Post — Aaron Ngo

Major Spoilers are included in this episode review. Please read with caution.

The feels are real. Meredith and Jackson had a rough time dealing with their parents: Catherine Fox and Thatcher Grey. They are both running out of time, and only one survives by the end of the episode. However, the emotions are all the same: sorrow mixed with solemn happiness. For a long-time Grey’s fan, being able to see Thatcher again was a real treat. We also got a Lexie Grey mention, and what his life was like after she died back in the season eight finale (the plane crash).

Thatcher lived out a pretty simple life, but he left everyone else behind, including Meredith. She is distraught at how content he is in his last moments, and how Thatcher is absolving himself of all the abandonment. He abandoned her when she was a kid, and then he ditched her again after Lexie died, when Meredith needed him the most.

Seeing Thatcher so old and weak was devastating. I couldn’t believe how far he fell, but I’m glad he was able to reunite with Meredith before he died. Meredith, touched by the meeting, starts referring to him as “Grandpa” to her kids. Funny, I love it. Funny, that’s amazing. Funny, Bailey is too cute.

Catherine Fox, Jackson Avery, and Richard Webber are one big happy family. The support, love, and fun they had with each other was too much. Adding Koracick and Amelia into the mix elevated the emotional tension, especially the church scene with Koracick speaking to his dead son. I am so grateful for Koracick and his tragic backstory. Bonus: Teddy and Koracick are too awesome. I’m on board with them.

Overall, the stories in this episode were told beautifully. Most of the other characters like Link, DeLuca, Nico, Alex, Jo, etc. were not present in the episode to give Meredith and Jackson the time to breathe without much other interference. I will forever love how this show uses surgery to create great stories.

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