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i-may-have-a-point · 6 years

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Review of 14x07 “Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story”

The Mirage. That was the name of the roller coaster. When I saw that in the promotional photos that were released, I was hopeful that our characters would be seeing people from their past, in reality, illusion, or hallucination. What we got was not quite what I hoped. Either way, episode 300 brought with it memories of some of the most meaningful people and events we have laughed and cried over in the first 299 episodes. So, lower your lap bar and sit back while I give you my take on episode 300.

Meredith – The majority of this episode was devoted to the doctors trying to get Mer to go to the Harper Avery Awards so she could accept her trophy. It was rather predictable that she would win. Once the storyline was initially brought up, we all saw this coming. They wouldn’t nominate both Cristina and Meredith and not give it to either of them. I think they could have built up to this moment better, but hey, Meredith got her Harper Avery, which is the more important thing to the writers. I was underwhelmed by the whole thing, but I did think Ellis being in the gallery was a nice touch. Not that she needs it now, but Meredith knows Ellis is proud of her.

Amelia and Owen – So, are they actually divorced? Or are they just pretending they are and having sex with other people? Can we clarify that? Cause I get that the show wants us to believe they are both blissfully happy with each other jumping into whoever’s pants, and call me old-fashioned, but how about we sign those papers and make it official first. Also, if this tumor story was supposed to be about correcting Amelia’s supposed character flaws (or the season 13 writing to be more accurate), then why is she exactly the same person? Besides seeming a little happier and fine with Owen’s escapades, I see no differences. If anyone else does, feel free to point them out.

Ben and Miranda – This is some petty, petty drama right here. However, since they are insisting on Ben changing careers for the third time, I think Miranda is reacting appropriately. She should be questioning if she can rely on him for anything because he certainly doesn’t seem like he knows what he wants.

Arizona – I have no idea where this Sofia storyline is going, but I loved Arizona thinking about what Mark would say if he were there. And the family photo on the wall was just the right amount of nostalgia to make me audibly sigh.

Deluca and Sam – One of the things I think Grey’s has done well in the past is create such intense build up to a relationship that the audience cannot wait for the two characters to get together. I wish they had done that here. I think they should have kept the vague banter about their past and left out the on-call room hook ups. It is so obvious where these two are headed that it took the intrigue and interest out of it for me. I think they look great together physically, and if they want to go at it in every room of the hospital, by all means. However, I didn’t get reeled in by their story the way it was told in this episode.

George, Cristina, and Izzie – I may be in the minority here, but I would have preferred flashbacks rather than look-alikes. The casting of the Izzie look-alike was spot-on, though. In some angles, she did look eerily like Katherine Heigl. And one of my favorite Easter eggs was Alex picking her up because no matter how many times I watch Alex lift Izzie off of Denny’s bed, I still “clutch my pearls” as Jason George likes to say.

Jolex – One thing I think the show did well in this episode was to have Jo completely fine with Alex being flustered by the Izzie look-alike. The Jolex fans and Izzex fans are both very passionate and both very sure that their couple is the better couple. I think the show did a nice job of remembering Izzie and respecting both relationships. The scene where Alex describes the vision he has of Izzie’s life was long-overdue and executed perfectly. Izzie is happy, surrounded by children, muffins, and Christmas decorations. That is enough closure for me.

Japril - I get A LOT of messages asking me to speculate or predict where Japril’s story is headed. I, like you, have no idea, but I can tell you based on what I see on screen, I think it is far from over.

Let’s look back at what we have seen so far this season.

In my 14x01/14x02 review I said that while April telling Jackson she needed to move out ripped our hearts to shreds, this was the first time, maybe ever, that we have seen April make a decision with her best interests above everyone else’s. She has been through multiple deep traumas, and she hasn’t fully dealt with any of them. For once, she is taking care of herself.

In my 1403 review I said that I think April’s “complicated journey” this season is to find her happiness and fully deal with everything she has been through. This episode, in a way, walked the audience and April back through many of her traumas. They brought up several of the major things April has dealt with over the years for a reason. They are reminding us what she has been through and what she still needs to deal with. We got the Nicole Herman mention, the Matthew flash-mob mention, and clear signs that April is not happy. Because “No matter how many vows you make, you still end up in a new apartment and don’t see your kid half the time.” (Side note: That picture is Matthew. I know some people don’t want it to be him, but it is.)

14x04 brought us Harper Avery calling April Jackson’s wife and telling him divorcing her made him like his father.

14x06 is April revisiting the 13x07 storyline and perusing Tinder, insisting that she doesn’t want to date anyone in the hospital.

In 14x07, we had every reason to scoff at the screen when the Cristina lookalike says, “You’re not Meredith Grey.” This idea that April is less than any of the other surgeons has been tired since season eight. The hypocrisy and overreaction to April being Interim Chief of Surgery in season 13 is one of the many reasons that season ranks at the bottom of my list, but I think that the idea was revisited again because it fits into the story of April analyzing her choices and whether or not she is truly happy. During surgery, April explains to Meredith, “You’re like Jackson. He grew up with so much money that he never had to balance a budget or check a price tag, and he just takes it all for granted…you take for granted that there is just going to be another one. Some of us work really hard, and we’re just average.” There is so much to unpack in these lines. We finally get some of April’s thoughts on Jackson’s shopping spree, and April also tells the audience that she is still not completely confident in her own abilities as a surgeon and probably in other areas of her life as well. April knows that Jackson’s behavior is out of the ordinary, but she is more focused on her own flaws. I think she is really feeling her part in the problems in their relationship, but she still believes that her and Jackson belong together. She just isn’t sure if he does. She thinks he “…takes for granted there is just going to be another one.” This scene is not the show saying April is average. Meredith’s line, “And Kepner you’re not average,” along with Glasses saying, “They were superheroes. Both of them,” was the writers’ way of giving well-deserved credit to April. The important thing here is how April reacted to those lines. Watch her face when Meredith tells her she isn’t average. She looks down and away as if annoyed that Meredith is patronizing her, and Glasses gets told to stop talking. She doesn’t want to hear these compliments because she doesn’t believe them. I think getting to that point is part of her journey.

And those Japril looks. They are small, but they are there. And intentional. Jackson and April cannot be in the same room with each other without their chemistry overflowing.

None of this sounds like a couple who is over. To me, it sounds like a story that is just beginning.

So, where ARE they going? Well, we know that we have Japril scenes coming up, but we also know we have Jackson and Maggie scenes coming up as well as Matthew returning. I don’t know what is in store for us, but I still fully believe that even with some bumps in the road, Japril is endgame.

#japril #jolex #omelia #grey's anatomy #14x07

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