Station 19 Review: Death and the Maiden (Season 5 Episode 16)

Station 19 Season 5 Episode 16, “Death and the Maiden,” gives Andy some much-needed relief, but it continues to put additional unnecessary pressure on Carina and Maya’s family-building arc.

Jason George’s directorial debut spotlights critical scenes in both storylines with the kind of care that can come from someone who appears on Station 19.

For example, the use of slow-motion is purposeful in the beautiful scene with Andy and her mother at the end of the episode. It pulls stunning performances from Jaina Lee Ortiz and Patricia De Leon.

Also, the camera catches Carina in a moment of sexual pleasure with her wife, but the lens never feels dictated by the male gaze or voyeuristic. Instead, it centers on Carina’s joy and pleasure.

Outside of those storylines, George’s direction allows us to feel like a part of the team because of how it brings us into the action.

The camera finds a firefighter and follows them through the incident with a smoothness that George knows and can replicate all too well from playing Ben.

Alternatively, the episode’s content is a hit in some ways and a miss in others.

It’s exhilarating to know Station 19 is setting up Travis to run against Dixon. It’s fascinating that the show appears to be keen to unpack how Chief Natasha Ross may be complicit in a broken system.

Additionally, “Death and the Maiden” follows Andy’s overall exhaustion and frustration with that broken system (and others) with care. It would be fantastic — if and when she’s ready — for her to support Travis in his race for that reason.

It’s challenging to hear Natasha tell Travis that it’s pointless for him to have opinions about politics and the world because he’s not a lieutenant. 

Andy’s temporary suspension would put her under that umbrella for the time being.

So, it would be revelatory for Andy, Travis, and the rest of 19 to stand up to Dixon and Natasha by proving their opinions aren’t pointless and can win in the end.

Station 19 could be building to Andy’s involvement since “Death and the Maiden” gives her space to heal as she dances it out with her mother.

Andy’s arc this season has been incredibly tough to watch because the trauma and disappointing turns never let up for too long. Unfortunately, she faces more of them in this episode.

Station 19 has to be aware of this spiral since Andy meets Elena at her door when Andy really needs a hug from her mother.

This scene is one of the emotionally-charged ones during the episode because it’s one of the few times that Andy permits herself to feel all the things her body contains, as Vic mentions at the beginning.

It’s a breakthrough moment for Andy and her relationship with Elena, especially after Andy has revelations about her childhood and Elena’s role in it.

Their scenes together are utterly heartbreaking and life-affirming.

It’s a seamless progression from the flashbacks on Station 19 Season 5 Episode 15, “When the Party’s Over,” because this episode allows Elena to speak about her experiences and use hindsight to help Andy heal.

Alternatively, some of Maya and Carina’s scenes feel like a progression of their narrative. But, on the other hand, too many of them feel like a regression.

It’s massively disappointing that there is such a lack of clarity regarding their fertility journey this far in the season.

Station 19 can be so good at being thorough when it comes to certain rescue and medical scenes, yet so many medical decisions about Marina’s fertility happen off-camera — if at all.

Carina’s quiet scene in the bathroom is painful, and Stefania Spampinato captures that raw emotion through her performance. She’s phenomenal throughout the entirety of “Death and the Maiden.”

Nevertheless, the scenes that follow that one underscore how many missing conversations exist within this narrative. 

Carina brings all of the questions into the open in a fit of heightened and justified emotion, but Station 19 never takes it further.

Carina’s expressions of concern regarding Maya’s level of commitment or Jack’s level of involvement are things that deserve attention.

Those questions linger over so much of this arc. They don’t steal the joy from knowing Carina and Maya will have a family one day (soon).

However, they make it harder to lean into the celebration because there’s a missing level of transparency. 

For example, Carina mentions she still doesn’t have her green card and that Jack reminds her of her brother, Andrew. Those admissions come in different scenes, but they underline a lack of narrative consistency.

Why hasn’t Station 19 circled back to Carina’s green card before now? If Jack reminds Carina of Andrew, why didn’t the show unpack that before now?

Their supposed similarity could add clarity to Carina’s change of heart with Jack. Furthermore, it could help explain why Carina is concerned Jack may move away now that he knows he has a biological brother.

Carina’s questions about Jack’s involvement in her and Maya’s baby’s life could come down to Carina not wanting to lose another brother if he were to leave. But Station 19 doesn’t delve into that.

Instead, “Death and the Maiden” replaces a medical setting for an apartment and suggests Jack needs to be present in the baby’s life for them to be a family.

Station 19 could’ve rectified this with more explicit boundaries, essential conversations, and focusing on Maya and Carina. But is it too late for those now?

Stray Thoughts

• I love that Jack waited for Andy outside of her hearing.
• Vic and Robert’s scenes together are another example of every pairing on this show being great.
• Theo ordering pizzas for the team to get on their good sides is perfect.
• I also love that Travis knows Theo is named after his Abuela.
• Maya knew Carina would come back for her hand. I’m in my feels!

 

What did you think of this episode of Station 19? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Station 19 airs Thursdays at 8/7c on ABC.

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