The recent conclusion of Grey’s Anatomy left viewers in a state of disarray — Teddy lay motionless on the OR floor, Lucas and Simone fought to save Sam Sutton as he flatlined, Kwan disregarded Maxine’s DNI order, and Jules grappled with conflicting feelings toward him.
Meanwhile, Meredith navigated a turbulent career and love life. As season 20 commences, chaos remains prevalent, fitting for such a significant milestone. Twenty seasons of Grey’s Anatomy! Two decades! Despite the staggering time commitment, many of us remain devoted to this series.
Reflecting on our collective journey, it’s astonishing. Chaos has been a defining element of Grey’s Anatomy since its inception — from ferry boat crashes to musical episodes, chaos is woven into its DNA. Thus, plunging us back into chaos after a hiatus feels authentic and familiar. It’s like returning home.
The morning after the chaotic events in Boston, everyone, including Meredith Grey who recently left Seattle, gathers at Grey Sloan to assess the aftermath. Panic and tension fill the air as they confront the damage left in their absence.
Amidst the chaos, the five junior surgeons find themselves at odds, quick to point fingers and assign blame when questioned by Nick Marsh. Kwan’s hostility towards Lucas, branding him a homewrecker, raises eyebrows, prompting disbelief at his unchecked aggression.
It’s a wonder Kwan doesn’t face more consequences for his behavior. However, beneath their anger lies a deeper fear — fear of losing Teddy, fear of job insecurity. Nick’s threat to their careers forces them to pause, but he’s quickly called away, leaving them in limbo, unable to practice medicine until further notice.
They promptly disregard the order, reminiscent of past behavior.
Lucas seeks solace outside after experiencing the intimate and gruesome aspects of both Simone and Sam Sutton’s cases. Simone follows, eager to discuss these matters. However, before delving into the details, they’re interrupted by an emergency. An EMT beckons them for assistance—a motor vehicle crash victim is deteriorating in the ambulance, requiring immediate attention and transport to the ER.
As the paramedics step away, allowing the doctors to intervene, a sudden collision traps Lucas and Simone inside with the patient. To compound matters, the colliding vehicle is a malfunctioning self-driving car, with its occupant, named Wayne, inadvertently locked in. Despite efforts to halt it, the car repeatedly rams into the ambulance, leaving everyone trapped.
Meanwhile, Meredith wanders through the corridors of Grey Sloan, feeling the weight of being summoned across the country by Catherine Fox. Catherine’s sole intention seems to be giving Meredith a piece of her mind for publicly challenging conventional wisdom on Alzheimer’s during the Fox Foundation event, thereby tarnishing the Foundation’s reputation.
Meredith is given an ultimatum: cease discussing her theories or risk losing funding for her lab. It’s a conversation that could have easily transpired over Zoom, given its simplicity. Nevertheless, this encounter grants Meredith the opportunity to (1) listen to Nick’s grievances about the interns’ mishaps and the potential need for termination and (2) offer her assistance when Bailey informs her of the interns’ latest predicament.
The subsequent scenes depict Meredith and Bailey collaborating seamlessly to guide the trapped interns inside the ambulance on how to treat their critically ill patient. Witnessing their teamwork never fails to evoke warmth, and it’s evident they find satisfaction in it as well.
However, the atmosphere inside the ambulance is far from comforting. Recognizing the symptoms relayed by Lucas and Simone, Meredith and Bailey conclude that the patient is experiencing internal bleeding, prompting them to instruct the interns to perform an abdominal exploration (ex-lap) independently. Essentially, they must open the patient’s abdomen right there in the midst of the chaotic environment caused by the car repeatedly crashing into the ambulance.
Understandably, Simone hesitates, still haunted by the Sam Sutton incident, and pleads for an alternative approach. Could they sustain the patient with fluids until they can extricate themselves from the situation? While plausible, given the severity of the patient’s condition, delaying the procedure would likely result in his death.
With Lucas and Simone being the sole observers of the patient’s condition, the decision falls to them. Lucas insists they must proceed, prompting Simone’s poignant remark, “I can’t have another death on my hands because of you!” It’s a harsh yet sobering truth, albeit not the most auspicious start to a new relationship.