Grey’s Anatomy Review: Look Up Child (Season 17 Episode 14)

Jackson Avery visits some important people in his life on Grey’s Anatomy Season 17 Episode 14, “Look Up Child.” The only acceptable word to describe the end of this journey is “satisfying.” I wish I could say something more, but to call it riveting would be a lie. 

Sarah Drew returns as April Kepner to help Jackson realize his new biggest dream: to erase inequities for minorities in the medical system by going to Boston to run The Fox Foundation. It’s a responsibility he has been dodging since he decided to study medicine in a family full of prestigious doctors. 

Jesse Williams and Drew easily find the rhythm and chemistry that has helped make their relationship one of the most beloved in Grey’s Anatomy history.

But the episode underestimates Jackson Avery and Japril fans. We know his history, and hers, and theirs. We don’t need it repeated back to us via dialogue as he tries to convince her to pack up her life and move with him. 

Grey’s Anatomy uses this approach to delay revealing that April and Matthew (Justin Bruening) are getting a divorce. It’s such a shame that trickery is used instead of a more natural approach. 

Japril’s chemistry is so magical that a truly honest conversation could have actually repaired the pain they caused each other instead of regurgitating it for us. 

April telling Jackson she’s leaving Matthew earlier on the episode would not necessarily have to change its ending, but it would make it more exciting. 

Imagine the anger and frustration Jackson would feel knowing she’s single and still refusing to sacrifice for him as he has for her.

We are meant to believe Jackson runs from things — but April does, too. She ran to Jordan after Samuel died. Why doesn’t Jackson take the time to tell her that he ran after her and missed his plane when she accuses him of leaving her alone? 

That would open up a world of pain and a world of hope. “Look Up Child” misses opportunities in favor of devices, ultimately hindering what Drew and Williams’ performances could have been.

Harriet’s sickness is a strange way to move the plot forward, especially because she’s hardly on-screen and never in real danger. A hasty kiss would have done the trick and presented us with so many questions and possibilities throughout the episode. 

Considering what Jackson and April have been through together, an implied future is fine, but it’s such a waste of chemistry not to seal it with a kiss. One kiss, in the middle of the episode, that does not have to guarantee they are making a pit stop in Lake Tahoe again any time soon. 

Jackson’s desire to enact real change for minorities in the medical system is admirable. I just wish he got a running start somehow. 

Television requires action to engage us and Jackson injuring his hand on a meat slicer just doesn’t cut it (the pun was not originally intended but it’s too good to ignore).

I do appreciate Robert Avery (Eric Roberts) refusing to let Jackson blame his actions on daddy issues. Robert’s issues are his own and Jackson is ten times the man his father is on his worst day. 

Jackson’s argument that he runs from everything is incredibly weak. I do not have the time to list every time he ran to one redhead… including the beginning of this episode. 

But it does make sense for him to go back to Montana to get the answers he needs to figure out who he is and who he is not from the person that gave him half his DNA.

“Look Up Child” should be better, but small details make it good enough. 

There are sweet callbacks worth talking about. Remembering Jackson’s disdain for throw pillows and watching him dance with Harriet as he did with April when they were secretly celebrating their first pregnancy brings levity to an otherwise dense hour.

And then there is the ending. First of all, April’s explanations for why she and Matthew are splitting up make perfect sense because they are the same reasons why those exes never belonged back together in the first place. 

Also, April saying “you deserve this” is everything. I’m an April Kepner stan who can admit that it’s about time she said those words to him. 

Harriet’s morning hugs and insistance she pour the orange juice is more domestic bliss at one time than we ever saw during Japril’s marriage. 

Plus, we may not get a kiss, but he holds her hand for a long time after she tells him about breaking up with the paramedic. And that hug is like coming home. 

Williams and Drew do what they can with what they are given and the characters are not to blame for this. 

It all feels very “I don’t know.” But my fingers are crossed for new horizons, and let’s be real, another baby. 

Doctor’s Notes 

• Excuse me, y’all. I know that sometimes we pay attention to very small details as viewers, but we get two throw pillow references. Why isn’t Harriet eating waffles for breakfast? 
• Drew and Williams are really good at the arguing and the witty banter (and the kissing, too bad we don’t see the kissing… just saying.)
• There are SO many chances for April to tell him about the divorce thing. Pride just is not a good enough explanation for why she does not.
• How do we get a reference to Robert’s coffee blend but not Harriet eating waffles? 
• She’s the one who will follow him anywhere, I guess. 
• Jesse’s crying is very believable. 
• I don’t know why, but Williams’ delivery of “That’s a horrible and weird idea, obviously” is amazing. 
• We were given one dead baby and one ridiculous second marriage. I’ll take an implied happy ending. 

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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