Grey’s Anatomy Review: Blowin’ in the Wind (Season 15 Episode 8)

Some of the best Grey’s Anatomy stories happen in elevators, and I don’t just mean the romantic ones.

There’s something poetic, and almost meta, about the multi-elevator cliffhanger on Grey’s Anatomy Season 15 Episode 8, “Blowin’ in the Wind.”

This powerful wind storm in Seattle means “impalement palooza” as Helm so eloquently puts it, bringing injuries that may at first glance seem all about the shock value. Not that they aren’t about that, but they also offer new challenges for the doctors, and the storm itself changes the dynamics and bit provides a few turning points for the season.

For Meredith, the turning point is about seizing the day, so to speak. Her matchmaker patient, CeCe, whom we’ve come to love dearly this season already, finally has the chance for an organ transplant. But that transplant, DeLuca points out bluntly, is not without its risks.

CeCe is a strong woman with some important insights about life, and she has no interest in going down without a fight. It’s a risk she’s willing to take, but not before she gives some advice to Meredith about her romantic life (and threatens to haunt her if she doesn’t take it). 

I love this lighter focus for Meredith, and I love even more that we see two men with an interest in courting her — one new and one who’s been around a while. 

I’ve also never loved DeLuca quite as much as I do after seeing this episode. He’s grown up a lot since we first met him. 

And when he’s standing in the elevator with Meredith, it reminds me so much of a similar scene with Derek from the early episodes. That feels like an intentional parallel. Not to mention the elevator itself, because of course, the power goes out with the two of them stuck in an elevator together.

Also with the romance: Levi and Nico. The most beautiful part of it is seeing how confident Levi is and how comfortable he is with realizing he’s gay. It’s all just so positive and quite frankly, inspiring. 

I’m still eager to learn more about Nico, but I’m really excited to see the growth that’s happening for Levi and for his story to be told in such a powerful way.

Another major turning point on this episode is Teddy finally revealing to Owen that she’s pregnant — and doing so at the worst possible time. During surgery? Really, Teddy? 

At least he finally knows, though he’s not exactly given a chance to process the information.

Meanwhile, Betty is back, and Amelia has this realization of how much she loves her and tells Owen she wants to apply to be her official foster mother. 

This has all been such a great development for Amelia. It’s such a new thing for her character to explore and a lens to learn more about her past as well.

Looking at that on its own makes me excited, and I just hope that once everyone is aware of Teddy’s pregnancy that it can be handled in a way that keeps her and Owen and their new family together while also letting Owen be a father to Teddy’s baby. 

Jackson also gets some life-changing news of his own, but Maggie finds out first — from Meredith. Maggie’s so caught up on her fight with Jackson, but Meredith’s news puts that in perspective. The fight doesn’t matter. If Maggie still loves Jackson, she has to be there for him now.

Meredith has gotten so wise, by the way. There’s a thoughtfulness in the writing that continues to remember the things Meredith has been through and how that should affect a person, as well as what she’s learned over the course of her career. 

She gives some similarly important advice to Richard, with the same undertones — he doesn’t know about Catherine yet, but Meredith hints that there’s a reason he needs to get himself together. 

I’m so worried about how Richard is going to react when he finds out the news. For now, he’s only worried that his wife is having an affair.

He is willing to put in the work already, though, and one of my favorite parts of this episode is when he gives advice to Bailey about her marriage — and her stress.

The Richard and Bailey dynamic has changed over the course of the series, but he will always be her mentor, and he understands her so well. So he understands when she needs help, especially when he feels like he can identify on some level.

Back to the cliffhangers, the wind storm causes the power to go out at a significant moment for several, and we end on shots of each elevator that’s stuck now due to the outage.

Meredith is stuck with DeLuca (if you’ve seen even one single episode of this show in your lifetime, you can imagine what’s bound to happen with that), Teddy is stuck with Owen and Amelia after finally telling Owen her news, and Bailey and Helm are stuck with CeCe — who was already fighting against the odds as it was, and now looks terrified.

That’s the note we end on, and it’s heartbreaking. It’s been a while since I’ve felt this invested in a patient on the show. 

Other thoughts:

• Alex and Jo are adorable on this episode, stuck inside on their second honeymoon, going through wedding gifts. It’s hard to believe there was a time when I didn’t enjoy seeing those two together.
• With Alex away from work, Bailey is back in action as chief, and we’re reminded of how amazing she is at that job. She’s reminded to, and I have a feeling she’ll be taking back her post soon.
• Selfie-stick in the head, you guys. It’s so horrific, bizarre, and tragic.
• Less tragic, but also bizarre, is the candy cane impalement. At least that one has a happy outcome.

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

Reviewer Rating:

User Rating:

 

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

Follow @telltaletv_

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

Grey’s Anatomy: 15 Times the Grey-Sloan Dream Team Faced Impossible Odds