give a presentation on her research project. The project is getting a lot of attention, especially as it’s coupled with the Harper Avery scandal and the recent change in the foundation.

I love re-watching old episodes of Grey’s Anatomy and then returning to the recent ones, because it’s so gratifying to see how far Meredith has come.

She is the one people are there to see now. She is the legend. And she carries a level of grace and understanding that her mother simply didn’t have. How can you watch this show and not be inspired by Meredith Grey? It’s impossible, if you ask me.

That grace and level of understanding brings Meredith to make a difficult decision, but one she realizes is right after doing some soul searching and having an honest conversation with a stranger.

Now that she has all of the information, it’s clear Marie Cerone isn’t the total villain we all thought she was. Okay, she was still a jerk, but considering the circumstances, it’s at least possible to consider where she’s coming from.

She didn’t get the credit she deserved because of Harper Avery, and that’s a wrong that Meredith has, at least in some way, the power to correct.

So she does. Just like that, in that instant, she makes a change to her mother’s legacy by renaming “The Grey Method” before moving on to talk about her research.

Other thoughts:

• Oh, this Vik kid is in for it now. He may be returning to work now, but Bailey’s speech puts him right in his place.
• I love watching Amelia being there for Betty, not only because I like seeing her in that role of a caretaker, but because it’s good to be reminded about the things Amelia herself has gone up against.
• April and Jackson have a really nice moment when Jackson gives April what he’s set aside for Harriet. And I’m already a basket case looking at the promo for the next episode…

What did you think of this episode of Grey’s Anatomy? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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

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