Grey’s Anatomy Review: A Diagnosis (Season 16 Episode 14)

I don’t know about you guys, but I’m worried about Andrew DeLuca.

On Grey’s Anatomy Season 16 Episode 14, “A Diagnosis,” DeLuca is working tirelessly with Dr. Riley (Shoshannah Stern) to determine the cause of his patient’s illness, now with the added pressure of seeing her suffer because she’s been taken off of all forms of medication.

The pressure has him working nonstop, with no time for sleep, with Meredith notices pretty quickly. And that has her worried.

Meredith would be concerned if this were any of the residents, but there’s an added layer here because of her relationship with Andrew, even though that relationship itself is currently in a complicated state. Meredith is also his supervisor, and she has a certain responsibility to make sure he’s at his best and not harming himself.

At the same time, going to Bailey about it doesn’t feel like the right call. Maybe that’s because, as viewers, we sense that Dr. Riley’s plan is what Suzanne needs. And maybe it’s because we can feel DeLuca’s passion and concern so deeply so we just want to see it through with him. 

Then Bailey walks it all back when she has Meredith take over DeLuca’s patient, and that seems almost careless. It’s such a quick decision that disregards the diagnostic expert visiting the hospital, that it feels less like something Bailey would actually do and more like a necessary plot device.

In a stroke of luck, though, Dr. Riley and DeLuca are able to determine Suzanne’s diagnosis only moments before it’s too late. The wrong move that DeLuca makes is to administer medication without a word. He seems to be forgetting that ultimately, Meredith is his supervisor.

It’s a happy ending for Suzanne, and an emotional one, at that. Viewers have become invested in her journey, and it’s satisfying to see her get those answers and have a way to cope with the disease the doctors have discovered she has.

It’s also clear that this was never actually about Suzanne. It’s been about DeLuca all along.

As his sister points out, he’s exhibiting signs of mania — just like his father. It’s not just this patient, either. Carina points out several examples to Meredith, including the fact that he went to prison for her. 

The setup of this has clearly been a long time coming, which is brilliant writing, and enough to make we want to go back and look for clues in previous episodes.

By the way, Giacomo Gianniotti gives one of his best performances to date on this episode. DeLuca’s mania, the anger, and passion all come through in a captivating, and slightly subtle way. It’s an excellent chance for him to shine.

DeLuca and Meredith’s relationship is also now entirely shattered. They were already in a grey area, but this episode takes it over the top.

Ultimately, it’s the power struggle. DeLuca acts out of turn because he feels comfortable doing so with Meredith and has taken things personally, but Meredith has also let her feelings influence her actions. It’s doubtful there’s any coming back from this now, and maybe that’s a good thing.

Meanwhile, Amelia is home in bed, trying to sort out her feelings with a supportive sister by her side.

Maggie’s insistence on being there for Amelia is the most heartwarming part of the episode, and that found family bond is nice to be reminded of.

Grey’s Anatomy hinges so much on that kind of connection between its characters, and this one feels genuine. It’s a little unfortunate that Meredith can’t be in two places at once, because it would be nice to see her there as well, but on the other hand, it makes way for Amelia and Maggie to bond further on their own.

Amelia’s point of view is one that makes sense. Link was unsure if he could be with her if turned out the baby was Owen’s. That makes Amelia unsure if she wants to be with him regardless. She’s experienced enough pain in this area for a lifetime, and it’s not out of character for her to decide to do this with her sisters and call things off with Link.

The truth of who the baby’s father is will have to come out at some point, and now the concern is that it’s going to happen in a way that feels overdone. We’ll see.

Speaking of things that have me concerned, let’s talk about who’s missing. Alex may not be physically present, but the longer he’s gone, the more everyone else is talking about him. Jo is a wreck, and her patient’s infidelity only puts more doubt in her mind about Alex.

The good news is that showrunner Krista Vernoff has confirmed we’ll get some “clarity” about what he’s up to and how the show will address Justin Chambers’ exit from the series. She’s also confirmed it’s still going to be a while before those answers come. 

The mystery has actually had a positive effect because it makes the viewers intrigued and has us making our own predictions. But can there really be a satisfying way to write off such a key character? I’m skeptical.

What did you think of this episode of Grey’s Anatomy? Do you have any predictions for how Alex’s absence is going to be addressed? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

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

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