Station 19 2x15 "Always Ready" Episode Review

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

The second part of the Grey’s Anatomy / Station 19 crossover event. The first part review will be posted here once I have written it out. Long story short: Chief Ripley was being taken to Grey-Sloan Memorial after he collapsed at the flower shop, and Levi became a hero. This Grey’s / Station 19 moment was great. I’m so proud of how far Levi got as a character. Anyways, Maggie and Chief Ripley developed a good doctor-patient friendship thing, and he left the hospital to propose to Vic.

Let’s talk about what happened in this episode now.

Station 19 suffered its first major character death. I thought Pruitt Herrera would be the first one we’d lose, and that’s what made Chief Ripley’s death even harder to swallow. This is a slow burn as we learn Ripley’s condition is more severe than we were first led to believe. Maggie (our official crossover character) and the other firefighters are looking everywhere for him and Victoria (because she’s on active duty to avoid Ripley’s “rejection”).

Eventually, Andy and the team manage to find Vic but in a sensitive situation with a jumper. This is the stress level we’re under, people. Vic and the others are able to conduct themselves at this point, and everyone’s caught up to speed on everything going on with Ripley. This is where the team moves fast toward the hospital not named Grey-Sloan.

Vic wants to see Chief Ripley immediately, but his sister Jennifer shuts that down quickly. Jennifer does not like Vic and uses the “family only” card to keep Vic away from her love. ARE YOU SERIOUS? This got my blood roaring because that’s not cool, Jennifer. However, once Jennifer figures out Ripley wanted to propose to Vic, she relents and allows them to say goodbye.

Yeah, there’s nothing left to do. Maggie and the other doctors can only keep Ripley comfortable until he’s ready to die essentially. Ripley and Vic have one of the the most emotional goodbyes in the entire Grey’s universe. Ripley even suggests they get officially married before he dies, but Vic only wants to live in the moment. Heart is officially broken. The Station and all other firefighters are waiting outside in honor, and the end of the episode has all of 19 lying on top of a firetruck in solitude.

I’m going to miss Chief Ripley so much. He went from most hated character (season 1 was a simpler time) to being one of the most treasured ones. Season 2 had stepped up their game big time. I cannot wait to see the rest of the season unfold and the upcoming season 3.