Warning! This article contains spoilers for Grey’s Anatomy Season 21, Episode 18
Grey’s Anatomy ends season 21 with an exciting episode sure to keep viewers on edge this summer. Titled “How Do I Live,” the season finale doesn’t offer a lot of closure, but plenty of tension. In the hour’s main storyline, Piper Perabo’s character, Jenna, goes to desperate lengths to save her daughter, putting Amelia, Simone, and Lucas at risk. Meanwhile, Teddy, Winston, Jules, and Blue try a Hail Mary operation on Nora. Elsewhere, Ben spends what could be his last day at Grey Sloan, and Linc and Jo attempt a honeymoon without leaving the hospital.
Amelia & Jenna’s Tense OR Standoff Is The Episode Standout
It’s Also A Welcome Return To Form For Meredith
In this episode, it becomes clear just why Grey’s Anatomy got Piper Perabo to play Jenna. While she gave a solid performance in her previous episodes, she really turns up the dial here, building up Jenna’s desperation in a way that’s equal parts terrifying and believable. It also helps that we’ve spent some time with this character and her family now, making us feel empathy for her decision, regardless of how misguided. It also makes the twist that she never actually planned or intended to hurt anyone all the more heartwrenching.
The storyline also gives Amelia a chance to shine in an earned hero role, and her reference to Derek is a treat for long-time fans of the show. In fact, the entire storyline and subsequent cliffhanger feel like a reward for viewers who have been tuning in for a long time. It’s natural to compare this episode to one of the most “classic Grey’s” episodes of all time — season 2’s two-parter “It’s the End of the World/As We Know It.” However, instead of this episode paling in comparison, it feels winningly nostalgic.
Meredith’s key role plays into the nostalgic feel as well. It’s always nice to see her protective side come out, and the show does a great job balancing Meredith and Amelia’s contributions, with both doing something to help save the day.
Teddy & Owen Bring Plenty Of Drama As Well
While Hard To Watch,Their Storyline Provides A Welcome Moment For Teddy
Grey’s Anatomy has made a lot of interesting choices regarding Teddy and Owen this season, and while not all of them have worked, I’ve appreciated the big swings. The show takes another in the finale, with Teddy saving Nora, but not without confirming Owen has feelings for her.
While I thought there was a good chance Nora would die, with Teddy and Owen having to work through some complicated feelings about that, Nora lives, and Teddy seemingly leaves her relationship with Owen, at least for the time being.
While I genuinely do like Teddy and Owen as a couple, their relationship has always felt a bit unfair in that she has made more sacrifices and seemed more committed to making their relationship happen over the years. So, despite it spelling trouble for their marriage, there is something pretty satisfying about seeing her stand up to him in this way. Still, their marriage woes risk becoming repetitive if carried into next season, which presents an interesting challenge for Grey’s.
The Episode’s Other Storylines, While Less Meaty, Provide Some Big Moments
Ben, Jules, Jo, and Linc All Have Roles To Play
The episode also picks up Ben’s career drama, with Bailey telling him he won’t be offered a position at the hospital. He reacts in a frustratingly predictable way, performing an unauthorized surgery in the ICU. While it’s nice to see Ben and Bailey working together in this episode, at a certain point, it’s hard to root for Ben when he continues to make poor decisions, even with the purest intentions.
There’s also time for a quick check-in with Jules and Winston, where she finally gets him to admit why he took her off his service. I appreciated how fired up she was about it because it seems both immature and unprofessional for him to treat her that way.
While the finale is pretty light on fun and romance, there are a couple of really lovely interludes with Jo and Linc where they try to have their honeymoon in the hospital and reveal that they’re having twin girls. With Linc’s fate perhaps the most up in the air by the end of the episode, their scenes feel even more bittersweet in hindsight.
Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 Was A Success Overall
The Show Continues To Prioritize Its Characters & Make The Most Of Its Ensemble Cast
Looking at season 21 as a whole, Grey’s Anatomy did a lot of things really well, continuing to manage Ellen Pompeo’s limited presence and effectively balancing the series regulars. While budget cuts meant that some actors appeared in fewer episodes than usual, their absences felt pretty organic, sometimes explained through story reasons, but often just ignored, which worked just as well.
There were some interesting cases and a good amount of heart and romance. I came to like the new interns even more, and it was great to see them integrated more with the senior cast members. While some characters made frustrating decisions, it was a solid run of episodes that has me eager to tune in again for Grey’s Anatomy season 22.
