Grey’s Anatomy Review: My Happy Ending (Season 17 Episode 3)

Meredith is battling COVID-19 on Grey’s Anatomy Season 17 Episode 3, “My Happy Ending,” and it all feels a little too real.

It’s not necessarily surprising that Meredith would contract the virus, partly because she’s a doctor who’s been overworked in the midst of a pandemic, and partly because Meredith has been through pretty much everything else. 

That also makes it tough, because at a certain point, it’s all too comical to see this character come close to death once again. Standing alone, it makes for a great story. The stakes are high and it allows for an entirely new territory for Meredith.

But add it all together and feels like it’s overkill. How much can one character really be put through?

Of course, this does allow us the gift of seeing Meredith with Derek again. The joy on Meredith’s face when she sees him on that beach, and just their small interactions taking place is Meredith’s dreamworld are beautiful.

It’s so simple and sweet, and their connection feels entirely authentic. It’s instinct that she’d want to run to him, but there’s something holding her back.

Meredith has so much to live for now. And this is a different Meredith than she was when held a bomb or nearly died from drowning. This is a more joyful Meredith whose life has more meaning, not only because of her children and her successes but because she’s overcome so many things and because she’s older and wiser. 

Yet still, she’s the same self-sacrificing Meredith, just maybe not to the same degree. She wants to be checked out of a hospital to go to a hotel and open up the room for someone else.

She doesn’t want a ventilator if it becomes necessary. Really, this harkens back a bit to the stunt she pulled that nearly made her lose her medical license — she’s focused on the greater good and rarely wants to put herself and her needs, or her health, first. 

Meredith’s wisdom really comes into play, though, when it comes to updating her Power of Attorney. It had been Alex, and for so many reasons, that makes sense. I appreciate that detail to allow mention of Alex’s exit from the series, by the way. 

Because he’s gone, it doesn’t make sense for that person to be Alex any longer. Meredith has smart reasons for not choosing Amelia or Maggie, and the person she winds up choosing is someone who’s been family to her for a long time. 

It’s a lot to put on Richard Webber, but it really does feel right. 

Speaking of Richard, he’s now the “chief of chiefs” instead of Koracick, and it’s a job he’s more than prepared for. It’s lovely to see him taking charge, and it’s even better to watch him and Bailey sort of leading things together. It was always supposed to be that way. 

And when Tom throws in the towel on working with interns — he’s not cut out for it, he admits, especially now — Richard takes that charge. 

There’s a familiar shot of an empty O.R. just before Richard ushers the new group in (or what’s left of them) and begins giving them that speech. It’s not the same speech the original interns got on the pilot episode. It can’t be. Because this is new territory. But it does feel like it carries that same weight, and it’s a really wonderful callback. 

Meanwhile, Amelia has been taking care of her new baby as well as Meredith’s children, and she’s rightfully exhausted. That’s made worse by the worry she has for Meredith and also the fact that she’s unable to help out at the hospital — of all times. 

That setup is how it has to be since she’s a new mom, but it also feels like a smart move because it’s shining a light on a whole other part of the pandemic.

The focus is the hospital, obviously, but her life at home right now is just as real. Not to mention, it gives us a chance to get a break from the hospital and have some lighter moments. Oh, and some romance. Because Amelia and Link are very much still finding ways to keep the romance alive.  

Other thoughts:

• Owen and Koracick aren’t going to be able to keep this up much longer. It’s also quite a coincidence that Tom has to quarantine now, and I’m curious what will be next for him.
• Jo is just over here being amazing and doing amazing work. It’s satisfying to see her thriving in that way.
• The promo for the next episode reveals that someone else from Meredith’s past will show up, and I’m eager to see who it will be. In the meantime, the guessing will be fun.

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 9/8c on ABC.

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