Grey's Anatomy Season 16 Episode 4 Review: It's Raining Men
Jasmine Blu
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Well, our beloved medical drama is starting to show its age.
Remember during the hellish reign of Minnick when it seemed like everyone was at each other's throats? Well, Grey's Anatomy Season 16 Episode 4, and most of the season, has felt like one long extension of that hour aptly titled "Civil War."
Everyone is all over the place, and much of it feels contrived.
We also have another pregnancy, as if there aren't enough babies in this place.
But first, let's get into Mer writing an article about how broken the healthcare system is, and how it did not bode well for GSM.
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Meredith may have meant well (she always does), but what did she expect to happen? She's not working at the hospital because of her actions and getting fired. They were going to spin the story and make it scathing so it sold better.
People eat it up, so they were going to lambast GSM to sell their story; it's how this works.
The issue is Meredith has decided to go on a crusade out of the blue. If there is one thing that has been clear during the past few installments, it's how everyone's privilege is showing.
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It's true, the system is broken. Everyone and their mother knows this. Why did it take 16 seasons before the series chose to use this as a focal point and theme?
Meredith didn't have to burn it all down in her wake. That place raised her.
Richard
It isn't like Grey's hasn't been timely and relevant over the years. You cannot begrudge the series that, but by making this suddenly a focal point in this manner, it makes many of them, namely Meredith seem out of touch.
So did Meredith didn't know about the broken system? She's taking on this crusade as if it's something new, and then rallying against people like she's an expert.
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Meredith never had to think about any of this before. It doesn't mean it didn't exist until she opened her eyes. She's taken this crusade of hers and running with it, and she's ready to burn everyone down in the process, and it's not fair.
Come on, you know she effed up if Cristina is texting her from Switzerland!
DeLuca was right; if she was paying attention as much as she should have during medical school, and all of her years practicing, she would have known the best way to fix the system is from within it.
If that isn't part of the reason why she became a doctor in the first place, then what's the point?
Well change the headline at least! I love Grey Sloan, I own Grey Sloan, I would never tear it down.
Mer
She's doing more harm than good right now, and she's not focusing on what she needs to be doing, which is completing her community service and working toward getting her job back.
What good is she going to do if she's not in a position to make real change?
Bailey has been catching a lot of heat for how she's handled things with Meredith and the others, but why are we acting like Meredith doesn't do the absolute most and go too far?
It was nothing she could do to change what happened with the article, but instead of waiting for her shift to be over during her community service, she had to rush over to GSM to tell Bailey she didn't intend to betray her or the hospital.
Mer: Bailey, you know me. You know I love this place, I grew up here. Any good I have ever done, any awards I ever received have been from things I learned here. In this program from you and Richard Webber. I-I'm sorry if any of this has hurt you. I really am truly sorry.
Bailey: I know what you learned, Grey. I spent years of my life teaching you. Remember, I stayed late almost every night explaining procedures and technique when I could've been home with my family. I made you study. I made you practice. I was your friend, your mentor and every time you needed me I was there. You sit there and apologize and say all the moving words, but the damage has been done.
It was reckless and irresponsible. The person overseeing her made a valid point about how Meredith keeps leaving for all of her emergencies, and it keeps going back to why Meredith, basking in her privilege, always feels like she's somehow above the rules.
Isn't that why all of this happened in the first place?
She's risking her career, her reputation, her livelihood, friendships, and the livelihood of her children to go on a crusade.
She picked up this cause, and now she's throwing it in people's faces like they aren't actively trying to be the best doctors they can be daily to better the healthcare system.
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She didn't think about how this would fall back on GSM. She didn't think about the effects on her colleagues, who now have to combat the poor reputation.
Mer: I would like to explain how this happened. Especially to Bailey. I owe it to her. I named my kid after her.
Jo: She may ask you to take that back.
She didn't think about the patients who would be afraid to go to GSM because of the article; it was a mess.
Everyone was in a frenzy. Many people were sympathetic to Dahlia's plight as a resident who wanted to learn from Meredith.
And the privilege shined through again with the scene between Levi and Jackson. As much as Jackson thought he was doing what was best for the patient and her parents, Levi had a valid point too.
They're a cutting-edge hospital with the best doctors. It's still a business, and the better their reputation, the more money they can bring in, all of that helps too.
It's not just the medical system that's broken, it's the whole world.
Teddy
Jackson may not have liked what Tom was doing or what he had to say, but there was a reason for it. Tom had a method to his madness.
Jackson, much like Meredith, is a legacy kid and has money. Neither of them has to think about all of the things the others have to consider.
They're set for life. Their careers are great, but what about everyone else after them?
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Imagine what it would've done for the hospital's reputation, for the future of the residents and interns, for potential patients, if they saw the beautiful work Jackson was able to to do?
Levi: It's perfect. It's miraculous, and if you'd have let Dr. Koracick film it, it might have really helped this place.
Jackson: I don't concern myself with headlines, Schmidt, I suggest you don't either.
Levi: Well, you don't have to. You already have a career, your future is safe no matter what, not all of us have that luxury.
Imagine how the word would have spread?
It would have helped during this time where their reputation is suffering.
Jackson doesn't have to worry about GSM's ruined reputation when he can go to any of the dozens of Avery-owned facilities.
If you want to get technical, I am your boss.
Jackson
Jackson allowed his distaste for Tom to outweigh everything. He knew good and damn well his mother would've applauded Tom's efforts.
It would be a surprise if he didn't hear from her later on.
When did this place get to the point where everyone is inconsiderate and at each other's throats all of the time? Why can't anyone work together or communicate?
If the idea was that Meredith and Jackson were heroic, they're coming across as out of touch more than anything.
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However, as likable as Tom usually is, he was a jerk.
He exploded all over us!
Patient
Tom won fans over, and Germann got bumped to series regular, but now, for some reason, they're ruining him. Why?
Tom has always been a likable jerk. He may have been a pain in the ass to his peers, but he always respected patients.
He didn't treat patients like cash cows. The man lost his child, so why would he be gung-ho about shoving cameras in this baby's face and being unsympathetic and callous about it?
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Why would he go on this tirade with Owen over restraining orders when it could affect patient care? It's not Tom's brand of asshole.
Don't sweat it, man. Being liked is overrated.
Resident
It felt like the show was trying to justify why most of the other doctors hate him. Even Amelia, his protege, got in on the action, which was odd.
It feels like many of the characters have had personality changes this season for no reason, and it's nonsensical.
Tom lifted the restraining order after realizing he was overdoing it was too late. Owen is heading on over to Pac-North now.
Of course, everyone is going to Pac-North. Owen didn't even blink when the patient read that stupid article and wanted to go anywhere else but GSM.
Just when I couldn't possibly love you less, you surprise me.
Avery
Owen jumped into the ambulance like he was itching for an escape. You can't blame Alex for trying to poach him. Pac-North is a hot mess.
They could use the extra hands.
In no time, the only ones who will still be at GSM are Meredith's sisters, boyfriend, and Teddy.
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Bailey's choices have been controversial for a plethora of reasons and have left fandom split. However, everything she said to Meredith was warranted.
Maggie: Your bloodwork shows that you're perimenopausal.
Bailey: I sense ellipses.
Maggie: You're also pregnant.
For the life of me, I don't understand where this idea that Bailey was somehow jealous of Mer came from. She always looked at M.A.G.I.C as her children.
Bailey poured her heart and soul into them, and she's had plenty of moments with Alex and Mer where she's expressed how much she loves them.
Bailey isn't jealous of Meredith. She's disappointed like a mother would be in her child. We're 16 years in and Meredith still does impulsive, reckless things, and Bailey knows she taught Meredith better than all of this.
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It was a nice moment when she got to speak her peace about all of it. She deserved the opportunity to explain why she was so frustrated, and Meredith taking for granted that their history meant Bailey would give her the benefit of the doubt is bullshit.
I am woman hear me roar.
Bailey
It's also part of the problem in the first place.
Kudos to Jo, but namely DeLuca for pointing that out and calling Meredith out on her shit. Is it more acceptable now that it came from DeLuca? Hopefully.
Bailey being peri-menopausal was a great touch. It does explain why she's been more emotional. I also liked how her fear was it being her heart again.
Her heart issues and the fear never goes away. Ben was such a supportive husband, as usual, and his addition fit better than Vic's appearance.
Vic: Pierce is kind of a genius isn't she?
Warren: Not kinda, is.
They could've stuck with the peri-menopausal arc though since it's something real and different than what they've explored before.
Instead, Bailey is pregnant, too. Why?
On the one hand, we all know Ben will be over the moon. However, how many g*dd*amn babies do they need on this show?
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We just got over Teddy's pregnancy, and now we're in baby bump bliss with Amelia and Link. We need Bailey pregnant too? No amount of funny Maggie quips about keeping pregnancies secret will make this less insane.
Amelia, I think I'm in love with you, and I know you said not to say it back, but it's not something I feel very often. Love is not really my thing. Dating yes. Fun yes. Sex yes.
Link
If this review seems scathing, my apologies. Please know that Amelia and Link are the brightest spots of this season so far, and it applied to this installment as well.
They are literally each other's security blanket.
They're the best couple on the series and the most stable.
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Link's love confession was swoon-worthy. They're happy, and they both deserve that.
Amelia: Have you seen Link? I'm craving some gravity blanket/
Maggie: What?
Amelia: He does this thing where he puts his whole body on top of me and it's like a thunder blanket.
It may be hitting them how little they know about some aspects of their life, but it doesn't take away how much love there is between them.
Can we have another hour devoted to them alone, or is that too much to ask?
Additional Notes:
- Meredith wasn't wrong for what she said in her article, though. She was spot-on about all of the issues plaguing the system. She left no stone left unturned.
- Can we give a round of applause for Jacob Gibson who played Josh? He has been making the rounds recently from here, to All Rise, to Greenleaf. He left a girl in her feelings every single time. Phenomenal!
- The man who fell out of a plane. WTF? What a case? The big toe in the hoodie was crazy!
- Pac North has a psych-ward? Did anyone else want to see the great escape?
- Are we just handing out promotions now? DeLuca is Chief of Resident now because he's the only senior resident left. He's a great doctor, so it sucks that he got it by default. Who was Kang?
- Some of this concern for the underprivileged would land better if we saw any of them in the free clinic for more than two seconds.
- Teddy is at her best when she's kicking ass in the OR, and she was right about the world being broken. Preach!
Was I too hard on this episode? How are we feeling about another pregnancy?
How many doctors do you think will head over to Pac-North?
Hit the comments below with all of your thoughts.
You can watch Grey's Anatomy online here via TV Fanatic.
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Jasmine Blu is a senior staff writer for TV Fanatic. She is an insomniac who spends late nights and early mornings binge-watching way too many shows and binge-drinking way too much tea. Her eclectic taste makes her an unpredictable viewer with an appreciation for complex characters, diverse representation, dynamic duos, compelling stories, and guilty pleasures. You'll definitely find her obsessively live-tweeting, waxing poetic, and chatting up fellow Fanatics and readers. Follow her on X.
