Grey’s Anatomy Season 22 Episode 8 Review: Heavy on Me

Bailey and Owen work together on what seems like an impossible case on Grey’s Anatomy Season 22 Episode 8, “Heavy on Me.”

After listening to Teddy and Winston on a podcast that morning, which has everyone buzzing about their success, Owen feels “uninspired” and seems to be questioning himself a bit. It’s a nice turn to give something new for Owen’s character to do.

There’s a bit of professional jealousy, which is no doubt complicated by the fact that Teddy is one of the people he’s jealous of. However, it’s also just a chance for some introspection. He’s been doing this job a long time, and he did work in more extreme circumstances earlier in his career.

So, exploring something like this for Owen definitely makes for great storytelling. Pairing him with Bailey is also a nice change, and it all works well. Unfortunately, the episode overall continues to have less connection between characters and a slower pace — something I also mentioned in my review of Grey’s Anatomy Season 22 Episode 7.

This impossible case — a massive, complicated tumor — is fascinating to deal with on screen. Yet, there’s a lot more talking and less doing than it seems like there should be. More time seeing the doctors think on their feet in the OR, and more time spent on the storyline in general, could have gone a long way. 

Along those lines, there’s a really heartfelt storyline with Jo, but it also falls a bit short. She’s dealing with the emotions that come after giving birth. But more than that, the emotions of surviving a life-threatening situation, of the health struggles both of her babies are currently dealing with, and feeling useless in the process.

It’s a lot to grapple with, and while that’s all shown pretty well and Camilla Luddington delivers an incredible performance with all of it, it’s ultimately rushed.

Jo makes friends in the NICU with another mom who collapses in front of her, and Jo is unable to help as much as she’d like since she’s on leave and patient herself.

She tries as much as she can, even making a scene. It gives the audience real insight into what her character is dealing with internally. At the same time, we brush right past any reconnection with the new friend — and we just don’t see her again. 

Something similar even happens on a smaller scale with Lucas, who has formed a bond with a patient and may even be setting himself up to cross a line, as Simone points out.

Yet, the only interaction we have the chance to see on this episode is through Lucas texting with the patient. It feels like a missed opportunity.

Meanwhile, Richard is still grappling with his recent cancer diagnosis, and Catherine brings in a specialist in hopes that he will consider surgery.

It certainly makes perfect sense for his character that Richard would be resistant and a bit stubborn, but then he softens to the idea when he gets to know this surgeon a bit more. She has MS and has adapted to her condition to continue working — which makes Richard realize he could do the same if he had to. 

It’s interesting, too, that Catherine has already been on her own journey with cancer, and now Richard will as well. 

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What did you think of this episode of Grey’s Anatomy? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to leave your own rating!

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

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