Grey’s Anatomy Season 22 Episode 17 Review: Through the Fire

Though the pacing is ultimately a bit too slow, Grey’s Anatomy Season 22 Episode 17, “Through the Fire,” sets up major changes and brings in a special guest star.

Ben has been working with Toni Wright and using his knowledge as a firefighter to help with plastics, specifically for burn victims. That should have been foreshadowing, perhaps, but all of that has led to the perfect opportunity for him to be reunited with a former Station 19 team member. 

Station 19’s Danielle Savre reprises her role as Maya Bishop for this episode, arriving at the hospital with significant burn injuries. 

Had it not been for Ben and his willingness to push boundaries, take risks, and fight for his patient, she might have a longer road of recovery ahead of her. 

Though Toni thinks they should take a less risky approach in surgery, Ben pushes for the opposite — much like an earlier version of Ben Warren, who pushed boundaries in surgery before ever becoming a firefighter.

It pays off, and Toni respects him for it. So much so, in fact, that she offers him an immediate position as her plastics fellow. 

Ben had a personal connection to Maya, but it didn’t cloud his judgment. In fact, it may have made him better. Bringing her back was a really nice way to keep that Station 19 world alive a bit, too, and to hear a bit about how things are going for those characters.

It’s just too bad Carina, or other characters from the show, for that matter, couldn’t also make an appearance. 

Meanwhile, Bailey is still covering for Blue after he administered a treatment to a patient despite not having approval.

Blue is full of anxiety over the IRB investigation throughout the episode, and Bailey is completely just weary and jaded. Part of her issue is that Ben is upset with her, which doesn’t feel fitting.

In fact, it’s ironic, considering how he pushes boundaries a bit to help Maya, and how he’s pushed even bigger boundaries in the past. 

Bailey meets up with Meredith to help judge a med student innovation competition, and somehow, it’s Meredith who has all the joy and sees inspiration from the aspiring doctors, while Bailey is mostly just cynical.

It’s nice to see them work together in that way, and for Meredith to offer some encouragement to Bailey, though the separation from the hospital ultimately just contributes to the episode’s slower pacing.

As far as the investigation goes, Richard learns the truth about who really gave the patient the unapproved treatment. He confronts Blue, and then, when Bailey returns to the hospital, he tells her she’s benched from surgery until further notice, and that Blue has been fired. 

I don’t know that this doesn’t seem a little out of character for everyone involved, especially Richard. More than that, it feels like we’ve seen a similar type of storyline more times than I can count.

Likely, things will work out just fine for Bailey, but it wouldn’t be as surprising to see another resident lose their position at Grey-Sloan permanently.

Going into the finale, this episode also leaves us on a major cliffhanger, and it sets up exits for both Kevin McKidd and Kim Raver (Owen and Teddy). 

At the beginning of the episode, Owen and Teddy are friendly with each other as Teddy prepares to see her former mentor, who is visiting from Paris. Teddy asks Owen about his mom and even gets an update on Megan, Owen’s sister, which is a nice touch.

It’s clear they still have feelings for each other as they navigate what their friendship and co-parenting life will be like post-divorce. 

But after Teddy’s mentor offers her an incredible opportunity in Paris, it causes conflict once again. Teddy wants to discuss the possibility with Owen, but he doesn’t want to be the reason she chooses not to go, and with their children involved, it’s not simple.

They end that conversation on a bad note, but Owen calls Teddy later and leaves a voicemail, apologizing. That message, however, is cut short. 

The doctors have just learned of a bridge collapse and are beginning to prepare for incoming traumas when she listens to that voicemail and hears that he was on that very bridge.

It’s the setup for an intense season finale, and we know from the promo video that Owen isn’t the only one who could be hurt — so is Nick. 

Other thoughts:

• Simone and Lucas find their way back to each other after drinking too much, and after Simone learns it might be hard for her to have children. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind seeing these two get back together, but it’s certainly a surprise — and it happens quick.
• Jules, however, has finished with the egg retrieval process, and though her big plans fall through because of a fire, which scares her a bit, she and Winston still have a chance for a romantic evening together. 
• Things may be looking up for Toni and Amelia, too, though there’s still some hesitation because of Toni’s ex. 
• Jo questions whether she wants to continue with OB and has a long conversation with Teddy about it. This could set up a change for her as a doctor, but it strikes me that those kinds of long conversations and separations from the rest of the cast are part of why the pacing is slow in what could be a pretty exciting, suspenseful episode.

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

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