Grey’s Anatomy: Meredith’s insurance fraud might ‘save’ the show

This season of Grey’s Anatomy might introduce some much-needed changes to the show thanks to Meredith’s criminal activity.

Meredith Grey has been the focal point of Grey’s Anatomy from the very beginning. Watching a central character you love do something terrible — even if they technically did it for the right reasons — is truly devastating.

Looking at the big picture, Mer committed insurance fraud to help save a child’s life. She did a bad thing so that she could do a good thing. She made a choice. Not a great choice, but she did it knowing there would be consequences. (Admitting she was wrong in front of a judge might not have been a good idea, though.)

This ethical dilemma has already shaken up her whole world, as well as the lives of those around her. It’s going to sit with her for a while, regardless of whether or not she gets to keep her medical license.

But maybe this isn’t just another plot  twist added in for dramatic effect. Maybe, just maybe, Krista Vernoff et al. have a plan and know exactly what they’re doing.

Maybe Meredith’s actions are the catalyst that will send the entire show into a new, refreshing era.

To be clear, Grey’s hasn’t gone completely downhill in its last few seasons as some tend to complain. Off the rails, sure, but what do you expect from a medical drama that has been consistently on the air — with several of the same original cast members — since 2005?

Sometimes when storylines get outrageous, it’s a good thing.

There are different kinds of drama. Grey’s sometimes favors the ridiculous, mixed in with the heartbreaking (e.g., Meredith losing Derek, Mark and Lexie, George … sorry to bring all that up again).

Meredith broke the law, and that’s super frustrating — even more so if she doesn’t face any real consequences for her actions. But in just two episodes we have already seen the seeds for big changes being planted. Such as with Alex and Richard, for example.

Both were fired for being in some way associated with the insurance fraud incident. They aren’t banned from working in the medical field, Bailey just had to cut ties with them because that’s what you do as the Chief.

So they’ve now gone from working at the best hospital in Seattle to the worst. Which might seem totally depressing … except they’ve now decided they’re going to use their power and experience to turn the hospital around.

Which means it could, as the season progresses, become a serious competitor with Grey Sloan. And ticking off Bailey would only be one of the many benefits of this direction.

Turning a disaster like Pacific Northwest (“Pac North”) around will be an interesting storyline we haven’t seen on Grey’s before. If Meredith is somehow involved, it will make her own personal disaster mean something, regardless of its consequences.

This all might eventually end with a Grey Sloan and Pac North merger, potentially bringing all the OG doctors back to Grey Sloan and leaving everything off right where it was before, but hey, at least it will make for plenty of unique storylines, drama, and more of an incentive for hesitant viewers to keep coming back for more.

Change, in a show like this, is good. It may be time for the series to prove you don’t need a major character death, departure, or life-threatening disaster to tell a good, dramatic story full of twists, surprises, and of course, all “the feels.”

Why are big changes like this crucial to Grey’s right now? The future of the show is uncertain, which isn’t at all surprising since it’s approaching its 15th year on the air.

The show has been renewed through Season 17, and there’s no news on whether or not the main casts’ contracts will be extended. This isn’t any cause for alarm: Network television is full of uncertainty and confusing terminology, like when a show such as Supernatural is said to have been “canceled” even though, technically, it’s a planned ending.

If Grey’s will continue beyond even this season, it’s going to have to go big and change things up to keep its ratings up. And if ABC does decide not to renew it — or Shonda Rhimes and Ellen Pompeo decide they’re done – it’s going to have to go out with a bang.

Either way, it has to leave a good impression on its audience. It owes its fans that, whether they’ve been watching since Day 1 or more recently came on board.

Of course, focusing on Pac North won’t take away from other storylines such as the drama between Owen and Tom (that restraining order, though …) or Amelia and Link’s ventures into preparing for parenthood while they (hopefully) grow closer as a couple.

There are theories that it isn’t actually Link’s baby (possibly Owen’s instead), but I personally need at least another week to bask in the bliss that is foolishly believing these two really can live drama-free happily ever after and Amelia can FINALLY BE HAPPY FOR ONCE, OK?

If we need to bring it up at a later date, we will. I promise.

Whatever happens in the weeks to come, let’s hope Alex and Richard’s new endeavor is as chaotic and delightful as it can be. This is a great way to mix hilarity with madness, and if I’m going to cry at Amelia’s expense, I need to be able to cry laughing, too. Bring it on.

Do you like the Pac North storyline? How are you feeling about Meredith’s “roadside clinic”? Let’s discuss in the comments.