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Minnick was actually in the last episode, though it was - thankfully - very brief. I'm not sure why she needs to 'continue' pursuing Arizona when they seem to have made it clear that they're together. I wonder which of Alex's old patients will be back? Perhaps it's someone we've never seen.

It's interesting how little we know about the final 4 episodes of the season considering how close they are. This week is 13x20 and then there's only 4 to go - and we don't even have a press release for 13x21. All we know is that a mysterious new doctor shows up and he's probably Jo's ex, but even that part is speculation. I suppose we also know that Maggie will find out about Mer / Riggs and Steph has to be written off somehow, but it's still not a lot to go on.

If Maggie / Alex was going to happen it would have already happened. It's obvious that the Alex / Jo storyline kicks back up in the final 4 episodes... most of us hate the way they handle them as a couple, but it seems clear that they're being kept together. If they were going to break them up and have one move on, this season would have been the opportunity for that. I also thought that we were long past the Merlex speculation. Ellen has shot it down, Justin has shot it down, and they've had ample opportunity to 'go there', but Meredith is clearly being paired with Riggs. Next week's episode is literally just the two of them on an airplane for 42 minutes. Maggie is a wildcard, and I'm struggling to figure out what the hell they're doing with DeLuca. As much as I think it'd be interesting to see Maggie / Jackson, I don't think the writers' want to throw that big of a wrench into April / Jackson, who are basically the only BIG COUPLE left right now.

She wouldn't really be a homewrecker considering Jackson and April are divorced. April is on Tinder...

I appreciate that they haven't rushed into anything permanent for Maggie. They threw Owen / Amelia together rather than letting them both try out different options for a while; as soon as Minnick showed up they made it obvious that she was for Arizona; April / Jackson are in the old Meredith and Derek position of 'regardless of what happens, we know they'll end up together unless one dies or moves away'... Alex and Jo basically don't exist as a couple. I'm glad we have Meredith and Riggs so there's at least a chance of seeing something nice blossom. I'm glad that they've taken their time getting those two together, and it's nice that Maggie is still available too. I honestly wouldn't mind if they went for her with Jackson to shake things up, but I also appreciate if they're just trying to build a nice friendship between the two of them. I love when this show focuses on friendships over sex.

So.... Jaggie? Maggson?

From EW: Do you know anything about the Grey’s Anatomy finale? It is not going to be a quiet affair. “It’s an event,” Kelly McCreary tells me. “It’s a great big event that will keep everyone on the edge of their seats. It really is shocking. There were so many gasps of horror and surprise at the table read. It was delicious. It was just so much fun.” Should we be worried about the docs of Grey Sloan? “You should be worried about everybody,” McCreary adds. “It is an event that affects everyone in the hospital.”

Grey's rebounded up to a 2.1 in the demo, making it the highest rated series on ABC all week (tied with Modern Family), and the second highest-rated drama on all broadcast, behind only Empire (2.4).

I thought this was a really solid episode with great performances all around. Ellen did a fantastic job directing; the script was a bit jumpy, but it still flowed well. It was nice and quiet and did a good job of utilizing the right characters. I like how much they involved Webber - it was interesting to see him watch his 'daughter' dealing with this whole other life she had. I don't always love Maggie, but I liked getting a more intimate look at her family and how she was raised. The callbacks to Ellis were a nice touch. Most parents die in real life, too.

But the white cast is utilized exactly the same way - Alex had a storyline for a few episodes that was wrapped up in ridiculous fashion and pushed aside. Jo is literally never given anything to do. Ditto for DeLuca. Arizona went all last year without a real storyline of her own until the custody thing popped up. It happens all the time on this show. You really think Richard is just going to disappear because Minnick showed up? They've done these types of storylines 10,000 times. Richard has gotten a ton of screentime out of it - more than Minnick, even. Owen and Amelia's 'storyline' has literally been her hiding from him right up until the last two episodes. The dominant storyline for the entire middle section of the season has been the war of Richard / Jackson vs Minnick / April / Mama Avery / Bailey. Characters like Meredith and April were used as props in that storyline. Jackson has had tons to do, and arguably the meatiest episode of the entire season thus far. You can't just say "OKAY BUT BEEESIDES THAT" when literally every storyline this year has heavily involved the colored members of the cast. Jackson is consistently featured more prominently than any of the other male leads. He and April are the biggest romantic coupling left on the series, and the episode they got this year wasn't even based on romance, it was pure character development for Jackson. Maggie's storyline with her mom has been the focus of two episodes, and she'll be at the center of the storytelling for at least two more. That's about as much of an 'arc' as any characters get on this show these days. Her storyline with DeLuca was a huge one last season, too, and the Riggs thing centered as much on her as it did on Meredith. She's featured heavily in basically every single episode. "Be happy with what you get" is not even close to the sentiment of my post, but I think calling out Grey's, of all shows, for this particular issue feels like the reach of the century, especially when all of the 'points' backing up the idea just don't make sense.

Are you serious? I actually don't mean to rude, but that genuinely sounds like it's coming from someone who doesn't watch the show... Bailey and Richard have been staples of the series for 13 years; the entire 'civil war' storyline is centered on Bailey betraying Richard and hiring Eliza. Webber has had more to do this year than he has in ages; we had a full episode centered on Richard / Mama Avery / Jackson / April (plus the surgery episode where he remembered his mother), he's fighting with his wife, on the outs with Bailey and Arizona. He's had tons of screentime and the main storyline of the season so far is revolving around him / the doctors rallying to preserve his legacy as a teacher in the hospital. Jackson had his own episode and is always one of the most prominently-featured actors (he gets heaps more to do than Alex, Riggs, DeLuca, and even Owen... basically every white male in the cast). He and April always have something to do, at least one major arc every year (Samuel, the divorce, Harriet, etc.) and now he's been involved in several, including the 'civil war' storyline and Maggie's mom's story. Heck, Jackson has had TONS more to do than Meredith this season. People here literally complain all the time about how much screentime Maggie gets, so arguing that she has nothing to do seems like a massive stretch. Are you really trying to reduce her role to being setup for Meredith / Riggs? That was dropped after like 3 episodes. She dominated storytelling since she came on (her background with Richard / Meredith, the relationship with DeLuca, the 'sisters' angle, now the storyline with her mom). Ben had his big storyline for multiple episodes last year, and Stef did too. The fact is that every cast member, regardless of their color, gets reduced roles at times given the massive size of the cast - look at Jo. This all just seems like a crazy stretch to me. There's really no way to logically argue that the series undervalues any of its cast members of color.

Ah, well your original post didn't say "doctors" anywhere in it. Regardless, Wilmer had a big arc and lots of screentime for 5 episodes, and Maggie's mom has already had more to do than Intern Isaac ever did. Anyway, it just seems like an odd thing to point out considering they still have one of the most diverse casts on TV (and they're literally all doctors) including a diverse guest cast. Like, is your point that they won't specifically cast doctors of color? They just cast one in a pretty big role in the prison episode. Casting a few white characters doesn't really mean anything.

Ah yes, Maggie's white mom has been great. Also... are you just repressing the memory of Wilmer Valderrama?

13x20 - "In The Air Tonight" - Meredith and Nathan have to confront their feelings when they get stuck sitting next to each other on a plane.

But the effects last more than a week. Regardless, I'm just saying everything on TV typically hits low points around this time of year, especially when it gets nicer out the 8PM shows often take a hit. Also, I pointed out that 1.9 two posts ago.

Grey's was back to a 1.9 in the demo this week, which was to be expected - most shows (especially at 8PM) take a hit around daylight savings in the US; spring numbers are almost always the lowest of the broadcast year until May sweeps. The March 24 episode last year did a 2.1, so it's only down slightly. Grey's first hit a 1.9 back in season 11, but it has never gone lower, only tied that. Compared to other dramas this week: Empire (mid-season premiere) - 2.8, Chicago Fire - 1.5, Scandal - 1.3, Criminal Minds - 1.3, Designated Survivor - 1.1, Once Upon a Time - 0.8, Bones - 0.8, Quantico - 0.7, The Catch - 0.7, American Crime - 0.4. Only Empire is beating Grey's right now for all dramas on broadcast. This Is Us has wrapped its first season, which will also beat Grey's overall this year.

13x19 - “What’s Inside” – When Maggie takes on a big case, many of the doctors are worried she’s not the right one for the job while Stephanie makes a mistake, treating one of Grey Sloan’s own, on “Grey’s Anatomy,” THURSDAY, APRIL 6. Question: Any intel on the Grey’s Anatomy finale? I haven’t heard a peep! —Megan Ausiello: That’s about to change in 3, 2… “It’s pretty dramatic and pretty intense,” Kevin McKidd teased to TVLine at PaleyFest over the weekend. “It’s pretty dark and very good. Debbie [Allen]’s going to direct it, and it’s going to be amazing.” Owen’s portayer adds that unlike previous closers, Season 13’s climax won’t be centered around a catastrophic event. Nonetheless, it’s “a big episode,” McKidd promises. “It’s leading toward something pretty intense.” Question: Is Grey’s Anatomy‘s Maggie ever going to get a clue about Nathan and Meredith? — Leigh Ausiello: Oh, she’s going to get more than a clue. At PaleyFest, Kelly McCreary told TVLine that “the truth will come out… before the end of the season,” adding with a laugh, “People will have to be honest, because they no longer have a choice.” But the revelation that Mer is involved with Maggie’s crush won’t, as we’ve been led to imagine, sever the half sisters’ bond. “It doesn’t hurt Maggie in the way that the audience will expect it to,” McCreary said. “In a relationship that you’re committed to because you love each other unconditionally, the way that family does, challenges can sometimes make you stronger.”

Grey's rebounded from the 1.9 demo two weeks ago back up to a 2.0 in the demo for the Jackson / April episode last week (it also scored higher overall viewers year-to-year versus season 12 episode 16). It was the only scripted series on ABC to have a 2.0 in the demo last week - Modern Family has been pulling 1.9 for a few weeks and everything else is well below 2.0, with most drama under a 1.0 (Quantico, The Catch, Time After Time, Agents of SHIELD, Once Upon a Time, American Crime are all fractional).

Pretty major-ish spoiler here for episode 13x18, so I'll put it in a tag just in case: “I was a little nervous about the technical aspects of directing,” Pompeo said about the episode, set to air March 30, in which Maggie’s (Kelly McCreary) mother dies. “The death of a mother is something so quintessentially Grey’s Anatomy. How I lost my own mother at a very young age … it’s a subject matter I was going right into,” she said. “I couldn’t wait to make everyone cry.

13x18 - “Be Still, My Soul” - When Maggie’s mom’s health deteriorates, the doctors are at odds over how to treat her. Meanwhile, Richard comes to grips with Bailey’s betrayal over the Residency Program, on “Grey’s Anatomy,” THURSDAY, MARCH 30 (8:00-9:01 p.m. EDT). Guest Starring is Marika Dominczyk as Eliza Minnick, LaTanya Richardson Jackson as Diane Pierce and Richard Lawson as Bill Pierce.

I didn't mean to imply that she couldn't be happy without a man, but I also don't think there's anything wrong with her getting some companionship - and lots of sex - from Riggs. Your sex life doesn't have to die with your soulmate, especially when you're as young as Meredith is. Also, Grey's isn't real life (it doesn't even really resemble it, at this point), it's a nighttime soap and she's the star. Perhaps she doesn't need a boyfriend, but they need to give Meredith something to do and we all know these writers aren't super creative. Derek died at least two years ago at this point, so it's well established that Meredith is fine alone. I'm glad they didn't rush to pair her with anyone right away, but I like the chemistry between her and Riggs and I'd love to see them explore it more.

13x17 - “Till I Hear It From You” – Diane Pierce returns to Grey Sloan, but Maggie is still in the dark as to why she's really there. Owen and Amelia hash out their problems as they work a trauma case together, and Bailey tries to mend her relationship with Richard. Guest starring is LaTanya Richardson Jackson as Diane Pierce, June Squibb as Elsie Clatch and Hal Holbrook as Lewis Clatch. THURSDAY, MARCH 23.

I wish that rather than introducing Maggie and Amelia, they focused on her already-existing relationships with Richard / Bailey / Arizona / Callie, etc. It would have been nice to see more Meredith / Jo as well. It looks like they're moving back into the dynamic with Riggs which I really like. I want to see Meredith be happy again. I don't expect it to be easy - this is, after all, Grey's Anatomy - but I'd like to see those two in a good place by the end of the season (before his ex inevitably shows up alive).

Upcoming episode titles from SpoilerTV 13.17 - 'Till I Hear It From You 13.18 - Be Still, My Soul 13.19 - In the Air Tonight [likely the Meredith / Nathan airplane episode] 13.20 - What’s Inside 13.21 - Don't Stop Me Now

This is so unnecessary, and honestly pretty vile and depressing coming from another woman.