Grey’s Anatomy Review: A Hard Pill to Swallow (Season 16 Episode 11)

Grey’s Anatomy is nearly always at its best when it brings on a patient that will stick around for at least a few episodes, and while much of the current storytelling leaves something to be desired, I’m optimistic that that will only be temporary.

Grey’s Anatomy Season 16 Episode 11, “A Hard Pill to Swallow,” introduces a patient named Suzanne, played by Sarah Rafferty, who came into the hospital for a simple appendectomy. However, she continues to spike a fever which has DeLuca worried, and she’s unable to go home yet. 

To make matters more difficult, her children refuse to leave her side because of recently losing their father. Suzanne explains that he also was at the hospital for something minor, and when his family left, thinking everything would be fine, he passed away. 

It makes it all the more important that they figure out what’s wrong with Suzanne — a character we can’t help but already feel invested in, largely because Sarah Rafferty is already so excellent in this role.

Also starting to win us over is Dr. Hayes. He seems quite by the book in most cases, but his past affects his mood and his actions in a way that Meredith immediately understands. As much as I like the idea of seeing Meredith befriend someone who’s also lost a spouse, it is a bit jarring to have this new doctor in the hospital.

Generally, it’s tough to accept newcomers, but this one feels a little more difficult since he’s filling Alex’s shoes. There’s also been such a dramatic change in the cast that it’s hard to be easily invested.

The case that Hayes and Meredith work on together involves a teen who’d been vaping, which causes dramatic complications and nearly ends his life. It’s probably past time to see a story like this on Grey’s, so it’s nice to see a story that brings that awareness. 

Meanwhile, Link is grappling with the news that the baby Amelia is carrying might not be his after all. He puts on a brave face at first, but by the end of the episode, he’s honest about his feelings and wants to know for certain. And, you know, good for him.

Amelia and Link have great potential and their characters work well together, but Amelia needs someone who’s willing to push back a bit without being overbearing. She needs someone who is honest, even if it’s hard. 

Thank goodness, too, that this isn’t heading into daytime soap opera material in the way that it could have. Amelia could have kept that secret, or Link could have simply chosen to raise the baby and been okay with Amelia not getting a paternity test, only to find out the truth years later.

This storytelling is more realistic and offers more significant opportunities for their characters — as well as chances for growth.

One of my favorite things about this episode is the understanding that occurs between Bailey and Tom. Tom gives Bailey a hard time for taking leave, not knowing what she’d been through. Once she blurts out her reasoning for being gone, he becomes quiet, then offers her the simple advice of lighting a candle before sharing his own experience with miscarriage. 

Love him or hate him, Tom Koracick has easily become one of the most interesting characters on Grey’s Anatomy. That hard exterior is there for a reason, but he’s also not necessarily uncomfortable with being vulnerable — he just chooses to reveal that side of himself sparingly.

What I’m less interested in is what’s happening with Maggie and Richard. Despite the fact that the story is pretty fascinating on paper, it comes across as something that’s quite disconnected. A large reason for this, I suspect, is that so much time feels like it’s passed since Maggie operated on her cousin, and additionally, that episode felt isolated from the rest of the season.

There also isn’t much interaction between Maggie and the rest of the cast. We’ve seen DeLuca visit her, and this episode has Richard insisting on being there for her, but more interaction between Meredith and Amelia regarding the loss would go a long way. 

Richard is wonderful when he’s trying to take care of people he cares for, though, and he’s become known for giving important advice. He’s honest with Maggie and takes responsibility for his part in what happened, all while insisting on making pancakes. It’s endearing, despite the disconnect.

Unfortunately, when he goes home to his wife, he doesn’t get a warm welcome.

It’s too bad that this is the road Catherine and Richard and headed down, but since it’s been heading in that direction for a while, it might not be such a bad thing for them to go ahead and part ways. 

Other thoughts:

• Teddy losing her engagement ring winds up adding some humor to this episode, and it’s quite welcome, even though it feels cliche that the baby swallowed the ring.
• It’s remarkable how strong Cristina’s presence is in this episode. From the texts to hearing Meredith talk about her, it makes it feel like she hasn’t been gone very long at all. 
• I’m still waiting for a clear answer on how Alex will be written out. At the moment, it seems like we’ll hear of him working at Pac North and… that’s it? I hope that’s not the case.

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

Critic Rating:

User Rating:

 

Grey’s Anatomy airs Thursdays at 9/8c on ABC.

 Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram!

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

30 Favorite Network TV Shows of the Decade