Grey’s Anatomy Season 22 Episode 14 Review: Wrecking Ball

Lucas desperately tries to save Katie as her condition worsens on Grey’s Anatomy Season 22 Episode 14, “Wrecking Ball.”

The connection Lucas and Kate have shared over the past several episodes sets up a clear parallel to a storyline we’ve seen before. This isn’t the same as Izzie and Denny Duquette, but it’s impossible not to see the similarities.

Those similarities are just enough to get us thinking about earlier seasons while also telling a completely different story, which strikes the right balance. 

Lucas and Katie’s relationship, for one thing, has been more implied than obvious — even between themselves. It’s not until this very episode that they’re completely honest about their feelings and that they imagine a life where Katie wasn’t sick — where they might have met under different circumstances. 

The effect of that is that it means Lucas doesn’t cross a line in a way that could hurt his career, even though he and Simone, with Bailey’s blessing, do go above and beyond in having Katie stay at their house (Meredith’s house) so they can take care of her in her final days. 

Lucas’s judgement is also just as clouded as Izzie’s was. he makes a desperate attempt to get Katie what he thinks she needs after Simone has hidden what they had at the house. Simone is right that there’s nothing more they can do — or should do — but he calls on an intern to help and takes off to the hospital for supplies. 

When he returns, Katie has died. And Lucas blames Simone for the fact that he wasn’t there. 

Their history is the first thing that makes this complicated, of course. He’d likely have blamed whoever was acting as Katie’s doctor in that moment, but the fact that they were once in a relationship makes it even messier. 

Katie’s death is that much more tragic because it could have, potentially, been prevented. The clinical trial treatment was working for her, and she was improving. Then, it was canceled.

Bailey describes the government cancellation of just one of many tiny paper cuts that’s ruining everything about medicine and science. It’s bleak, and yet another topical storyline that Grey’s Anatomy handles so well.

At the same time, Bailey sure has had a lot of speeches about the decline of science and medicine that have almost felt too forced or on-the-nose.

It’s worth it for the audience to be reminded why Katie’s trial was canceled, but reminders coming in different forms would likely work better. Even having other characters discuss those ideas would go a long way. 

Other thoughts:

• Jules and Winston get a classic elevator moment that doesn’t lead to a kiss right away, but sets one up for later. It feels like good timing. It’s been just long enough, and they’ve had enough complications to make this feel earned.
• Richard’s prostate screening event is such a great detail. It’s fascinating to see how little interest it has, and how people actually run in the other direction — but yet, by the end of the episode, it’s made an impact on at least one person. It’s a really nice detail and a great way to follow up on his prostate cancer storyline.
• After seeing Amelia have some insecurities about her ex-wife, Toni holds a private awards ceremony just for her, with handmade awards to let Amelia know how incredible she is. If I didn’t already like Toni’s character, I’d have no choice but to love her now. That’s true also of how she brings Jules onto her service after learning that Mohanty had lied. 
• Teddy and Owen are hooking up in the hospital post-divorce, and at this point, it’s hard to decide if this is a good thing or a bad thing. It’s fun at first, but it’s also a bit unsettling. 

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

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