Grey’s Anatomy Review: No Time to Die (Season 18 Episode 9)
Another doctor makes a surprising exit on Grey’s Anatomy Season 18 Episode 9, “No Time to Die.” And it’s not Owen Hunt.
This episode serves as the second part of a “crossover” event with Station 19 as both series return from hiatus. I put the word “crossover” in quotation marks because it barely feels like that term fits, aside from having the suspenseful and emotional rescue of Owen Hunt occur on a show other than Grey’s Anatomy.
Sure, it makes perfect sense to see that play out on the show that follows firefighters, but in a more cohesive crossover, we’d have gotten to see part of that rescue on the corresponding episode of Grey’s Anatomy. Instead, we get a few flashes of that, then move right on to seeing Owen in the hospital.
There’s really no other connection to Station 19 beyond that, which is a shame.
All of that said, it’s a solid episode of Grey’s Anatomy on its own, and the suspense is still there for Owen considering how badly he’s been injured. Whether or not he’ll walk again winds up being the big question, as does what happens now that Hayes knows his big secret.
It was on Grey’s Anatomy Season 18 Episode 8 that Owen revealed to Hayes that he’d helped a suffering soldier to die, and that he’d also promised to do the same for others. Now Hayes is faced with an ethical dilemma: keep the secret and put himself at risk, or compromise Owen.
But then, after hearing Bailey talk about what a good man Owen is and what a great family they all are, he makes a third decision. He’s going back to Ireland.
No more McWidow.
ELLEN POMPEO, RICHARD FLOOD
It’s sad to see him go just as we’ve come to appreciate his character, especially since we didn’t get to see a romance play out between him and Meredith in the way we were led to think we might.
Meanwhile, another emotional part of this episode is Farouk’s surgery. The heart does make it to the hospital in time, but it’s bruised, which makes the transplant more of a risk.
Thank goodness it’s still possible, and honestly, having it be just a little imperfect feels more plausible than to have it be a non-issue after everything Teddy, Hayes, and Owen have gone through.
ABIGAIL SPENCER
This offers some relief for Megan, too, who has been in a really dark place. I also appreciate that before Hayes is out of the picture, he insists on making sure Megan has the help she needs. It’s a nice scene between the two of them.
The most heartbreaking part of this episode, though, revolves around Levi.
After losing a patient, due to his own mistake in not waiting for an attending when he should have, he’s in a deep state of grief. The episode cuts to him regularly washing his hands — at first, Richard notices and tells him he’s wasting water. But as the episode moves forward, he’s always there, washing his hands, until finally he’s drawn blood.
The level of friendship and care we see from Jo, Helm, and new addition to the program Jordan, is so touching. It’s Jordan who carries Levi out, as he openly wails. It’s a heck of a performance from Jake Borelli, and it also gets at the heart of what the stakes are like for these doctors, especially as they’re still learning.
Of course, romance is a key part of the episode as well, including a truly satisfying moment between Jo and Link.
CHRIS CARMACK
Link spends much of the episode distraught and angry over having seen Amelia kissing Kai, and when Amelia realizes Link carried those feelings into the OR when they were operating on Owen, she’s livid.
It’s tough to watch these two fall apart after all they’ve been through, but it makes perfect sense that all roads would lead to Link and Jo. Amelia is developing a relationship with Kai, who does seem to understand in her in a way not many others have before.
And the setup was there for Link and Jo from the moment Link showed up — even when Jo and Alex were still happily married. Their friendship turning to something more would make for a great love story, and I imagine we’re all ready to see some more happiness for Jo right now.
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Grey’s Anatomy airs Thursdays at 9/8c on ABC.
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Ashley Bissette Sumerel
Ashley Bissette Sumerel is a television and film critic living in Wilmington, North Carolina. She is editor-in-chief of Tell-Tale TV as well as Eulalie Magazine. Ashley has also written for outlets such as Rolling Stone, Paste Magazine, and Insider. Ashley has been a member of the Critics Choice Association since 2017 and is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic. In addition to her work as an editor and critic, Ashley teaches Entertainment Journalism, Composition, and Literature at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.