Grey's Anatomy Season 13 Episode 9 Review: You Haven't Done Nothin'
Amanda Steinmetz
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Like the collapse of a building, Alex's life is crumbling around him.
Just as he was getting ready to face the court on Grey's Anatomy Season 13 Episode 9, Jo finally told Alex her secret. The reveal prompted him to turn into hero mode real quick.
Elsewhere in the episode, Richard learned he was being replaced, and Owen's marriage took a turn for the worse.
Alex has grown immensely since we first met him as an arrogant, selfish intern. He's a caring doctor, a loving partner, and a great friend. Despite his sardonic comments, Alex ultimately tries to do the right thing, even at the expense of himself.
He was ready for whatever outcome the court would decide. However, Jo's confession set him on a course that he may not be able to come back from.
Realizing that she would have to testify, Jo worried her abusive husband would be able to find her since the court documents would be of public record. She finally told Alex the truth, and he took the news like we all knew he would... just fine.
Everything Jo has done is infuriating. I want to blame her for it all, but I can't do that. She's definitely at fault for keeping her true self from Alex. He would have been understanding, but Jo's hesitance is believable. Alex is fiercely protective, and might have done something stupid.
However, that's all speculation. We will never know what Alex would have done had she told him at the beginning of their relationship. Then there's the matter of Alex beating Andrew. I've said it before, but his attack on Andrew is entirely Alex's doing.
Alex's speech to Jo about standing her ground and owning her new life was correct. She can't run for the rest of her life. That's no way to live, and I'm glad someone was able to say that to her.
Alex: Don't go anywhere, no matter what happens, okay?
Jo: I don't want him to find me. He can't find me.
Alex: This is your life. You're Jo Wilson. You belong here.
Alex saves people for a living, but he also likes to throw himself to the wolves for the people he loves. Seeing Jo so fearful of her husband, made him want to save her.
Meredith was quick to shut down his declaration that he would take the original plea deal and spend two years in prison. She was having none of that. Her reaction was what I'm sure all the viewers were screaming at their TVs.
He's trying to do the right thing, but sacrificing his future isn't what's best. It's not what Meredith wants, and regardless of what you think about her, I'm sure it's not what Jo wants either.
Alex: You'll be okay.
Meredith: Me? This is about you. You think this is noble, what you're doing? It isn't. It's giving up. And it's buying into everything you've ever said about yourself, and I won't let you do it.
Alex: You'll be fine.
Meredith: You are not going to jail.
Alex: You'll be just be fine.
Meredith: Stop making this about me. Stop using me as an excuse to make yourself feel better. Of course I will be be fine. I'm always fine. Don't you know that? This is about you. You will be destroyed. Your life, your career, everything... will be finished. Who you are will be gone.
If she were to lose him, Meredith would be fine. She's a survivor. So for Alex to try to use Meredith to deflect his reasons for acting so foolishly was a weak maneuver to pull.
Also, I would be really disappointed to see another original cast member leave. Hopefully Alex took Meredith's voicemail to heart and will change his mind. Still, that doesn't mean he will be found innocent.
There are only so many ways this storyline can be wrapped:
- Alex takes the plea deal and spends two years in prison
- Alex goes to court and wins
- Alex goes to court and loses and ends up in jail
- Andrew drops the charges so Jo won't have to testify
If Alex does go to jail, hopefully Justin Chambers won't leave. I would rather see a time jump, then have him be absent from the show.
Richard and Miranda's relationship was left in bad place. While I don't necessarily agree with Richard's philosophy about making work personal, she should have told him sooner that Eliza was taking over the residency program.
There's no winner in this situation. Miranda is trying to do what's best for the hospital, but that means she has to hurt someone she cares so deeply about. Richard is left without the program he helped build and without trust in Miranda.
Miranda: I made a decision about what is best for the hospital moving forward, and I didn't want my personal feelings, my very strong personal feelings to get in the way of that decision. If I do that, I won't be able to do this job.
Richard: Bailey, we reach into people's bodies and hold their lives and their futures in our hands. There's nothing more personal than this job, in how we treat a patient, in how we raise our doctors and teach them how to do this work. Every decision that you make should be a personal one. If it isn't, then you have no business being chief.
The man has dedicated his life to that hospital, and he deserved more respect from his own mentee. Sadly, I think Miranda is going to be more unpopular than ever now that Maggie and Jackson have the reigns of the save Richard campaign.
Watching everyone stand up for Richard had a certain "O Captain! My Captain!" vibe. Hopefully they can find a way for Richard to stay in charge, but I doubt that will happen right away.
Stray Thoughts and Questions
- I'm digging the flirtation between Eliza and Arizona right now, but Eliza hasn't earned her place yet. We need to see if she's worthy of the rainbow that is Arizona.
- Owen and Nathan need to keep bonding. He could use a friend right now since Amelia has split.
- SERIOUSLY AMELIA!!!??? We use our words and we talk.
- I know that Caterina Scorsone will be missing from the next few episodes because she just had a baby, but couldn't the writers figure out another way to explain her absence? Owen doesn't need another marriage ending because his wife didn't want a baby with him.
- The building collapse story didn't seem all that compelling at first, but once the residents found out the landlord knew the foundation needed fixing, I was on board.
So over to you! Will Alex take the plea deal? Will Richard be able to stay the head of the residency program? Will Owen look for Amelia? What are your predictions for Grey's Anatomy Season 13 Episode 10?
Sound off below, and don't forget you can watch Grey's Anatomy online all holiday season long via TV Fanatic!
Amanda Steinmetz was a staff writer for TV Fanatic. She went into retirement in June of 2027. Follow her on Twitter.
