Grey’s Anatomy Review: Should I Stay or Should I Go (Season 18 Episode 16)

Even though we know that Grey’s Anatomy has been renewed for another season, it sure feels like the show is working its way toward an end. 

Though let’s be honest, I’ve said that before, and it’s felt that way a lot lately.

On Grey’s Anatomy Season 18 Episode 16, “Should I Stay or Should I Go,” Meredith is criticized for wanting to take the job offer in Minnesota. Richard is, quite frankly, irrationally hurt over the decision, and it doesn’t help that the timing is bad. The hospital is under fire (yet again) with the surgical residency program now on probation. 

Bailey is upset over it too, as are Maggie and Catherine. There’s a feeling of real betrayal, though that mostly comes from Richard. And with Addison back again (you love to see it) looking back at the past is easier than ever.

Though Meredith and Addison both have different versions of the past than what Richard remembers, and this commentary is one that feels especially relevant right now. There’s a real pushback on working the kinds of hours the residents use to work and sacrificing their mental and physical health to do so. That’s a conversation people are having when it comes to most? professions right now. 

We saw that with Meredith, too. After all, the benefit of Grey’s Anatomy having gone on for this many years is that we’ve watched the woman’s entire career unfold, and we remember the days of surgical competitions and all-nighters. But that shouldn’t be how it’s done, and it’s Addison who points that out to Richard. They need a new way of teaching the residents.

It’s also unsettling that Meredith does receive all of this pushback. It’s a great opportunity for her, and shouldn’t she at least get to consider it? I don’t know if I even believe it’s in character for Richard to have this emotional reaction to it, when what you’d really expect is for him to proud, at least on some level.

That said, Meredith wanting to jump ship so quickly also feels off somehow. I don’t take issue with her wanting to go, and I suppose it would have been on her mind from the beginning of her work in Minnesota, but it’s a major life change that seems like it might have taken a little more consideration. Or even for us to see her explore it just a bit further.

And it does seem like the right next step for her. Everything she says to Addison and to Nick rings true about her relationship with that hospital, and she’s truly the last one standing from her program now. Everyone else went elsewhere or, you know, died. 

In some ways, I also wonder if this doesn’t parallel real life just a bit. I don’t think it’s a secret that Ellen Pompeo is about ready to be finished with playing this role, just as Meredith is about ready to move on from the hospital itself. 

Something I like a lot about this episode is having Addison back. She really does bring a special energy to the show, and the history there makes it even more interesting to watch, especially in the way she interacts with Richard and Meredith.

The case she’s working on there is complicated and has a tragic outcome, all complex in the ways Grey’s Anatomy does best. Seeing the surgery play out, then Addison’s visceral reaction when it doesn’t go as planned is the kind of emotional, engaging television that reminds me of the early days of Grey’s.

It also offers Schmidt the chance to connect with a patient on an emotional level that feels therapeutic for his own character.

Meanwhile, Winston’s brother is causing a stir with a new product he’s selling — using his connection to Winston to help him get his foot in the door. Only the product doesn’t work, and it seems he’s been scammed. After trying it out in a few different ways, Winston discovers the real details of how his brother got these patches to begin with, and now he’s out a whole lot of money.

I’ll be curious to see how all of that unfolds. It’s certainly an interesting new kind of conflict.

Owen is also back in the operating room, and you’d just about forget about that car crash and how much work he had to do to be able to walk again. Now, he’s setting himself up for a 10-hour surgery.

Because this episode also includes a bloody mess that’s pretty hard to watch when a man comes into the hospital after having his arm ripped off. Owen is almost desperate to save the arm, and winds up using something the military started to keep the arm viable until the man is able to endure a surgery.

Seems like foreshadowing to me when Teddy suggests that he shouldn’t draw the attention of the military right now… 

Aside from that, Teddy and Owen also have to have a conversation about Leo. Leo has already been dressing up in princess dresses and the like, but this is the first time we hear Leo announce that he’s a girl.

It’s another topical storyline, and it’s nice to see the way both of them are able to talk it out by the end of the episode, understanding that they might wind up having different opinions about how to handle it.

Other thoughts:

• Bailey begs Jo to return to the surgical program, and Jo has decided that maybe she can just do both?! That’s going to be… something.
• Link’s jealousy over Todd is so incredibly obvious.
• Bailey standing up to Catherine and announcing she’s taking a little time off is such a great moment. It also lends itself right to this theme of self-care.
• I do really still like Nick for Meredith, but he feels sort of thrown in at times. Maybe that will change now that he’s sticking around Seattle for a while.

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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