Grey’s Anatomy Review: The Winner Takes It All (Season 15 Episode 11)

Two characters are faced with losing their parents on Grey’s Anatomy Season 15 Episode 11, “The Winner Takes It All.”

It’s a heartbreaking and beautiful episode thanks to the writing, the performances, and the focus on just two major plot points. The episode still has its light moments, but the tone is serious and respectful of the stories, one of which is based on the very real experiences of writer Elizabeth Finch.

So let’s start there, because this story is even more powerful knowing that information. Catherine Fox is such a force, and seeing her vulnerable in this way adds a dimension to her character that’s really wonderful to watch. She’s scared of having this surgery, but she’s brave and she’s practical.

She has a plan for everything — if it doesn’t go well, she wants her son in charge of her foundation. If it does? She wants a very specific party. 

And it’s only natural that she wants to visit an OR just before she’s put under. It’s there that she tells Jackson of the song that got her through her first surgery and helped her have joy and confidence.

One of the most beautiful moments of the entire episode is when he uses that detail to ease her nerves before surgery. He blasts “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” and the entire OR dances to the song before her surgery. It’s endearing and cheerful, and it reflects a spirit that Grey’s Anatomy has always had — music and dancing as a way to find joy. 

So they all dance it out. 

Amelia and Tom, both confident in their abilities as surgeons, feel less sure about their plans to perform Catherine’s surgery. Tom’s not a character we often see vulnerability in, but we see it again here. He cares for Catherine and he’s worried. And he and Amelia strike the superhero pose before they get started, a tradition that feels especially powerful here.

It’s a big, impossible surgery — and while not the first such surgery on Grey’s, it certainly does still have its unique elements.

Having Richard and Jackson watch opens some possibilities too. Jackson can’t stand Tom even though Tom is the best choice for this job — he simply doesn’t like his approach. 

Jackson: He’s bopping over my mom’s spine!

I mean, you really can’t blame him. Jesse Williams always breaks me in these kinds of emotional performances. Seeing him in tears again as he waits for his mom to come out of surgery is so raw and heartbreaking.

Watching Richard deal with this is also powerful. And though everyone tells him he really shouldn’t be there watching the surgery in the gallery, it turns out to be a benefit.

Tom and Amelia aren’t able to get the entire tumor the way they planned, but doing it in pieces is also a risk. So Richard suggests they use his pen — a nice way to bring back the surgical contest — even though it’s not fully approved yet. 

Catherine has a happy ending here, at least temporarily. Before reading, in detail, what the writer who penned this episode’s experience with cancer are, I marveled at how different and realistic it felt to have this be the result.

It’s that way because it is real. It’s based on Elizabeth Finch’s own experience — she’s still living with cancer. These stories don’t have to be all or nothing, but on television, they usually are. 

I love that result for Catherine. I love that Catherine doesn’t die on the table, and she’s not even paralyzed. But she is going to have to live with cancer — she’s going to have a new reality, which will add a new element to her character, but it also offers another way to deal with a story like this.

We’ve seen plenty of characters with tumors or other injuries or illnesses to where they either “beat” the thing or die. This in between is so much more unique.

The other half of this episode focuses on Meredith and Thatcher. This is the first time we’ve seen Jeff Perry as Thatcher is many, many years, and it’s the first time Meredith has seen him in just as long. 

Their reunion is touching, awkward, tense, and hard to watch at times. I appreciate that his return fills in some gaps. It’s largely nonsensical that he hasn’t been part of the story — that we didn’t see him after Lexi died or after Derek died, and that we haven’t seen him reach out to his grandchildren. 

This episode patches that up a bit, though it does feel like a bit of a stretch. My favorite part of this is his reveal that yes, he was at Derek’s funeral. It’s perfectly fitting for Thatcher’s character to attend but not make that connection with Meredith while there.

Their interactions are so complex. Some of it feels a bit off, if I’m being honest, probably because we only get the one episode and because it’s been so long and there are so many things to account for here. But the performances are strong, and you get the real sense of how conflicted Meredith is over her father.

It’s after hearing all about his grandchildren that Thatcher passes, right before Meredith’s eyes. 

Meredith’s reaction to this reveals complicated feelings of sadness, acceptance, and a bit of closure, which I imagine is going to affect her in a positive way moving forward. Not to mention, for us to see that very moment makes for one of the most tearful scenes of the season, and one that’s a just a bit haunting.

The gifs for the kids in a sweet final touch, too.

Other thoughts:

• Tom playing Operation is such a funny little detail. I want to see every one of the surgeons playing that game at some point.
• I might also be on board with what is clearly a budding romance between Tom and Teddy. Maybe.
• Amelia speaks about her experience doing this surgery in a meeting, and it turns out to be a shining moment for her. I always enjoy seeing her character in that headspace.

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 us on Twitter! 

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

30 Memorable TV Moments from 2018