Grey’s Anatomy Season 19 Episode 5 Review: When I Get to the Border

One of the most important TV episodes of the year, Grey’s Anatomy Season 19 Episode 5, “When I Get to the Border,” tackles a timely topic with absolute perfection.

Bailey and Addison head to a family planning center to volunteer their time given the changes taking place since the overturning of Roe v. Wade. For starters, it’s a great way to bring Addison back into the picture again. It’s also a way to give Bailey a powerful story now that she’s stepped away from being chief. 

The family planning center is desperate for the help, with many women traveling across state lines to get the healthcare they need.

The way Bailey and Addison, and Bailey’s college friend at the center, comment on the situation is both educational and realistic. Unlike some of the dialogue in Grey’s Anatomy Season 19 Episode 3, it doesn’t feel quite as heavy-handed here, and that makes the story — and its message — that much more effective.

Of course, there’s a case with a major complication that winds up driving the story. And it’s gutwrenching.

The case is a woman named Susan who has a dangerous ectopic pregnancy, and because of the ambiguity of the new laws banning abortion, her doctor refuses treatment.

This is a really important detail that gets at what so much of the divide is in conversations regarding abortion care and the overturning of Roe v. Wade. The law being unclear is what makes her doctor afraid to treat her, despite the fact that the care she needs is life-or-death.

The woman is also already a mother, and her primary concerns are getting the care she needs and getting her daughter’s birthday party taken care of. Unfortunately, her car breaking down makes her ability to get care take even longer.

Addison and Bailey drive to get her, and on the ride back, she begins hemorrhaging. Addison doesn’t have the equipment she needs to save her in time — and getting stuck in traffic only seals her fate faster.

With the story being told, Susan had to die. It’s hard not to see that coming once she realizes she’s bleeding. And it’s a death that didn’t have to happen.

All of this is done with incredible performances, especially by Kate Walsh, whose emotion in every moment is breathtaking. Bringing in Addison for this episode, in general, is a smart move.

Her performance is that much more powerful if you consider her character from her time both on Grey’s Anatomy and on Private Practice, with the standout moment being when she begins to scream at the police officer about how broken everything is.

If that isn’t an award-worthy performance, I honestly don’t know what is.

The patient’s death also proves why storytelling like this is so important. A medical show as far-reaching as Grey’s Anatomy, quite frankly, has a responsibility to try to tackle this topic right now, and it does so incredibly well. It’s this type of storytelling that can really reach people. This is an episode of television I’ll be thinking about for a long time. 

The one good thing that comes of all of it is a new idea to help women who need it. Addison is desperate to do more to help, and the idea comes to Bailey because of their drive with Susan. A mobile care unit — one that’s already been started by Ben.

I hope that’s something we get to see her work with.

Meanwhile, this episode also includes the much-anticipated return of Jesse Williams as Jackson Avery, along with Greg Germann as Tom Koracick. Meredith is in Boston with Zola looking at a prestigious science school, so she makes time to meet with Jackson while she’s there.

It’s so good to see him again, and it’s even better to see Meredith be able to connect with a former colleague. Even their banter is fun to watch. 

Really, having Kate Walsh and Jesse Williams both appear brings great energy to the episode.

Jackson’s role here, however, is to provide Meredith with an opportunity for change. It reminds me a lot of Burke’s return many moons ago, where he offered Cristina a job she couldn’t pass up. The same happens here.

It’s a shame to know that Meredith won’t much more of a presence this season, but to know that her plan is to move to Boston — something that works well for Zola too — in order to work on a cure for Alzheimer’s? There’s no better way to round out Meredith Grey’s story. We’ve been working toward this moment since Season 1.

The importance of this for Zola is also a highlight. Meredith is realizing that she’s made some mistakes in her parenting by not paying enough attention to her daughter, and now that’s changing. But it will change while she also sets a professional example and does something good for herself and for the world.

The real kicker, though, is when Meredith tells Zola that she is “extraordinary.” It’s everything her own mother didn’t give her. This is such a small moment but it is so incredibly powerful.

My complaint here is one that I’ve already had once this season, though. It’s disappointing to have so much of Meredith’s time outside the hospital.

I’d also have liked to see more of Jackson, and for that matter, to have an appearance from April somehow too. We do get to see a photo of them together, so there’s that.

Overall, though, it’s an all-around incredible episode that does some powerful, important storytelling. 

Other thoughts:

• It’s sad to learn that Catherine’s cancer is back and her scans show a growing tumor. I hope she tells her family the news soon.
• Poor Lucas! Poor Amelia! That situation is a comical mess and I kind of love everything about it.

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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Behind-the-Scenes Photos from Grey’s Anatomy Season 19 Episode 5: When I Get to the Border