Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 Episode 11 Review: Transplant Woes

After watching the evolution of Meredith Grey over the course of 21 seasons, her actions on Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 Episode 11, “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” feel inauthentic somehow.

I’m not the only one to notice, either. Richard and Nick have both pointed out, between this episode and the one prior, that Meredith has never been one to shy away from bending the rules when it meant doing what was best for a patient. Heck, she even went to jail for it once.

Yet here, she’s following protocol without much hesitation at all. Perhaps this is part of that evolution — after all Meredith has been through, she’s learning when not to go rogue. She’s much older and wiser now too, so that makes sense. Still, the nuance from the situation with Tasha and Evynn is missing when it could have been so much more complex.

Evynn withheld medical records, lying to Catherine and the team in a way that felt wildly unethical. As Meredith points out, doing so is unfair to other patients on the transplant list.

At the same time, it’s not like Tasha doesn’t desperately need that liver, and it’s not like Meredith doesn’t have a personal connection to Alzheimer’s. There’s a grey area (no pun intended) that Meredith overlooks, and that doesn’t seem like her.

Nick, however, sees that grey area and wants what’s best for his patient — end of story. This all only gets more complicated when another patient needs a liver as well, and the one Tasha was about to get? It’s a match.

This is perfect Grey’s Anatomy storytelling because there’s so much at stake, and the ethical questions are complex. There’s also a level of professional courtesy and competition, and I almost, almost, get Denny Duquette heart transplant vibes from the whole situation. Bailey and Ben need the liver for their patient, while Nick, Meredith, and Richard (though less enthused) could use the news that they can give it to Tasha. 

The committee decides that Ben and Bailey’s patient should get it, and this all happens in the blink of an eye. It’s perhaps the biggest fault of this episode that these interactions are rushed. There’s so much potential here — conflict between the doctors, the ethical conversations — yet it’s over as soon as it starts.

At least that part.

Nick isn’t one to give up so easily, and he figures out a way to solve everyone’s problems. He suggests they split the liver. The two patients will just share it. As he explains it, it seems like a perfect solution to everyone.

Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 Episode 11, “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” (Disney/Anne Marie Fox)
LENA WAITHE

The liver was, after all, too big for Tasha, and the second patient could have part of this liver attached to her own until her own heals, keeping her from having to worry about her body rejecting the liver. 

It’s a win-win, and the surgeries follow, all seemingly going according to plan. Ultimately, it’s good storytelling. It’s the kind of thing Grey’s Anatomy is known for. Yet, again, it’s rushed. With so much build-up, spending more time on these surgeries would have allowed for a better payoff, not to mention a chance for Meredith to actually interact with other characters more. 

This, after all, is the real issue. Meredith “left” Grey-Sloan, and she’s no longer a main character, but she’s still at the center of the show when she appears. It’s better this time, as I mentioned in my review of Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 Episode 10, but her returns still feel disjointed, like we’re suddenly watching a different show.

I’d love to continue to see Meredith’s journey to curing Alzheimer’s. I’d even love to see her relationship with Nick continue. But, we see her so rarely that these developments don’t make sense right now. Something really needs to change.

Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 Episode 11, “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” – Ellen Pompeo as Meredith Grey, Chandra Wilson as Miranda Bailey, Jason George as Ben Warren (Disney/Anne Marie Fox)

Meanwhile, this episode also has a group of college students running all over the hospital for an annual scavenger hunt that gets out of control fast. It adds a fun energy to the hour, and it allows us to see a happier, lighter side of Owen that we haven’t seen much of in a while.

Owen is on the students’ side and can’t help but want to participate a little himself. It’s endearing and funny at times, even though one of the students is badly hurt when he crashes into an MRI machine. 

The scavenger hunt also gives Jules a way to break out of her shell a bit and move past some of her grief. Seeing her help the students with a clue is an especially great moment for her.

Amelia also adds to this lighthearted energy when she catches Lucas and Blue sneaking in a patient — Molly, Blue’s former fiance. They’re sure they’re in trouble, but Amelia scolds them instead on their lack of stealth and then offers to help. 

This sets up some additional layers for Blue’s relationship with Molly as well. She doesn’t want surgery, but when she realizes there’s a chance she could get her memories back, she suggests they ask Amelia to do that — even though it’s risky. 

Lucas is the one who gives Blue the best advice on everything, suggesting that Blue make sure Molly knows she’s the love of his life. I have to say, I really like the bond forming between Lucas and Blue in all of this, on top of everything else. 

Owen and Teddy also have a pivotal moment on this episode, and it seems their relationship could go any number of ways. After an oddly coincidental (slightly overstepping?) visit from Cass Beckman, played by Sophia Bush, Teddy realizes she’s attracted to Cass.

Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 Episode 11, “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”(Disney/Anne Marie Fox)
KIM RAVER, SOPHIA BUSH

Cass’s motives seem obvious, right from showing up and letting herself into the lounge. Their interactions are fun to watch, Kim Raver’s performance is perfect in letting us know how Teddy is feeling. It’s all in her eyes, and it’s subtle but very clear.

At the same time, Owen has been getting messages from Nora, who tried to kiss him. Both of them are being pulled in different romantic directions, and they’re both conflicted.

Thankfully, they’re also both honest. Owen tells Teddy what’s been happening with Nora, and that’s when Teddy admits she’s attracted to Cass. They also both love each other deeply.

My prediction? They’ll go the route that Cass suggested to Teddy when they first spent time together: try having an open marriage. 

It would be a first for Grey’s Anatomy and would be a way for them to resolve this particular issue without divorcing. It seems to me that’s exactly what they’re working towards and that it’s the reason the forced conflict between them was brought on screen to begin with — so that all roads could lead to them changing the terms of their relationship.

I just hope they do something soon because, at this point, Owen and Teddy’s struggles have become exhausting to watch. 

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Grey’s Anatomy airs Thursdays at 10/9c on ABC.

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