Grey’s Anatomy season 16 episode 6 review: Zola worries about forgetting her dad
By Meg Dowell
This year, Grey’s Anatomy’s Halloween episode gave us all the feels. And it looks like the emotional chaos is just getting started.
This post contains spoilers for Grey’s Anatomy season 16 episode 6, “Whistlin’ Past the Graveyard.” If you haven’t seen it yet and don’t want to know what happens, get caught up and check back when you do!
Well, at least we can be certain even Grey’s Anatomy knows how far is too far. Jo telling Alex she’s “pregnant” (she isn’t — yet) really is hilarious in hindsight. It wasn’t in the two seconds we all thought she was serious.
The sad thing is, we wouldn’t have been surprised if the show pulled that twist on us… for the third time already this season.
But that’s the joke! Ha ha! Good on Jo for daring to be her silly, fun-loving self again. She’s really making progress, and we’re happy for her.
Despite the Halloween theme, and the show leaning more heavily on comedy to keep things moving this season, there were a surprising amount of “all the feels” moments. However, each was used to give different characters opportunities to grow.
Take DeLuca’s alone time with Zola. This is the first time in a long time we’ve seen such a close focus on Derek, especially through the lens of his first daughter.
DeLuca, so often shown struggling with his ego and balancing his professional and personal lives, really proves himself when he promises Zola she won’t forget her dad. And not just that, but sitting with her and telling her a story about him. It’s the first time Grey’s has made me cry this season, and honestly, I kind of missed having a good reason to.
Amelia proves herself, too, picking up on the fact that Link is upset not because his parents are reuniting, but because his “cancer anniversary” was supposed to be all about him. While our favorite living Sheperd has a tendency to focus maybe a little too much on herself at times, she really proved she can listen, empathize, and provide comfort.
These two work so well together. Please don’t let anything happen to them. We wouldn’t be able to handle it.
Also: Bailey, who has been butting heads with Tom for what feels like ages now, has a “sweet” moment with him that ends in tears. But that’s OK. This is who she is now. She’s accepting that. And maybe we are, too.
And, of course, Meredith paying her cellmate’s bail so she could get her kids out of foster care and be with them again. It’s exactly something she would do — trying to help is what got her in this mess in the first place. But what a perfect reminder, perhaps one she desperately needed, that she can help make the world a better place without breaking the law.
It makes sense now why they really ramped up her “I’m a doctor and I have three kids” speech at the beginning of the episode. She needed to be knocked down at least a few pegs, and listening to someone else tell their story definitely did that for her.
What Meredith did wasn’t right, even if it was technically for the right reasons. But maybe this is what she needed to remember that just because she’s a successful, beloved surgeon doesn’t mean she has to act like the rules don’t apply to her.
Yes. Even Meredith Grey has some growing up to do.
Based on the brief glimpse of next week’s episode, things are about to go off the rails — even more so than they already have. There’s some serious family drama incoming, and it looks like Richard and Catherine are about to hit a breaking point.
Right now, Meredith and DeLuca just might be one of few couples left intact by the time this season ends. And maybe — maybe — that’s not such a bad thing. But we’ll see.
Next. Grey's Anatomy: Focusing on mental health is exactly what we needed. dark