Grey’s Anatomy Review: Breathe Again (Season 16 Episode 5)

Grey’s Anatomy deals with mental health in a powerful way once again on Grey’s Anatomy Season 16 Episode 5, “Breathe Again.”

It’s the mark of good writing, first of all, when characters remain affected by things we’ve seen on earlier episodes. Grey’s has been doing this well for a while, most notably with Jo. This is a character who’s been given one of the more complex backstories on the series, not a drop of that backstory is wasted.

Rather than making her revelation about her mother an entirely separate part of her history, that trauma is entirely connected to Paul. Her reaction is based on her experience with him. All of these parts of her life are connected. 

On this episode, we get another glimpse at what Jo’s time at the treatment center was like. In the present, she’s treating her therapist, and of course, is trapped in the hyperbaric chamber while doing so.

Through flashbacks, we see her relationship with that therapist, what she learned, and how’s she’s grown. It’s an entirely realistic depiction of trauma therapy. It is raw and telling, and I’m grateful that Grey’s Anatomy is willing to take on stories with those details. Among the many things we need to see on television more often is this kind of attention to mental health.

Notably, the therapy is hard on Jo. And it’s supposed to be. I also can’t talk about this without saying that once again, Camilla Luddington gives an impeccable performance. This season is giving her even more chances to showcase her talent, and I’m here for it.

In the present, she starts to recall strategies she learned and even has the opportunity to teach them to Bailey, who’s anxious about her own life at the moment. 

At the end of the episode, Jo goes home to Alex, but she’s not in the mood to talk about her difficult day. Instead, she brings him in on something she learned in therapy. Healthy anger. 

The two of them throw things at a wall together is one of their best relationship moments to date.

I mentioned that Bailey is dealing with her own anxiety on this episode. First of all, Jo’s ability to help her through it impresses her, and she makes sure Jo knows it. As for why she’s anxious, it’s because she’s pregnant. And she’s also going through menopause. 

Speaking of sweet relationship moments, though, Bailey finally telling Ben is another to add to the list. Ben’s reaction, once the shock wears off, is one of pure joy. It makes me excited to see how this will all work out moving forward.

Elsewhere on the episode, Meredith is missing court because Zola is in need of surgery. If you’d forgotten all about the fact that Zola had Spina Bifida, you’re not the only one. So did I.

In the past few seasons, the show has done a better job about remembering it’s earlier seasons and tying those threads together. I’m glad we get a chance to revisit this detail and to see Meredith in her mothering role. 

As she sits in the waiting room, she also highlights a problem with DeLuca. He’s been very sweet and good to her kids, but he misses the point when he suggests Meredith still go to court. In most cases, and I complained about this with Grey’s Anatomy Season 16 Episode 4, I’d be irritated with Meredith for breaking the rules once again. But there’s a difference here — this is her child. 

Aside from just about everything involving Jo, Meredith in the waiting room with Amelia and Maggie is a highlight of the episode. The three sisters come together and spend some time contemplate their love lives. Their support for one another and their honesty with each other has easily become one of my favorite things about these later seasons.

Amelia talks about having a baby with Link despite knowing basically nothing about him, Maggie wonders if surgery is her one true love, and Meredith is still uncertain of her relationship with DeLuca and whether it could ever be anything more than what it is. 

Relationship concerns are a little more difficult for Richard, who’s friendship with Gemma has just gotten complicated. Sadly, it looks like his marriage to Catherine is on its last leg here, and that’s difficult to watch. But more difficult to watch is Richard’s friend coming on to him and putting him in such a difficult position.

Gemma coming on him does serve a purpose in reminding us of older storylines, though, which again, this episode does well. In this case, she basically drums up all of Richard’s difficult past, from his alcoholism to his past relationships and affairs.

I do hope we won’t see Richard going down that road again.

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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