S19.E09: Love Don't Cost a Thing

[Bort]

Simone is met with a life-changing decision upon the return of someone from her past. Blue shadows Maggie on a risky procedure, while Jo and Link tend to a pregnant woman. At the intern house, Lucas and Mika throw a party filled with surprises.

Airdate: March 9, 2023

[ams1001]

Oh, look, Teddy and Owen are fighting. What an unusual occurrence.

 

[LexieLily]

Is everyone that ever worked at Grey-Sloan incapable of having an appropriately nice dinner party?

Carlos the traveling nurse in his five minutes of screentime is already so much better for Schmidt than Nico was. And was Amelia there for any other reason but to approve of Link and Jo?

I wondered if the married couple that divorced signed the right papers. The lawyer came into the room with the paperwork but before they mentioned consent forms about the surgery. And the patient is in the promos for next week so I wouldn't put it past this show to say they signed one set of forms but not the other (oops!), she dies, and he has to claim all of their debt. 

Edited March 10, 2023 by LexieLily

[KaveDweller]

I could get behind a romance with Helm and the intern whose name I haven't learned (Masuka?). Not just because they may be the only women on the show currently into women. I always liked Helm and she's been on the show for years without ever getting a romance or a decent storyline. And the intern hasn't annoyed me yet and she should get in on some action since all the other interns have hooked up with each other.

I will not enjoy if Simone's fiancé comes to work in Seattle and we get a drawn out love triangle.

 

[ams1001]

35 minutes ago, KaveDweller said:

I could get behind a romance with Helm and the intern whose name I haven't learned (Masuka?).

Mika Yasuda

Simone's fiance was a jerk. How long before she dumps him?

[choclatechip45]

I hate Simone's fiance. Can't wait until she dumps him.

[txhorns79]

1 hour ago, LexieLily said:

 

Carlos the traveling nurse in his five minutes of screentime is already so much better for Schmidt than Nico was.

Was he?  I would agree he is less bland than Nico, but that's not saying much.  I suppose it would help to know what exactly Carlos sees in Schmidt. 

1 hour ago, LexieLily said:

 

I wondered if the married couple that divorced signed the right papers. The lawyer came into the room with the paperwork but before they mentioned consent forms about the surgery. And the patient is in the promos for next week so I wouldn't put it past this show to say they signed one set of forms but not the other (oops!), she dies, and he has to claim all of their debt. 

I may be wrong, but I'd hope that the lawyer actually checked the paperwork he was going to immediately file, before filing it.  And yes, Blue, regardless of your sad story regarding medical debt, Maggie was right.  There are any assortment of staff members at the hospital that are better able to give advice and deal with the financial aspect of surgery than Blue.

Finally, kudos to Owen and Teddy for continuing your reign as the most miserable couple at Grey-Sloan.     

[LexieLily]

I'm as much of a sports fan as anyone but are there really fans of a specific player that would egg the doctor that did the surgery where your sports idol died, much less even know who that doctor was?

[PWHCHCH]

Was it mentioned prior to tonight that Mika was a lesbian? 
 

That was one not so hidden filming cut between the indoor and outdoor sets at Meredith‘s house. Adam’s coat switching positions incorrectly gave it away. 

[CarpeFelis]

My favorite line: Teddy to Owen: “Bite me.” Long overdue. Their fight in front of Bailey and Ben was cringeworthy but made me laugh anyway.

WTF is wrong with Simone, saying yes to that jerk? I get that he was putting her on the spot in front of all those people, but… no. Just no.

I always disliked Helm when she was fangirling over Meredith but I like her now. She and Mika seem fun together.

[transitfan]

9 hours ago, LexieLily said:

I'm as much of a sports fan as anyone but are there really fans of a specific player that would egg the doctor that did the surgery where your sports idol died, much less even know who that doctor was?

Did they ever mention what position he played?  With his size, either offensive lineman or defensive lineman.  If the former, while they are invaluable to a team (blocking for the QB, RB, etc.), they generally don't get a lot of notice.  Defensive lineman can become big stars due to quarterback sacks and the occasional fumble recovery/interception, especially for a touchdown.

[statsgirl]

I guess that the Linc and Amelia are blue dead with Amelia saying that he may be perfect for Jo. In real life, the story of two longtime best friends moving in together and growing to love each other would have me cheering. But for a TV show, it's boring. Opposites attracting is a more interesting story than two old friends finally getting together.

Also whose idea was it to tank Amelia/Linc but keep the battling Bickersons of Owen and Teddy? They're both nasty and it's not interesting to watch.

The plots of people trying to deal with the US medical system were interesting 20 years ago when I saw them on ER.  But now it's been so over-used (The Equalizer last Sunday had a desperate mother take the hospital hostage), that it's a very tired trope.

I'm also over hysterical women in labour saying that they don't want this baby birth. What did you think was going to happen?

12 hours ago, PWHCHCH said:

Was it mentioned prior to tonight that Mika was a lesbian?

Yes, in the first part of the season.

[Milaxx]

17 hours ago, KaveDweller said:

I could get behind a romance with Helm and the intern whose name I haven't learned (Masuka?). Not just because they may be the only women on the show currently into women. I always liked Helm and she's been on the show for years without ever getting a romance or a decent storyline. And the intern hasn't annoyed me yet and she should get in on some action since all the other interns have hooked up with each other.

I will not enjoy if Simone's fiancé comes to work in Seattle and we get a drawn out love triangle.

 

I can get behind ANYTHING that gives Helms and actual storyline outside of being Levi's bestie and mooning over Meredith.

15 hours ago, LexieLily said:

I'm as much of a sports fan as anyone but are there really fans of a specific player that would egg the doctor that did the surgery where your sports idol died, much less even know who that doctor was?

I'm from Philly, out sportsfans are passionate. I can definitely seeing it happening.

 

Overall a decent episode. I'm not even mad at the Simone love triangle in the making. The only downside is the Teddy/Owen bickerfest. PLEASE writers, we don't find it funny or amusing. Let it die.  I'm also tentatively interested in Levi's new love interest. 

[Shellie]

1 hour ago, statsgirl said:

I guess that the Linc and Amelia are blue dead with Amelia saying that he may be perfect for Jo. In real life, the story of two longtime best friends moving in together and growing to love each other would have me cheering. But for a TV show, it's boring. Opposites attracting is a more interesting story than two old friends finally getting together.

The only way this would have been effective is if the story was written and the characters portrayed as though they belonged together all along and didn't realize it. The viewers would be cheering for them now. But it was never like that. There was no romantic chemistry. They were buddies.

Plus, Linc and Amelia were great together. It's beyond annoying that the pair was split up apparently to connect Amelia and the Minnesota doctor.

[MarylandGirl]

Stupid detail that bothered me: Levi's new love interest bringing beer that is better than what interns can afford and it having a twist-off cap. (Or has that become a thing for some breweries, like screw-top wine is more popular?) At least put something in cans--the microbreweries by me have their limited releases. 16-oz. cans.

I felt bad for Lucas (on a shallow level, don't think I realized how hot he was until this episode). Though I think Simone will dump her fiance sooner than later. She'll realize she has feelings for Lucas and he treats her better. Though, if this is how it usually goes on TV, he'll have found someone else by then.

The pre-surgery divorce had me tearing up.

So tired of Teddy and Owen.

And yes, the Grey's staff suck at dinner parties! "Perfect Penny killed my husband!" comes to mind.

 

 

 

[funnygirl]

2 hours ago, Shellie said:

The only way this would have been effective is if the story was written and the characters portrayed as though they belonged together all along and didn't realize it. The viewers would be cheering for them now. But it was never like that. There was no romantic chemistry. They were buddies.

Plus, Linc and Amelia were great together. It's beyond annoying that the pair was split up apparently to connect Amelia and the Minnesota doctor.

I agree. 

Link and Amelia were one of a few good things going on the show even through the Covid season, only to be destroyed for...mediocrity. 

The show didn't know what to do with Jo after Alex left, and that's fair. (I, personally, thought that would've been a good opportunity to try Jo and Andrew Deluca as love interests. But tptb decided to embarrass Meredith instead.) Or instead of bringing on doctors from Minnesota for a boring plot, they could've taken the time to bring on a new male doctor/suitor for Jo and build a nice story around that. 

Instead, the writers got lazy. They ruined a good thing in Amelia and Link for no reason, Jo and Link are forced together because men and women can't be just friends. The relationship bar on current Grey's Anatomy is very low, as made evident by the likes of Owen and Teddy. (and I don't even know why they are fussing with Miranda and Ben now) 

[Milaxx]

On 3/10/2023 at 4:21 PM, Shellie said:

The only way this would have been effective is if the story was written and the characters portrayed as though they belonged together all along and didn't realize it. The viewers would be cheering for them now. But it was never like that. There was no romantic chemistry. They were buddies.

Plus, Linc and Amelia were great together. It's beyond annoying that the pair was split up apparently to connect Amelia and the Minnesota doctor.

NONE of the Minnesosta doctors made for interesting storylines. Poor Scott Speedman is completely wasted as Meredith's  supposed love interest, that she dumped last week.  I love the idea of a non binary character, especially one played by an actual non binary actor, but Kai & Amelia have zero chemistry.  Kai is kinda bland as an actor.  All I can think is they broke up Amelia & Linc for this bunch of nothing.

On 3/10/2023 at 6:53 PM, MarylandGirl said:

Stupid detail that bothered me: Levi's new love interest bringing beer that is better than what interns can afford and it having a twist-off cap. (Or has that become a thing for some breweries, like screw-top wine is more popular?) At least put something in cans--the microbreweries by me have their limited releases. 16-oz. cans.

I felt bad for Lucas (on a shallow level, don't think I realized how hot he was until this episode). Though I think Simone will dump her fiance sooner than later. She'll realize she has feelings for Lucas and he treats her better. Though, if this is how it usually goes on TV, he'll have found someone else by then.

The pre-surgery divorce had me tearing up.

So tired of Teddy and Owen.

And yes, the Grey's staff suck at dinner parties! "Perfect Penny killed my husband!" comes to mind.

 

 

 

YES,  the beer should have had those swing top beer bottle closures.

FYI - If you haven't seen it. Jake Borielli and Niko Terho played love interest in a really cute movie on Freeform called The Thing About Harryso it's almost a little weird to see them together on Grey's.

Edited March 12, 2023 by Milaxx

[Dancing Queen]

On 3/9/2023 at 10:08 PM, LexieLily said:

I wondered if the married couple that divorced signed the right papers. The lawyer came into the room with the paperwork but before they mentioned consent forms about the surgery. And the patient is in the promos for next week so I wouldn't put it past this show to say they signed one set of forms but not the other (oops!), she dies, and he has to claim all of their debt. 

I didn't know a couple could get divorced in a day - in my state, you have to be separated a year before you can get divorced.  Plus, I doubt they're really divorced until the paperwork actually gets filed in court.

Since part of the Divorce Solution was explained as "You can get better health insurance," I'm worried that one or both of the couple will get in trouble for insurance fraud.  They proclaimed how much they love each other - in front of witnesses - while signing divorce papers, which could really come back and bite them in an insurance investigation.

I'm obviously overthinking the whole situation....

General comments:  Overall, I'm enjoying this season's focus on the interns, even (or especially?) the ridiculousness of them all moving into Meredith's house together.  It seems like it has been YEARS since a new crop of interns had discernible personalities or anything to do.  It also distracts from the fact that none of the "grown-ups" have interesting work OR love lives at the moment.  Maggie had that heart surgery on the baby, but it was overshadowed by her imploding marriage.   

Ideally, the writers could write interesting, fresh stories for EVERYONE, but I'm not holding my breath on that one.  (Seriously, why do they think we want to see spouses sniping at each other?  I don't mind seeing couples go through rough patches, but contempt is a relationship-killer.  If Teddy/Owen and Maggie/Winston are over, let them divorce and move on.) 

[statsgirl]

3 hours ago, Dancing Queen said:

If Teddy/Owen and Maggie/Winston are over, let them divorce and move on.) 

It feels like filler in the former case and WTH? in the latter.

I understand that Teddy is frustrated at the situation that Owen got them into.  He did something illegal and now their circumstances are straightened. But if she's really as angry and contemptuous of him as she appears, why is she still with him? If I loved someone, I would support him even when he did stupid things because his heart is good.

When Maggie first came on the show, she seemed like the sister with a heart. She grew up in a loving family, she was close to her parents, and she wanted to get to know Richard and Meredith because they are her family. Now she's gone pure Ellis, The Surgery Is All, and she can't understand that her husband would value his marriage over being a CT surgeon when he can find fullfillness in doing other kinds of surgeries. She treats him like he is beneath contempt, beneath her.

Neither story makes sense.

[Milaxx]

21 hours ago, statsgirl said:

When Maggie first came on the show, she seemed like the sister with a heart. She grew up in a loving family, she was close to her parents, and she wanted to get to know Richard and Meredith because they are her family. Now she's gone pure Ellis, The Surgery Is All, and she can't understand that her husband would value his marriage over being a CT surgeon when he can find fullfillness in doing other kinds of surgeries. She treats him like he is beneath contempt, beneath her.

OMG! YES, That's what makes it so annoying. It's as if the writers couldn't figure out what else to do with Maggie & Winston and decided to make her Ellis 2.0 instead

[Lovecat]

Does it bug anyone else when the long-time characters address each other by their last names when they are outside of the hospital?  I mean, yes, Owen and Teddy are both also ex-military, but they've been out a long time, and what's Bailey's excuse?  IN the hospital, different situation, it's like a shorthand, but outside?  First name or DR. So-and-so, if you feel like you need to be formal.  These people have known each other for YEARS--just barking out the last name at the dinner table seems rude.  If I know someone well enough to be invited to (a presumably non-work-related) dinner, I'm going to call them by their first name.  

Weirdly, it doesn't bother me when the interns do it, because they're still in the getting-to-know-you phase and are more co-workers than friends at this point.

[SilverLake0315]

On 3/10/2023 at 6:53 PM, MarylandGirl said:

So tired of Teddy and Owen.

This can’t be said enough. 

[iMonrey]

Ugh, Kai. I thought we were through with them. Can't we be?

Edited March 15, 2023 by iMonrey

[jcbrown]

10 hours ago, iMonrey said:

Ugh, Kai. I thought we were through with them. Can't we be?

Please! It's not that they're nonbinary; it's that they're dull as dirt and have negative charisma with Amelia.

Edited March 16, 2023 by jcbrown

[RoxiP]

I kind of like Kai as a stand-alone character.  Kai is intelligent and her lack of visible emotion is one of my favorite things about the character because Kai just simply doesn't care about anything other than the science.  It is just when they started making Kai mushy and stuff with Amelia (who has and will always be driven by emotion first and foremost) that they (sorry, I just realized I was using inappropriate pronouns (which I'm sorry - I get so confused!)) became annoying.  If Kai had been brought to Seattle Grace simply as a new character I think I would have liked it more - it is the love interest that made Kai less interesting.

[Shellie]

On 3/16/2023 at 8:28 AM, RoxiP said:

 If Kai had been brought to Seattle Grace simply as a new character I think I would have liked it more - it is the love interest that made Kai less interesting.

I couldn't agree more. I have trouble with the whole pronoun issue and I think the character of Kai could have helped me understand this better. But now I'm just disgruntled because they pushed her and Amelia together, and that makes no sense to me at all. 

[DEL901]

22 minutes ago, Shellie said:

I couldn't agree more. I have trouble with the whole pronoun issue and I think the character of Kai could have helped me understand this better. But now I'm just disgruntled because they pushed her them and Amelia together, and that makes no sense to me at all. 

Fixed it for you.  

[Shellie]

39 minutes ago, DEL901 said:

Fixed it for you.  

Thank you! You see what I mean! 

[Milaxx]

On 3/16/2023 at 9:28 AM, RoxiP said:

I kind of like Kai as a stand-alone character.  Kai is intelligent and her lack of visible emotion is one of my favorite things about the character because Kai just simply doesn't care about anything other than the science.  It is just when they started making Kai mushy and stuff with Amelia (who has and will always be driven by emotion first and foremost) that they (sorry, I just realized I was using inappropriate pronouns (which I'm sorry - I get so confused!)) became annoying.  If Kai had been brought to Seattle Grace simply as a new character I think I would have liked it more - it is the love interest that made Kai less interesting.

Especially after they broke Amelia & Linc up for no good reason. Kai make zero sense for Amelia.

[izabella]

I thought Amelia and Kai were done when Kai said they didn't want anything to do with parenting.  What happened to that?

[Milaxx]

On 3/17/2023 at 9:41 PM, izabella said:

I thought Amelia and Kai were done when Kai said they didn't want anything to do with parenting.  What happened to that?

They got back together. I can't even recall the discussion or how they decided to carryon the relationship knowing that Amelia has a child. The good part is the character is rarely seen so it's just mildly annoying.

[MarylandGirl]

16 minutes ago, Milaxx said:

They got back together. I can't even recall the discussion or how they decided to carryon the relationship knowing that Amelia has a child. The good part is the character is rarely seen so it's just mildly annoying.

I also don't recall that conversation--maybe they didn't show it? Or I may have just zoned out during it. I'm not sure I understand the point of the show keeping them together if they're not really going to be seen together. I assume there will be some reason for Kai to visit Seattle again at some point? Or for Amelia to go out there?

[statsgirl]

9 minutes ago, MarylandGirl said:

I'm not sure I understand the point of the show keeping them together if they're not really going to be seen together.

To show how cool the show is that there is a non-binary character recurring, and who is in a relationship with one of the regulars.

The problem is that they don't really make sense as a couple. There is no chemistry or even excitement, Kai doesn't want children while Amelia adores Scout, and Kai's flat affect is the opposite of what Amelia has been known to be attracted to even when she's sober.  Krista broke up one of the best couples on the show for this nothing burger.

[Snow Fairy]

I don't like Kai, but I'd rather watch them than Levi. I just can't stand him, he annoys the hell out of me

[catherinejane]

i think masuka said she was Bisexual earlier on? not a lesbian.

Its a bit sterotyped if her and Helm get together (as the only 2 charachers who are into women, though i suppose amelia counts now), though i like them both.

Them becoming good mates and going out ON THE SCENE would be good. i'd prefer that.

 

[MarylandGirl]

2 hours ago, catherinejane said:

i think masuka said she was Bisexual earlier on? not a lesbian.

Its a bit sterotyped if her and Helm get together (as the only 2 charachers who are into women, though i suppose amelia counts now), though i like them both.

Them becoming good mates and going out ON THE SCENE would be good. i'd prefer that.

 

It would be good for Helm to get some sort of love interest. But yes, stereotyped if they just put them together.

[KaveDweller]

7 hours ago, catherinejane said:

i think masuka said she was Bisexual earlier on? not a lesbian.

Yes, I think that's right. She said something like she "mostly" has sex with other women.

[Rae Spellman]

On 3/14/2023 at 12:06 PM, Lovecat said:

Does it bug anyone else when the long-time characters address each other by their last names when they are outside of the hospital?  <snip>

Weirdly, it doesn't bother me when the interns do it, because they're still in the getting-to-know-you phase and are more co-workers than friends at this point.

It's not just you. The thing is Teddy called Miranda by her first name in the hospital ages ago when Mark and Derek were still alive. Teddy had a dinner party with Henry and there was the question of whether she was bringing Eli since she was staring at Ben's butt. Plus Meredith, Amelia, etc. mostly call Richard by his first name even those he's 20+ years older than the other grown ups.