Grey's Anatomy Round Table: Are You 'Shipping Jackson & Vic?
Jasmine Blu
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Will Meredith ever practice medicine again?
The dishy medical drama returned, and Grey's Anatomy Season 16 Episode 1 had Meredith, Richard, and Alex facing the repercussions of their actions.
Amelia find out she was pregnant after stating she wanted to take things slow with Link, and Maggie and Jackson not only broke up, but Jackson found a controversial new love interest.
Related: Grey's Anatomy Season 16 Episode 1 Review: Nothing Left to Cling To
Join TV Fanatics Meaghan Frey, Lauren Busser, and Jasmine Blu as they discuss the premiere.
Do you think Meredith got off too easy? What do you think will happen at her medical board hearing?
Meaghan: No. I mean from a legal perspective, yes she probably got off way too easy. But she did it for the right reasons, and as she said, there is a little kid out there feeling better because of her.
Seeing as this show is called Grey's Anatomy and she is Meredith Grey, obviously, she isn't going to lose her license. Unfortunately, the lack of any real stakes makes it hard for me to care about the storyline.
Lauren: I’m with Meaghan. This was an interesting turn, but it’s highly predictable. But unless they shift the show to prison, what are they going to do?
This would have been a great time to introduce some Seattle lawyers if they wanted to add another Grey’s spin-off to the mix though.
Jasmine: When it comes to repercussions for her actions, Meredith almost always gets off too easy. We know they aren't going to do but so much, but it's no less annoying to watch unfold. I agree about the stakes; they aren't high, so the storyline loses appeal.
What are your thoughts on Amelia's shocking pregnancy?
Meaghan: That genuinely threw me for a loop. Grey's used to get off on killing people for sport, but now I feel like its new favorite hobby is knocking up characters. All I can hope is that this baby is not Owen's. That is the last thing this show needs.
Lauren: It was surprising, but I am also worried a little bit. Given Amelia’s history with pregnancies, I think this is going to be emotional.
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Jasmine: It was shocking and not in a fun way. I agree with Meaghan, their latest hobby is knocking people up.
I hope it's not Owen's baby, and it's upsetting how we didn't get to see Amelia and Link try to have a healthy relationship that grows into something special. Amelia made a mature decision to move slow and attempt something healthier than usual, and this happens.
I also would've taken her exploring her bisexuality over another pregnancy storyline. It would have been something different than we've seen with five other characters, and she's already had this type of storyline before.
Do you think Alex and Richard working at a rival hospital together will improve their storylines?
Meaghan: Every now and then it is good to shake things up. However, I feel like we have been down this road before, and it doesn't work. The problem is that Grey's doesn't work when it is splitting screen time between locations.
The cast is already so massive so that to integrate them all into the storylines they have to overlap on cases. Unfortunately with Alex and Richard being separated from the rest of the cast, keeping them involved with the main storylines is going to be pretty difficult.
Lauren: The stakes are much higher for Richard and Alex than they were Meredith and seeing them find this solution is curious. Although I am not sure how long it will last.
It’s going to create turbulence for sure. I think the decision to make this the worst hospital in Seattle is opening a door. I’m excited to see how that plays out.
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Jasmine: I agree with Lauren. This was my favorite storyline of the hour. It has a lot of potential, and it's going to be exciting. It's a nice reprieve from the hospital, and we know it's temporary, so it works for me, and more importantly, for Richard and Alex.
How do you feel about the Jackson and Maggie split? Are you a fan of Jackson's new 'ship with Vic from Station 19?
Meaghan: As someone who has never been able to get on board with Jaggie, all I can say is finally. I'm not feeling the storyline of Jackson with Vic, though. There isn't anything necessarily bad about it, it just feels sudden and out of the left field. Is it too much to ask to bring back April?
Lauren: Jackson and Maggie weren’t my favorite ship, but the actions here felt really sudden. I don’t watch Station 19 so I am not sure how I feel about Vic.
Jasmine: I ranted about this a bit in my review. The split was sudden and weird. They became toxic out of nowhere. I don't even know what's going on with Jackson, and Maggie deserves a hell of a lot better than how he was treating her.
They put us through all of this drama, twisted themselves into a pretzel to give us a controversial 'ship and then stopped committing to it. Why? What was the point then?
I don't need April back. There's no sense in dipping back into that well, and the ship has sailed, but pairing him with Vic makes zero sense. It takes away from the post-Ripley death thing, and it's quick and random. Also, Vic deserves better than someone flighty, especially after what she's been through recently.
On a scale of 1-10, how emotional was the Jolex storyline? Are you happy Jo got the help she needed and Alex is still supportive of her?
Meaghan: 8. I am very proud of Jo for putting her mental health first. She is an idiot to think that Alex would want an out. Alex has proved time and time again that he is all in and isn't going anywhere.
As someone who is very anti-Jolex, there was secretly a little part of me that was hoping that all of this would trigger the end of them. Despite all that, though, I could appreciate the moment of Alex re-proposing to her.
Lauren: 7, I am very glad that Jo got the help she needed. The moment when she proclaims that he has an out because they never really got a license was probably the most emotional for me. Listening to them talk things out was very gratifying though.
Jasmine: It's funny, I have never been a Jolex fan either, or a Jo fan, but both the 'ship and the character have grown on me.
I would give it a 7, too. She got the help she needed, and it helped their marriage. By the time Alex proposed to her again, it felt special and well-earned. Good for them!
How do you feel about the extended love triangle with Teddy, Owen, and Tom? Will Teddy and Owen last this time?
Meaghan: This love triangle is beyond played out. Tom is sweet, and he needs to just give up and walk away. If he could please remain the crazy uncle to their child though that would be amazing.
I hope Teddy and Owen can make it work this time, and I have faith that they can. This relationship is years in the making, and I feel like they are finally ready for each other.
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Lauren: I was not a fan of this love triangle at all. Grey’s likes to pull this dynamic out a lot, and it’s a trope I am tired of seeing. I really hope Owen and Teddy last if only to spare us a resurgence.
Jasmine: I only care about Tom. He deserves better and should move on, but Uncle Tom is funny and something I can get behind, especially if it bugs Owen. The love triangle is stale and needs to be burnt to a crisp.
What was your favorite quote or moment from the premiere? What would you rate it?
Meaghan: I loved the moment between Meredith and her fellow criminal. It was a nice light-hearted moment for the episode.
If we are going on a 0-10 scale, I would give it a 7. It was a solid premiere, but I think the multiple time jump device is thoroughly overplayed on Grey's Anatomy at this point.
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Lauren: I really like the moment with Teddy in the hotel room where she said: “My soul needs a shower and our baby needs a diaper change.” I give it a 6 on a scale of 1 to 10.
Jasmine: I loved when Alex said he doesn't listen to messages or answer the phone if he doesn't know who it is because I can relate. I also loved it when Tom ran down why he's such a catch.
I would give it a 6. It was just OK.
What's your wishlist for this season?
Meaghan: After rewatching some of the early seasons I would love to see Grey's capture some of that same magic from the early seasons. A tighter focus on the original cast might help that. I would also love a little bit of a break from the love triangles.
Lauren: I second a break from love triangles and I just want the show to surprise me, which is getting harder.
Jasmine: I'm over the love triangles too and the pregnancies. I want more of Tom being awesome. I want Maggie to thrive in her field and later maybe find someone who deserves her. I want more of the sisterhood, exciting medical cases, and all those things that make Grey's Anatomy great.
Over to you Grey's Fanatics!
Do you agree with us? Do you disagree?
Hit the comments with your thoughts.
Grey's Anatomy airs Thursdays on ABC!
Jasmine Blu is a senior staff writer for TV Fanatic. She is an insomniac who spends late nights and early mornings binge-watching way too many shows and binge-drinking way too much tea. Her eclectic taste makes her an unpredictable viewer with an appreciation for complex characters, diverse representation, dynamic duos, compelling stories, and guilty pleasures. You'll definitely find her obsessively live-tweeting, waxing poetic, and chatting up fellow Fanatics and readers. Follow her on X.
