Season 7 of Grey’s Anatomy is thought for a number of issues – coping with the aftermath of the Season 6 taking pictures, having a divisive musical episode, and ending the season with a quieter finale that handled extra grownup issues. However one other spotlight from this season is having a Christmas episode that impacted the present and its future. For this hour of the present, the main focus shifted to the a part of the ensemble that wanted some fixing.
Teddy (Kim Raver) meets somebody who ultimately mends her unrequited love for Owen (Kevin McKidd). Lexie (Chyler Leigh) and Mark (Eric Dane) rekindle their love, whereas Callie (Sara Ramirez) and Arizona (Jessica Capshaw) face a rockier restart. Final however not least, Cristina (Sandra Oh) pairs up with the unlikeliest particular person to lastly take care of her trauma. “Adrift and at Peace,” the season’s tenth episode, has the standard drama however with a vacation backdrop and the kickstart of extremely relevant future storylines.
Scott Foley’s Character Debuts in This ‘Gray’s Anatomy’ Christmas Episode
“Adrift and at Peace” marks the primary look of Scott Foley’s Henry Burton. What at first looks as if an opportunity encounter between Teddy and a patient-of-the-week, is ultimately revealed to be the start line for one of Grey’s Anatomy’s most endearing couples. When Teddy learns Henry’s insurance coverage has run out, and he can now not get remedy for his uncommon illness, she suggests marrying him so he can purchase her insurance coverage plan.
The ramifications of this episode could be seen all through the rest of Season 7 and properly into Season 8. After their marriage, their relationship is stored strictly as doctor-patient. However, as time progresses, Teddy and Henry bond over the chronicles of her failed dates. Henry then recovers his insurance coverage, and after dealing with the prospect of getting divorced, they determine to remain collectively. However – in true Gray’s Anatomy style – Henry relapses and dies, kicking off a Denny Duquette 2.0 situation that ends with Teddy leaving the hospital.
Two {Couples} Begin Their Highway to Restoration in This ‘Gray’s Anatomy’ Christmas Episode
The everlasting on-and-off saga of Mark and Lexie takes a part of the highlight on this Christmas outing. When she asks him for assistance on getting Eli (Daniel Sunjata) to attend her requests, he bribes her to go on a date. They hadn’t been collectively since Season 6 when Mark’s daughter Sloan (Leven Rambin) brought on a rift of their relationship, and Lexie began relationship Alex (Justin Chambers). Ending the episode with a kiss at Joe’s was certainly one of a number of reencounters the couple would see earlier than their fatal demise.
For a really transient second, the episode’s remaining shot options the return of Arizona. Following her leaving Callie on the airport to go to Africa, she comes again due to her incapacity to stay with out her. An understandably offended Callie shuts the door on her face. And although this ending may point out they are going to by no means recuperate, the rest of the season sees them working by way of their relationship and patching up their wounds. They’re the protagonists of the automotive crash that results in the notorious musical episode, and their wedding takes place in one of many season’s remaining episodes.
‘Adrift and at Peace’ Showcases Cristina Coping with Her Trauma
Cristina’s trauma following Gary Clark’s (Michael O’Neill) shooting rampage hit her the place it harm essentially the most – her career. For nearly half of Season 7, Cristina isn’t capable of step into the hospital, a lot much less into an O.R. Her spiraling pushes her into rash selections, like marrying Owen (Kevin McKidd), falling out with Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) and bartending at Joe’s. The spotlight of “Adrift and at Peace” is Derek (Patrick Dempsey) – maybe Cristina’s least favourite particular person at Seattle Grace – taking her on a fishing journey. Pressured to face nonetheless, with out making noise, and simply present, Cristina lastly involves phrases with the traumatic occasion she went by way of.
Typically dealing with your trauma doesn’t contain a bang or a terrific second, it’s simply making peace with the truth that what you went by way of is now part of you. After dealing with that truth – and catching a large fish – Cristina lets all of it sink in and cries. Derek understands the sensation and asks for her image to be taken, for she’ll wish to keep in mind that actual second. Within the following episodes, this soothing lets Cristina belief herself and her skills once more, making approach for her to renew her path to changing into the best cardiothoracic surgeon.
Christmas episodes on TV exhibits have a approach of passing undetected, for generally they is perhaps thought of fillers. However, in Gray’s Anatomy’s case, “Adrift and at Peace” stands out as one of many holiday-themed chapters by which the storylines spilled over into additional episodes and seasons. The general character arcs of six characters of the ensemble have been modified without end, beginning with this episode.
Gray’s Anatomy Season 21 airs Thursday nights on ABC and is on the market to stream on Hulu within the U.S.