Grey’s Anatomy: Does Catherine deserve better than this?
By Meg Dowell
Grey’s Anatomy is setting up a risky relationship between Richard and someone that isn’t Catherine Fox, and we’re not having it.
So far, season 16 of Grey’s Anatomy has been packed full of… anger. Everyone’s mad at everyone else. Meredith Grey is, of course, the focal point of all this loathing, but she’s the focal point of everything that happens on this show. This time she just took things way, way too far.
Bailey is mad because she’s Bailey (but also because she likes Meredith, and nobody likes it when their friends betray their trust). The residents are mad because Meredith got fired, which makes sense, but also, does the term “criminal activity” mean nothing to these people?
Catherine is mad because of Richard’s new job. Richard is mad because she “let” Bailey fire him (and basically everyone he cares about). Except he’s not really mad about that. He’s rightfully peeved that he lost his position at Grey Sloan in the first place. As he should be.
He’s so mad, in fact, that he’s letting the stress of it all get to him again. Which is not good for Richard. We know this. And we all want to give him a big hug.
You know who else wants to hug Richard Webber? Gemma. (Sigh.) Quick refresher: Gemma was Richard’s patient — the one who fell onto her stiletto heel and almost died (yep). Richard saved her life and encouraged her to get sober again. But that’s not the end of their history.
Gemma and Richard also shared a sponsor: Ollie, who died back in season 14. While Richard was able to avoid another relapse while grieving the major loss, Gemma wasn’t. She went back to drinking, which was what landed her in the hospital as his patient last season.
Richard is under a lot of stress, and his “wrongful unplugging” certainly didn’t help. We already know he’s not the best at dealing with stress.
But even though we had to guess he probably wouldn’t go back to drinking as a result — we didn’t need that storyline again — Catherine doesn’t deserve this. Does she?
Yes, she yelled at him (angry Catherine at full force), and she hasn’t been the easiest to deal with throughout or since her cancer diagnosis. But she has been with Richard through a lot, just as he has for her. Is this latest bump in the road worth an affair — and the possible end to their marriage?
Maybe Richard and Gemma are just friends and will stay that way. Maybe what Richard is really missing is a best friend he can turn to when he’s having a bad day, and Gemma is that best friend. That would be amazing, by the way. Richard needs more friends that aren’t technically his boss.
These two have a deep personal connection, though, both having survived alcohol addiction. They also work in the same hospital now, which means they’ll be seeing each other more often.
Temptations. They’re everywhere. And much easier to give in to when your wife, for whatever reason, isn’t answering her phone.
Will he or won’t he? That’s just one question on all our minds now that Gemma is an available option. Another: How are they going to make this affair different than all the other affairs we’ve seen on this show? Repeating old and tired storylines really isn’t something Grey’s can get away with at this point, nor can it afford to try.
Rumors about the show coming to an end are pretty believable at this point. The show is the longest-running of its kind on network TV, and whether or not it continues depends completely on whether or not audiences show up. We notice when things repeat — not in a good way — and we don’t like it.
Not to mention, Ellen Pompeo has talked about leaving more than once, and when she goes, there is no more show. Shonda Rhimes can continue to be her lovable, optimistic self, but she’s completely focused on the Netflix side of Shondaland’s production at this point. The two could decide next season is the end. And we deserve better than an overdone, predictable affair.
Bringing Catherine’s cancer back into the picture would certainly add an OMG element to the relationship, but again, it’s predictable. Give us something we aren’t expecting. Surprise us. As long as Catherine survives. Because I’ve said it about Amelia in the past, and the same goes for her: Do not hurt our strong, fierce girl. She has been through enough.
But again. It’s Grey’s Anatomy. We come for the outrageous medical storylines and we stay for the drama. Relationship troubles equal drama. You probably saw it coming.
Don’t do this, Richard. Please?
Next. Grey's Anatomy: Meredith's insurance fraud might save the show. dark