It has been a hell of a season for the top-rated, longstanding medical drama.
If Grey’s Anatomy Season 16 did not do anything, it saved followers speaking.
It had love triangles, relationship drama, affected person advocacy, psychological sickness storylines, and the sudden and surprising exit of veteran actor Justin Chambers that left followers and the sequence reeling.
We have been higher acquainted with the Gray’s-verse with Station 19 crossovers, and the rocky season got here to an early shut due to a pandemic.
However it managed to work as a season finale with fairly the cliffhanger, and the season ended on a stronger notice than it began.
Let’s dig into this highly-discussed season and speak about what labored and what did not.
St. Meredith Gray the Martyr – Did NOT Work
Oh, that is undoubtedly a storyline that left a bitter style in your mouth. Meredith was at her most self-righteous as she doubled down on one of many dumbest, most nonsensical decisions thus far.
What was speculated to be an arc that targeted on Meredith taking up the poor state of the American Healthcare System, one thing that was already a dodgy storyline this late within the sport for the present, grew to become in regards to the persecution of Meredith Gray as she fought to maintain her medical license.
Bailey was vilified by half the hospital for firing Meredith, Alex, and Richard regardless of having grounds. Meredith routinely confirmed that she has realized nothing when she persistently disregarded authority and her punishment to play martyr savior.
The complete arc was spent justifying Meredith’s actions as she skirted accountability and shifting the main focus away from what the preliminary premise was speculated to be: the flawed healthcare system.
Bottle Episodes – Labored
For essentially the most half, the sequence does a improbable job after they sluggish issues down, restrict their humongous solid to some characters and dig deeper into them with targeted episodes.
Whether or not it was awkward household dinners, Levi getting in contact together with his household and religion and taking management of his life, Maggie working on her distant relative, or Teddy’s previous with Alison revealed, the installments had combined evaluations, however the focus is all the time appreciated.
The Station 19 Crossovers – Did not Work
In idea, the weekly crossovers could possibly be attention-grabbing, however they ended up being messy. It pressured viewers to observe each reveals to know what was happening with some characters and plot factors, and whilst you may handle with out it, the installments lacked cohesion.
Gray’s suffered essentially the most with this because it grew to become evident that the only real level was to spice up the spinoff’s rankings. Even the enormous crossover that kicked all the things off was missing an actual crossover really feel.
The Addition of Cormac Hayes – Labored
It’s a must to give it to Gray’s Anatomy. They know find out how to strike gold with a few of their new additions, significantly the boys. We noticed it with the addition of Hyperlink, Koracick, and Levi, and now Hayes joins the ranks.
Cristina’s Irish reward is one which retains on giving. The extra time we spend with McWidow, the extra likable he’s, and he is been one of many highlights of the season. Can we maintain him? Please?!
He is gifted, good-looking, easygoing, and he has chemistry with everybody he comes into contact with on the present. His backstory dropping his spouse was one of the heartbreaking developments of the season, and he is a complete scene-stealer. He is also a promising romantic choice for Meredith.
Romantic Merluca – Did not Work
Are they each engaging? Sure. Is it good that the present is exploring an older lady/youthful man romance? Certain.
The issue is not that Mer is courting her subordinate and that he is youthful than her. The issue is that these two are on totally different pages, and it makes it tough to root for them.
Meredith went from stating she was in love with DeLuca to implying they have been a fling. They labored to persuade us they need to be a pair, however then saved undercutting it and strolling it again.
She would not appear to respect him as her romantic equal, and he is usually intimidated by any potential competitors. He is additionally attempting to show that he is worthy of her, and he or she would not take him as significantly as she ought to.
It is painful to observe.
They work effectively collectively professionally, and he or she’s been a nurturing, supportive, and virtually sororal presence for him, the latter killing the romantic vibe.
Suzanne Medical Thriller – Labored
Sarah Rafferty guest-starred for a brief arc this season, and it was top-of-the-line medical instances the present has had in a while. Longstanding sufferers are all the time extra intriguing than one-offs, and Suzanne was no exception.
Suzanne’s case took us again to the drugs and analysis. DeLuca, Meredith, and others have been scrambling to determine what was mistaken along with her, and it was a prolonged course of, however it was participating too.
Dr. Lauren Riley – Largely Labored
The one draw back to Dr. Riley’s arc was that it was shortlived, they usually shuffled her away too quickly. DeLuca introduced her in due to her experience, however then the vast majority of the medical doctors questioned, undermined, and ignored her.
Deaf medical doctors portrayed on TV are uncommon sufficient to be notable, and Riley made her presence identified. It is too unhealthy we did not get extra time along with her.
The Sisterhood Disconnect – Did not Work
The sisterhood between Mer, Amelia, and Maggie is among the greatest facets of this sequence, however it was at its absolute worst throughout this season. Meredith was extra self-consumed than ever earlier than.
She checked out and did not know something that was taking place along with her sisters. Maggie stepped up when Meredith was working by way of her court docket points and in jail. Maggie stepped in to help Amelia. However neither sister was there for Maggie after she misplaced her cousin and give up her job.
It was as in the event that they did not know what she was going by way of. Meredith wasn’t there whereas Amelia was going by way of her relationship and being pregnant points. Amelia was hardly there for Meredith’s listening to. And neither sister reacted to Alex’s departure.
Amelink – Labored
We will ignore that complete debacle that threatened to derail the one first rate relationship commonly confirmed on the sequence when Amelia behaved like a toddler as a result of Hyperlink had the audacity to need to know if the kid she was carrying was his.
THAT apart, Amelia and Hyperlink have been the perfect a part of the sequence. Their relationship is essentially the most endearing, they usually’re a improbable match. That they had to determine how they felt about each other whereas additionally coming to grips with anticipating a toddler.
Their relationship was fast-tracked, however for as soon as, it wasn’t a foul factor. Hyperlink is the BEST man, and his love and devotion to Amelia are unparalleled. And that is essentially the most mature and secure relationship Amelia has had on this sequence, and regardless of a number of mishaps, she has grown and matured.
Child Daddy Drama – Did not Work
Did we’d like it? Did we? No, we didn’t.
Amelia and Owen’s relationship was over.
The chapter was closed, and it ought to’ve remained shut. Owen has a bazillion youngsters already, so a drawn-out “child daddy” arc was pointless.
Jo and Hyperlink Friendship – Labored
Surprisingly, Jo and Hyperlink’s friendship feels settled into regardless of the introduction of this bond being comparatively new to viewers.
It is the perfect friendship Jo has had on the sequence — one which sheds her in a a lot better mild than her earlier ones.
They might do something for each other, they usually all the time have every others’ backs serving as confidants.
Within the absence of so many core platonic dynamics, theirs was a consolation.
Character Assassination Extravaganza – Did not Work
Arguably, all of those characters are flawed. They have been all able to screwing up, however the extent of how far their characters fell throughout this season is sort of surreal.
Jackson’s relationship drama and infantile conduct reached a brand new degree of suck and had him at his most unlikable thus far. Alex was a shell of what he was resulting in his departure. Meredith went off the rails all season lengthy along with her self-righteous conduct.
DeLuca was in every single place earlier than his psychological sickness arc. Bailey went on a tirade, that was pretty justified, however then they undermined her reasoning by claiming she was jealous of Mer.
For some cause, the season needed to make Tom an insensitive villain, and the way do you even describe Teddy Altman’s arc? Tragic.
Richard’s Medical Thriller Arc – Labored
After getting sidelined with the Pac-North saga, and no matter that was with Catherine, the season received our consideration when Richard fell sick, and we did not know what was mistaken with him.
Richard is the spine of the sequence and the one person who brings everybody collectively.
It was good to have the hospital workers cease in its tracks and are available collectively to determine what was mistaken with their beloved mentor and pal. And naturally, James Pickens Jr gave us one other rousing efficiency.
Vickson – Did not Work
As a Station 19 fan, it was exhausting when Vic jumped right into a relationship so quickly after Ripley’s dying. Due to the timeline, we barely received to mourn his loss or watch her do the identical. And she or he and Jackson’s relationship felt out of the blue and by no means went anyplace.
As a Gray’s fan, it was a pointless storyline. Vic was one thing for Jackson to do, and it was a weak storyline for a personality who has been round so long as he has been. He did not have every other arc all season.
It additionally highlighted that Jackson sucks in all of his relationships.
DeLuca’s Psychological Sickness Storyline – Largely Labored
The execution of this storyline was in every single place. They launched it out of the blue, then spent too lengthy not confirming that DeLuca was, in actual fact, Bipolar. His preliminary conduct did not essentially align together with his dysfunction, so we spent too lengthy questioning if he really was sick.
Most of his colleagues, mates, and household spent extra time gaslighting him than making reliable makes an attempt to assist. And the sequence would drop the story after which decide it up and run with it once more on the strangest instances.
Nevermind that Carina went from concern over her brother to specializing in Maya on Station 19, and there was a chance missed having Bailey, somebody who has additionally had expertise being disregarded for her psychological sickness, connecting with DeLuca.
Nevertheless, the place the storyline had some points, Giacomo Gianniotti didn’t. He was unimaginable, and it was a few of his greatest work and performances on the sequence thus far. He poured his coronary heart and soul into his efficiency, and because of this, it was essentially the most affecting of the season.
Hopefully, the story will decide up once more, and the sequence will delve deeper into it throughout Grey’s Anatomy Season 17.
The Carina Conundrum – Did not Work
Carina is a fun-loving character, and it is too unhealthy Gray’s Anatomy would not know what to do along with her. They already tread dicey territory by lowering one among their bisexual characters to a bedwarmer.
The vast majority of Carina’s storylines have concerned sleeping with somebody, and out of doors of that, she’s the doting, involved sister to DeLuca.
Besides, Carina’s involvement with Andrew’s psychological well being storyline ended as soon as Meredith stepped in. It may’ve been a fantastic arc with the DeLuca siblings dealing with this themselves, however it shifted to DeLuca and Meredith and DeLuca versus the others.
Carina then spent most of her time on Station 19 as a supporting position to Maya, barely addressing what occurred along with her brother. However at the very least she will get extra to do on Station 19, so possibly they’ll ship her over there.
New Dynamics and Friendships – Labored
With a solid this enormous, it is easy to combine, match, and mess around with totally different dynamics that possibly weren’t beforehand explored. The season had loads of that occuring, and it made issues enjoyable and attention-grabbing.
By the top of the season, Levi moved in with Jo, they usually grew to become quick mates as roommates.
Jo and Jackson have developed fairly a bond lately. Amelia and Bailey have been a part of the being pregnant membership, and it was lovely how Bailey helped Amelia by way of her labor in a callback to when O’Malley helped her.
Teddy’s Love Triangle and Infidelity – Did not Work
We are able to debate to the cows come dwelling whether or not or not it was in character for Teddy to be this a lot of a sizzling mess all this time later, however the Tom, Teddy, and Owen love triangle is exhaustive.
The very best half about it was how Hyperlink and Amelia managed to extricate themselves from the TOTAL pentagon.
The unresolved love triangle will now span three seasons.
All events of it are failing. Owen heard his fiancee getting it on with the man he hates, Teddy is utilizing Tom, and Teddy would not appear to know who or what she desires and has blown up her world. Credit score the place it is due, it has actually been entertaining.
Teddy’s Bisexuality Reveal – Kinda Labored
Except for the truth that she’s a serial cheater who named her youngster after the deceased love of her life and didn’t inform Owen of this, it was the kind of nice shock that the sequence does effectively.
It was cool that we met Allison through flashbacks, and we received a greater understanding of Teddy.
However once more, tying Teddy’s bisexuality with infidelity and promiscuity reinforces damaging stigmas.
Levi – Works/ The Different Residents Falling By the Wayside – Does not Work
Levi has come a good distance pretty fast together with his personal storylines and a centric episode.
He has develop into a fan-favorite for cause. And it has been a gratifying storyline to have him come into his personal and develop into a extra assured, proud, and completed individual and physician.
The one draw back to all of this Levi is that the opposite residents fall by the wayside. Helm is not almost as developed as a personality compared. And Parker has essentially the most potential, however we barely see him in any respect.
The season even gave us a probably improbable storyline for this character when he had a triggered PTSI episode within the aftermath of the automotive crash at Joe’s, and Alex Blue Davis was unimaginable in the course of the installment, however it was the final we noticed of him and that storyline.
Bokhee Love and Acknowledgment – Works
Who would not love Bokhee? She has extra presence than she’s ever previously couple of seasons, and the present is all the higher for it.
Bokhee is the best possible, and each time the sequence reveals her, it is sufficient to make you smile.
It is exhausting to not get pleasure from how the sequence has integrated her into their lives greater than they ever have earlier than.
Maggie Assembly and Working on Sabi – Largely Labored
It was a tragic storyline, and never solely did it result in Sabi’s dying however a lawsuit as effectively. Nevertheless, it was lengthy overdue for the present to discover Maggie attending to know Richard’s household. They do not contact upon their organic connection and all that entails almost sufficient.
It was disheartening that Maggie was remoted throughout this storyline and could not depend on the help of her sisters.
As an alternative, we received some touching however transient moments with Richard and Alex, and an odd one with Jackson. And after dropping her mom, it was terrible that Maggie had her cousin ripped away from her earlier than they may get to know one another.
However it was a stable arc for Maggie given the character of the season. Even when it may’ve been executed higher.
Bailey Unofficially Adopting Joey – Labored
Bailey’s miscarriage was devastating and enraging.
It was unhealthy sufficient that they threw shock pregnancies at us twice in the course of the season, however then they destroyed one among them simply as we adjusted.
Nevertheless, they pursued a distinct angle when Bailey grew connected to her younger affected person, Joey, and determined to carry him dwelling to stick with her, Ben, and Tuck. It was heartwarming.
Alex’s Lack of Storyline – Did not Work
Whereas it sucked that Alex received fired, there was a short time the place Chief Alex Karev operating Pac-North had potential. It appeared as if after years of lackluster storylines, he would get one thing substantial of his personal.
However then it by no means went anyplace, and nothing occurred with it.
It is unlucky that within the final days earlier than Justin Chambers’ abrupt departure, he was saddled with a storyline that appeared as if he was phoning it in.
Lack of Merlex – Did not Work
Technically, Alex and Meredith’s final scene collectively was when he spoke on her behalf throughout Grey’s Anatomy Season 16 Episode 8.
However it wasn’t as if they shared a particular one on one scene, and we did not have a lot of their friendship in any respect earlier than he left. A
s the final ones remaining from M.A.G.I.C, it was disappointing.
Alex’s Swan Tune – Did not Work
To be honest, the writers had their work minimize out for them attempting to create a passable ending for a veteran character on the final minute.
And many individuals have been thrilled by the Izzex endgame and joyful ending, however all the things main as much as this reveal was irritating.
Alex went MIA and wasn’t speaking with anybody. Mer did not even know he was gone for ages, and he or she confirmed zero curiosity when Jo was freaking out about it.
We received voiceovers of Alex studying “Pricey John” letters he wrote to Mer, Bailey, Richard, and Jo. They revisited the frozen embryos storyline and glossed over how screwed up it was that Alex did not discover out he had youngsters till he referred to as Izzie for one thing else.
He by no means instructed any of them what was taking place and lied about his whereabouts after which ghosted his spouse and family members.
Alex wasn’t likable in any case of that, and for a few of us, the youngsters angle did not soften the blow or detract from that.
His absence grew to become much less about his character and extra about the way it could possibly be used to advance Jo’s storyline.
And the dearth of closure with among the different bonds he fashioned through the years or their response to his departure was disappointing too.
Total Grade: C-
It was a tough season for Gray’s Anatomy, and the sequence is beginning to present it is age. The season began on the rocky aspect, and it by no means received its footing. It did not begin hitting a stride till the ultimate few installments of the season.
The insurance coverage fraud storyline was unsatisfactory and was derailed.
Sadly, Alex departed the sequence abruptly, and his storyline main as much as it was lackluster. The love triangles and entanglements have been overbearing.
A number of the pressure was extra contrived than attention-grabbing, such because the Amelink fallout, or the Maggie and Jackson and Richard and Catherine disputes. Not sufficient time was dedicated to digging deep into stronger storylines like DeLuca’s psychological sickness.
As a rule, the season lacked cohesion, and lots of the characters strayed from what we have identified. And there was an excessive amount of give attention to integrating and bettering Station 19 on the expense of Gray’s Anatomy.
However the season did carry us Cormac Hayes, who was a spotlight. Levi and Jo had sturdy character arcs all through the season. The season gave us many nostalgic components with Meredith’s trial and Alex’s farewell episode.
And Amelia and Hyperlink grew to become essentially the most endearing pairing. Amelia had a profitable being pregnant, and the pair have a wholesome youngster. Gray’s Anatomy’s candy 16 was extra on the bitter aspect, however they saved us entertained.
Over to you, Gray’s Fanatics. What are your ideas on the season? What would you grade it? Hit the feedback beneath with all your ideas!
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Jasmine Blu is a senior workers author for TV Fanatic. Observe her on Twitter.