“BOOM!,” the last sound the audience hears in season 21, episode eight of “Grey’s Anatomy,” entitled, “Drop It Like It’s Hot.” From the insane heat wave to Mika Yasuda leaving Grey Sloan and the hostage situation that left Jo Wilson and Lucas Adams’ lives undecided, Grey’s fans were at the edge of their seats for the entirety of the 42 minute episode. This episode featured a special guest, Dr. Cass Beckman (played by Sophia Bush), a trauma surgeon at Seattle Presbyterian Hospital who helped with the overflow of patients and brought some drama into Teddy Altman and Owen Hunt’s marriage. Without spoiling the entire episode right away, it’s safe to say the heat wave didn’t only affect the patients, but some of the couples that fans have come to love.
“Drop It Like It’s Hot” is an episode unlike any other that we’ve seen in season 21 so far. As an avid Grey’s fan who has rewatched the show three times, I know that a standard episode usually contains drama in one of the many relationships and two to three patients, one of which either dies or almost dies on the table. Though it can be a predictable show that follows a similar structure in each episode, Shonda Rhimes (creator of the show) loves to throw some curveballs along the way, how else do you think the show would have over 20 seasons? The final episode in part one of this season is definitely one of those curveballs and cliffhangers. The episode begins with a hospital full of agitated doctors, exhausted from the overtime due to the heat wave and fighting over who gets the last of the ice.
Ben Warren, the man who has been an anesthesiologist, surgical intern, firefighter on the spin-off show, “Station 19,” and now entering his residency again gets put in charge of ‘crisis management.’ Ben feels like this job is below his capabilities, but also lets the small of power get to his head. As Jo and Lucas fight over whose patient is worse and needs the last of the ice, Ben swoops in to grab it and argues with Jo (who has a higher rank), ultimately sending her and Lucas on an ice run to the convenience store around the corner. This is just one of the many arguments caused by the heat, as well as the start of the hostage situation.
Mika Yasuda continues to grieve the loss of her sister, Chloe, after a car accident that she blames herself for. In the prior episodes, Mika had gotten off a long shift of looking after her own patients, as well as her sister who was diagnosed with colorectal cancer and going through her first rounds of chemotherapy. Due to extreme exhaustion, Mika dozed off a little at the wheel, causing her and Chloe to need immediate medical attention. Mika was lucky to survive her surgery and injuries, however, Chloe passed since her body couldn’t sustain both the cancer and car accident. During her first shift back at the hospital, an older man codes causing Mika to spiral out, yelling “SAVE HER, you need to save her!,” projecting her trauma onto Dr. Miranda Bailey and the dying patient. After a conversation with Bailey, Mika decides she needs to leave Grey Sloan Memorial to be with her family and grieve Chloe’s loss together. Unfortunately for Grey’s fans like myself, Mika leaving meant the end of her relationship with Jules Millin, fellow surgical intern. Though the relationship was fairly short lived, with the two only getting together this season, fans are incredibly sad to see it end.
The hostage situation is arguably the biggest event that occurred during this episode. What was supposed to be a quick run to the convenience store for ice turned into two lives being put at stake. The writers didn’t make this situation as prominent as it should have been throughout the episode, only dedicating one big scene to the whole thing. At the end of the episode, the young man holding Jo and Lucas hostage begins to go a bit more crazy and dissociating, allowing Lucas to sneak up behind him with a baseball bat. The attempt failed and a brawl broke out between the gunman and Lucas. The last few seconds show nothing but a blur, making it impossible for the audience to tell who is who and where everyone is located. The gun fires and the screen goes dark. Who got shot? Is Lucas ok? Did Jo survive?
The trailer for part two of season 21 is a doozy, leaving fans jaw dropped and unable to wait until March 6, 2025 for answers. Jo Wilson is seen on a stretcher heading into the hospital alert and alive but panicking about her baby’s safety. On the other hand, Lucas isn’t shown, sending viewers into a spiral about whether or not he’s alive. Link, Jo’s boyfriend and the father of the baby, is seen getting a talking to by Bailey who tells him to, “pull it together so [Jo] can fall apart.” Additionally, after a pause in the plotline, Meredith Grey and Richard Webber resume their fight over Richard’s wife, Catherine Webber and how Meredith handled her treatment while lying to Richard. The fact that so many separate storylines seem to be coming together and/or getting resolved in the second half of season 21 is a sign that fans will not be bored when watching.
My predictions for the second portion of this season are a mix of unhinged and holding out for a miracle.It’s no surprise that Jo and Link have been having issues lately, arguing about what life is gonna be like with their two kids (from previous relationships) and then twins on top of them. I’m really hoping that this heat wave and hostage situation that Jo experienced will be their opportunity to realize the arguing is not helpful and they really just need to lean on each other to make it through this rough transition period. Furthermore, I think something is definitely going to happen between Owen Hunt, Teddy Altman and Cass Beckman. With Cass being a bit too friendly towards Teddy, I think Owen is going to get to a point of jealousy and insecurity that risks his marriage. Lastly, I think something is finally going to happen between Dr. Amelia Shepherd and Dr. Monica Beltran. The two have not had much screen time together this season, however the scenes they do have give me hope that they might finally be together. Due to both of their pasts and personalities, many fans, including myself, find the two to be extremely compatible.
