Station 19 Season 7 Episode 2 Review: Good Grief

The discussion of grief is on everyone’s mind throughout Station 19 Season 7 Episode 2, “Good Grief.”

With two funerals, a career loss, and a disease outbreak, the team at 19 learns a valuable lesson about who family is — those you choose to be around. 

“Good Grief” is a jam-packed episode where members of 19 help Jack cope with his diagnosis and future as a civilian. Unfortunately, their attempts at consoling him only make him more agitated.

On top of that, it is clinic day, and because the clinic is his baby, Jack is defensive as he tries to ensure everyone is doing the right thing.

Jack’s response is expected as he has had to fight some serious demons to return to his Lieutenant position at 19. His story, however, is not over.

Additionally, this clinic day is busy for Maya and Carina as they deal with a lockdown brought on by symptoms of a contagious disease. The way Maya and Carina work so well together is a testament to their growing relationship.

With Andy and the Chief on the other side of the door, Maya and Carina work quickly to diagnose Alice with the help of the CDC. Their physical closeness demonstrates how they are quick on their feet and work well together under pressure. It’s why they are such a great example of queer representation (although they are the cliche of all cliches, the U-Haul bisexuals).

Early on in the episode, Travis and Eli attend a memorial service for Michael Dixon. Eli leaves and then the ship everyone loves, Tremmett has some seriously passionate sex in the pantry.

This situationship, or “Hot Mess Express” of an affair, gets increasingly intense as the season continues. Unfortunately, Emmett snaps Travis out of it when he points out the hypocrisy of Travis cheating on Eli with him.

This is the wake-up call for Trav to get serious about his poor decisions.

The question on everyone’s mind is: Will Travis wise up and let Eli know he does love Emmett and that he can’t be with him anymore? Or will he keep up the lie until it comes back to bite him?  

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Vic accompanies Beckett to a wake at an Irish pub.

This moment when the inebriated family of Sean’s Uncle Vinny greets Sean proves the necessity of support systems while in recovery from alcohol abuse.

The family gets into a spat when cousin Gracie, also sober, points out that Vinny is a severe alcoholic who abandoned his family. This leads to a fight that ends in Beckett’s Nephew Cauterizing a bloody nose with a stirring spoon.

This is painful to watch in a few ways. First of all, the irresponsibility of an adult doing a childish act like what Jimmy did could have hurt Jimmy Jr. Most importantly, Beckett realized that spending time with family members who enable bad behavior was not good for his recovery.

However, to remind him he belongs at 19, Vic invites him to be her deputy on CrisisOne. This moment, like the game of H.O.R.S.E. that Vic and Beckett played on Station 19 Season 6 Episode 17, “All These Things That I’ve Done,” shows a siblinghood bond forming between them.

Maybe we will see the bad guy of Season 5 get more redemption and growth! 

While dealing with loss, the episode also deals with loss of control.

On the CrisisOne call that Ben and Theo go on, there is a mother who is afraid of her son. After the call escalates, she goes down to 19 to talk to Ben and shares that she needs assistance with getting her son’s guns taken away.

This moment is a testament to the dream Dean Miller had when founding CrisisOne—de-escalation without police interference.

The best part of this scene is that we see the benefit of CrisisOne: instead of coming in after something happens, coming in and doing crisis intervention and education. It is a brilliant way to cut law enforcement out of the picture.

While filled with many sad and touching moments, the episode also gives these small moments of happiness.

First, the proposal — this scene is so cute, and using the little kid as a messenger is even cuter. The scene expresses the love in times of hardship. We hope for wedding bells in Sullivan and Ross’ future.

The other happy moment is baby Liam! On the previous episode, we saw Maya and Carina ask that adorable child if they could be his mamas (it was so adorable).

So, this moment is so exciting for 19 as a family! It reminds us that with every child and recruit, their family grows bigger; no matter what happens, a family has your back!

As the episode ends, our hearts are shattered by the final sequence, which features a dinner to honor Jack and the work he has put in as a firefighter at 19. The show, which has many moments like this, does not disappoint.

Jack is given a cake with his helmet on it and a silver Sharpie to write his name on the bottom of the table in the beanery.

As the episode closes out, it does so in a way that is so 19 it is like common knowledge at this point. The crew of 19 all lie down next to Jack under the table and console him while he cries.

This is such a beautiful episode, proving that family is more than just blood. The people you choose to be around are your true family.

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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 10/9c on ABC.

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